From what I observe, the standard method seems to be to dry buds in some form of box, closet etc until they appear dry on the surface.

The buds are then placed in jars for what is being called curing. My question is what exactely is taking place during this "curing" process?

It seems to me that what is taking place during "curing" is this. When you dry bud in open air the surface becomes dry. When placed in jars, additional moisture deep within the plant evenly distributes from the area of high concentration deep inside the bud to the lower areas of concentration on the surface. The same thing would happen if you placed a wet sponge and a dry spong together in a jar for a week. When you open it, both would be equally damp.

So, it seems to me that "curing" is simply the process of allowing the deep moisture to slowly diffuse and leave the plant tissue evenly as opposed to winding up with bud with over dried surface and wet center.

If this is the case, it seems that simply drying the buds slowely would have the same effect. Or is there something I am missing?

What is does is it slows the drying process down to a crawl.

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its best to slow dry thats true, and right before ur stems will crack instead of bend, its the best time for jars. ive tried smoking it right after dry and after a cure, and u'll defenitly notice the flavor brought out on the cured buds. but if u put semi-wet buds in the jars just watch them like a hawk and burp everyday

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So you cure buds that are completely dry? Is it possible then that the curing process has some microbial and or enzymatic activity that breaks down some of the components that make the smoke harsh like excessive chlorophyll?

Seems to me that pizza boxes should be a perfect slow drying tool. How long do you guys cure in jars?

curing is done in a mason jar burped 4-6 times a day for about a week this allows for a more smooth less harsh smoke

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You are basically correct even drying. When you reseal the jar the drier outside draws the moisture out of the center of the bud. Also it needs to age some for the sugars, chloropyll ect to break down hence the tastier smoke.

so curing is drying the whole bud at the same time instead of drying the outside first?.. would the same affect come from letting it dry from the outside into the inside over say a few weeks instead of drawing moisture out using a jar?
that means that curing is completley drying the bud which can be done by burping a mason jar or just lettting it sit out forawhile??

that is my understanding.
i know a guy ... here we go ... who puts his bud in the jars quite wet and cures longer figuring that it just slows the drying down more and makes a better product.

It's a similar principle to maturing cheese, or wine. The longer you leave it, the better it gets. After 5 weeks of drying and curing you'll see the difference. It's the connoisseurs choice, and that should be an adequte indicator to go by.

OK, so it sounds like two things are happening. A) The bud dries evenly by way of capilary action and difusion. B) There is some type of breakdown of unwanted materials such as chlorophyll which cause harsh smoke.

I just don't see the need for the dichotomy. A good slow drying method ought to accomplish both without the need for glass jars. In the end it should take what 2-3 weeks for a dried and cured product?