potentency I guess in my theory can only go down after harvest, but I do beleive drying and curing is how you get good smokable buds, and Im sure the curing process helps all those pretty trichs (crystals) not burn up as much when you hit it with your lighter. Thats why you get a vaporizer, id go with a volcano, its 100% the KING of vapes. Smoke it if you must, but if you can contain yourself, scroll up, go to the FAQs and look for info on harvesting or curing, I've heard of water curing being a quick way to cure, but still you gotta wait a couple days. The plant made it all that way, atleast respect those buds and cure em right!!!