By TINEY RICCIARDI | cricciardi@denverpost.com | The Denver Post

Since marijuana was legalized in Colorado, edibles have become an increasingly popular choice for buyers. In fact, edibles — a category that includes infused gummies, chocolates, cookies, candies and even beverages — accounted for 13.9% of sales in Colorado between July 9 and Oct. 7 (the most of any state, according to analytics firm Headset).

But you’re not just limited to what’s sold at the store. As the variety of edibles has increased, so too have the ways consumers can make their own at home. With Thanksgiving on the horizon, we tested three different infusion methods with popular holiday dishes — using cannabutter, marijuana concentrate and flower — so everyone can gather and giggle around the dinner table this year.

Before we dive in, let’s start with a few disclaimers: Cannabis use is a highly personal experience and the effects tend to hit differently when eating it versus smoking or vaping. The standard single serving size is 10 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound that produces a “high.”

If you’re new to edibles, start by eating a little rather than over-indulging. In classic Thanksgiving fashion, you can always go back for seconds.

These recipes were inspired by those featured in cookbooks “The 420 Gourmet: The Elevated Art of Cannabis Cuisine” by Jeff The 420 Chef and “Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen” by Stephanie Hua and Coreen Carroll. Both are excellent resources to learn about the cannabis plant, its use as an ingredient and how to appropriately dose your dishes. For extra culinary inspiration, check out Vice’s “Bong Appétit.”

Pre-made Sweet Grass Cannabutter from Colorado-based company Infusiam is an easy way to elevate any dish. One stick is infused with 100 mg of THC and marked in 10 mg slices. Find it at LivWell Enlightened Health dispensaries. 

Whacky Mac & Cheese with cannabutter

About cannabutter: Butter is one of the most well-known ways to infuse a meal with marijuana. (Brownies, anyone?) You can make your own, or you can buy some pre-made Sweet Grass Cannabutter from Colorado edibles maker Infusiam, available at LivWell Enlightened Health and other dispensaries throughout the state. The latter is great because it’s already subdivided into 10 milligrams servings. A whole stick (100 milligrams) costs $20. To dilute the recipe dosage, cut the cannabutter with un-infused butter.

This recipe makes six servings, each with 5 milligrams of THC.

Ingredients

• 3 slices Sweet Grass Cannabutter or 1 tablespoon homemade cannabutter, equal to 30 milligrams of THC
• 1 pound pasta
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup smoked gouda cheese, shredded
• 2 ounces goat cheese
• Salt, black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to taste
• Sleeve of BBQ Pringles

Directions 

Preheat the oven to 340 degrees. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta according to box directions until al dente. (Keep in mind pasta will continue to cook when put in the oven.) In a measuring cup, combine milk and chicken stock.

In a medium saucepan, carefully melt butter so as not to burn it. Mix in the flour, a little bit at a time, while stirring constantly until you make a paste. Slowly add the milk and broth mixture and stir continuously until creamy.

Mix in cheese while continuing to stir to create a smooth blend as it melts. Add salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to taste. Stir well to combine.

Lower the heat and let sauce simmer, stirring occasionally, until it starts to bubble and look thick. Once thick, remove from heat.

Drain your pasta and return it to the pot. Mix three-quarters of the cheese sauce into the pasta and then transfer to a greased baking dish. Pour remaining cheese sauce over the top and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and cover the top with a layer of crushed BBQ Pringles (you don’t need to use the whole sleeve, but feel free). Return to the oven for 5 minutes, until the dish starts to bubble. Serve.

“Green” Bean Casserole with distillate

Spherex sells what it calls a dablicator, a small syringe filled with marijuana distillate that can be infused into numerous dishes. One syringe of the Mango Kush distillate holds 765 mg of THC, so quite literally a drop will do. 

About marijuana distillate: Distillate is a form of cannabis concentrate. Be advised: This stuff is very potent, often reaching 90% THC. Concentrates company Spherex sells what it calls a dablicator ($30), a small syringe filled with THC extract that can be infused into numerous dishes. A little goes a long way here: One syringe of the Mango Kush distillate holds 765 milligrams of THC, so quite literally a drop will do.

We followed Alton Brown’s green bean casserole recipe, but you’re welcome to follow your longtime favorite. Keep in mind that cannabinoids including THC bind to fat, so as a rule of thumb, add the distillate when you incorporate the creamy component.

This recipe makes six servings, each with about 6 milligrams of THC.

Ingredients

• 1 drop of Spherex marijuana distillate
• 1 pound fresh green beans
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 12 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• French’s Crispy Fried Onions

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for about 5 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge beans into an ice bath to stop cooking, then set aside.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally until the mushrooms give up their liquid and turn tan or brown. Add garlic and nutmeg, and cook another minute or two until aromatic. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture, stir and cook for 1 minute. Add chicken broth and simmer for 1 minute. Decrease heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half.

Heat up a cup of water and submerge the closed distillate applicator in it for one minute. This will warm the extract and make it easier to accurately dose your dish. Once warm, carefully squeeze 1 drop of the marijuana distillate onto the end of a butter knife and stir into the mixture. Cook until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally.

Once thick, remove the pan from heat and transfer mixture into a baking dish. Cover with crispy fried onions and bake for about 15 minutes, until the dish is bubbling.

Whipped Cream of Weed with cannabis flower

Pecan pie topped with cannabis-infused whipped cream. 

About the flower: Cannabis flower or bud is the raw plant material that’s harvested and sold as a smokeable product. It’s important to note that you cannot simply put flower in a dish and expect an infusion. The buds need to be heated to activate the THC, a process known as decarboxylation, or “decarbing,” for short. In the following recipe, the cannabis is decarbed in the steeping process, so there’s no extra work you need to do prior to combining the ingredients.

This recipe makes 16 ounces of whipped cream with an estimated total of 25 milligrams of THC.

Ingredients

• 0.5 gram marijuana flower
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• Extra cream to top off

Directions

Add cream to a small pot. Break marijuana into small pieces (do not grind) and add to cream.

Slowly heat the mixture, stirring occasionally.

Once the mixture starts to boil, turn heat to low and cover partially. Continue to steep the marijuana for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Take pot off heat and strain cream into a heat-safe container. Let cool.

Add more cream to the infused cream to make a full cup, replacing what evaporated.

Pour into a mixer and whip the mixture until it reaches desired, fluffy consistency.

Here are some Things to Know

By Rebecca Victoria Olmos | TheCannifornian.com Correspondent

In 2020, edibles became the most popular product in the California cannabis market, especially amongst new customers, according to an Eaze report. They are an easy, discrete, fun, tasty way to consume. 

But before you ingest that delicious infused treat, here are a few things to remember to make sure you enjoy the high.

1. You might be waiting a while

When you eat an edible, the THC has to go a long way through the stomach, liver, then bloodstream, and brain. So it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to up to 2 hours before you feel the effects. There is an old stoner myth that edibles always hit you after you say you don’t feel anything, so try to resist the urge to consume more before that 2 hour time is up. If you’re super new, wait till the next day to try again just to be safe.

2. The effects last longer

Once the edibles do hit you, the effects can last anywhere from 6-8 hours. Plan your day accordingly. 

3. The high will be more intense than smoking

The THC in edibles metabolizes into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is 1.5-7 times more potent than the delta-9 THC it started as. 

4. “Start low and go slow” 

The cannabis mantra. If this is your first time with cannabis, you can start anywhere between 2.5 – 5 milligrams. But if you’re a smoker or have a healthy cannabis regime, you can start with 10 milligrams. Some people need 100 or more milligrams to feel the effects due to tolerance build-up over time. But let’s walk before we fly. 

5. Edibles are unpredictable

The effects of edibles depend on various factors ranging from the plant and ingredients used to what you ate that day. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to try edibles in a comfy space, with lots of food and water and time to chill so you can fully enjoy the experience.

If you feel overwhelmed by the amount you take, it’s best to sleep it off. But edibles are so fun, and once you find your dosage, you can choose from gummies, cookies, chips, sauces, butter, and so many other lovely infused goodies.

By Rebecca Victoria Olmos

Why is a roach clip called a roach clip? Because pot holder was taken. All dad jokes aside, here is a list of dope gifts to get your favorite cannapops this Father’s Day.

1. Toker Poker

This little gadget is a tool all ganja lovers need and all dad’s love tools, right? The lighter sleeve comes with a poker to clear out your bowls and a tamper to pack them in tightly.

The pack comes with four beautifully rolled, individually wrapped joints. That way, dad can save some for later, and the rest will stay fresh! In addition, they come in a variety of different strains to fit all different dad vibes.

There’s nothing like hitting a fresh bowl of flower in a clean new piece. And dad deserves nothing but the best. Chameleon has a wide selection of high-quality, color-changing, double-blown pipes.

1. Santa Cruz Shredder

These grinders are a classic, durable addition to dad’s smoke gear. The four-piece option even comes with a kief catcher.

These disposable vapes are made with rosin, which is a clean, beautiful, concentrate to smoke. Dad is sure to love the convenient, sleek design and the delicious cannabis flavors.

This two-gram hash-infused blunt smokes like a fine cigar, except there’s no tobacco. El Blunto uses natural hemp wrap and glass tips to elevate dad’s smoking experience.

1. Puffco Peak

This electronic dab rig is the perfect gadget to get your tech-loving stoner dad! It’s easy to use and a great way to get low or high temp dabs.

This bong is a modern take on a classic. It has an ergonomic grip to fit nicely into dad’s hand and a silicone base to protect the glass.

The gift that will keep on giving. This cannabutter maker fits on any countertop and makes infusing dad’s favorite meals super easy! Whatever you choose to get the cannabis dad in your life, just make sure to enjoy it with them. There’s no replacement for quality cannatime.

By ALASTAIR BLAND |Marin Independent Journal
PUBLISHED: May 5, 2021 at 5:19 a.m. | UPDATED: May 5, 2021 at 5:20 a.m.

Ethanol contains 7 calories per gram. That’s almost two times the calories of carbohydrates and nearly as many of fat. So, if you want to drink beer without the calories, sorry — it’s not going to happen. It can’t.

That may be why, as breweries strive to minimize their beers’ caloric value, cannabis beverages are taking flight. With THC-infused drinks, consumers can attain that buzz they’re after without the caloric baggage. In a sense, they’re required to, since it is illegal to combine alcohol and THC in the same product.

Cannabis-infused drinks have been on the market for several years now, but I didn’t have a taste until last week, when I was delivered a sample pack of a lime-and-basil-flavored bubbly water infused lightly with the compounds of interest from marijuana — namely, and chemically, tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. These are better known in daily dialogues as THC and CBD.

CBD is the miracle molecule that cures all ills, or nearly so, according to high life advocates, while THC is the compound that messes with people’s heads.

The product I tasted contains both. It is on shelves now and emerged from collaboration between Sava, a local online cannabis vendor, and Cann, which makes a variety of all-natural, low-dose “social tonics,” as Cann’s website calls them.

The drink was spritzy, and the flavor combination was light and wonderful.

My drinking companion claims to have gotten almost immediately, and very mildly, stoned. I felt only a slight touch of a giddy lightness, but it was real and clear — a genuine high. It was the first time I had used cannabis in a measured way (the 8-ounce can contains 2 milligrams of THC and 4 of CBD, and just 35 calories) and now I know that a little extra might be perfect for me, and next time I may double my dose. The Lime Basil Cann Social Tonic is widely available in the Bay Area and should run about $12 for a four-pack.

Cann’s website calls social tonics “the future of drinking.” Whether brewers believe this or not, they are certainly listening to such claims. Indeed, as more states legalize marijuana — as California, Alaska, Maine and many more have done – brewers are dabbling in this sector. Lagunitas, for one, has done so. In 2017, the Marin-born, Sonoma-based beer giant made an alcoholic cannabis beer — what the brewery claims to have discovered only after the fact was illegal. For combining alcohol with THC was and remains against federal law. Currently, Lagunitas offers a drink called Hi-Fi Hops — an IPA-inspired bubbly water, sans alcohol, and infused with 5 mg of THC.

Other non-alcoholic THC “beers” include High Style Brewing’s Pale Haze, with a whopping 10 mg of THC; the same brewery’s Blood Orange Haze, with 10 mg of THC; and Flying Dog’s IPA-inspired Hop Chronic, with an unmeasured amount of THC.

Combining CBD with alcohol is allowed, and we see an example of this in Coalition Brewing Co.’s Two Flowers IPA, which contains 6% ABV, 0 THC and 10 mg of CBD.

Reports recently emerged from Canada that beer sales declined markedly when marijuana became legal — a clear sign that many beer lovers aren’t beer lovers at all; rather, they just want to have fun — minus the calories.

Alastair Bland’s Through the Hopvine runs every week in Zest. Contact him at allybland79@gmail.com.

Photo: Marshawn Lynch with a cloud of smoke. (Photo: Courtesy of Dodi Blunts)

Former Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch is going into “Beast Mode” again. This time his efforts have a different focus: launching his new brand of “diamond-infused” marijuana products, Dodi Blunts. For those who might wonder, “dodi” is a slang term that refers to high-quality cannabis. Dodi users will experience the highest, richest potency from palm leaf-wrapped blunts infused with THCa diamonds presented in a reusable blunt tube.

According to an article in the East Bay Times, the former Raiders running back will be partnering with recently founded 2nd and Goal Ventures, a corporation out of Toronto, Canada. Jeff Goldenberg, a founder of 2nd and Goal Ventures, has worked in “white label” marijuana products in Canada, creating products for license holders to sell on their own.

Goldenberg explains that the THCa diamonds are a form of extract from the cannabis plant, and they are the most potent at around 99 percent THC, which is the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana. But don’t worry about getting too high, Dodi’s Blunts won’t be that strong since the diamonds are infused into traditional cannabis flower inside the palm leaf wrap.

Lynch is not new to utilizing his NFL image and getting involved with Culture-focused business ventures. He see’s Dodi Blunts as an investment opportunity that “has the ability to raise up Black and Brown communities — and I intend to lift up those who I can.”

The blunts will launch in March at 24 select dispensaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Dodi Blunts plans to expand to more cannabis products thereafter.