Chapter 22

DRYING

Some growers point out that a few buds
are easily dried by placing them in a loosely
folded brown paper bag at room
temperature. Larger amounts are hung or
placed on trays in a dark area such as a
closet. The buds need some air circulation
and have a relatively high humidity, so that
they dry fairly slowly. It is reported that bud
dried for 2-5 days smokes much smoother
than it does when it is dried quickly. The
reason is that after picking the buds are still
alive and some of the chlorophyll and
starch is used by the dying cells.
Some growers use a microwave or
oven to dry the buds. Microwaves do not
hurt the THC, but marijuana dried this way
has a harsh taste as compared to the slow
dried. Growers microwave by placing a wet
bud in the oven for 30 second periods until
it is smokeable. After seeing how long the
sample takes to dry, the grower sets the
timer for a minute less than the total time
used on the sample so the grass does not
get crispy.
Oven drying is riskier. If the
temperature is too warm, the THC
evaporates and is totally lost, so the oven is
kept at a low temperature, and should not
go above 150 degrees. Hemp kept in the
oven too long comes out crisp and stale.
Electric dehydrators are safe to use, but
once again, the hemp is dried very quickly
and has a harsher, green taste, than when