When the cannabis plants have matured then it is time to harvest them and the most common way to do this is to stop watering the plants approximately 48 hours prior to harvesting, then pull the plants including the roots from the soil. The plants are then hung upside down for twenty-four hours, after they have been hung for the amount of time they can be placed with the head in a paper bag for three to four days or until the leaves feel dry when touched. The leaves can then be taken off of the stem and placed in glass jars with lids, and they should be loose inside so the air is able reach every part of the leaves. The leaves must be dry prior to placing them in the jars or they can become moldy, which is one of the largest risk factors when drying the marijuana. When the leaves are in the jar they should be checked every day and if there is a hint of any mold the leaves should be laid out on newspaper to dry more.

Mold if it begins will ruin the pot, and it will destroy the resin, marijuana that is cured properly will smoke clean and will not have a bite to it. Smelling the leaves in the jar will have an acrid smell if they are too damp when placed in the jar and should be removed immediately.

It is also possible to dry pot plants in the sun, by using dampened burlap bags to cover the plants while hanging upside down for a week. Then the ganja leaves can be placed in paper bags for a few days until it is dry enough to be smoked.

When marijuana is cured properly there will be no chlorophyll taste and the pot will be smooth and have no bite to it when smoked.