If you’ve ever dabbled in the culinary arts beyond a night eating out or a cup of instant noodles, then you understand the joy and satisfaction.

Making yourself a delicious meal is every bit as rewarding as the Food Channel would have you believe. But if you also happen to be somewhat of a weed aficionado, then we’ve got some exciting weed edibles for you to try today!

We’re not just talking brownies either (but, hey, they might make an appearance anyway). Let’s explore some of the best cuisines your bud has ever met.

Why Cannabis Edibles?

Before we start looking at how to make edibles, let’s talk for a bit about why you might want to consider them in the first place.

You may have tried it all – blunts, oils, vape pens, etc. – but there’s just something a little special about edibles. In particular, weed edibles make for a longer lasting and more relaxing experience.

When you eat a pot edible, it takes longer to absorb, but when it does, it hits differently than other forms. Most notably, by eating cannabis-infused meals, it means it will pass through your liver.

Smoking or vaping marijuana goes straight to the brain, which is why the high happens so fast (relatively speaking). But eating an edible forces your liver to metabolize delta-9 THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, which hits quicker and harder.

So, while it may take a tad bit longer, the experience of an edible will be deeper and more relaxing than others.

To top it off, it’s never a bad thing to cook for yourself! Cooking is psychologically healthy and economically sound.

The Importance of Decarboxylation

We’ll make this quick, but there’s one more note to make before we get to the edible recipes.

For almost all weed edibles, you need to decarboxylate your bud. Basically, this means you need to cook it at about 215 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes to an hour.

Long story short: it will make your weed more potent in an edible. Otherwise, consuming weed in this way won’t have very much of an effect at all.  

Two activities have risen to prominence in a new way during this period of quarantined life: smoking weed and cooking really good food at home. 

And with increased awareness around respiratory health, the two are being combined with renewed gusto. But a redundant regimen of infused chocolate and candy gets old, and not everyone lives down the block from a recreational dispensary. The good news is that you don’t have to shop at a dispensary to enjoy a variety of tasty edibles. And the even better news? You don’t have to spend money on a Magic Butter machine or hours making cannabis butter either.

If you’ve got some flower, creativity, and time to kill, preparing your own homemade edibles could be a matter of minutes away.

Embrace honey sticks 

Of all the food trends and familiar ingredients that unite the disparate edible scenes of legal states, honey sticks are a surprisingly common factor. I’d venture to say there’s at least one brand in every legalized state producing THC-infused honey sticks that look identical to the sticks you enjoyed/dreaded as a kid. Numerous brands make hemp-derived CBD versions, but be sure you review that brand is transparent about lab results for their hemp ingredients. Then get drizzling on baked goods, oatmeal, a charcuterie board, or your afternoon tea.

Get occasionally fancy

For a little more effort and a lot more versatility, make yourself some homemade simple syrup with infused sugar (it’s still super easy). The usual formula is equal parts sugar and hot-to-boiling water (ex: 1/2 cup of each) stirred very well until the sugar is totally dissolved. If you’ve got a half-size Mason jar, it’s the perfect shaker and storage vessel. You can use it right away or let it cool and keep in the fridge for up to one week. It’ll be on hand to elevate any cold brew, sweet tea, cocktail, etc. with just a splash.

Make your own rosin for fresh-baked munchies

If you have a hair straightener, parchment paper, a metal or glass poker, and some flower, you are ready to make your own delicious, potent 10-second hash oil, perfect for making fresh-baked treats like a batch of double-strength chocolate chip cookies.

Step one: First, gently break down a couple decent sized buds and place in a little taco of parchment paper. Set the hair straightener to 200 degrees or the lowest setting if it doesn’t show the exact temperature.

Step two: Carefully place the parchment paper taco inside and apply very firm pressure for about three to seven seconds. Be careful not to burn yourself! If you hear a little sizzle, that’s a good sign.

Step three: Next, pull the parchment paper onto a cool surface to solidify for a second, and then toss the flattened nug and remaining plant material. Now it’s time to grab your collection tool for the painstaking, sticky process of scooping up the goods.

Step four: Prepare your balls of cookie dough on a baking sheet, and top each with a small bit of the finished material from the parchment paper. Bake the cookies per usual and enjoy with caution! These will be stronger than the usual five to 10 mg cookies and it’s recommended to wait at least an hour after eating a second cookie. Those less experienced with using cannabis should start with half a cookie.

Pro tip: If you want a slightly cleaner finished product, use a silkscreen as an extra filter for plant material. Twenty-five to 37 microns if you’re starting with kief or hash, and something larger like 90 microns for bud.

Pro lazy tip: Works the same on a batch of store-bought Toll House dough, too.

How much weed do you need for edibles?

Although the strength of cannabis varies, it can be estimated that the average starch is around 10 percent THC.

According to The Cannabist, “Every 1 gram of cannabis buds has a dry weight of 1000 mg. If the species has about 10 percent THC, 10 percent of 1,000 mg will be 100 mg. Therefore, it can be assumed that one gram of cannabis contains at least 100 mg of THC for cooked or baked at home.”

Tips for consuming edibles

If you are wondering how much weed firecrackers to eat, the answer ultimately depends on experience. The dosage for daily smokers with high tolerance is very different from the dose for a beginner.

It is important to know that weight and genes influence the way your body processes edibles and their THC content.