What’s better than a sweet treat while enjoying a pleasant high from smoking marijuana? The only possible thing that could beat that is a sweet treat that gives you a pleasant high, no smoking required. THC and CBD edibles are a wildly popular method of consuming cannabis that some may find more enjoyable than the traditional method of smoking cannabis from a pipe, joint, etc. You can buy cannabis gummies from a dispensary and have a wonderful time, but if you’re looking for a more immersive experience, try making your own edibles. It’s a fun, new way to use the weed in your jar.
Edibles come in many forms. Brownies and cookies are probably the traditional recipes you think of, but there is no limit to what you could infuse with THC. If you wanted, you could probably recreate your favourite meal infused with a fragrant marijuana strain of your choice. A crowd favourite currently on the market, however, is the cannabis gummy bear. This classic childhood snack has been recreated for an older palate, and they’re a huge hit. The science behind them may seem confusing, but making THC gummy bears is not as hard as it seems. If you understand the process and follow a few simple steps, you’ll be able to make your very own cannabis gummy bears in your own kitchen.
What Makes a Good Cannabis Gummy?
Before you start making your own edibles, you should do a little research into the cannabis gummies that are on the market. Sometimes, those cooking with marijuana for the first time can miscalculate the levels of THC per serving. Too much or too little can potentially turn the experience in an unpleasant or disappointing direction.
First, you should understand a little bit about how edibles work. To get the effects of cannabis when you eat a gummy or a brownie, you have to make a distillate. Cannabis distillate is made by extracting either THC or CBD from a marijuana plant, depending on whether you want the sensation of being high or a calmer effect. Distillates are very concentrated forms of cannabis, meaning a little can go a long way. Usually, only one or two gummy bears are plenty for one person.
When buying edibles from a dispensary or making your own, pay attention to the levels in each serving. The recommended amount of THC for those just starting is 3-15 milligrams per serving. More experienced cannabis users may need up to 50 milligrams to get the desired effects. If you’re microdosing, you should stick to 1-2.5 milligrams per serving. On the other end of the spectrum, highly advanced cannabis consumers can try up to 100 milligrams per serving, but this is not recommended as a starting dosage. Start small. You can always add more THC to your next batch if you need to. Also remember that the effects of edibles take much longer than when THC is inhaled, so give it some time before going back for seconds. Marijuana affects everyone differently, and that’s even more true when it comes to edibles. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Why Make Your Own Gummies?
There are so many different kinds of edibles on the market. Why should you put in the time and energy to make your own THC gummies when you can visit a dispensary and get them immediately without all the hassle? There are several pros to making your own edibles. First of all, purchasing premade edibles doesn’t give you the satisfying feeling of being productive and creative. If you like cooking, baking, or experimenting in the kitchen, making weed gummies will quickly become your new favourite hobby.
Making your own recipe also gives you the control over what is in your gummies. You can give yourself the flavours, consistency, and exact THC and CBD levels that are right for you. You can also avoid any unwanted additives that may be in some products. Have the peace of mind of knowing that you’re putting the absolute best ingredients in your body.
Ingredients and Tools
Before you start this process, make sure you have all the supplies you need. Your kitchen should be equipped with a saucepan, whisk, gummy bear mould, and something to pour your mixture into the moulds. A syringe is recommended for this. This recipe also calls for the use of your stove and oven.
Now it’s time to collect all the delicious ingredients going into your gummies. First, pick your favourite berries and make a puree from them. You’ll need about 158 millilitres of this puree. Next, get 79 millilitres of water, 15 millilitres of lemon juice, 30 millilitres of honey, and 45 millilitres of gelatin. If you prefer not to use gelatin, you can replace it with agar agar powder, a vegan alternative. The last and most important ingredient is 10-15 millilitres of cannabis tincture (AKA distillate). You can buy premade distillates from a dispensary, or you can make one from scratch and further impress all your cannabis-loving friends.
Steps
If you’re choosing the from-scratch version of this recipe, the first step is to decarboxylate your cannabis flowers. This is a fancy way of saying you need to activate the THC in your cannabis through heat. If you skip this step, your edibles will only be a delicious snack without the effects of the cannabis you put in.
Bake your loosely crumbled cannabis between two sheets of aluminum foil at 107 degrees Celsius for 40-50 minutes. Then, grind your decarboxylated weed finely and place it in a mason jar with high-grade alcohol, like vodka. Shake the jar vigorously for half an hour to extract the cannabinoids for your tincture, then strain the liquid with a cheesecloth to remove all the plant matter. Congratulations — You just made a cannabis tincture!
Now that your cannabis tincture is ready to go, add the berry puree, water, lemon juice, and honey to the saucepan over medium-low heat. Once this is all combined, add the cannabis tincture and gelatin or agar agar powder. Slowly whisk this mixture until the gelatin is dissolved. When you’re left with a smooth liquid, use the syringe to fill the gummy bear moulds. Place the moulds in the fridge for 15 minutes or until they are completely set. Carefully remove the gummies from the moulds and enjoy the product of all your hard work with a mellow night in with your loved ones.
