Cooking with Cannabis: A Beginner's Guide

Making your own cannabis edibles is a fun and rewarding way to enjoy your favorite plant. It can seem tricky at first, but it's easier than you think. This guide will walk you through the most important steps to make tasty and effective treats.

The First Step: Decarboxylation

You can't just throw raw cannabis into your brownie mix. You have to heat it first. This process is called decarboxylation, or "decarbing." It activates the THC and CBD in the plant, which is what gives you the effects.

Here's how to do it:

• Preheat your oven to 240°F (115°C).
• Break up your cannabis into small pieces and spread it on a baking sheet.
• Bake for about 30-40 minutes. Your kitchen will smell a bit, so make sure to open a window!

Making Your Infusion

Once your cannabis is decarbed, you need to infuse it into a fat, like butter or oil. THC and CBD are fat-soluble, which means they need to bind to fat to be absorbed by your body.

To make cannabutter:

• Melt one cup of butter in a saucepan.
• Add one cup of water and your decarbed cannabis.
• Let it simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours. Do not let it boil.
• Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth to remove the plant material.
• Let the butter cool in the fridge. The water will separate, and you can lift the solid cannabutter right off.

Dosing: Start Low and Go Slow

Edibles can be very strong, and they take a while to kick in. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to feel the effects. So, the golden rule of edibles is to start with a small dose and be patient.

Your final results depend on many factors, including the potency of your plant. As we discussed in our article on choosing the right strain, the type of cannabis you use will also change the experience.