Edibles are cannabis-infused food and drinks that provide an alternative way to consume marijuana. They come in various forms, including baked goods like brownies, gummies, chocolates and candy bars; beverages such as teas and sodas; tinctures that can be added to foods or drinks; and capsules filled with oil or powder. You can’t just put fresh grown cannabis into your foods and expect to get high though. There’s a whole science behind it. Keep reading to learn more about edibles and why they have been gaining attention lately. I feel like every stoner that is around 20 years old has parents that are rediscovering weed through edibles and are loving it.

Why Are Edibles So Popular

Edibles offer a much more discreet way of consuming marijuana than smoking it, which has made them increasingly popular among those looking for a less conspicuous experience. Just eat however much cannabis you want to consume and wait an hour or so. They are also easier to dose than other ways of consuming cannabis.

Edibles allow users to enjoy the effects of cannabis without having to inhale smoke or vapor into their lungs. This provides those who don’t want to smoke with a way to use cannabis to their benefit. It’s much easier to have someone try an edible or tincture than try to get them to smoke weed.

They also provide users with an enjoyable taste along with their desired effects. You can make your edibles and flavor you want if you make them yourself. Even if you don’t, most dispensaries have a large selection of different types of edibles. With so many advantages over other consumption methods, it’s no wonder why edibles have become one of the most popular ways to consume marijuana today.

Different Types of Edibles

Edibles can fall into a few different categories. Some people prefer their THC to come from baked goods, others go the gummy route and some just stick to tincture or RSO.

Baked Goods

Think your grandma’s cookies, but with weed. Brownies, cakes, pastries… pretty much any baked good that uses an oil/butter in the recipe can be made into a edible.

Gummies

The ever popular choice for people new to cannabis. Dispensaries are now full of gummies to cater to the large amount of people who like the ease of use and the basically non-existent taste/smell.

Tincture/RSO

Tinctures are basically just the THC suspended in an oil or alcohol. RSO, or Rick Simpson Oil, is made by using alcohol to separate the THC from the flower. Here is a good article on RSO.

How To Make Edibles

Making edibles at home is becoming increasingly popular with marijuana users, as it offers an easy and cost-effective way to enjoy the effects of cannabis.

Make Cannabutter/Cannaoil

The process begins by decarboxylating your weed, which activates the THC so that you can feel its effects. You can see our guide on decarbing weed here. After that, you’ll need to infuse butter or oil with your cannabis in order to create what is called a “cannabutter” or “cannaoil” mixture. You need to use butter or oils as THC is fat soluble. That means that it can only attach itself to the fats in the butter/oil.

To make cannabutter, take your decarbed weed and place it into melted butter or oil and slowly heat(over low heat) for a few hours. Make sure you aren’t burning the butter or oil and continuously stir the mixture. The length of infusing will depend on how strong you want to make the edibles, the longer you infuse, the more potent the cannabutter will be. Use a strainer or cheesecloth to remove all the plant matter from the finished product.

Here is a recipe I found online for cannabutter.

Turning Cannabutter into Edibles

This mixture can then be used in baking recipes for edibles such as brownies, cookies and cakes. Just substitute the butter or oil that the recipe calls for with cannabutter/cannaoil.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to bake anything, you can also use the cannabutter/oil mix directly in food items like macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes. You can even make drinks out of it! With a little creativity and experimentation, there are endless possibilities when it comes to making delicious edible creations at home.

How to Safely Consume Edibles

Edibles are a great way to reap the benefits of cannabis without having to smoke or inhale anything. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and how to safely consume edibles in order to get the best experience. Here are some tips on how to safely enjoy your edibles.

Start low and slow

Edibles can be very potent, so it’s important to start off with a small dose and wait at least one hour before taking more. This leads us to the next tip.

Set your expectations

Unlike smoking or vaping cannabis, edibles take much longer to kick in and the effects can last much longer. You don’t want to be caught off guard by the sudden intensity of the effects.

Be patient

As mentioned above, edibles tend to take longer than other consumption methods to kick in and the effects may not come on all at once. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for you to feel the full effects.

There are many stories of people not feeling the effects of the edibles in an hour and they proceed to take more. When the high finally hits, they have a very bad experience cause they took too much. Don’t fall into that trap. Follow these tips to consume edibles safely and responsibly.

Conclusion

Edibles offer a more discreet and enjoyable way to consume marijuana than smoking or vaping, as well as being easier to dose. You can also make them at home; decarboxylating the weed, infusing butter or oil with cannabis and using that mixture in baking recipes for edibles like brownies, cookies and cakes but that’s just the start. Substitute cannabutter with butter in any recipe and turn your food into a cannabis infused meal. With so many advantages over other consumption methods it’s no wonder why they have become one of the most popular ways to use marijuana today. Whether you decide to make them yourself or buy from your local dispensary, taking advantage of what edibles has to offer is an experience worth trying!