Author: Grace Hyde

The brownie is classic, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But there’s also nothing wrong with taking your culinary skills to the next level with dark chocolate cake, a smoothie with no psychoactive effects or a jalapeno biscuit that your chili has been crying for. Add these recipes to your repertoire and invite your favorite cannaseur over to sample them.
Edibles are tricky. Please remember that producing them is only legal if you have a medical card. Also, remember to store them where children can’t possibly get them. Ever. And make sure they’re in a place where other adults won’t eat them by accident.
Grace Hyde works at the Green Leaf Compassion Center.

Dark Chocolate Canna Cake

Makes 12 servings: Use 1 gram of kief or hash (or more if you prefer high potency edibles) hash oil or infused coconut or cooking oil
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup dark cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
1. Preheat oven to 275°.
2. Grease and flour 2 9” round baking pans.
3. Mix together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
4. Warm the vegetable oil and mix with your cannabis concentrate, or substitute infused cooking oil for vegetable oil. Add to batter.
5. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer for 2 minutes.
6. Stir in boiling water while the mixer is running so you don’t scramble the egg. The batter will be very thin.
7. Pour batter into prepared pans.
8. Bake 40-45 minutes, cool, frost and enjoy!
Cupcakes: Makes 30 cupcakes, bake for 30-35 minutes.
Note: The cannabis cooks out at 300°, therefore we must bake it at a slightly lower temperature. Because of this, cooking times need to be adjusted. Be sure to watch your product while it is in the oven, and remove when a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Frosting
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup dark cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter; stir in cocoa; alternate adding powdered sugar and milk until combined; add vanilla

Strawberry Banana Raw Cannabis Smoothie

Note: The next recipe is slightly different than that of a typical edible. This recipe calls for raw cannabis, that is, not dried or cured, and preferably cut from the plant within 48 hours. Raw cannabis offers a vast array of health benefits, and some people go so far as to refer to it as a vegetable. Raw cannabis is full of amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids and, most importantly, cannabinoids that haven’t been activated. Before activation, the cannabinoids THCA and CBDA aren’t psychoactive, so you can therefore consume very large quantities at once (recommended 500-1000mgs daily) without psychoactive effects.
Raw cannabis consumption has been extraordinarily promising for those afflicted with autoimmune diseases.
5-7 raw cannabis leaves
1-2 raw cannabis buds (1-2 inches in length) stem removed
1 cup hemp/nut milk of your choice
1 banana, chopped and frozen
2 cups frozen strawberries, sliced
1 tablespoon agave nectar
Add all ingredients to blender; pulse until combined. Take care not to overheat the motor, as heat will activate the cannabinoids and produce a psychoactive product.

Cheddar Bacon Jalapeno Biscuit

Makes 12 biscuits
6 bacon slices, cooked and chopped
3-3/4 cups bread flour
1-1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted cannabutter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 1/2 cups (packed) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 small chopped fresh jalapeno
1-3/4 cups buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 275°
2. Line sheet tray with parchment paper.
3. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in food processor.
4. Add chilled cannabutter cubes, blend 30 seconds until combined.
5. Transfer to bowl, add cheese, jalapeno, and bacon and combine.
6. Slowly add buttermilk, combining evenly.
7. Drop ½ cup mounds of batter onto prepared baking sheet.
8. Make 25-30 minutes or until tester inserted comes out clean.
9. Enjoy!

While most people are familiar with THC and CBD, cannabis contains upward of 85 different cannabinoids with different properties and potential medicinal benefits. Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds produced by the flower and located in the resinous trichome glands. All mammals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is composed of lipids and receptors located in the brain and central and peripheral nervous systems. The endocannabinoid system moderates appetite, nausea, pain, mood, memory, sleep and more.

There are two identified receptors in the body; CB1 receptors are located primarily in the brain (not including the brain stem), and CB2 receptors are located primarily in the immune system and more sparingly in the liver, bones and nervous system. The endocannabinoid system works like a lock and key — the receptor is the lock, and the cannabinoid is the key. The key can be a naturally occurring endocannabinoid (such as anandamide), its phytocannabinoid equivalent (such as THC) or a synthetic cannabinoid (such as Marinol).

A majority of cannabis strains have been bred to have high amounts of THC – tetrahydrocannabinol – which is the compound that produces the feelings of euphoria or “high” that most people associate with cannabis. An increasing number of growers are seeking out and cultivating strains that are higher in CBD – cannabidiol — which is the non-psychoactive compound that is growing in popularity and has been associated with helping a multitude of medical problems such as chronic pain, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and more. These two cannabinoids have taken center stage for cannabis research and public knowledge, but there are many other compounds of equal importance, the most notable listed below.

CBN: Cannabinol makes certain strains more sedative. CBN is important for pain reduction, and is an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and appetite stimulant.

CBG: Cannabigerol has been known to reduce anxiety and depression, as well as have anti-inflammatory properties beneficial to patients with inflammatory bowel syndrome. It can also be used to reduce ocular pressure, which is helpful in the treatment of glaucoma.

CBC: Cannabichromene is one of the least popular cannabinoids, despite its highly beneficial effects. CBC has anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates bone growth. Perhaps the most important thing about CBC is that it is believed to inhibit the growth of cancer tumors. It also has somewhat of an “entourage effect,” enhancing the effects of other cannabinoids.

CBDa: Before CBD is activated through decarboxylation, it is found as cannabidiolic acid. CBDa can reduce inflammation, vomiting and nausea, and potentially inhibits cancer cell growth.

THCa: The acid form of THC, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid is an anti-inflammatory, neuroprotectant and appetite stimulant. Like CBDa, THCa is found in raw and live cannabis.

The idea of clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD) was introduced in 2004 by Dr. Ethan Russo of GW Pharmaceuticals. The notion behind CECD is that since cannabis can help with a large (and constantly growing) number of medical problems, perhaps the underlying problem is a deficiency of endocannabinoids. The practice of juicing raw cannabis flowers and leaves is becoming popular with patients, which allows them to intake a very large quantity of cannabinoids (acid forms like THCa and CBDa) without any psychoactive effects. The amount of activated cannabinoids someone could take on a daily basis is limited due to the psychoactive components, so this is a way of flushing the body with cannabinoids and still maintaining daily activities.

Understanding the power of all the cannabinoids is important, as the current public perception of cannabis as medicine is that THC and CBD are the only cannabinoids worth looking at. Hemp CBD products are quickly growing in popularity, since they are legal and can be sold online. However, CBD-only products are missing all of the other beneficial cannabinoids and aren’t as powerful as a whole plant extraction. With more research being done in the future, more and more uses for cannabis will become evident.

Since as early as the 7th century, cannabis has been used to enhance sex in many cultures. It isn’t limited to simply being an aphrodisiac either; cannabis has a long history of being used in sex rituals, easing pain during sex from childbirth or other medical conditions and treating STDs. While there currently is no concrete evidence of its effectiveness, as the topics of sex and cannabis become less taboo there will hopefully be some more research in the area.

Whether we examine the tantric sex rituals of ancient India or practices of Persian prostitutes in the late 1800s, we humans have quickly caught on to the beneficial physiological reactions that we have when consuming cannabis. These reactions are similar to sexual arousal itself: bliss, heightened sensitivity, relaxation, an increased mind-body connection and a sense of time slowing down. Strain selection and method of delivery will dictate how you feel; smoking a strong sativa may exacerbate anxiety lingering on the conscience, whereas choosing an indica-dominant hybrid may ease both stress and body pain and guide you into a relaxed and euphoric state. Smoking and vaporizing aren’t the only options for bud and the bedroom these days either. Marijuana infused edibles may take longer to set in, but their effects produce a deep body relaxation and can last for many hours. During the sex rituals in ancient India, participants would consume a drink called bhang, which is essentially a marijuana milkshake (recipe below) for an enlightened experience and powerful orgasms.

Topical applications are also becoming more popular, with the advent of infused massage oil and companies like Foria making infused lubricant. Foria’s product has received overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews from women; not only does is increase the quality (and quantity) of orgasms, is also makes sex possible for women with complications from childbirth, menopause or medical conditions like endometriosis, for whom it was previously too painful to manage. Currently sold only in Colorado, it’s easy to whip up a batch of your own and will probably be cheaper too — a bottle of Foria’s product goes for $44 a pop.

Bhang Cannabis Drink:

Ingredients:
2 cups water
4 cups warm milk
1/2 to 1 teaspoon rosewater
1oz bud
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons blanched, chopped almonds
1/8 teaspoon garam masala (blend of black pepper, cardamom, caraway seed, clove, cinnamon, bay leaf, nutmeg, mace, cumin seed, corainder, and saffron – varies between brands)
1/4 teaspoon ginger powder

Instructions:
Bring the water to a boil in a clean teapot.
Remove any stems or seeds from the cannabis, add to the teapot, and cover. Let simmer for approximately 7 minutes.
Strain the water and cannabis through cheesecloth and squeeze the wet cannabis to extract as much water as possible. Save this water.
Place the cannabis in a mortar and add 2 tablespoons warm milk. Slowly but firmly grind the milk and cannabis together.
Put the cannabis through cheesecloth and squeeze out as much milk as you can. Save this milk.
Repeat this process until you have used 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) of milk. (Save this milk. The cannabis should look pulpy at this point.) Put the cannabis back into the mortar.
Add the chopped almonds and enough warm milk to completely cover the chopped almonds and cannabis.
Grind the mixture in a mortar until a fine paste is formed.
Put this through cheesecloth and squeeze out as much milk as you can. Save this milk also. (Repeat until dry.)
Throw out the dry mass. Combine all the liquids that have been saved (the water and the milk).
Add garam masala, ginger powder, sugar, rosewater, and remaining milk. Stir.
Chill, serve and enjoy.

Note: This drink is VERY potent!! Consume small amounts at a time and wait 45 minutes to an hour for the onset of effects.

Homemade Cannabis Lubricant

Ingredients:
1 cup liquid coconut oil (MCT oil) or raw coconut oil*
1 cup trim or bud, or 1 gram hash
1 tablespoon liquid sunflower lecithin

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in crockpot on low/warm setting or in a Magical Butter Machine, set on the “oil” setting.
If using crockpot, cook 3-4 hours stirring frequently.
Strain and cool.

*lubricant made with raw coconut oil will solidify at room temperature, however the heat from your hand will re-liquefy the product; note that oil-based lubricants can weaken latex condoms