The truth is, making cannabis edibles requires some trial and error. It’s not as simple as cutting off a piece of cannabis infused cookie dough and throwing it the oven. Not yet, at least.

So if you’re ready to try again (or perhaps for the first time), we’ve got some simple tips for making cannabis edibles that could be game changers.

Tips for Making Cannabis Edibles

So as cannabis marketing experts, what could we possibly know about baking and cooking with cannabis? Well, let’s just say that we’re multi-faceted. Nobody is gonna put us in a corner.

That said, the key to creating edibles with cannabis comes down to the science of decarboxylation and infusion. Once you get a handle on that, you’ll get into your own groove.

1. Decarboxylate Your Cannabis

This is a necessary step that you cannot skip.

Newbies often think they can just toss a bunch of raw flower into their batter and call it a day. But it’ll be a bad day. Because your baked good is not going to taste good and the cannabinoids won’t be able to bind to the fats and you won’t be able to get baked yourself.

So always decarboxylate. Your best bet is to set your oven to 245°F, and cook the cannabis for 30-40 minutes – being sure to mix the buds every ten minutes.

2. Know the Right Amount of Cannabis

As we said above, there’s trial and error in the whole process here. But it’s safe to say that right out of the gate, you don’t need to toss half an ounce of cannabis into the oven to yield a cup of infused butter.

The ratio is 1:1. So if you’re making a cup of oil, then you’ll need a cup of ground cannabis. And that’s in the 7-10 gram range. Any more than that is a waste. After all, the fats in the oil can only bind with so many cannabinoids.

3. Stick With a Course Grind

Once your cannabis is decarboxylated, you’ll need to grind it.

Bypass the food processor or coffee grinder and opt for a hand grinder instead. The more powder-like your cannabis, the grassier tasting your edible will be. This is generally not desirable – unless you’re part rabbit.

Plus, it’s going to make it much harder to strain out the unwanted and bad-tasting plant materials.

4. Let Gravity to the Straining

As eager as you might be to have your finished product and get to cooking and baking, it’s important you be patient straining the decarboxylated cannabis.

Pour the infused oil over a cheesecloth and then let gravity take care of the rest. This gentle and natural approach will effectively strain out the undesirable material. If you try to press on the cloth or squeeze out the oil, it’s going to push out the unwanted materials into the oil as well.

So be patient.

5. Stir Your Batter Well

Ever sat down with some friends to partake in some pot brownies or cookies, but didn’t really feel the “magic” while the guy next to you was trippin’ balls?

If you’re not conscious about stirring the batter thoroughly, some of those cookies or brownies may get the lion’s share of the oil while others will have barely any.

So to keep the magic evenly distributed, stir well and stir often.

Get Into the Kitchen and Start Experimenting

Armed with these helpful tips for cooking cannabis edibles, you may be the one bringing the most popular dish to the next party.

At the very least, you won’t end up with foul-tasting edibles whose sole contribution is calories. So get in there and experiment!

And for more stories from the cannabis industry, keep checking back with our blog.

The post Tips for Making Cannabis Edibles appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

Everyone else who’s dabbled in THC edibles may not have been quite so lucky. You might know what we’re talking about. Even as cannabis marketing professionals, we haven’t all been immune to it.

It’s that too-late realization that you ate more of that brownie than you needed to and you’re getting ready to scurry down the rabbit hole.

And it’s part of what makes edibles dosing so complicated. Fortunately, the world has a deeper understanding of how to dose edibles now. Well, sorta.

CBD to the Rescue

Try bringing some CBD on the scene.

Working as a team, CBD to THC can enhance the medical benefits of marijuana edibles. For example, they may work better together rather than separately to relieve pain and anxiety. By the same token, they can together decrease the adverse effects such as elevated heart rate or impairment.

That’s because CBD partially blocks the intoxicating effects of THC. Folks who have been prescribed medical marijuana but have traditionally struggled with the psychoactive effects of THC will usually opt for products that have both CBD and THC.

Of course, this doesn’t ensure there won’t be negative effects from over consumption of THC. For those who are highly sensitive to THC, they may find more relief with a higher CBD to THC ratio. However, the quality of the medical effects also decreases.

Thus, if you need 5mg of THC for medical purposes but tend to have a negative reaction to THC, you should first try at 4:1 CBD to THC ratio product. From there, you can work down to a lower ratio until you find the right amount.

Why Reactions to Edible Doses Vary So Much

Just as everyone has a different experience with side effects from prescription drugs, so too is the case with THC.

So even though Bob breaks out into a rash after taking Humira, Louise handles it just fine. Her internal physiologic environment handles it better than does Bob’s. Meanwhile, Bob may be able to smoke a big ole doobie that would make Louise crawl out of her skin.

Edibles are even more complicated – mostly because the effects take so much longer to feel. So one person’s response to 10mg of THC can vary wildly from another’s. There are several factors here.

The first is previous cannabis use. Newbies are actually less likely to feel the effects than those who’ve had it in their system before. Thus it’s recommended they try a low dose three times with 8 to 24 hours between trials before playing with increasing it.

Then there’s the issue of each individual’s gastrointestinal system. Some people have systems that simply won’t absorb THC through the gut.

Of course, the function and sensitivity of one’s endocannabinoid system also comes into play. So all of this makes it tough to figure out how to dose edibles.

There are some basic guidelines though.

Edibles Dosing

If you’re brand new to the game or you’re interested in microdosing, start with 1 to 2.5 mg THC. This amount can provide mild relief of symptoms like pain, stress, and anxiety.

For those who need stronger relief, they begin to SLOWLY dose upward from 2.5 to 15 mg THC. If you start to notice an unpleasant feeling from the THC, you can start introducing equal amounts of CBD.

Once you get up to 30 to 50 mg of THC, you’re going to start getting powerful relief medical conditions, but also feel the psychoactive effects pretty strongly. For some, this is a plus. For others, adding a higher ratio of CBD can help to counteract this.

Finally, the 50 to 100 mg THC level is the exclusive terrain of experienced and high-tolerance consumers. This level is often prescribed for those with cancer, inflammatory disorders, and other serious conditions.

Strike a Balance

If you’re fortunate enough to enjoy the edible experience without any kind of adverse reaction, rock on!

For the rest of us mere mortals, the trickiness of edibles dosing comes down to starting at a low dosage, giving it ample time to digest, and employing CBD as needed.

Then again, you could always just vape…

Want more news from the world of cannabis? Keep checking back with our regularly updated blog.

The post The Trickiness of Edibles Dosing appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

We all know by now that cannabis has a slew of medicinal and therapeutic benefits. It’s anti-anxiety, anti-pain, immune-modulating, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory.

That’s a pretty impressive laundry list given the times.

Still, the first line of defense against the scourge that is COVID-19 is avoiding lung irritation. So smart cannabis consumption during COVID-19 could mean no more passing the kouchie by the left-hand (or any other) side.

At least for now.

The Problem with Smoking and E-Cigarettes

It should come as no surprise that any inhaled substance can affect the respiratory system.

Smoke of any kind can cause lung irritation and microscopic injury to the pulmonary epithelium. These tiny cells line most of the respiratory tract and you want them operating effectively. Well, only if you want to breathe.

You may be thinking, “Well, smoking weed is not as bad as smoking cigarettes. And people are still doing that.” But here’s the thing. Cannabis inhalations tend to be about 66% larger in puff volume than tobacco. Plus, the inhaled volume is around 33% more. And let’s not forget that cannabis smokers hold their breath three to four times longer than tobacco smokers. So there’s that.

E-cigarettes aren’t much better though. Exposing lung tissue to such vape aerosols can increase the release of inflammatory compounds. This creates strain on the lung tissue by forcing it to go into overdrive and mount an immune response.

Then, of course, there’s the coughing that comes with inhaling any product. And dispersing COVID-19 pathogens into the air through coughing is something we ALL want to avoid.

Vaping with a Flower Vaporizer

If you’re finding the notion of giving up inhaling too terrifying right now, but want to challenge your lungs as little as possible, then your best bet is to use a flower vaporizer.

You’ll want to keep the following common-sense harm reduction methods in mind:

• Vaporize outside and away from other people
• Wash your hands before and after each use
• Take small “sips” of vapor for more control and less coughing
• Between inhalations, sterilize the mouthpiece with an alcohol swab
• Keep the temperature as low as possible

This last point is critical.

The key to a healthier draw is temperature control. The lower the temperature, the less likely you are to damage fragile lung tissue. Vaporization occurs in the 350-400 degree range. (By contrast, a joint burns at around 950 degrees.)

The ideal temperature to get the most benefit of the flower with the least risk to your lungs is 390 degrees. So if you don’t have a vaporizer with temperature control technology, it’s definitely worth the investment to get one now.

Consider Oral Forms of Cannabis

This is a time of uncertainty. Many of us fear for our own health or the health of a loved one. Particularly if you or a loved one has underlying health conditions and/or is working on the front line.

We want something to ease our anxiety and give us peace. Cannabis does just that. It interacts with GABA receptors in our brain by reducing that fight-or-flight response many of us currently experience as a constant.

In other words, it tells our body to power down and relax.

But if you’re now feeling apprehensive about inhaling cannabis (not sorry), then consider exploring oral forms of cannabis instead. There are a wide variety of options including capsules, tinctures, edibles, and drinkables.

If you’re new to this world, you’ll need some time for experimentation. But seriously, do you have somewhere else you need to be right now?

Begin with a dosage of 5 mg and work your way up from there. Just keep in mind that ingesting can take an hour or two before you start to feel the full effects. So start low and go slowly. And time your dosing accordingly.

Try CBD As Well

Finally, don’t forget about CBD – THC’s straight laced sibling.

Though it’s not psychoactive and won’t get you high, it can be a powerful anti-inflammatory. And since chronic inflammation plays a key role in all diseases, keeping it at a low is crucial for reducing symptoms.

In addition, CBD has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and help users relax. At this stage of the game, anything that reduces inflammation or stress in your body and mind benefits your immune system.

And a strong immune system is everything right now.

Smart Cannabis Consumption During COVID-19 Is Essential

Whether you’re using cannabis to relieve pain, keep calm, sleep, or even to get motivated, it can be a therapeutic component of your self-care regimen.

Just remember that smart cannabis consumption during COVID-19 includes that which takes your health and the health of others into consideration.

So keep calm and carry on consuming.

And for the latest on COVID-19 and how it pertains to the cannabis industry, keep checking back with us.

The post Smart Cannabis Consumption During COVID-19 appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

As more people become canna-curious, they’re wondering about the differences between delivery systems. And there are more than a handful.

For our purposes for this post, we’ll keep things more general and look at the difference between ingesting and inhaling.

From there, you can decide for yourself whether or not to ingest cannabis.

1. Edibles Are Stronger

That’s because THC is metabolized by the body in a different way when you ingest cannabis versus inhaling it.

In general, edibles seem much stronger than smoked or vaporized cannabis. That’s because when you ingest cannabis, the liver converts the THC into a metabolite that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier.

That means an intense high that’s slower to come on and slower to leave.

Meanwhile, inhaled cannabis passes through the stomach before moving to the liver and then directly to the brain. This results in a less intense high that comes on fast, but diminishes quickly.

2. Start Small with Edibles

Because of what we just explained in #1 above, wisdom dictates that you go small and be patient with edibles.

When we say it takes a while for them to kick in, we’re talking anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. And when we say the effect sticks around, that could also mean several hours.

So if you decide to try an edible, eat the smallest amount possible. Then WAIT. Give it time to kick in. The biggest mistake newbies make is they don’t feel anything within 30 minutes and then double up the dose.

Of course, if you’re going for an intense psychedelic head high and aren’t prone to anxiety, then you may be okay with doing that. But if you’re looking for milder and more comfortable effects, then a small dose is the way to go.

Speaking of dosing…

3. Dosing Edibles Is More Complex

Inhaled cannabis delivers 50-60% of THC and other cannabinoids to the blood plasma. Ingesting introduce only 10-20%.

This accounts for the differences in how one experiences the high.

That said, determining the THC content of a homemade batch of edibles is pretty complicated.

In fact, in unregulated markets, even professionals aren’t able to quite nail the advertised dose in their products. If you live in a state whose market doesn’t include meticulous testing, your regular distributor may have a batch next week that will vary from what you consume this week.

This is not much of consideration for inhaling cannabis though. It gives a more instantaneous effect that allows for the inhaler to gradually dose. ‘Another toke’ll do ya,’ sorta thing.

If you’re considering trying an edible, 10mg is considered a standard dose for mild but pleasant effects. So if you’ve got a 50mg gummy bear from your local dispensary, start by eating 1/5 and wait a while. Then wait some more.

50mg is considered moderate and 100mg is pretty potent. So know what potency edible you have, and then handle with care.

4. Ingesting Is Healthier Than Inhaling

It’s hard to deny that smoking poses potential long-term health threats. Even though smoking marijuana doesn’t include all the harmful chemicals that a regular cigarette does, it’s still hard on the lungs.

Some people just don’t care for the harsh feeling of the smoke hitting their lungs. That’s why vaping has become so popular.

Of course, without rehashing the dark days of VapeGate 2019, vaping certainly has its own hazards.

You might be thinking, healthier? I mean, how healthy are brownies, cookies, and gummy bears?

You’d be right.

But there are a ton of other options for cannabis-infused edibles now.

From quinoa salad and granola, to using infused butter on kale chips or whatever else rocks your world.

Is It Time for You to Ingest Cannabis?

Inhaling is a simple way to get immediate effects. But if you choose to ingest cannabis, you’ll have a longer experience. And as long as it’s not too intense, it could give you more prolonged relief from symptoms.

It really depends on what you want from your marijuana. We encourage you to (mindfully) experiment for yourself.

And for more stories from the cannabis realm, keep checking back with our blog!

The post To Ingest Cannabis or Not to Ingest Cannabis? appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

Or are you thinking that some marijuana brownies or cookies would make the perfect gift for a fellow cannabis enthusiast?

Until you know what you’re doing, baking or cooking cannabis edibles can be a little tricky.

You could spend a lot of time (money and product) learning by trial and error.

Or you can read through the following tips to make your efforts and experimentation a bit more fruitful.

Ground Your Cannabis with a Hand Grinder

Although you may be tempted to pulverize your cannabis down into a fine powder so it’s easier to incorporate into your recipe, don’t.

If you ground it too fine, you’ll end up with green oil or butter. That’s because the finer ground allows for chlorophyl to seep into the oil or butter.

Think that sounds pretty cool? Think again. Cannabinoids readily bind to fats and a coarse grind allows it to absorb without pulling in unwanted plant material.

In other words, grounding cannabis into a powder is also going to make it a lot harder to strain unwanted, bad-tasting plant material. No matter how much you like the taste of marijuana.

Decarboxylate Cannabis First in the Oven

When making cannabis edibles, you can’t just toss the raw flower into the batter you’re baking or the dish you’re cooking.

Unless, of course, you want the final result to taste bad and be ineffective. Then go ahead.

Otherwise, you’ll need to decarboxylate it to fully activate the cannabinoids so they’ll bind with the lipids.

To decarboxylate correctly, you need to set your oven to the right temperature, letting it heat for long enough, and mixing it to activate the most surface area.

The rule of thumb is to:

1. Heat the oven to 220°F
2. Cook for at least 25 minutes
3. Be sure to mix the buds every 10 minutes
4. If cannabis is especially fresh and still moist, cook longer until dry

If you’re pressed for time, you can decarboxylate at 300°F for 10-18 minutes, stirring every five minutes. But the low and slow method is always best.

Remember that Less is More

Wondering how much cannabis it takes to make a cup of infused butter? Here’s the ratio you need to remember:

Use 1 cup of butter for 1 cup of ground cannabis (about 7-10 grams).

If you want your brownies or cookies to be extra strength, it isn’t really going to serve you to go beyond the 1:1 ratio.

The lipids in the butter can only bind with so many cannabinoids. So if you decide to load up on cannabis, you’re only going to be wasting it by exceeding that ratio.

Also, when it comes to infusing butter or oil, you may want to consider using cannabis stems, trim, or cannabis flower that’s already been vaporized (AVB).

You’ll save some money this way.

Patiently Strain the Oil with Cheesecloth

When it comes time to strain out the plant material from your oil, your best bet is a cheesecloth.

But be patient!

Squeezing the cheesecloth will get the oil out more quickly, but more plant material will come with it too. So sit back and let gravity do the work.

Stir Well

And we mean REALLY well.

This is the best way to ensure that the oil or butter is distributed evenly across the batter so that each cookie or brownie has the perfect dosage.

Otherwise, while your gift may be well baked, the recipient of your gift may not be.

Test the Oil’s Potency

Do you want to see how powerful your oil is before serving it up to your guests?

Run a “strand test” to gauge how much oil you’ll need based on its potency.

To figure out the perfect single dose, add 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon of your oil to some food or drink and then wait an hour to see how you feel. Some of your guests may be more sensitive to THC than you, so keep that in mind.

Once you’ve nailed the desired effects, multiply that dose per serving if making a shareable batch such as a pizza or a cake. Otherwise, simply scoop that perfect dose onto each individual dish and serve it up.

Then let the good times roll!

Baking or Cooking Cannabis Edibles Is an Art

It just takes some practice.

So if you’re baking or cooking cannabis edibles this holiday (or any other) season, we hope the above tips help.

And for all the latest on what’s happening in the cannabis industry, keep checking back with our blog!

The post Tips for Baking or Cooking Cannabis Edibles appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

One of the biggest shifts has been in the marketing of edibles.

In terms of how products are marketed, what was once kosher is now taboo. And dispensaries are routinely pulling products from their shelves in order to pass licensing.

As you can imagine, scaling a cannabis business takes a lot of work. And pulling products isn’t exactly good for that business.

What Are the Rules for Marketing of Edibles?

The Michigan Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation (BMMR) is working together with The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to essentially double up on the bureaucracy.

This is evidenced by a nearly constant and, by some accounts, rather entertaining litany of advisory bulletins.

But the guiding principle behind all of this regulating starts with this:

Edibles Cannot Be Marketed to Minors

And this is where it gets tricky. Because nobody, at this point, has been able to close in a definition of what is considered acceptable in terms of marketing to minors.

It’s safe to assume that the folks behind setting these regulations aren’t highly trained designers who know what good marketing to minors looks like.

Still, you don’t need a four-year degree to decipher what are some very obvious design and marketing elements geared toward minors.

So here are some very basic restrictions set out by LARA every dispensary should be aware of before stocking their shelves:

• If it looks like something a child would want to eat, it’s not acceptable. This includes things like Rice Krispy treats, cotton candy, cake pops and pixie sticks – regardless of that fact that plenty of adults like taking these down too. Chocolate is okay though. And so are gummies – as long as they’re some boring shape that no one would confuse for a bear.
• If it’s a drink that looks like Kool-Aid, it’s out. In fact, any beverage with a color is out. Unless that bright green cannabis infused happy drink is in an opaque container. Then it seems to be okay. However, no Michigan producers have been able to get their process for creating such beverages approved yet.
• If it requires heating or cooling, it will not pass licensing. That means no ice cream or hummus. And forget all about cannabis Hot Pockets. They’re just a pipe dream.
• It it looks like an already well-known candy brand or other snack food, kiss it goodbye.
• If there’s a child’s cartoon on the packaging, it’s a no-go. This includes any product that resembles a copyrighted character like a gummy bear or a unicorn. Animations and graphics of a more adult nature get a pass though. So Disney is out while maybe R. Crumb is in.

So you can see why it’s all so confusing.

Things Will Get Easier

It’s tough for the rule enforcers at both BMMR and LARA too. But they’re slowly piecing together the ins and outs of the marketing of edibles. And it seems that they’re getting more relaxed as they’re settling into this new pre-licensing process.

So there’s that. And who knows? There might even be candy corn at the dispensaries again by next Halloween.

If you have a cannabis business and are having trouble keeping up with all of the regulations AND trying to market your business, reach out to the experts in cannabis marketing. We’re passionate about the industry and helping those in it.

The post Abiding by the Tricky Rules for the Marketing of Edibles appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.