Can You Reuse Decarbed Weed?

It’s happened. You’ve decarbed too much weed. And now you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. The hard place is whether to smoke the whole batch or store it improperly. The rock part is, of course self-explanatory. But a glimmer of hope arises in the question, “can you reuse decarbed weed?” Turns out, you can. Get your trusty grinder ready and let’s talk about how to use your stash more economically.

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What Happens to Decarbed Weed?

Reusing decarbed weed isn’t always considered the best option. That’s because of what the process actually does to weed.

To decarb weed, the herb is heated to a certain temperature in order to release the THC in it. In other words, heat is used to release weed’s psychoactive compounds. Doing so is what helps you get high when you smoke weed.

Whether you plan to smoke your stash or turn it into an edible, decarbing is essential to get the most out of it.

Once you decarb weed, you can store it in an airtight container, and keep it in a cool, dry place. Proper storage will make sure it lasts. And a well decarbed and stored stash should go for up to 6 months. After that, the THC will start to degrade into cannabinol (CBN).

So if you feel inclined to grind and decarb a nice big batch in advance for easier toking, be sure to label it and use it in time.

But what of decarbed weed that has already been used at least once? Well, this is where it gets just a bit tricky.

The Dilemma of a Double Decarb

Using decarbed weed implies digging into its THC content. Whether this is done through smoking, vaping, an edible, or numerous other ways one chooses to toke, each use is going to reduce how much THC is left in the herb.

Weed that has already been smoked cannot, reasonably, be reused. The more obvious reason would be because it’s all burned up and ashed out. The underlying reason is that the heat has already destroyed whatever THC it may have held. So even if it wasn’t somehow burned up, it would still be pretty useless to reuse.

Reusing Decarbed Weed

It’s a different ballgame entirely, however, when working with infusions, edibles, and similar cannabis products. This is because the processes used to make these products do not overheat the weed in one go to release its psychoactive goodness. Instead, the process destroys THC more slowly.

Some stoners find reusing decarbed weed when making infusions makes the resulting product significantly more potent. Others don’t find they get the same results.

Ultimately, it may or may not work for you. But it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. It should be noted, of course, that reusing decarbed weed will most likely change its flavor profile. So even if it does get you high, it might taste a little different.

How to Reuse Decarbed Weed

Now that you know you can definitely reuse decarbed weed, provided you’re prepared for it to be less or more potent than before and taste a little off, here are a few ways you can try reusing it.

Make a Canna-Infused Product

Cannabutter is becoming increasingly popular. It works great in edibles and weed-infused drinks of many kinds.

Simply run the batch you’re making through the same infusion process using the same decarbed weed you used the first time around.

Make a Tincture

Making a tincture is a great way to preserve and store your decarbed weed. You can use it to make a wide variety of tinctures, from simple THC tinctures to more creative concoctions.

The simplest tinctures are essentially concentrated liquid extracts made by soaking your herb in alcohol, vegetable glycerin, or oil. They’re not too difficult to make yourself, provided you take the time to learn how to do it right.

A tincture, after mixed up, is stored in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks. It must be shaken a few times a day during this period. Once ready, just filter it and it’s ready to use. Make sure to store it in a dark-colored glass bottle for proper preservation.

For decarbed weed you’ve already used, this is a pretty good way to extract whatever it has left to offer. Tinctures aren’t designed to get you high. Instead, most people use them to help relieve pain, nausea, or anxiety, improve sleep, and even as an accompaniment to various medical treatments.

Make Topical Products

Topicals are another great way to reuse decarbed weed. This can include lotions, creams, balms, and more. Once again, they aren’t designed to transport you straight to cloud nine, so you don’t need to use weed with the highest THC content for maximum highs.

Cannabis topicals are noted for their ability to provide immediate, localized relief for inflammations, pains, and even stiffness. And they’re surprisingly easy to make yourself with just a few simple ingredients. This is an easy and effective way to enjoy the benefits of cannabis without having to smoke it.

Make Edibles

Of course, we can’t talk about cannabis products without mentioning edibles. But unlike the other options on this list, edibles actually are supposed to get you high as a kite.

Edibles include a variety of delicious treats, from gummies to cakes and brownies. And they’re often extremely potent, though a little slower to act when compared to smoking.

If you’ve already used your decarbed weed, you can try making another batch of edibles using the same decarbed weed. It may not turn out nearly as potent as the first batch, but you might still get a moderate hit from the second round. And even if you don’t, you’ll still end up with some tasty treats for your next smoke sesh.

The leftover weed pulp from edibles, called “sludge,” is also used in a variety of other ways. This includes spreading it on toast, tossing it on a salad, adding it to tomato or pesto sauce, putting it in smoothies or teas, and much more.

Vaporize It

Weed vaporizers are another product gaining in popularity. Not everyone gets quite as strong a hit from them, but they are significantly more discreet than a joint or bong.

What makes them even better is, of course, the fact that you can toss your used decarbed weed in there to extract a final hit out of it. Not all vaporizers are bud-compatible, of course. So be sure you pick the right one. Additionally, don’t forget that these little devices are often called “creepers” because the hit is usually delayed and slow. So if it seems like it’s not working, it might be because you need to wait a few more minutes.

Make Tea

Weed tea is yet another great way to reuse decarbed weed. After you’ve used your weed for round one, you could toss it into a cup of hot water to let it steep and enjoy. Alternatively, you could try a more detailed recipe using coconut oil or butter to really get the most out of your weed.

The latter might work better when reusing weed since you want to make sure you extract the most potent possible. Either way, though, you won’t get quite as high as when you smoke your weed. Weed tea is generally more helpful when you’re trying to relax and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of cannabis without the psychoactive effects.

When in Doubt, Double Tap

There are plenty of creative and unique ways to enjoy your weed without having to smoke it. And by learning how to reuse decarbed weed, you get to double your fun and make the most of your stash.