What Are Edibles?

Edibles are food products that have been infused with cannabinoids such as THC for recreational use and CBD primarily for medical purposes. This active content makes the edibles potent and equates the experience to that which can be had by smoking marijuana. For the successful making of weed edibles and less wastage of weed used, a few factors need to be taken into consideration.

1. Decarboxylation of the weed

Raw weed contains THC-Acid which needs to be broken down to the sought THC or CBD. This requires the weed to be heated so that the cannabinoids can be converted and released into your edible. This process is known as decarboxylating the weed and helps in maximizing the THC potency of your edible. Notice you do not have to do this with inhaling as you are already doing it when lighting it.

Do’s:

• If using cannabutter as your source of cannabinoids for your edibles, slow cook it before you add it to the rest of the ingredients.
• When using raw weed, you can speed up this process by evenly scattering and baking the weed nuggets in your oven at a temperature of no more than 248 F (120 C)  for an hour.

Don’ts:

• Do not start cooking with the weed raw. You have to convert and extract the active content through the process above before adding your cannabis infusion to the rest of the ingredients.
• During the decarboxylation process, slow cook or roast the buds in the temperature indicated, but don’t burn it!

2. How much weed do I use?

Consider factors such as the strain, potency, and resistance to THC when obtaining weed for making edibles. Different strains have different cannabinoids concentration which translates to potency variations. Highly potent weed can be used in little amounts, and the reverse also holds. Potency can be tested by smoking or vaping on a little of the obtained weed to establish how potent it may be. Edibles take a little while longer for the high to set in as compared to smoking a joint.

Do’s:

• Rule of thumb states that the higher the potency of the weed, the less it can be used in making the edible. The advantage is that you can add the dosage of the edible as you please if the high is too fleeting. The downside is that edibles may take a little longer to release the active cannabinoids, and overdosing may be easy.

Don’ts:

• Do not over-medicate, as you might not feel the high immediately. Find out the potency of your weed supply before you use it for your ingredient, and be aware that cooking might intensify the potency of the weed a little.

3. Grinding the raw weed

The trichomes contain a resin that in turn contains THC. These are usually found covering the bud and the sugar leaves. Grinding and handling the weed too much deprives your weed of this resource.

Do’s:

• Preheat the weed to decarboxylate it before adding it to the other ingredients for your edible. This way, most of the trichomes are preserved and maximum THC potency in your edible achieved.

Don’ts:

• Do not grind the weed into fine powder as it adds more weed plant material into your product, which may result in an increase in green coloring and a strong weed flavor/aroma which may be unwanted.

4. Seasoning

During the preparation of an edible, the recipe may call for additional spices and seasoning. Feel free to add these to taste at your discretion and spice up the aromatic presentation of your final product. You want to achieve the taste of the edible while giving only a small hint of the cannabis content.

Do’s:

• Use other spices and seasonings to bring out the original taste of the recipe, with the smell and taste of weed barely discernible (or as desired).

Don’ts:

• Do not overuse or underuse seasonings on account of the weed added. You will need to add enough to taste, and if need be, to mask the flavor and aroma brought in by the weed element.

Final Thoughts

Making weed edibles is a fun and rewarding process when done correctly. To gain maximum potency in your edibles from any weed that you may use you need to remember that it can be infused very well by oil and butter to make an ingredient for any recipe. Alcoholic extracts of weed are also available or can be made to create edible drinks as well. Dosage, potency, and resistance to THC make for important factors to consider during serving, which should be done moderately and allow digestion and activation of the ultimate high.