Thursday February 15, 2018
Education
Gummy bears are perhaps my favorite candy. There’s something about those sweet little teddy bears that makes me want to kick back and relax or just slow down for a bit. And when you add weed to these gummies -- well, let’s just say that’s one great way to make a favorite treat even better. But there’s a lot more to love about marijuana-infused gummy bears than a little stoner nostalgia; cannabis gummies are a great way to medicate. Here’s why:
Reasons to Love Cannabis Gummies
Store bought gummy bears are chalk-full of artificial sugars, flavors and additives that aren’t necessarily healthy. But homemade gummy snacks can be an excellent way get the health benefits of fresh fruit alongside the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
Infused gummies are a great way to enjoy cannabis effectively. photo credit
Easy storage is another great reason to learn to make your own weed gummies. Just toss them in a bit of sugar when done to keep them from sticking together then store them in the fridge until ready to consume. Medicated gummies also make dosing more manageable as a single gummy or two should be a sufficient amount (though you’ll only know for sure through experimentation).
But perhaps the best reason to love marijuana gummies is because they’re a more efficient way to consume cannabis, especially when absorbed sublingually.
By sucking on a gummy candy and allowing it to melt away slowly, cannabinoids can absorb directly into the bloodstream through mucosal membranes which are exceptionally dense under the tongue or between the cheek and gum.
Rather than forcing cannabinoids to metabolize (which takes longer to take effect and burns up more cannabinoids in the process), cannabinoids can get right to work in a matter of minutes through sublingual absorption.
Preparing Marijuana for Home-Made Gummies
Before starting your marijuana gummies, you’ll have to prepare your cannabis (otherwise, you won’t get high!). To make sure your cannabis is psychoactive, you have to remove a carboxyl atom from the chemical, THCa – a process known as decarboxylation.
This process happens naturally over time or with the use of heat, but can be easily expedited with the use of an oven. Check out the video below to learn how to properly decarboxylate your cannabis!
After decarboxylating your cannabis, it’s time to infuse it into a tincture. You can do this by soaking marijuana in a high proof food-grade alcohol like Everclear for a few minutes to a few weeks. If only absorbing for a few minutes (to reduce the flavor of marijuana), shake the mixture vigorously the whole time to encourage the cannabinoids to absorb into the alcohol (otherwise, a few quick shakes every day should work).
To learn how to make cannabis tinctures step-by-step, click here!
For a more concentrated tincture (and a more potent end product), strain out all plant matter then allow some of the liquid to evaporate for a few days to create a syrup-like solution.
DIY Weed Gummy Recipe
Now that you’ve prepared your cannabis tinctures, it’s time to make your gummies! Begin by gathering the following supplies:
What You'll Need
- 2/3 Cup Fruit Puree, Thawed
- 1/3 Cup Water
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 3 Tablespoons Gelatin
- 2-3 Teaspoons Cannabis Tincture (depending on desired potency)
- Granulated Sugar
- Medicine Dropper/Condiment Bottle, Cleaned
- Silicon Molds/Baking Dish, Sprayed w/ Cooking Spray
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the fruit puree, water and lemon juice and cook on medium-low heat until thoroughly incorporated
- After thoroughly combined, add 2-3 teaspoons of your cannabis tincture, whisk well
- Slowly add three tablespoons of gelatin, continually whisking until smooth
- Remove from heat then use a medicine dropper or clean condiment bottle to add the mixture to silicon molds or baking dish
- Place filled molds/dish in the refrigerator to chill for about 15 minutes
- Remove gummies from molds or cut into bite-sized pieces
- Toss gummies in granulated sugar to keep them from sticking together (add a little citric acid to your sugar at this point if you want sour gummies)
- Store in an air-tight container in a cool, dark location for up to 2-3 weeks.
Dosing Your Cannabis Gummies
When dosing, remember that decarboxylated cannabis makes a more potent product and that sublingual application will increase its potency and speed onset time. Though you can always take more, you can’t take less, and the come-down can be lengthy so pace yourself and remember to practice safe dosing.
Should a case of overconsumption occur, stay calm and make a note of your experience/dose for the next time. You can also check out our article on what to do if you get too high!
Cannabis-infused gummy snacks are a great way to medicate quickly, accurately and discretely. Since they can be made right at home using a few simple ingredients, there’s no excuse not to whip up a batch and enjoy – just remember to save some for your friends!
Do you have a favorite cannabis gummy recipe? Share it with our readers below.
