The good thing about using cannabis as a medicine is the fact that you don’t experience monotony. It’s not the same thing as swallowing pills every day. After you get a recommendation from a medical marijuana doctor, you get to choose the way you want to take your daily dose (also considering one that will suit your condition best). If you want to smoke a joint, you can. If smoking isn’t your cup of tea, you can go for edibles. And if you are one of those people who are comfortable with the experience of swallowing pills, you can get cannabis capsules too. Whatever your preference may be, cannabis has a delivery method that will satisfy your requirements. And if you don’t like either of these methods, you can convert your cannabis dose in whatever food you like. Sounds interesting, right?
Making edibles at home isn’t an easy task but you can start with some very easy recipes before getting into the more complicated ones. Here are a few cannabis edibles that are very easy to make at home.
1 Cannabis Tea
How about starting your day with a refreshing cup of cannabis tea? You can do that in just a matter of 20 minutes. And believe me, the recipe isn’t rocket science either. It’s just like brewing a normal cup of tea.
Begin with getting yourself some ground cannabis flower. Make sure that it’s not ground up too fine or it’ll become difficult to drain it. Now boil one cup of water and add some butter or oil in it. This is an important step because the THC and other cannabinoids in cannabis are not water-soluble. They need fat like butter or oil to bind to. Now, let it simmer on low heat for some time. The lower the heat, the better.
Once the tea has brewed nicely, separate the ground cannabis from the tea using a cheesecloth or a fine tea strainer and pour it into a cup. If you have some flavor preferences, you can add rose, chamomile or mint into the water while it is brewing.
2 Cannabutter
If you can master the recipe of cannabutter, you can infuse any meal with cannabis and consume it as your daily dose. It’s not easy but it’s not difficult either.
The first step is to gather the ingredients. You will need your favorite cannabis strain (dried flower), some butter (according to the dose) and a glass container.
Grind your cannabis into smaller pieces using a blender or grinder. Make sure that you don’t turn it into a fine powder. Now place the ground cannabis on a baking tray and place it in the oven. This is called the decarboxylation process. It is crucial because raw cannabis contains THCA and CBDA which has to be converted into THC and CBD if you want to have a potent edible. But, be very careful with the temperature. Keep it low and check the cannabis frequently because it will be useless if it burns.
The next step is to melt the butter with an equal amount of water. Keep the heat at the lowest setting. Once it melts completely, add the decarboxylated cannabis and stir. Maintain low heat and stir continuously to avoid the butter from sticking to the bottom or burning. Don’t let the infusion come to a boil. After simmering for 2 to 3 hours, strain the butter using a cheesecloth. Store the infusion in a glass container and refrigerate it. Now you can use this cannabis-infused butter as a spread on a toast or as a replacement for cooking oil.
3 Chocolate
How about cannabis edibles that double as a dessert?
Cannabis chocolates are preferred by many cannabis consumers as they are convenient and tasty. The best part is that they are very easy to make at home.
Start by the same old decarboxylation process. Grind up your cannabis and put it in the oven for a few minutes. Now take some chocolate chips, dark, milk or white, and melt them using the water bath method. Make sure that the water does not mix with the chocolate. Add the decarboxylated cannabis and mix well.
Slowly add the mixture into silicone molds and let it rest at room temperature. Once the chocolate sets, store it in a cool and dry place with low humidity to make it last for months.
4 Gummies
Long gone are the days of cannabis brownies. Now is the time for more simple and convenient ways of dosage that you can just pop in your mouth and relax. I’m talking about cannabis gummies. It takes no more than 20 minutes to make and is very simple too.
Boil some water and your favorite cannabis infusion in a pan on low heat. Stir it as frequently as possible. After a few minutes, add gelatin (flavored or unflavored) into the mixture and stir again for some time. You can also add your favorite food coloring if you want and make rainbow gummies.
Now take a silicone mold and coat it with a thin layer of cooking oil. Pour the mixture into the molds before it cools off and place it in the freezer for 30 to 45 minutes. Once they are empty, put them in a glass container and store in a cool and dry place.
5 Cannabis Firecrackers
This recipe sounds fancy but it is the easiest one on my list. It can serve the purpose of an evening snack as well as your cannabis dose.
The first step is to decarboxylate cannabis. Make sure to not burn the flower. Now, take two crackers (salted or plain) and add a generous spread of peanut butter on each one. Now take your decarboxylated cannabis and spread it on top of the peanut butter. You can even mix it in the butter beforehand if you like. Place one cracker on top of another and press lightly. Voila! Your cannabis firecracker is ready.
6 Banana Bread
Imagine spending your evening with a slice of warm banana bread and a cup of coffee that serves the purpose of relaxation as well as a dosing session. So, put on your apron and prepare yourself to bake a loaf of banana bread.
First, begin the preparation. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and coat the baking tray with parchment paper and cooking oil. Now mix the wet ingredients together. Mix sugar in melted butter and add eggs, vanilla essence, and ripe banana (mashed). Take a different bowl and mix all the dry ingredients like flour, baking soda, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. In the end, mix both wet and dry ingredients and pour the mixture into the baking tray. Place it in the oven for 70 to 75 minutes. You can use the toothpick method to check if it’s baked or not. Once it cools down, cut the loaf into slices and enjoy.
When cooking with cannabis, be very careful about the dose. It can be difficult to measure the exact amount so always consult a professional or someone who has experience cooking with cannabis. Once you figure out the right dose, there is no stopping you from making delicious edibles at home.
And remember, medical cannabis can only be used with a legit recommendation. If you don’t have one or have an expired recommendation or card, make use of telemedicine to connect with a doctor online and get your new recommendation or MMJ card renewal.