Edibles Education 101

 

Currently, recreational marijuana is legal in 21 states, Guam, and Washington D.C. With increased legalization, comes a growing range of infused products. From coffee to tea, sparkling water, beer, candies, gummies, snacks, baked goods, and multi-course infused meals. You can even infuse skincare, beauty, and other topical products. This Edibles Education 101 guide answers your most pressing questions.

Please Note—CBD companies cannot provide medical advice and we cannot guarantee that CBD will effectively soothe your mind or body. The data we provide is for informational purposes. Consult with your physician for guidance on all dietary supplements.

Why edibles are so popular?

In addition to the fact that chefs and foodies enjoy having a new ingredient to experiment with, edibles are the preferred consumption method for many. Not everyone enjoys smoking or vaping marijuana. So, consuming an infused oil or edible provides a convenient alternative.

Edibles also ensure more consistent milligrams per serving, while smoking is a bit more of a guessing game. Last but not least, you will feel the effects longer when marijuana is ingested.

Studies find that marijuana lasts for 6 to 8 hours when ingested, compared to 1 to 4 hours when smoked. That being said, edibles take 30 to 45 minutes to kick in on an empty stomach, and 60 to 90 minutes on a full stomach. They peak at between 2 and 4 hours. Smoked products typically kick in between 20 to 30 minutes.

Is it cheaper to buy edibles or make your own?

If you have the proper equipment and the time to cook or bake, it is cheaper to make your own. In addition to the cost savings, you can personalize your recipes.

There are many ways to make your own edibles at home:

• You can purchase infused oil, butter, or powder to cook or bake with.
• You can purchase dried marijuana and make your own cannabutter or infused base-product.
• You can grow your own marijuana per your state’s regulations to make your own cannabutter or infused base-product.

How do you infuse butter or oil?

No Edibles Education Guide is complete without covering how to create your own butter, oil, or powder. Butter and oil are the most versatile, but an infused lecithin powder won’t disrupt the flavor profile as much. This makes infused powders ideal for beverages, hot sauces, and other liquids.

You can infuse:

• Olive oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Avocado oil
• Almond oil
• Sunflower oil
• Unsalted butter
• Salted butter

The two most common methods of infusion include:

Manual—you can use a slow cooker or crockpot and a double boiler. This process takes 13 hours and has an increased burn risk when transferring the boiling oil or butter. With your busy schedule, this may not be the most ideal option.

Automated—the MagicalButter Machine is about the size of an electric teapot. It is an all-in-one solution that grinds, heats, stirs, and steeps your infusion in 1 to 2 hours. All you do is add your ingredients, and if needed, strain it once it’s complete.

Do I have to wait for my marijuana to dry first?

In the excitement of growing your own cannabis plants, you may be surprised to learn that there are zero wellness benefits in the raw plant. You also won’t get high if you smoke or consume raw marijuana.

You have likely noticed that the marijuana you purchase to smoke or use to infuse butter or oil is always dried. When marijuana (or industrial hemp) is dried or cured, a chemical process converts and activates the cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are the ingredients that deliver both a high and your desired wellness benefits.

Drying or curing takes about 4 weeks, depending on the method you use. However, the process can't be accelerated.

Is there money in making edibles?

There can be! You may begin infusing butter, oils, foods, or topicals for yourself or to give as gifts to your friends and family. As word spreads, your friends and family may offer to pay you for your infusions—and refer their friends and family to you. However, you cannot accept payment without the correct cannabis business license.

Cannabis business licenses can be expensive. However, many states have accelerator programs for the marginalized communities most negatively impacted by marijuana laws.

You must also be mindful of the food safety restrictions in your local area. In many cities and counties, you can’t legally sell any type of premade food/ingested products that are made at home. They must be prepared in a certified kitchen. However, you may be able to make skincare and topical products at home.

A cost-effective way to launch an edibles business, is to look for a local restaurant that will let you rent out their kitchen.

Like any new business, you will need to learn the market and will need to create a strategic business plan.

Can edibles be delivered?

Yes and no! If you are inspired to launch an edibles business, you may want to offer edibles delivery. To legally deliver edibles locally, you will need to have a transportation license. Each state has different licenses. It may be more cost-effective to partner with a licensed cannabis delivery company that operates similarly to Postmates. State-to-state delivery is more complicated.

Most products that contain THC cannot be shipped by mail. However, Delta-9 THC Gummies can be shipped to most states. Currently, Holmes Organics does not ship to Oregon or Idaho.

Can kids and teens take edibles?

No. In states where recreational marijuana is legal, you must be either 18 or 21 years old to purchase edibles. **While there are instances where children are prescribed products with THC, such as intractable epilepsy it is low-dose and monitored under close medical supervision.

Otherwise, the concerns related to giving teens and kids marijuana is too high.

On that same note, since many edible products look and taste like candy, keep them out of reach.

Looking for CBD or Delta-9 edibles?

Holmes Organics has a range of USDA Certified Organic CBD products that won’t get you high and our Delta-9 THC gummies that do provide a mild buzz. Our products are ideal in between your homemade batches of oil and butter.

There are 5 mg of THC and 25 mg of CBD per serving in our Delta-9 gummies, making them an ideal way to ease into a peaceful night of sleep. Currently, we do not ship Delta-9 to Oregon or Idaho. Our CBD products are shipped nationwide.

We hope this Edibles Education 101 answered your questions. If not, we’re here to help!