With this drying ruin the high?

Well, I cut down a few of m plants on my first grow and my wife can't bear to wait to smoke the stuff. She has been cutting nuggs off my limbs hanging to dry and drying them in front of a space heater.

I tried the smoke and it was actually really smooth and fucked me up pretty bad. The question I have is will this drying method she is using deplete the quality of the high on the main colas or is it supposed to only affect the taste.

I've read about the drying and curing but I don't understand what signifigance it has with potency. Can anyone share some light?

Proper curing mostly improves texture(mouth feel, smoothness) and taste.

When properly cured a lot of the THC will have been decarboxylated(actived). I think that's what most people mean by potency. Heat also activates aka decarboxylates THC, but heat can also 'burn it up' too much.

I could see proper curing being indispensable in low-heat methods of extraction.

Proper drying and curing will also ensure maximum potency of the marijuana you have grown. Marijuana is not potent just after harvest. Some of the THC is in a non-psychoactive acidic form. Drying marijuana the right way will convert the non-psychoactive acidic compounds into psychoactive THC.

The area where the drying is done should be dark. Light and high temperatures (higher than about 80 degrees) will cause THC to break down into less desirable chemicals, this will lower the potency of the finished product.

At temperatures lower than 65 degrees, drying time will be lengthened. At temperatures higher than 75 degrees, the heat will cause the outer portion of the bud to dry quicker than the inner part, and the taste will suffer.

At humidity levels lower than 45%, the marijuana will dry too fast and the taste will suffer. At humidity levels higher than 55%, the marijuana will take a long time to dry, and it will be prone to mold.