DIY Guide: How to Make Your Own Cannabis Edibles at Home
Cannabis edibles have grown exponentially in popularity due to their ease of consumption, extended duration of effects, and the discretion they offer. However, not every enthusiast finds the perfect edible to match their tastes or dietary preferences in stores.
For those who don’t want to go shopping around for edibles, making them at home becomes a viable and exciting solution. Not only do you have total control over dosage, but you also get to make it taste exactly how you want it to. This guide provides a step-by-step process to create your own cannabis edibles for your next stoner holiday party.
Quality Matters
The quality of your cannabis significantly affects the final product. High-quality cannabis leads to high-quality edibles. When selecting cannabis strains for your edibles, consider factors like cannabinoid content, and whether it’s organically grown.
Remember, the strain will impact the effects of your edibles. If you want a more relaxing experience, select an Indica strain. For more energetic effects, select a Sativa strain. Whatever strain you decide to go with, make sure it fits the vibe of your party.
Understanding Decarboxylation
Before diving into cooking, it’s essential to grasp the concept of decarboxylation. Raw cannabis contains THCA, a non-intoxicating compound. To feel the psychoactive effects typically associated with THC, you must convert THCA into THC through a process called decarboxylation. This process involves heating the cannabis to a specific temperature over a certain period.
Begin by breaking down your cannabis buds into smaller pieces. Preheat your oven to 245°F (118°C) and place the cannabis pieces on a non-stick, oven-safe tray. Insert the tray into the oven for 30-40 minutes, slightly shaking it every 10 minutes to evenly heat the cannabis. Once done, your cannabis will be decarboxylated and ready for use.
Safety Considerations
Making your own cannabis edibles at home certainly has its perks, but it’s essential to remember safety. First, store your edibles securely out of reach of children, pets, and anyone else who should not be consuming them. Never be careless with your stash to avoid any unfortunate incidents.
Second, start with a small serving and wait at least an hour before consuming more. The effects of edibles take longer to kick in compared to smoking or vaping, but they are typically more potent and last longer. It’s easy to over-consume edibles, so practice patience and moderation.
Edibles Dosage
Understanding the dosage of your homemade edibles is essential to ensure a pleasant experience. Consider the THC percentage of the cannabis you used, and remember that not all THC gets extracted into your butter or oil. A safe bet is to assume around a 50% extraction rate.
The standard dose for cannabis edibles is usually around 10 milligrams of THC. Depending on how many edibles your recipe yields, you’ll be able to calculate approximately how much THC is in each edible. For example, if you make 50 cookies from a batch containing 500 milligrams of THC, each cookie will contain about 10 milligrams of THC.
Choosing Your Medium
Next, choose the medium you will infuse with your decarboxylated cannabis. Butter and oils are the most common choices due to their versatility in different recipes.
For cannabis butter, you’ll need one cup of butter and one cup of decarboxylated cannabis. Melt the butter on low heat in a saucepan before adding the cannabis. Allow the mixture to simmer for at least 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Remember, low and slow is the key here.
Creating cannabis oil follows a similar process. Replace the butter with one cup of coconut oil or any other cooking oil of your choice. As with the butter, combine the oil and cannabis in a saucepan, and simmer on low heat for a few hours.
After simmering, strain the butter or oil to remove any remaining plant material. Cheesecloth works well for this purpose. Once strained, your cannabis-infused butter or oil is ready to use.
Crafting Your Edibles
Now comes the fun part—making your edibles. You have your cannabis-infused butter or oil, so what do you want to make? Cookies? Brownies? The world is your oyster. For now, though, let’s start with some easy cookies.
For a simple cannabis cookie recipe, you’ll need two and a quarter cups of flour, one teaspoon of baking soda, one teaspoon of salt, one cup of your cannabis-infused butter or oil, three-quarter cups of granulated sugar, three-quarter cups of packed brown sugar, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, two large eggs, and two cups of chocolate chips.
First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Combine your dry ingredients such as flour, baking soda, and salt in a single bowl. In a separate, larger bowl, beat your cannabis-infused butter or oil, the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy.
Add one egg at a time to your mixture, and beat well after each drop. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, and finally, stir in the chocolate chips. Lay the balled-up mounds of dough onto ungreased baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
And just like that, your cannabis edibles are ready to eat.
