What weed flower is
Weed flower is the cured bud of the Cannabis sativa plant. Growers harvest the female inflorescences, dry them for 7 to 14 days, then cure them for 2 to 4 weeks. The bud holds cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids include THC, CBD, CBG, and CBN. Terpenes include myrcene, limonene, and pinene.
The plant makes THC acid (THC-A), not THC. Heat removes a carboxyl group and converts THC-A to THC. That reaction explains why raw flower has little psychoactive effect and why smoking or vaporizing does. Decarboxylation in an oven runs at 220 to 240 F for 30 to 45 minutes.
Two legal categories in the US
US law splits cannabis flower by delta-9 THC content on a dry weight basis.
- Hemp flower: 0.3% delta-9 THC or less. Legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.
- Marijuana flower: more than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act.
State rules differ. Some states allow adult-use marijuana. Some allow medical use only. Some ban hemp flower sales outright. Check state law before you buy.
Forms sold
- Whole bud: intact inflorescence.
- Pre-rolls: ground flower in a paper cone.
- Shake and trim: loose plant material with lower cannabinoid content.
How to read a lab report
A certificate of analysis (COA) comes from a third-party lab. Look for six items:
- Total delta-9 THC and total CBD, listed as percentages.
- Pesticide screen.
- Heavy metals: lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury.
- Microbials: mold, yeast, E. coli, Salmonella.
- Residual solvents, if the material was extracted.
- A batch or lot number that matches the package.
A COA without a batch number cannot be tied to a product. Treat it as unverified. Potency numbers above 0.3% delta-9 THC on a hemp label are a red flag.
Storage
Store flower in an airtight glass container, away from light, at 60 to 70 F. Humidity near 62% keeps bud from drying out or growing mold. Terpene content drops over months.
What flower is not
Flower is not an FDA-approved drug. The FDA has not approved cannabis flower for any medical use. Hemp flower products are not reviewed for safety or purity before sale. Claims that flower treats disease are not supported by FDA review.