The easiest ways to add THC to any food or drink

Making your own cannabis-infused food and drink is an effective way to get the marijuana plant’s beneficial cannabinoids into your system. Let’s face it though: making your own edibles and beverages can be time-consuming. It even requires some trial and error for beginners when it comes to dosage and strength.

So why not add THC to food and drink yourself?

If you live in a state where cannabis is legal in some form, you can use pre-made cannabis products that will infuse cannabinoids into anything you want in seconds. Here are the easiest ways to add THC to food and drink at home—or wherever you are.

tinctures

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Cannabis tinctures are easily the most versatile and convenient way to consume cannabis and can be added to almost anything. Tinctures can be consumed in a variety of ways, although sublingual is the most popular way to consume them. Sublingual consumption allows for rapid absorption through the sublingual artery, bypassing the liver and intestines and transporting the cannabinoids directly into your bloodstream.

However, if you add tinctures to your food or drink, you can expect the effects time to be around an hour. But the biggest benefit of using tinctures is the quick, easy, and easy dosing: just add a drop or two for an accurate dose. How much you dose is entirely dependent on your own tolerance and experience with cannabis, however if you are a newbie always start low and slow. Start with half a drop if you are new to THC.

Plus, tinctures are low in calories, which is great for anyone watching their weight. Tinctures only have about 7 calories per milliliter. If you ended up eating baked goods, candy, or other edibles, you can easily consume at least 200 calories and more.

Tinctures last much longer compared to other cannabis products because you only need a small amount. These are also full-spectrum cannabis products, as the production of tinctures involves the entire cannabis plant, meaning consumers can enjoy a wide range of health benefits from the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes in addition to THC and CBD.

RELATED: How to make cannabis tinctures from marijuana stems

If you use tinctures on foods you cook, remember to add them after cooking. Otherwise, the high temperature will cause the alcohol in tinctures to evaporate. It’s also easy to add to beverages, whether you’re drinking coffee, tea, wine, cocktails or juices. Tinctures can also be easily added to pasta sauces, salad dressings, soups, stews, smoothies, and more.

Tinctures can also be made from glycerin, a form of sugar alcohol derived from vegetable oils. These are typically less potent compared to alcohol-based tinctures, but still offer you many of the health benefits of cannabis. Glycerin is also sweeter compared to alcohol, so this base is recommended for people who have some types of oral sensitivities.

cannabis oil

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Most ready-to-use cannabis oils have little to no flavor, depending on their base and whether they have any flavor. This makes it easy to add to almost any food and drink that hides the mild taste of cannabis oils. Just like with tinctures, the effects of THC can be felt about an hour after consuming the fortified food or drink.

RELATED: The #1 difference between cannabis oil and CBD oil

Cannabis oils are made from a variety of carrier oils that act as a base. The most common is coconut oil, although olive and avocado oil can also be used. Coconut oils tend to have a stronger coconut flavor, although it tends to dissipate with just a few drops on your food and drink. Milder carrier oils include lecithin or vegetable oils.

As with tinctures, cannabis oils are best added after boiling. However, you can cook with cannabis oils as long as you use low temperatures: the maximum should be around 350F. This prevents the therapeutic cannabinoids from burning. The most ideal temperatures for cooking with cannabis oils are between 250 and 284F.

cannabutter

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Making or purchasing ready-to-eat cannabutter is a fantastic way to bake or cook with fortified fats. You can easily make cannabutter at home, but you can also buy pre-made ones (click here for an easy cannabutter recipe).

Cannabutter is extremely versatile and can make for some delicious and powerful edibles. Whether you’re making desserts or savory dishes, you can use cannabutter in literally hundreds of recipes. Use it in place of recipes that call for butter: from brownies to banana bread, pasta, cakes and more.

TIED TOGETHER: How Many Edibles Should You Eat? Your guide to edible dosing

Cannabutter also works well for people who consume bulletproof coffee. Just add some unsalted cannabutter, just like you would with regular butter. Many people have consumed bulletproof coffee to improve mental clarity and cognition while aiding in weight loss. Whether you’re on the keto diet or not, this delicious and creamy coffee will keep you coming back for more.

When consuming cannabutter, keep in mind that it will take a while for the effects to kick in. If you have a high tolerance, it can take about an hour or more, so don’t consume seconds until you’ve waited at least an hour and a half.

Conclusion

When cooking with any of these cannabis products, always keep in mind that you can expect the THC high to last up to 8 hours or more. Make sure your plans do not include driving or using machines; The psychoactive effects of THC are best enjoyed in the comfort and safety of your home.

This article originally appeared on Cannabis.net and has been republished with permission.