Can You Smoke Uncured Weed?

Are you tired of the drying and curing process? You’re not alone. Stoners lament about the time it takes to properly dry and cure weed. Many want to know if you can just smoke weed without waiting weeks after harvesting. Well, can you smoke uncured weed? Here’s what we know. 

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Can You Smoke Weed Right Off the Plant?

Not really. If you want a suitable smoking experience, you’ll at least need dry buds. Weed right off the plant is wet and that’s not going to be easy or pleasant to smoke. 

Drying is the first step to curing the weed. You may be wondering if you can smoke dry but uncured weed. That’s a great question. Most stoners on Reddit say that curing is a must, however, they admitted that drying for a week or so won’t be the worst thing you could do. 

Maximum Yield says, “Freshly harvested cannabis has too much moisture in it to be stable and will eventually mold unless a substantial portion of the moisture is removed. [T]he cannabis should be allowed to dry in the open air until enough moisture has evaporated to prevent fungal growth, but not so much that it loses structural integrity.”

So, you really can’t smoke weed right off the plant, you have to at least dry it first.

If you’re interested in drying your weed and not curing it, Maximum Yield recommends drying in a mild environment. An environment that’s too cold may delay drying too long which may cause mold. On the other hand, an environment that’s too hot may overdry the weed in some parts before others. 

But wait, there’s a catch to only drying your cannabis and not curing it properly. Maximum Yield says weed that is only dried and not cured, it’s that great to smoke. They describe the smoke as harsher and less pleasant than weed that is cured. 

Can You Dry Weed in the Oven?

If you’re in a pinch and still want to dry your weed without curing, you’re probably looking at your oven as the perfect solution. Step away from the oven. 

Unfortunately, while the oven will dry the weed pretty quickly, it would ruin it in the process.

According to Royal Queen Seed, “Sure the buds will dry out in minutes, but you’ll also have cooked off most of the cannabinoids. These buds will taste like burnt plant material and won’t get you high.” The microwave is also a bad idea. 

They actually revealed you can dry your weed fairly quickly using drying them in a brown paper bag for three days. Afterward, place them on a paper towel and position them in front of your fan vents on your laptop. You’re then expected to turn the buds every 10 minutes for around an hour or until they’re dry to the touch. 

Weed dried this way, according to Royal Queen Seed, won’t give you mouth-watering flavors. Instead, you’ll get an acceptable or slightly harsh-tasting smoke.  

Why Cure Weed in the First Place? 

Even though you technically can just dry your buds and then smoke them, it’s typically not done that way for a reason. Curing your weed will definitely give you a better smoking experience. 

One Reddit user said, “Yes, you can skip curing, but you will probably regret it. Many trees users don’t realize that 50% or more of the “quality” of your final product comes from a slow dry and proper curing of the buds. It doesn’t matter how good your growing skills are if you don’t bother to dry and cure your bud.”

Is this Reddit user correct?  While we can’t verify the percentage used, there is some truth to what they’re saying based on our sources. For example, Greenhouse Grower says, “the curing process creates a cleaner, smoother smoke, and enhanced flavor. It ensures the bud has a moisture level that doesn’t allow mold and other pathogens to thrive as long as it’s done correctly.”

Drying and curing as you can see is a great way to also keep mold at bay and trust us don’t want to use moldy weed. 

In addition, some sources like Pot Guide say that curing weed may be good for potency. 

If you’re wondering how to cure weed, check out our handy weed-curing guide. 

Can You Use Uncured Weed?

Technically you can. Maximum Yield says that some people who make weed concentrates, freeze them right after harvest. This method is referred to as the “fresh frozen” method. 

The method is very simple, Maximum Yield outlines, “The material is rough trimmed while wet and then placed into containers and then into a freezer.” That’s it!

Of course, this is not the way to go if you’re planning on smoking the weed. 

Takeaway

Can you smoke uncured weed? You technically can but you probably won’t want to. There is a reason weed is dried and cured carefully before smoking. Curing weed leads to a much better smoking experience. However, if that’s not what you want to do, we recommend at least drying your weed before attempting to smoke it.