What is the science behind not exposing buds to sunlight after harvest?

3waygreatness · Mar 28, 2012

So, my buddy came over and told me that it was good to put the harvested buds in the sunlight to dry them. He said that it helps. But I persistantly told him that was a bad idea and it will degrade THC levels. Was I right to say this or what is the science behind this idea? I just want to give the right information out there so I can stop this rumor and hopefully I didn't start another marijuana cultivation trick rumor....there are so many stupid lil tricks that people think work and just don't even work or the method will show negative results. People are encourgable.

jeeba · Mar 28, 2012

You are correct sunlight degrades it.

wyteboi · Mar 28, 2012

3waygreatness said:
So, my buddy came over and told me that it was good to put the harvested buds in the sunlight to dry them. He said that it helps. But I persistantly told him that was a bad idea and it will degrade THC levels. Was I right to say this or what is the science behind this idea? I just want to give the right information out there so I can stop this rumor and hopefully I didn't start another marijuana cultivation trick rumor....there are so many stupid lil tricks that people think work and just don't even work or the method will show negative results. People are encourgable.

there is a lot of science behind that and usally i am the science man (made simple) but on this subject i can only go by what i was taught many moons ago: sunlight degrades the thc. i am pretty sure this is true but i can not explain it like you want.

there are a couple guys here that can break it all the way down for you and there is a lot on here that will tell you what they want you to hear.

the fact is curing is an art , and if light fucks with your art in any way it is subject to change.

soil

RetiredMatthebrute · Mar 28, 2012

jeeba said:
You are correct sunlight degrades it.

verry scientific response

RetiredMatthebrute · Mar 28, 2012

THC degrades over time anyways and it is LIGHT that degrades THC not just sunlight so if your hanging them in your room with a light on its degrading the THC as well (if it actaully does degrade it i dont know)

heres a good reason not to hang them in direct sunlight, especially in the warmer months it will just cook them and dry them out too fast which will effect the curing process.

Jogro · Mar 28, 2012

Well, the quick answer is that sunlight DOES degrade THC, it does so by acceleration oxidation of the THC to CBN. Oxygen content and especially high temperatures also degrade THC.

In the context of hair drug testing, this medical reference discusses it a bit, though the references it cites are probably more detailed in terms of explaining the specific molecular chemistry involved:

http://www.clinchem.org/content/46/11/1846.full

Stability of Cannabinoids in Hair Samples Exposed to Sunlight

Gisela Skopp 1,1,

Lucia Pötsch 2 and

Martin Mauden 1

... Exposure to light produced marked decreases in THC, CBN, and CBD concentrations. . ..

mccumcumber · Mar 28, 2012

The way THC works is like a sunscreen. The sun degrades it, and the plant, in return, puts on more "sunscreen" as a response to the THC being degraded. The plant is trying to protect itself from the UV rays and the whole visible spectrum as well.

Now, when you don't have a plant attached to your buds there is no way for the THC to be applied back onto it. So, the sunlight is just degrading the THC without anyway to put more THC on the buds.

This is a paraphrase of some info that came from the medical mj research facility in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, it got shut down so I couldn't just give you the scientific article. I hope this suffices.

Jogro · Mar 28, 2012

3waygreatness said:
So, my buddy came over and told me that it was good to put the harvested buds in the sunlight to dry them. He said that it helps. But I persistantly told him that was a bad idea and it will degrade THC levels. Was I right to say this or what is the science behind this idea? I just want to give the right information out there so I can stop this rumor and hopefully I didn't start another marijuana cultivation trick rumor....there are so many stupid lil tricks that people think work and just don't even work or the method will show negative results. People are encourgable.

"Incorrigible". (Also see "ironic').

Anyway, your friend isn't totally insane; sun-curing bud actually is one historical way to do it. But usually the buds are WRAPPED UP first, so that they aren't exposed to direct sunlight, but rather just heat from the sun.

In any case, even though you "can" cure buds this way, that doesn't make it the 'best' way, and I think you are dead on here.

A few seconds of light won't ruin your buds, but to the extent possible, you want to avoid exposure to sunlight and high temperatures, because both will degrade THC. Even if they do/did dry bud this way in the mountains of Columbia, for example, I don't see a good reason why you should want to do it at home!

Jogro · Mar 28, 2012

mccumcumber said:
This is a paraphrase of some info that came from the medical mj research facility in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, it got shut down so I couldn't just give you the scientific article. I hope this suffices.

I've heard mutterings about the published data form this place being available at one time, then lost in the "mist" of the early internet.

Do you have any more information about this source, or know where someone might obtain copies of this data, even paying for them?

mccumcumber · Mar 28, 2012

I think Bricktop has a bunch of the info saved if you can get a hold of him.

3waygreatness · Mar 28, 2012

The way THC works is like a sunscreen. The sun degrades it, and the plant, in return, puts on more "sunscreen" as a response to the THC being degraded. The plant is trying to protect itself from the UV rays and the whole visible spectrum as well.

Now, when you don't have a plant attached to your buds there is no way for the THC to be applied back onto it. So, the sunlight is just degrading the THC without anyway to put more THC on the buds.

This is a paraphrase of some info that came from the medical mj research facility in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, it got shut down so I couldn't just give you the scientific article. I hope this suffices.

Thanks that makes a lot of sense!

catmando · Mar 30, 2012

ultra violet light breaks chemical bonds, so it basically causes the THC to decay

What is the science behind not exposing buds to sunlight after harvest?

3waygreatness

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RetiredMatthebrute

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mccumcumber

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