You have got some marijuana with you, but struggling with the process of making edibles? Do not worry, we will be your savior in the process of getting high. Edibles are the newest entry in the world of consuming weed.
You might have heard of or used marijuana in smoking or vaping. But consuming them in the form of food items is a whole new world. You can buy edibles from a store or you can make them at home.
In this article, we will help you out with cooking edibles and will also discuss some tips on how to consume them. So come, let us find out how to make edibles.
Read More: How To Smoke A Blunt
What Are Edibles?
- Edibles are food products but with a high twist (pun intended). They contain cannabis. Edibles have become the new sensation in the stoned world. Instead of smoking marijuana, people are turning to eating marijuana.
- Edibles are sold in a wide variety of forms such as candies, chocolates, ice creams, snacks, and even fresh breath mints.
- Edibles also have medicinal uses. It helps in relieving pain.
- Our ancestors used cannabis in cooking. They have been also used in Ayurvedic medicines in the past. But the ban on the consumption of marijuana and its treatment as an addictive drug made its uses illegal. However, the acceptance of edibles as mild pleasure drugs with medicinal uses has again soared its popularity.
Edibles can be categorized mainly into three categories according to the type of active products they contain:
1. Edibles with dominant THC
These edibles are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)dominant. THC provides cannabis with its narcotic and psychoactive effects. It is mostly used for pleasure.
2. Edibles with dominant CBD
These edibles are CBD (cannabidiol) dominant. CBD enhances the strength and duration of cannabis as it sustains THC. This creates a relaxing effect. It has medicinal properties.
3. Edibles with equal THC and CBD
These edibles have an equal proportion of THC and CBD.
It is now the time for you to understand how to make edibles.
How to Make Edibles? Step-by-Step Guide.
1. Pick a strain
The first thing you need to have to start making edibles is quite obvious. You need cannabis flowers. You can purchase store-bought cannabis as well if you are in a hurry to get high. We will discuss the edible-making guide from store-bought cannabis as well after the flower version.
But the advantage of using flowers is that it offers you several strain options. Strains can be chosen based on what benefits you are aiming for. Choosing a strain that you have earlier smoked is a safe bet. The next step is to focus on ingredients and tools.
2. Choose your ingredients
Pick up ingredients such as good-quality chocolate, baking powder, unsalted butter, and all-purpose flour. You also need to buy eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, and kosher salt. Apart from ingredients, you will need some tools as well. A cookie sheet, parchment paper, food processor, spoon, muslin cloth, and a weed grinder will also be required.
3. Decarboxylation process
If you have chosen the option of the flowers, you need to heat (decarboxylate) the cannabis to activate the THC and CBD components. This process must be completed before you can start cooking. You can either complete this process by boiling water in a slow cooker or you can bake your cannabis.
Certain heating devices are available in the market that is specially made for this process but they are expensive. Just make sure, you decarboxylate your cannabis carefully. This process takes time.
Heating your oven to 100 degrees Celsius and then placing the flowers thinly spread on parchment paper will do the trick. Make sure the flowers are ground. A light brown color is an indication for you to move to the next step.
Read More: How To Roll A Cross Joint?
4. Create a base
The next step involves infusing your cannabis into a base. The fan-favorite recipe uses the decarbed flower, unsalted butter, and any food product containing lecithin such as eggs. Cook the mixture in a slow cooker for hours and strain and cool it before storing it in the refrigerator. You can also use flour, oil, etc. for the same.
5. Get Creative with Your Stash
And, now comes the fun part. You can use your cannabis-infused base to bake cookies, garnish oatmeals or make some savory snacks. Store the infused base in the fridge and start enjoying more dishes with a twist of cannabis.
How to Make Edibles from Store-Bought Tinctures or Cannabis Distillate?
Add the store-bought cannabis tincture to food and drinks directly. You do not need to decarboxylate them. Heating them loses all the properties of cannabis. Add the tincture to juice, pasta sauce, and even salad dressing.
You can also use cannabis distillate (cannabis with concentrated THC or CBD). Melt the distillate and you can directly add it to hot drinks. You can also melt it into cooking oil by using a microwave. Then use that oil to cook your dishes.
Tips to Consume Edibles
The dose of edibles varies from person to person. Your health, genetics, and lifestyle can affect the dosage. The healthier you are the lower will be your dosage. People with higher enzymes in their liver will need a higher dose as the edibles will be processed faster. A high-fat food allows your body to absorb more edibles.
The best part about consuming edibles is that you are less likely to be affected by the cons of smoking cannabis. Start your journey with edible making at home slowly by using different amounts. Find out what dose works for your best and stick to that.
Do edibles have side effects?
Yes, cannabis has side effects. It can lead to substance abuse if you are not careful with the dosage. Unchecked consumption of edibles can intoxicate you and put your health at risk. People with heart ailments should consult their healthcare provider before consuming edibles. All in all, edibles can be consumed but make sure to not go overboard and listen to your body for any issues.
To conclude, edibles are a fun way to have all the pleasures of getting high without worrying about the mess and smell associated with vaping and smoking. We hope this guide will help you to understand how to make edibles.
