Marijuana CBD/THC cannabinoids and Diabetes 2019

Plus The 10 Best CBD/THC Cannabis Strains For Diabetes

Due to promising new research, which sates THC/CBD compounds from cannabis have potential in lowering blood sugar and inflammation, many diabetes patients are looking into cannabis for treatment. The compounds in marijuana show great promise for medicinal use. Scientists are looking into ways in which the THC/CBD in marijuana might help treat some diabetic conditions.According to the World Health Organization,(WHO) the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has quadrupled in the last 30 years.
Here we will look into the medicinal properties of marijuana and how they might benefit people by alleviating some of the symptoms of diabetes. It also looks at the possible risks of using marijuana to treat diabetes and the legal implications.
I assume we all know what diabetes is. I am concerned about Marijuana, specifically THC/CBD cannabinoid effects as related to diabetes. For more technical in-depth info on Diabetes please visit here**American Journal Pathology.

THC/CBD marijuana oil

What is medical THC/CBD in marijuana?

Marijuana contains many different compounds, known as cannabinoids. This means they are related to 

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Of all the cannabinoids in marijuana, THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are the most commonly studied. The body also creates some cannabinoids naturally. THC is the primary psychoactive component in cannabis. It produces the “high” that people associate with cannabis. On the other hand CBD is not considered psychoactive, and these components of cannabis have a number of beneficial medicinal uses.

Cannabis benefits for diabetes:

Cannabinoids interact with receptors found in the central nervous system of the body.
These cannabinoid receptors play a role in regulating:

Insulin sensitivity (ref.) cannabinoid receptors
Significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (ref.) 
Improved the production of insulin (ref.)
Raised levels of adiponectin (ref.) 
Protection against retinopathy (ref.) 
Stabilize blood sugar levels (Hypoglycemia) (ref.) , (ref.)

 

 

Other Benefits to consider:

Depression/mood (ref.)

Chef 420s low Sugar Chocolate Chip cookies

Chronic pain management (ref.)

Relieve muscle spasms/cramps (ref.)
Appetite/ obesity/ Eating Disorders (ref.) 
Gastrointestinal pain and cramping (ref.) 
Pancreatic cell function (ref.)
Metabolism of lipids (ref.) 
Antioxidant properties (ref.)
Anti-inflammatory properties (ref.) 
Neuropathy treatment (ref.)

Chef 420s Low Sugar Chocolate Chip

The various cannabinoids all have different properties, and they may be useful for treating a range of health conditions. Since CBD is very effective in treating inflammation, it can help maintain a normal immune system, sugar metabolism, cell growth and heart function.

However, it’s not all about CBD and THC.

 

Possible risks of using marijuana to treat diabetes:

THC/CBD use for diabetes may have many benefits, but there are can also be disadvantages or side effects. If cannabis affects appetite, insulin sensitivity, and the metabolic system, this could mean that frequent cannabis use might disrupt some of these functions. (ref.) The main disadvantage of using cannabis for diabetes is an increased appetite. This is a common side effect. It may lead people to crave and eat large amounts of carbohydrates. This can be an issue for those with diabetes.

For people who are new to cannabis, a “overdose” may occur if THC/CBD concentrations are too high.

Overdose Symptoms may or may not include:
Shaking
Sweating
Confusion
Faster heart rate
Breathing issues
Dizziness
Slower reaction times
Problems with Concentration, Learning, and Memory

How the person uses marijuana will affect their risk of adverse effects. Smoking marijuana will affect a person differently from using a medical preparation that a doctor has recommended.A person cannot be sure of the ingredients or quality of the product they obtain. Even seemingly benign substances, like grapefruit, are known to interact with many prescription drugs. When it comes to cannabis, most potential interactions that have been identified are relatively mild. And, in fact, some drugs seem to work together with cannabis favorably.(ref.)

It is always best to speak to a doctor before using any form of marijuana or other complementary therapy for diabetes.

 

CBD hemp oil Legal status:

People should know that, until now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have only approved one product, containing an extract of marijuana, and this is CBD (Epidiolex). (ref.) 
June 2018, the F.D.A. declared Epidiolex safe and effective for two forms of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The seizures that occur with these conditions are difficult to control with other medications.(ref.) 
Canada, the United Kingdom, and some European countries have also approved the use of Sativex (Nabiximols), a mouth spray incorporating both CBD and THC that can help relieve pain and muscle spasms related to muscular sclerosis (MS) in adults.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), research and trials for other uses of marijuana and its compounds are ongoing.

 

Marijuana THC Legal status:

In the United States, the use and possession of cannabis THC is illegal under federal law for any purpose, by way of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Under the CSA, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I substance, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use – thereby prohibiting even medical use of the drug. At the state level, however, policies regarding the medical and recreational use of cannabis vary greatly, and in many states conflict significantly with federal law. (ref.) 

 

**All content is informational and should not be considered medical advice.**

 

 

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10 best cannabis strains for diabetes

When it comes to choosing the best cannabis strain for diabetes, you should stick to high CBD and THCV strains. However, there are also some strains with higher THC levels that can help you manage your insulin levels. Also, keep in mind that smoking weed is not the only way to get those substances into your system.
In fact, smoking can be very dangerous if you have diabetes. In this case, edibles are always a good choice, as they are a much healthier way to get the best from cannabis as there’s no smoke or carbon dioxide. For example, you could put decarbed weed and put it in cannabis butter.
Just be careful when it comes to dosing. At first, it may seem it’s not working, but because of the digestion process which takes a while, you’ll feel the effects after about an hour.(ref.)

Use these 10 strains to get a head start:

#1 Haze:
The Haze was developed in California in the 1960s and 70s by crossing some of the best tropical sativas which had been imported during that period. The Oldtimer’s Haze population has been preserved intact until today by Oldtimer, a britishbreeder, and then reproduced by our own breeders using a wide variety of parental strains. Oldtimer’s Haze still preserves the genetic diversity that many present Haze lines have already lost, and it is possible to find phenotypes ranging from the mythic and nearly extinct “Purple Haze” to the most popular “Green Haze” phenotype, and of course intermediate combinations as well.

#2 Candida (CD-1):

This Cup winning high Candida (CD-1) strain has impressed with its vigour and stability in production. In testing THC levels have never yet exceeded 1% and CBD levels have tested between 11% and 20% making it one of the first CBD dominant cannabis strains in history. It was recognised at the Spannabis Champions Cup 2017 taking 2nd place in the CBD category.With a ratio of 20:1, the high CBD levels and their associated anti-psychotic capabilities outweigh the relatively small amounts of THC removing the “high” and providing the patient with a non-psychoactive cannabis Sativa L plant.

 

#3 Cannatonic:
The legendary Cannatonic strain is a great choice! These 100% feminized seeds have the classic Indica look, structure & easy-going nature with Sativa’s incredible smell & outstanding quality. They do need about 9 to 10 weeks of finish indoors, but you’ll be very glad you let them have all the time they needed when you see the massive 500 gr/m2 yields. This one’s rock solid. Contains the Recommended 1:1 THC to CBD Ratio Responsible for Many High CBD Strains including ACDC 50% Indica, 50% Sativa – Perfectly Balanced

#4 Pineapple Chunk:
Shockingly sweet & outrageously sticky, this is the end-all, be-all of Pineapple strainsPineapple Chunk is velvety smooth with full-bodied smoke that lingers on the palate like a fine wine & a lush, tropical fruit flavour that’s out of this world.These wicked-good cannabis seeds push right past 15% THC directly to the edge.

#5 Pennywise:
pennywise strainPennywise is a popular medical strain, with 1:1 THC to CBD ratio, which has been proven as the most therapeutically effective. It’s perfect for beginners since it’s mild and relaxing but do not be fooled by it — it’s very effective in reducing stress, pain, and inflammation. Also, Pennywise is a good remedy for sleepless nights.

 

#6 Master Kush:
Master Kush HumboltCannabis is packed full of beneficial compounds, one of which are terpenes, compounds that give cannabis its unique smell and taste. Master Kush is high in terpene called humulene, well known to suppress appetite, which is a plus for patients with diabetes. With a THC content at 24% it is one of the most saught after strains.

 

#7 Nightingale (NN-1):

Nightingale (NN-1) cannabis strainNightingale is a Indica dominant strain that is poly hybrid, bred from shiskaberry and CD1 was recognized at the Spannabis Champions Cup taking 3rd place in the CBD category. In testing its CBD levels have ranged from 11% to the highest of all MMG’s crosses 20%. NN1 represents a more natural selection, as THC levels are not yet stabilized. NN-1 ratios can range from 20:1 to 1:1 (1% to 10% THC). However the highest levels of CBD tested on any of our strains make NN1 a promising therapeutic plant for future development.

 

#8 Green Crack:
Green Crack Cannabis strainThe sweet mango fragrance wafting from this superior Sativa-dominant bud factory is a Green Crack feature, but the flavour is equally appealingsweet & spicy on the intake followed by a distinct lemon on the exhalealthough it’s a high THC strain, it’s still a good choice for daytime medication since it brings forth to focus, energy and an uplifting head buzz. Green Crack is also great for treating depression and relieving everyday stress, as well as pain related to inflammations.

 

#9 CBD Yummy:
CBD Yummy cannabis strainOriginally Yummy was a cross of a very special Yumbolt strain selected in 2003, with the G13 Haze male.The CBD version is equally special being the most sativa of the CBD Crew’s strains. it is a strong stemmed strain with good self support producing large colas. This strain is very good for super-cropping.Similar to many sativas it has an exotic richness, like a tropical fruit saladwith a balanced THC to CBD ratio, Zen has been known for its depression smashing properties. Its CBD content is great for keeping the insulin levels down, but keep in mind that it can boost your appetite as well. When you consume it, be extra responsible and watch what you are eating.

#10 Blue Diesel:
Blue Diesel cannabis strainOne more strain that’s perfect for daytime use since it does not increase appetite but provides more than enough energy. There is no sedative effect with Blue Diesel, which makes it a good choice for those who need to reduce insulin resistance. (ref.) You can’t deny the raw power of Auto Blue Diesel’s heritage. Assembled for both flavor and aroma, this beastly cannabis seed burns on super sweet crude, it’s chrome pipes just belching out a super dense citrus cloud with a berry flavor that flows smooth.

As you can see, diabetics can benefit from cannabis on many levels. Remember to avoid smoking and stick to edibles The research and the experiences of many patients have both shown us just how much marijuana can help in maintaining normal insulin and blood sugar levels.
However, you should remember to avoid smoking and use high CBD and THCV strains in edible form.

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Common Questions;
Q: How about CBD and Metformin?
A: I have found nothing but good things about CBD, in eliminating the need for Metformin. With other beneficial effects, CBD looks like a great alternative for treating diabetes. (ref.)  (ref.) 

Q: What is the best CBD oil for diabetes type 1&2?
A: The most standard method that you can use to find the perfect CBD oil is just by trying different varieties so that you can find which one is working best for your needs. more here..(ref.)

 

Q: What is project cbd diabetes?
A: Project CBD is a web-site dedicated to diabetes, and Information concerning CBD and cannabis in relation to Diabetes and related conditions. (ref.)

Q: can a diabetic get a medical marijuana  card?
A: It depends on where you live, and if your doctor thinks it is a good alternative medication for you- make sure to ask your doctor about CBD. In some states you no longer need a prescription or recommendation.
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Cannabis Infusion 101, What you need to know

Cannabis Edible companies spend their mornings transforming flour, Cannabutter made from low grade weed, sugar and lots of other mysterious things, into pastries, cakes, cookies, etc. — so you don’t have to!? You bow down before them as if their dry, tasteless “treats” are the gods own Ambrosia. But every once in a while, you Think about grabbing the apron and whipping up a batch of brownies.


Baking excellence Does not line the shelves of most dispensaries, there are now some restaurants or “coffee shops” that make some excellent Cannabis Confections for $30. per serving.
Why buy a dry “infused” edible? It’s not the marijuana that is causing that dry mouth. Why not make your own gooey, chewy, and super Dank edibles?
Experimenting with different products and brands is highly recommended. But every once in a while, it’s also a blast to make your own cannabis edibles. If you are a stoner, like me, (and of course you are) It may be the most Baked than you ever have been in the kitchen.

Cannabis Infusions 101

The base of all cannabis baked products is the cannabis-infused fats, normally butter or oil (one of the more popular oils for flavor as well as its ability to infuse THC/CBD is coconut oil).
step #1 — making the cannabutter or oil — is the only unusual ingredient. After that step, the rest of them are similar to what can be found in everyday recipes.

People ask Me, which edibles are the best and which types will work for certain symptoms? Facts are, the answer is mostly dependent on you and your preferences towards cannabis. On top of that, many factors also depend on a person’s body and the way it interacts with specific cannabis compounds (cannabinoids). Since THC/CBD affects every body differently, 

*Always see a doctor before starting any medications!*

MightyFast Herbal Infuser

Through understanding the different types of products available, there is an effective method for finding the perfect edible for you. There is a growing number of infusion processes and infusion machines that make cooking with cannabis more accessible and new types of edibles are hitting shelves all the time, some have more exact results, while others generate widespread effects.

Recipes for cannabutter, cannaoil, THC Infused Liquors, and Tinctures.

Recipes all deal with numbers, in terms of ingredient quantities, cooking times, and temperatures. The math is a bit more complex for cannabis baking. Don’t worry, It’s not hard. The worst math comes from figuring out how much THC per serving, — for example, you want 10 mg of THC/CBD for each chocolate chip cookie, and then making a batch of cookies with the right amount of your marijuana infusion that will work.

Cannabis strains are each unique, each has different percentages of THC to CBD. In a perfect world, the cannabis dispensary where the marijuana was scored would post the THC/CBD concentration plainly on the package. If not, make sure you know the cannabis strain, and then google how much the THC content is, normally.

Chocolat eChip cookie              

The best edibles use decarboxylated marijuana, the cured cannabis is heated, at a low Temperature, until the THC is activated. Infusing without decarbing works also — when you cook your brownies, the heat will activate most of the THC, But decarbing will ensure all available THC is activated. The THC/CBD is more available, and at a greater concentration.Use yourself as a guinea pig, (it’s a rough job, but somebody has got to do it). without lots and lots of practice dosing, your products will never be as precise as the stuff from the dispensaries.
 
 

Proportion Control for Homemade Cannabis Infusion

The amount of cannabis to butter is dependent on the THC/CBD concentration of your marijuana. People looking for strong concentrations might use one ounce of cannabis to one pound of butter (2 cups). The more typical ratio, is 1/2 ounce cannabis to 1 pound of butter.
Either way, remember, the particular strains THC/CBD percentages will influence the potency. Some marijuana strains are higher than 30% THC. Others are less than 15% THC. If the math sounds too complicated or time consuming,  on-line dosage caculators can do the work for you. If you really want to get down to the nitty gritty, and do your own Math, I have added complete instructions at the bottom of the page

 

Common Cannabis Infusion Mediums

Oils:

Oils are the best choice, in my opinion, when infusing cannabis for cooking. It is the most versatile. Coconut oil has emerged as a popular choice. While other oils are better for some things, coconut oil seems to be a dominating topic when looking for marijuana oil infusion. Coconut oil is the best binding agent for THC/CBD infusions. The acids in coconut oil have shown health benefits, mostly in the stomach. More options that provide similar benefits include olive, veggie and nut oils.

 

Butter:

Cannabutter serves as the favorite precursor to oil infusion. As the binding ingredient that’s turned edibles into the cannabis products they are, THC/CBD butter has helped a range of chronic pain sufferers address their comfort and lack of appetite. Both butter and oil allow for you to control your dosage better than smoking might while delaying the psychotropic effects for some time.

Tinctures:

Cannabis infused Tinctures use alcohol (e.g. pure grain alcohol, not rubbing alcohol) to absorb the cannabinoids. You dose droplet amounts, directly in your mouth or add to a beverage, it is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth and the stomach lining.

 
Milk or Cream:
marijuana milk is a cannabis-infused treat that can be created with any kind of milk, including dairy milk and cream, nut, coconut or soy milk. The higher the fat content of your chosen milk base, the more effective it will be at absorbing cannabis’s active ingredients, like the cannabinoids THC and CBD. For best results, we recommend using full-fat dairy or coconut milk. THC/CBD Infused milk/cream can be used in many recipes,use when oil or butter are not used, and it is great with chocolate chip cookies.

Liquors:

Liquors may also  be infused with THC/CBD. Brandy or rum are my favorites. Cannabis tinctures, also known as green or golden dragon, are alcohol-based cannabis extracts – essentially, infused alcohol. In fact, tinctures were the main form of cannabis medicine until the United States enacted cannabis prohibition. They can be added to coffee and other beverages or added to a main course. I personally don’t like to drink while high but I like to add it for the flavor

 

7 Cannabis Consumption Methods and Benefits

Recreational and medical cannabis dispensaries Now carry a wide selection of edibles in many different shapes, sizes, and doses. While a large variety is always good, it can be hard to find the best edible for your needs.

To help you better understand the ways they affect the human body, let’s look at what cannabis infused edible options are out there.

#1 Liquid Edibles:

Chronic pain sufferers greatly benefit from cannabis infused beverages, tea in particular. Like edibles, drinking THC/CBD is taken in through the digestive tract. This is slower acting, taking from a half hour to hours before taking effect, and stays in the body longer.
Normally, marijuana infused drinks and teas give pain sufferers a little extra time before they need another dose.
With drinks, I think it is best to stick with tea, as its healing properties go well with CBD/THC properties. Marijuana and tea, make a dynamic one-two punch for combating anxiety and digestive issues.

 

#2 Solid Edibles:

Solid THC Edibles, (my speciality) are another excellent choice for those seeking to help with chronic pain and/or depression. The drawback to solid or liquid edibles are in their dosing. Home made foods have the potential to vary greatly from one to the other, with every single portion having a different dose, (the same as calories in any food). Newbies should get some advice the first time, be it a doctor or dispensary. Needless to say, solid edibles are a great and tasty choice. 2018 saw gummy bears and mints as the most sought after edibles. Healthier snacks and even dining experiences are now options available in some areas, and worth considering, if your pocket book can handle the high price.

#3 Tinctures:

An Infused Tincture is a classic THC edible method and is coming back, due to its ease of use, and over all benefits. Tinctures are cannabis-infused alcohol extracts that are great for everything, from a few drops into the mouth, to combining with solid edibles or drinks. Non-smokers like tinctures for their accurate dosing, and easy application. If you’re a slow user, tinctures are great due to their long shelf-life. Apply a few drops under the tongue whenever, without worrying if your stash is no good.

#4 Sprays:

Basically tinctures in spray form, THC mixed with alcohol. By spraying under your tongue, you get a micro-burst dose of CBD/THC. Sprays are great for on-the-go dosing, as well as for those seeking discretion. People with anxiety or pain can benefit from the Quick effects Although, some may need more applications than they would with a drink or edible. There is a good deal of comfort in having a spray that you can quickly take anywhere from home, the office, or most any where really.

#5 Inhalers:

Inhalers are a recent entry, with the Vape-pens and the Inhalers being the big winners for 2018.Part spray and part vape, cannabis inhalers give users a quick dose without burning up your stash. Like sprays, inhalers enjoy discrete on-the-go hits without anyone knowing the wiser.

 
 

#6 Cannabis Powders:

More and more people are becoming aware of powdered cannabis. Some of these powders have no taste and can be mixed with any liquid to pump up your cannabinoids. They can be added to other powders, like protein powder or workout supplements, you can boost your workout and also get the benefits of THC.

Marijuana powder makes good sense as the use of cannabis in workouts becomes more of a trending topic. Still no definitive answer, but THC/CBD and working out have links to quicker recoveries and lower fasting insulin levels that can help keep off the weight.

#7 Cannabis Topicals:

THC/CBD combined with a penetrating topical cream is absorbed through the skin, and allows for direct application to affected areas (e.g. allergic skin reaction, muscle strain, inflammation, etc.)
Cannabinoids interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors that are found all over the body. Both THC and Cannabidiol (CBD) have been reported to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Topical THC/CBD use does not produce a psychoactive effect, which is not the same as eating or inhaling.

 

Marijuana infusion dosage Math

OK, Here is the Math:

1 gram of flower is also 1000 milligrams of flower.

let’s assume your cannabis is 10% THC, a low ratio that is readily available. But the point of using 10% here is to make the math easily scalable. If the THC of the cannabis, instead is 20%, then you know that following these guidelines will produce a infusion that is twice the potency of the infusion with a 10% THC content.
With 1000 mg. (1 gram) of bud at 10% THC, the THC content is 100 mg. (= 10% of 1000).
A typical THC dose is 10 mg., so 1 gram of 10% cannabis produces 10 – 10 mg. servings. If the strain was 20% THC, 1 gram marijuana produces 20 – 10 mg. servings.
Let’s try this with a whole ounce of bud, that’s 28 grams. One ounce of 10% THC flower has 2,800 mg. of THC, or 280 doses of 10 mg. each.

If your pound of cannabutter used 1/2 oz. of bud with 10% THC, that is 140 servings. So you want a batch of 70 cookies, with a dose of 10 mg. each, then we need 700 milligrams of THC in the batch. If a pound of butter holds 2,800 milligrams of THC, then the cannabutter for the recipe will need to be a quarter-pound of cannabutter. If your recipe calls for more than a 1/4 pound of butter, add non-infused butter to get the right amount for your recipe.

Because of the decarboxylation process and cooking in the home, THC concentrations are rarely uniform. The goal is to come as close as possible. Short of testing every cookie, actual THC content will be very hard to pin down exactly. There are many on-line dosage calculators you can use to do the math for you.

 

Always remember:
Each strain’s THC content is different. These guidelines are for cannabis with 10% THC, but more likely your marijuana will contain closer to 20%. Knowing the THC content of the cannabis flower is essential, only then do you get close enough to making edibles with consistent uniform doses.
After you bake that batch of Ginger Bud Snaps, and you think the cookies have 10 mgs of THC, eat one, and chill for at about 2 hours, and see what happens. You will then know if one cookie is good, not enough, or too much. Make a note of it, and adjust your recipe for next time.
When you portion cookies use an ice cream scoop or a tablespoon measure to make consistent portions of cookie dough, ensuring all of the cookies are the same size. With brownies, use a ruler to insure you cut each brownie into equal sizes.
Mixing the butter into your recipe is key. You want the THC infusion evenly distributed through out the batter so you have uniform serving sizes and also have consistent THC content in each portion.

References

https://magicalbutter.com/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid

www.marijuanabreak.com/decarboxylation

tipsybartender.com/recipe/liquid-marijuana-cocktail/

hempster.co/edible-dosage-calculator/

magazine.grasscity.com/seattle-company-powdered-cannabis-3503/

marijuanagrowershq.com/how-to-calculate-the-potency-of-edibles/

www.healthline.com/health/cbd-vs-thc

www.civilized.life/articles/cannabis-sprays-smooth-high/

 Merriamwebster.com/

marijuanagrowershq.com/how-to-calculate-the-potency-of-edibles/

 

 

 

CHEF 420s 13 Tips for Cooking with Cannabis

The average pot enthusiast is more likely to dump an ounce of shake into some brownie batter, rather than whip up something actually digestible and effective, so I decided to share some of the best edibles tips to up your cannabis cooking.

 

Concocting your own pot brownies has long been a haphazard and inexact science for recreational stoners—instructions will vary on the amount of bud and method of infusion, and often DIY cannabis cooks pay no mind to the potency of the strain they’re using. And while residents living in states where medical marijuana is legalized can buy a wide-range of edibles from dispensaries, the average pot enthusiast is more likely to dump an ounce of cannabis into some brownie batter, rather than whip up something digestible if left to his own devices.

Don’t Throw Actual Weed into the Recipe
That’s not the way it works. A lot of people say, “Oh yeah, I put a gram of Blue Dream into my brownies and they were amazing.” No, they really weren’t. First of all, I don’t believe you, because if you’re going to put the actual ground-up bud into your brownies, sure, there’s going to be some form of decarboxylation that occurs, and you’ll get some of the potency of the herb into your brownies. But they’ll taste horrible, will give you about half the high, and take longer to take effect.

Potency Isn’t Everything
Amateur edible makers will often talk about how strong their brownies are, but I don’t think they really understand what that means. When I first got into this industry, I went to a dispensary with some friends who wanted to get some edibles. I was hesitant because I’d already had a bad experience with a highly potent edible that didn’t taste good and I thought it was a waste of money for me. Meanwhile, my friend was like, “Oh, a 150 milligram brownie, I’ll get that!” It was like $30, and I don’t even think he knew what he had just bought.

If there’s one message I want to get out there, it’s that people need to understand that the typical dose is 10 milligrams of THC. If you want to have a good experience, you should aim for that. Buying a 150 milligram brownie doesn’t mean you’ll have a good time—you most likely will not. Once you understand the basics of dosing, then you can actually have a really enjoyable experience with edibles.

CHEF 420s Basic Brownies

Pay Attention to THC Percentages and Get Your Ratios Right

You have to know the percentage of THC in the bud you’re using. I cook with a lot of high CBD (cannibanol, a non-psychoactive compound also found in marijuana that is often used for medical patients) strains as well, so understanding that is also very important if you’re cooking specifically for medical patients. But the thing is, you can’t really have too much CBD. The worst that can happen if you overload on CBD is you might get tired and fall asleep.

 

 

The bigger issue is having too much THC, because if you are inexerienced and have too much of that, the negative effects are you might get excessive psychoactive effects —You don’t want that. You have to know the percentage you’re starting with, and then you have to know how thc incorporates into the butter, oil, or tinctures that you infuse it into. You also need to understand the quantity and how to deal with it when making edibles. For example, let’s say you’re doing a simple boxed brownie recipe that calls for a third of a cup of oil.

A quick fix would be just replacing that with a third of a cup of canna-oil. However, if you do that and you don’t understand the potency of the cannabis oil you are using, you can’t say how many milligrams of THC are in each brownie, you might actually over-medicate your brownies. But if you understand the potency, you can figure out something like, If I use a third of a cup of oil, each individual brownie’s going to be 15 milligrams, and I don’t want that. I want each of my brownies to be five milligrams, so I’m just going to make one third of that third be canna-oil, and the other two-thirds will be regular oil. You can actually use a online calculator to figure out how much oil to use based on the THC potency of the bud in order to make edibles with the potency you desire.  

Cleaning Your Weed?
Let’s just say you took your weed and put it into a crock pot, like a lot of people do, with some butter, oil, and let it simmer. What you’re really doing, in addition to simmering all of those cannabinoids into the butter and oil, is also adding in any impurities that are in it. So anything that tastes really bad could be something as horrible as insecticides, dirt, or it could just be the chlorophyll, which also has a specific taste that’s pretty powerful.
If you have taken a look at you weed with a magnifier, you will notice trichomes growing like little mushrooms all over. these trichomes are delicate and too strong of a water flow will wash away your high, I try not to wash in water beforehand. If you don’t know where your cannabis comes from, and your not sure if pesticides have been used in the growing process, I like to use a spray bottle and gently let the water with any pesticides drip off, try not to place your weed under running water.

Don’t Cook Above 350 Degrees Fahrenheit
What temp to cook cannabutter? Most recipes call for you to hit 350F, and that would be fine if most ovens were precise and didn’t fluctuate between ten and twenty-five degrees of where they say they’re at, (All recipes are different cannabutter cookies cook at a different temperature than say, chocolate cake, make sure you fallow the recipes recommendations) Unfortunately that’s not the case, and THC starts to degrade at 365 F. So if you’re cooking at 350 F, you’re most likely going to start degrading and evaporating the THC. Use a internal thermometer and test the oven before hand, to make sure there is not a large fluctuation in temperature.
Also, when you’re cooking in a pan to, say, sauteing something, you have to be very careful. Obviously people use butter and oil to saute all the time, but if you’re thinking of using canna-butter or recipes using canna oil, just be aware that you can not use it in the same way you would use anything else. When you’re cooking a dish that requires a stove top, what you have to do is put the canna butter or canna oil in at the end. Basically, you shut the heat off and you mix the butter or oil around to coat everything while the pan is still hot. That way, you won’t lose any of the potency.

 

Ginger”Bud” Snaps

These are very tasty, the molasses, ginger and marijuana go great together. 

I like to make a big ol’ batch and freeze a bunch for later.

The Bomb Brownie Cookies

I love these brownie cookies they are so easy

 and no problem to take them on the go,

 

 I would like to Answer some of the most 

Common Questions 

that are posed to me on a daily baisis

 

Q. Do I have to bring the temperature up to 350?
A. No,THC becomes active at 212 F. for decarbing or infusion and begins to turn into CBD above 365 F. and starts to burn at 380 F. All recipes are different cannabutter cookies cook at a different temperature than say, chocolate cake, make sure you fallow the recipes closely.

Honey Butter       

Q. When is cannabutter done cooking?
A. I usually let the weed cook for around 3 hours. You can tell it’s done when the top of the mix turns from really watery to glossy and thick.

 

Q. What’s the most important thing people should know about edibles?
A. Be careful making them, be careful that you actually understand the properties of what you’re working with, and really do take precautions when you’re eating edibles for the first time. If you’ve smoked marijuana, that’s an entirely different animal from actually absorbing this in your digestive system, and it’s great, it’s helpful, it’s wonderful, and it’s a really unique opportunity, but just take it slowly. Put the brakes on. I know we’re all excited; I know that this is something that everybody’s talking about. But just take a deep breath, make your edible, take a small portion, see how it affects you, and then wait a couple of days or the next day and then go from there.

 

Q. What to do with leftovers from making cannabutter?
A. The “dregs” or leftovers from making canna butter are pretty much spent, there is some THC still in there, you could do a second round, but the result would be weak. If you make edibles often, wrap it up in plastic (ziplock), throw it in the freezer, and make a batch when you have several saved up.

 

Q. Can you get high from making cannabutter?
A. If your inhaling right from the pot, you might pick up a little something. you would probably hyper-ventalate and pass out first. As you can tell I’m not 100% sure, I’m usually “stoned” anyway. I would say no, but if I had to take a drug test, I wouldn’t want to be around it.

     Gummy Bears

Q. What is best oil for edibles?

A. The best I’ve found, for me, is Coconut oil for effectiveness, but it’s flavor is distinctive. My go to oil for cooking is a pure Vegetable, it works in whatever you need oil for. Meny chefs like to use olive oil, and it’s great for main courses, saute’, salads, etc. For baking though, a connola, veggie oil works best.

 

Q. My cannabutter turned black?
A. Well this could happen for meny reasons, the Temp was too high, or was cooked too long. If your Bud was not well cured and was not dried enough. or even an excess of dirt. Make sure your temps are good, your weed is cured, and decarbed before you begin, and don’t go much beyond 3 hours.

Q. How long to cook canna oil on the stove?
A. Canna oil like canna butter require the same time/temp. ratios for infusion. I like to go 3 hours at 220F. this is a good even temperature and ensures a quality THC oil or butter infusion. If you are making CBD infusion, you will need to increase the Temperature but not the cooking time.

Why we need to watch out for the Newbies

Educate & Elevate

A 62-year-old woman visited Colorado, bought some marijuana candy, ate it in her hotel room, got way too high as a result, and penned an account of the experience that captivated the nation, or at least the part of the nation that spends too much time giggling on Twitter.
“I felt a scary shudder go through my body and brain. I barely made it from the desk to the bed, where I lay curled up in a hallucinatory state for the next eight hours, ” Maureen Dowd, the New York Times columnist and spiritual descendant of Hunter S. Thompson, wrote on June 3. “As my paranoia deepened, I became convinced that I had died and no one was telling me.”

 

The immediate response to Dowd’s bad trip was a shudder of not-undeserved gleeful cackling. “She largely suffered her fate due to an overdose of stupidity,” wrote VICE’s David Bienenstock, who scoffed at the columnist for apparently not doing any “research regarding a proper dosage of THC for a novice user, the amount of time the drug will take before you begin to feel its effects, or even the overall potency of the product she selected.”
Though Dowd did get warned that THC-infused edibles can really fuck you up if you can’t handle your bud (though probably not in those words), she “was focused more on the fun than the risks,” according to a statement she wrote in response to the post-column brouhaha. “In that sense, I’m probably like many other people descending on Denver.”

The longtime Times writer may be such a weed neophyte that she doesn’t know how to roll a joint, but she’s not wrong that the new regime in Colorado makes it easy for newbies to overdo it and end up tweaking out. The emerging legal weed industry in the state is still in an odd, transitional stage, and it can be downright unfriendly to casual tourists like Dowd who want to try this “marijuana” thing everyone seems to be talking about. For starters, the bud sold in the state is the most powerful weed anyone has ever smoked. Pot potency has increased dramatically over the past two decades: According to Todd Ellison, the CEO of Weed Media, a Colorado-based marketing company, weed in the 70s contained about 14 or 15 percent THC, whereas today an average strain in Colorado will be 24 or 26 percent.

 

 

“Because of the environment you’ve created here, a lot of people have high tolerances,”. As it’s the heavy users who buy the most pot, many dispensaries cater to these ounce-a-week connoisseurs by selling the most powerful weed they can get their hands on.
“Edibles are in the same environment,” added Ellison.“Because we’ve created these people with these high tolerances, we’ve also created the environment where 15 to 25 milligrams (of THC) is really not enough to break the ice for a lot of people.”
This increase is potency is great for medical marijuana patients who need a strong dose to relieve their aches and pains and for proud potheads who smoke the most primo of the primo shit—but it’s bad news for out-of-staters who can’t toke like a “stoner”.

Statistics on people who’ve lost their shit after smoking some chronic or overdoing it on the edibles are understandably hard to come by, but there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting not everyone can handle the THC-heavy products sold in many dispensaries. “Some hospital officials say they are treating growing numbers of children and adults sickened by potent doses of edible marijuana,” reported the New York Times in a recent article about the downsides of legalization in Colorado. And there have been a couple high-profile tragedies linked to edibles, including the time an African exchange student named Levy Thamba Pongi jumped off a balcony and died after eating a pot cookie that was much, much too strong for him.

Edibles, which are particularly popular among tourists, often don’t contain the THC concentrations listed on their packaging. And the general trend toward making marijuana products as powerful as possible has made it more likely that first-timers like my friend and Dowd will have themselves a bad day.
“Are the edibles too strong? Yes,” VICE weed columnist T. Kid wrote in Paper magazine this week. “When you consume a lot of weed regularly, you lose track of how little it might take to ruin a novice’s evening. A cookie probably shouldn’t have six regular doses in it because, seriously, who eats a sixth of a cookie?”


In all likelihood, growers will find ways to make their crops even more potent in the future, and the THC-hungry crowd that makes use of intense techniques like dabbing will embrace the chance to get higher than ever before. But as the industry grows and more states fully legalize weed—pretty much a foregone conclusion at this point—chances are the pot industry will start to resemble other businesses. Edible makers will find a way to be more consistent with the amount of THC they include in each batch, and just as the most popular beers today are lighter lagers that go down easy and don’t get you too messed up, a market will emerge for what Ellison has called “mid-grade” weed—a type of bud that’s not high in THC but will be easy to grow in massive quantities and won’t give anyone the Fear. In other words, fake articles about Phillip Morris coming out with marijuana cigarettes will become a reality.

 

 

In the meantime, Ellison said, the edibles industry is reacting to the bad publicity it’s received lately by, for instance, selling six-packs of chocolate truffles where each one contains a single dose. Dispensaries should make it clear to the tourists that they shouldn’t be screwing around with the hard stuff, he added. “I believe that the tourists should get the lesser grade cannabis that won’t blow their minds right away,” Ellison added. “Or be given the option to understand that ‘here is the good stuff. And here—it’s expensive, it’s hard to get, it’s limited in quantity—but here is the really, really, really potent native stuff.’ That would be a good paradigm.”

 

Baking The Perfect Cake (And What To Do When You Mess Up)

Don’t let your cakes fall flat, dry out, toughen or crumble; with these tips, each slice will be total perfection.

When something goes amiss in the kitchen, it’s important to understand what went wrong. When baking a cake, there are a lot of little things you can do to improve your odds of a winning finished product. Similarly, there are a lot of bad habits that can have equal influence on your recipe to negative effect. To help you on your quest to bake the perfect cake, here’s a breakdown of important dos and don’ts:

The seven rules for baking a perfect cake
1. Always grease the pan and line with parchment 

It’s insurance that your cake will slide out cleanly after cooling.
2. Allow the oven to fully preheat first
The cakes needs to bake at the right temperature, no shortcuts.

3. Bake in the centre of the oven (unless otherwise specified)
If it doesn’t specify otherwise, that’s how the recipe was designed. Changes will alter your results.
4. Bake in the size of pan specified
Otherwise you’re looking at uneven baking, which means an uneven cake.
5. Don’t try to double the recipe
Cake recipes are more complex than that. Source out a recipe for a larger volume instead.
6. Use fresh ingredients
Old ingredients taste bad, and old leaveners (like baking soda) simply don’t work.
7. No substitutions
With the exception of spices, don’t substitute ingredients. Especially ones that have structural impact.

Six common baking-fails, and how they can be prevented
1. Your cake is too dense
A cake that is overly dense typically has too much liquid, too much sugar or too little leavening (not excess flour, as is commonly thought).
Classic Vanilla Cake
Solution: Make sure you’re using wet measures for wet ingredients and dry measures for dry; check the freshness of your baking soda and powder, and check your oven temp to make sure it’s hot enough. A cake that bakes too slowly takes longer to set and may fall, causing a dense texture.
2. There are holes and tunnels in your cake
Cakes that have holes are problematic, especially if you plan to slice them horizontally. Holes in cakes are caused by improper mixing (generally over-mixing). You can always fill the holes with frosting to cover them up, but of course preventing them in the first place is the better plan.

Solution: Consider what mixing method you’re using.
If you have a recipe that calls for hand-mixing, yet you use a hand blender, you’ll need to mix much less. Standing mixers are incredibly efficient, but will mix your cakes very quickly. Make sure your ingredients (eggs, liquid and dairy) are as close to room temperature as possible to encourage proper mixing.
3. Your cake is dry
The culprits for dry cake are ingredients that absorb moisture, such as flour or other starches, cocoa or any milk solids. A second, and equally damaging culprit, is over-baking.
Solution: Ensure that you’re measuring your flour properly.
Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level off evenly. Avoid dipping your measuring cup into the bag as this presses the flour into your cup and you’ll end up with too much flour. Measure cocoa powder the same way. To avoid over baking, there are three indicators that you should look for to determine if your cake is done: The cake should be slightly pulling away from the side of the pan, a cake tester inserted into the deepest part of the cake comes out clean, and the cake should spring back when gently pressed.

4. Your cake is tough
Mixing is a tricky thing when it comes to cakes. You need to find the perfect speed, temperature and duration to form perfectly-sized little air cells to make the ideal texture. Toughness in cakes is caused by over-mixing, or the wrong type of flour.
Solution: Mix your cake according to the recipe.
There is a function to the order in which ingredients are added to create the right texture. As soon as you begin mixing flour with a liquid and a fat, gluten is developed. Gluten is not desirable in cakes, so mix thoroughly, but as little as possible. Make sure you’re using the correct flour. If your recipe calls for a cake or pastry flour then an all-purpose flour or bread flour will be too hard, creating a tough crumb.
5. Your cake broke when you turned it out of the pan
A cake has gone through a lot over the last 30 minutes, not to mention turning from a liquid to a solid! It needs a minute or two to gain its composure once removed from the oven.
Solution: Line the bottoms of your pan with parchment paper.
Cakes should rest in their pans on a rack for 15 minutes after coming out of the oven. By lining the bottom of the pan with parchment, you give yourself some added insurance that the cake will slide out after cooling. (Running a sharp knife between the inside of the pan and the cake is a good idea, too.)
6. Your icing is full of crumbs
Crumbs are the cake-decorator’s nemesis! They’re inevitable if you build a layer cake and have to split the layers, but there is a fix to minimize these irritating little morsels.
Solution: Do a ‘crumb coat’ when frosting your cake.
Whether you’re making the simplest of cakes or the most extravagant of gateaus, put a very thin layer of icing on the cake for starters. This layer glues down the crumbs. Chill the cake until that crumb coat is firm, then continue icing your cake. There shouldn’t be a crumb in sight.

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Cannabis Ingredients & Effects

Tetrahydrocannabinol is insoluble in water, but soluble in oil or alcohol.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), often considered to be the primary active substance in cannabis, along with other psychoactive cannabinoids are hydrophobic oils, which are insoluable in water but soluble in liquids (oil/fat) and alcohol.Using either one of these to extract THC from cannabis is required to have the cooked product be psychoactive. During preparation the cannabis or its extract must be heated sufficiently or dehydrated to cause decarboxylation of its most abundant cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, into psychoactive THC.

The oil-solubility of cannabis extracts has been known since ancient times, when Sanskrit recipes from India required that the cannabis be sauteed in a clarified butter called ghee before mixing it with other ingredients. Making a tea by boiling cannabis in water is a highly inefficient way to extract cannabinoids, although if the cannabis is of good quality and has plenty of resin on the outside, a portion of resin can be softened by the heat and float out into the water. Adding whole milk (which contains fat) when steeping, however, makes it much more efficient than using plain water, and this technique has been used for thousands of years in India to make the drink bhang.

Some authors claim that oral consumption of cannabis, when properly cooked, is a more efficient way to absorb cannabinoids than smoking it.Oral consumption of cannabinoids can result in a similar psychoactive effect or “high” as smoking marijuana, although it may be delayed due to slower absorption of the THC from the digestive tract. Whereas the effects from smoking cannabis are usually felt within a few minutes, it can take up to two hours to reach full effects after ingesting it. Marijuana produces THCA, an acid with the carboxylic group (COOH) attached. In its acid form, THC is not very active. It is only when the carboxyl group is removed that THC becomes psychoactive. When marijuana is smoked, the THC behind the hot spot is vaporized as the hot air from the burn is drawn through the joint or pipe bowl to the unburned material. The liquid THC and other cannabinoids have a boiling point of between 180-200 °C (355-392 °F). Before they turn gaseous, at around 106 °C (220 °F), the carboxyl group is released from the molecule as carbon dioxide and water vapor