With cannabis edibles becoming increasingly popular, many people are trying to make their own with delicious recipes and better for your health than smoking. When making edibles, there should always be consistency between the THC levels of the cannabis and the quantity you add to the recipe.
The problem is that not all strains are created equally, and the differences can be pretty substantial. Moreover, you need to prepare your cannabis in advance to get the most out of your experience. This post will cover the main advantages of ingesting over inhaling it and how to prepare your cannabis ready for cooking.
What Are Cannabis Edibles?
Cannabis edibles are food products containing THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for the high. They can be baked goods, drinks, or candy. There are many misconceptions about edibles, but they're not dangerous if you know what you're doing. You should always start with a low dose and wait at least 2 hours before taking more because it can take up to 2 hours for edibles to take effect. Some people choose to
make a marijuana brownie, while others opt for gummies or even dropping oil into smoothies or coffee. When it comes to baked goods, you need to mix them with some form of fat. The cannabis is mixed with butter or oil, and then the food is cooked with the mixture.
Why Ingest It Rather Than Smoke?
Cannabis edibles are often preferred over smoking because they provide a different type of high that lasts longer, is less intense, and doesn't have as many harsh side effects for some people. Ingesting cannabis edibles can have more intense effects than smoking or vaping. This is because it enters directly into the bloodstream through the stomach rather than being processed by the lungs and passed through the blood vessels to get to your brain. Moreover, cannabis edibles can be an excellent way to introduce people to cannabis that may not be interested in smoking or vaping it. It is also a more discreet way to consume cannabis than smoking it. Some of the main advantages of eating marijuana-infused foods include:
- It is a healthy alternative to smoking:
No matter what spin you want to put on it, inhaling any form of smoke deep into your lungs is not great. Moreover, it becomes even more unhealthy if you mix tobacco with it when you skin up. Eating provides a healthier alternative for those unwilling to damage their lungs but still want to enjoy the experience.
- It is excellent for pain relief:
It has been well-documented that weed plays a
role in pain relief, and in some cases ingesting it can be an excellent alternative to smoking as it tends to create less nausea.
It creates a different high:
Consuming weed via food creates a radically different effect than smoking it. One of the most notable differences is the length of time the results last.
- There are many ways to consume it:
Smoking is as smoking does, and for those looking for more exciting ways to consume their gear, eating provides a plethora of opportunities.
How To Make Your Edibles
So you have some weed and want to start making edibles with it, that's a step in the right direction. However, there is more to it than simply throwing a load of buds into a brownie mix and whacking it in the oven. Some preparation is required.
Decarboxylation Is Required
In order to achieve the psychoactive effects of cannabis, you need to heat it up to create an effect known as decarboxylation. The decarboxylation of cannabis
is a chemical process that removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide (CO2). It is how raw cannabis transforms into activated cannabis or cannabinoids. The decarboxylation of cannabis is done by heating the plant material at a specific temperature for a certain amount of time. This process converts the inactive tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) to active tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Raw or unheated cannabis plants contain THCA, while heated and activated plants contain THC required to cause an effect.
Infuse It With A Fat
In the next step, you'll infuse your decarboxylated weed with some form of fat, butter, or oil is the most common. The most widely used way to cook is by making what is known as cannabutter. Cannabutter is a cannabis-infused butter that is the base for many cannabis edibles. It can be used as an ingredient in recipes, or it can be eaten on its own.
If you're just looking for a quick THC fix, cannabis edibles aren't for you. But if you're committed to exploring the world of cannabis and its possibilities, start with a few safe and enjoyable experiences, and you'll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle, one infused with a bit of extra green.