Archive · 2020-03-10

We are lucky enough to live in a time where cannabis is no longer an underground dirty little secret. It is now recognized as a wonder plant with medicinal as well as meditative properties. Smoking has long been the most common method of usage, and vaping has become a popular trend but many prefer the beauty of internal consumption. In other words - cannabis edibles! Most dispensaries are now stocked with not only the typical brownie or cookie or gummy, but many also carry infused treats like chocolate-covered coffee beans, cotton candy, breakfast cereal, and even beef jerky. But for those on a budget or creative types who just love to cook and bake, making your own edibles may seem like a great idea. And it can be. As long as you avoid some of the biggest and most basic cannabis edibles mistakes. 

You’ve Gotta Prep

Cannabis edibles mistake #1 is using raw cannabis flower. I’m going to throw a big word at you: decarboxylate. Raw cannabis is lacking in activated THC. That’s right – raw cannabis has zero THC in it.  Terahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive compound that gives you that high feeling. So if that’s what you’re hoping to get from ingesting your edible, you can’t just throw that raw bud right in there - You have to decarboxylate it first. Now, I’m not going to make your eyes glaze over by throwing a bunch of science at you - you can Google if you’re really interested - but the bottom line is, you have to cook your bud. Low & slow. Best bet is to heat it in an oven at 245 °F for 30 min, mixing it around every 10 min or so until it loses that bright green color and becomes a more neutral shade.

You Can’t Over-Grind

Everyone wants an edible that gets you high - but no one wants one that tastes like pot! Those new to cannabis baking may mistakenly believe that grinding the bud as fine as possible into a powder will cause it to blend better and help disguise that distinct and pungent taste. But in actuality, if it is ground too finely, it may actually intensify that herbal, grassy flavor and increase the green color which makes it look far less appetizing. It also makes it nearly impossible to strain. So when grinding up your decarboxylated bud, you want to do a coarse grind with a hand grinder.

Don’t Use Too Much; Don’t Use Too Little

You want to always keep in mind the 1:1 ratio - 1 cup of ground cannabis (approx. 7 – 10 grams) to every 1 cup of oil. There is a limit to how many cannabinoids the lipids in the oil can bind with so exceeding this ratio with a “more is better” mentality is just plain wasteful. Don’t do it.  Just say no. And while we’re on the subject of wasteful…

Don’t Blow Your Cash on Premium Flower

Don’t waste your good weed or your hard-earned money when you don’t need to. When it comes to edibles, you can get the same beautiful high from oil that is infused with shake as you can with that infused with high-quality bud. In fact you can make use of stems, trims, and even flower that has already been vaped! It’s all the same so save where you can.

Don’t Forget To Stir

There’s not much worse than eating that edible you’ve slaved over - and the feeling absolutely nothing while the buddy you’ve shared with is passed out on the floor. You have to ensure even distribution within your edible for consistent dosing. And the only way to do that is to stir, stir, stir - and when you think you’re done stirring, stir again.

Avoid Cannabis Edibles Mistakes

So there you have it - a crash course in Cannabis Baking 101. Don’t let the complexity of it all scare you away - Making your own edibles can be a super fun activity, as well as a great way to know exactly what it is you’re ingesting. Recipes on the Internet abound and, as long as you keep these pointers in mind, the experience of creating your own edibles can be a truly amazing one. Now … get to cookin’!