Drying is the stage where you lose the most value in the least time. Three months of careful growing can degrade in a week, and the dominant doctrine on the subject has just been challenged by work carried out on CBD-rich hemp specifically.
What drying has to achieve
A fresh inflorescence contains roughly three quarters water. Drying has to bring that content down to a level that allows storage, without destroying what makes the product valuable. These two objectives pull in opposite directions, and the whole challenge lies in balancing them.
Insufficient drying leaves a product that will degrade in storage, with a microbiological risk. Drying that is too aggressive sends volatile compounds you spent weeks producing out along with the water.
A badly dried batch cannot be salvaged. Unlike a deficiency or a climate problem, there is no correcting it after the fact.
