Report Projects Puerto Rican Recreational Cannabis Market Worth Over $500 Million

A Puerto Rican trade group that supports cannabis is hoping to make progress in the conversation of complete recreational marijuana reform on the island. They have recently released a report to this effect. The report predicts how the legalization of recreational marijuana might profit the U.S. territory located to the southeast of Cuba. Based on the analysis, or would take up to five years for the development of the industry here and would follow the same path as the casino industry, which rose to prominence in this region in the first decades of the 20th century.

This type of economic development is considered by other jurisdictions also and not only on the island, especially after the pandemic. Neither is it the singular popular destination for tourists. However, this part of the economy is critically vital to the economy of the island and has gotten increasingly so during the second decade of this century. Presently, it accounts for 10 percent of the entire economy. Truly, prior to the pandemic, a lot of the vital infrastructure was damaged thanks to Hurricane Maria, and the island was rebuilt using tourism.

Outside this, the island is familiar with the manufacturing of different recreational commodities, such as, but not limited to, the largest rum distillery in the world, the Bacardi factory located in Cataño. Also, it is increasingly a haven for crypto firms. Because of former president Donald Trump, ninety-eight percent of the land on the island is presently deemed an opportunity zone specifically created to bring in foreign investors.

REFORM OF CANNABIS IN PUERTO RICO

Marijuana has been an illicit substance in Puerto Rico since 1932, when Act 12 precisely prohibited the same. Punishments for importing, planting, selling, and purchase of the plant ranged from a one-month to a year sentence in jail.

Rep. José Luis Báez supported decriminalization in 2013, immediately following the victories of two American state referendums, one in Colorado and another in Washington State. Two years later, the medicinal cannabis reform was enacted by the governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla.

This reform covers permitting patients to gain a 30-day supply of the drug but in a form that cannot be smoked. Growing in your home is still illegal, and patients must buy their medications from state-authorized dispensaries. The number of patients in Puerto Rico is estimated at 115,000.

HOW CANNABIS CAN AID PUERTO RICO IN RECUPERATING

The acceptance of the financial obligation restructuring is without a doubt a crucial step for Puerto Rico as it seeks to regain access to capital markets and instill newfound confidence in the economy of the island. The development process won’t just happen. Puerto Rico needs to develop financial strategies that take into account both its own realities and those of the US and other markets. In this perspective, investing heavily in marijuana makes perfect sense, especially in light of the upcoming federal liberalization that is expected.

OPPORTUNITIES IN MARIJUANA FOR PUERTO RICO’S FARMING SECTOR

The Department of Agriculture in Puerto Rico stated that because of the island’s fortunate geographical location in a tropical area, cannabis might be cultivated and harvested in Puerto Rico about three times a year, unlike the biggest manufacturers in the world that can currently only grow and harvest outdoors once or twice in a year.

A grand program to encourage cannabis cultivation would not only allow Puerto Rico to get the most out of its geographical location, but it would also create opportunities in the backwoods of the island where they are probably most direly needed. The per capita income in the island’s most wealthy (and municipal) town is four times more than in its poorest areas (rural).

With perfect environmental conditions to support cultivation, the cannabis market in Puerto Rico might be predominantly self-reliant in regard to essential materials. At the same time, excess cannabis can be exported, not only to the United States market, where Puerto Rican goods have unrestricted access.

THE ISLAND’S LEGAL STATUS

Today, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory without incorporation. Not a U.S. state but a territory. Another contentious issue is how U.S. federal law is understood in this situation. The island, along with the Philippines and Guam, are locations where civil liberties enjoyed within the continental U.S. and incorporated territories do not apply, according to what some consider to be highly racist rulings enshrined in Supreme Court case law and handed down in the early part of the previous century. Based on these lawful precedents, only the “fundamental limitations” of the U.S. Constitution relating to unincorporated territories, the District of Columbia, and the United States itself.

This means that marijuana is definitely in a very peculiar gray area when it comes to things like the constitutional rights of states (see the earliest cannabis reform at the state level as a constitutional amendment at this level).

THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOCALS?

One of the terrible effects of the recent hurricane was that many people were forced to sell their homes as a result of it for a number of reasons. Due to this, investment banks have acquired huge parcels of damaged real estate here over the past few years, making it difficult for residents to afford to live here. Local protests against foreign development, particularly the privatization of public resources like beaches, have also resulted from this.

In this type of setting, the growth of the cannabis sector could be advantageous for international companies. Another consideration is how it would affect the neighborhood’s sustainable economic development.

BOTTOM LINE

With the revenue cannabis can generate and is already generating for some nations, it is quite conceivable that marijuana can act as a way forward for Puerto Rico, as they seemingly already have an advantage of favorable weather which can see the harvest as much as three times a year.

The slow pace at which cannabis legalization has proceeded is perplexing, given the economic activity that a marijuana advancement would unleash in Puerto Rico. It is inexcusable to keep the door closed to a bustling cannabis market on an island where the inhabitants desperately need financial opportunities.

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It appears cannabis legalization has made American roads safer for everyone. A new study recently pointed out that truck driving in legalized states is safer than ever.

The study observed trends in legalized states and noticed that the positives of legalization far outweigh the negatives. The adult-use cannabis market, which many assumed would be the cause of accidents, has done the opposite. There are reduced numbers of traffic accidents and risks on U.S state and federal roads. This new study specifically looks into the connection between recreational cannabis legalization and truck driving in legal states.

Marijuana Legalization and Truck Safety

Researchers from the University of Arkansas, in conjunction with Iowa State University, conducted this study to investigate whether or not cannabis legislation has had adverse effects on the United States’ multi-billion truck driving industry. The research, which was dubbed ” Does the pineapple express damage more pineapples?” analyzed statistical data from 2005 to 2019.

The researchers sought to understand, using a state panel of heavy truck crash data and a difference-indifference estimation technique, the impact of cannabis use on heavy truck drivers. At the end of the study, the researchers concluded that there had been no increase in the average crash rate of heavy-duty trucks since cannabis got legalized in the various states considered.

Instead, the results showed that the legalization mostly gave drivers a sense of responsibility as heavy truck accidents were reduced by over 10% in the examined states. The researchers highlighted that six out of eight states showed a reduction, while the remaining two increased slightly from their average rate.  The states with the lowest heavy-duty truck crash since their legislation was passed in 2018 and 2013, respectively, are Vermont and Washington.

In Vermont, there was a profound decrease in accidents by -21.5%, while Washington recorded -20.1%. Massachusetts and Colorado followed with a -18% and -18.3% decrease, respectively. The final two are Oregon and California, with a -3.8 and -3.1% reduction, respectively. The two states which showed the expected increases out of the eight examined are Maine and Nevada at 4.20% and 25.7%.

At this juncture, we must stress that the above information is merely a preprint and is yet to be subjected to further peer review. Once the study has undergone the peer review stage, it will be published.

Why the Reductions?

The researchers explained that they are yet to arrive at a primary reason causing the profound reduction in heavy-duty truck crashes. However, they offered a few hypotheses for why it is so.

They pointed out that because marijuana is typically enjoyed at home rather than in a bar or restaurant, truckers are likely unable to obtain or consume marijuana while working quickly.

It is also possible that former drinkers of alcohol converted to marijuana even though it is still illegal to drive while high; research indicates that this is much less likely to result in a fatal accident than driving while intoxicated by alcohol. Naturally, operating a motor vehicle while completely sober is the safest option.

The legalization of marijuana has resulted in a lot of developments for the transportation business as well. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration debuted its drug and alcohol registry in January 2020. Although a return-to-duty procedure is in place, it details all commercial drivers who have failed a substance abuse test.

The clearinghouse’s primary goal is to promote truck safety on the road by ensuring those truck drivers who break drug and alcohol laws can’t easily land another driving position without changing their previous conduct.

While the extent to which these goals have improved safety on the road for truckers and other drivers is still unclear, they have resulted in the removal of specific drivers. A total of 124,000 drivers were fired from their jobs as industrial truck drivers between January 2020 and April 2022 due to failed drug tests, and 31,000 have completed the return-to-duty process to go back on the road.

However, most breaches involve medicinal marijuana rather than narcotics like opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamine, or cocaine. Since January 2020, more than 74,000 truckers who tested positive for marijuana have already been banned from operating commercial trucks.

Other Details  

The comparison of Nevada to Vermont, which experienced the most significant decline of any state, enables the researchers to take a deeper look at the rise in accidents in Nevada.

They discovered that Nevada has more travelers unfamiliar with the state’s roads than Vermont, which has significantly less tourism. In Nevada, visitors are also more likely to consume marijuana outside the home, such as when they are in Las Vegas, which suggests that there is a higher chance that they will drive after consuming marijuana. On the other hand, Vermont has a denser population than Nevada but shorter stretches of road. Hence, drivers are inclined to go more carefully with a clear head.

In addition, some findings in this report are more or less opposite of other recent studies on the relationship between cannabis legalization and vehicle crashes in legal states. For instance, in 2021, researchers from Boston University revealed that heavy truck and vehicle accidents due to substance use have not decreased in the last decade. The Boston study found that cannabis-related crashes have more or less doubled.

Some other studies suggested that marijuana legislation may become the leading cause of road crashes In the coming years. Although, this doesn’t mean that the impacts would be fatal.

Bottom Line

In the meantime, it is advisable to drive while sober and stick to the rules and regulations proffered by your state’s cannabis legislation.

Note that this study does not encourage cannabis use while driving or moments before driving. Researchers say cannabis can impair a person’s driving ability for as long as four hours after consumption. So, before getting behind the wheel after ingesting cannabis, be sure the effects have worn off. Take stock of how sharp your senses are before you move your truck. All in all, you must consider your safety and that of other road users.

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MMJ Patients Report Using Fewer Opioids And Alcohol, Says New Study

But Why Aren’t They Telling Their Physicians About It?

Opioid medications are widely prescribed by doctors themselves in order to treat pain especially in severe cases. Tramadol, fentanyl, and morphine are the most widely used opioid drugs but while they are effective in treating pain, they have also been abused and misused without medical supervision.

With over 50 million Americans struggling with chronic pain, which can oftentimes be so debilitating that it prevents anyone from living a normal life, we need a safe solution for treating it.

This has caused an opioid epidemic not just in the United States but globally. According to the World Health Organization,  half a million deaths are caused by drug use while over 70% of them are associated with opioid misuse. Over 30% of those deaths  are due to opioid overdoses which could have easily been prevented. But because of the addictive quality of opioids, many patients find themselves dependent – thus using more than they need to. The dangerous part is that it’s far too easy to overdose since there is only a fine line between a regular dose and an overdose – a single miscalculation can result in death. But with more than 62 million people using opioid around the world, where do we even begin with treatment?

In addition, alcohol is a controlled substance yet it’s so easy to access even for the youth that’s why so many people tend to abuse alcohol.  Alcohol has become so  deeply ingrained in our culture that when people  want to go for a drink after work due to a stressful day, nobody even blinks an eye. Yet, alcohol kills three million people worldwide each year.

You know there’s something wrong with society when things that kill us are easily accessible and misused.

In this regard, cannabis legalization has been a lifesaver, at least in the places where it’s already legal. Data shows us that in places where marijuana has been legalized,  and where medical marijuana patients are able to access their safe and natural medicine, people choose to use less opioids an alcohol.

One recent study from Canada has shown that almost 1 in every 2 medical marijuana patients have been able to either stop or cut down on their consumption of alcohol and opioids. The researchers, who were  from both the United States and Canada, polled around 3,000 patients who are enrolled in the country’s federal medical marijuana program.  There, recreational marijuana has been legal since 2018 while medical cannabis has been legal since 2001.

Researchers reported that 47% of respondents admitted to using marijuana instead of other controlled substances. Among those who said that they used marijuana instead of prescription drugs, half of them said that they were using it instead of opioids. Several respondents also admitted that they use cannabis in order to reduce their alcohol consumption.  It was also interesting to note that around one-third of the respondents didn’t disclose to primary physicians that they were actually substituting drugs, which can be dangerous because weaning off addictions to alcohol and opioids require medical supervision and it can be dangerous to mix them.

“This study examined patient-provider communication patterns concerning cannabis use and substitution in Canada,” the authors concluded. “Results suggest that patients often substitute cannabis for other medications without PCP (primary care providers) guidance. The lack of integration between mainstream healthcare and medical cannabis could likely be improved through increased physician education and clinical experience,” they add.

“Future studies should investigate strategies for effectively involving PCPs in patient care around medical cannabis with specific focus on substitution and harm reduction practices,” they add.

The Problem with The Federal Status of Cannabis

Given how effective cannabis is at treating pain, do we still need to prescribe opioids to patients and risk their death?

Numerous widely consumed pain medications including opioids simply do not work well in mitigating pain and have serious side effects. Thankfully, there is a movement to decriminalize cannabis not just in the United States but in other countries so that patients can use it for pain as well as many other conditions. There is strong scientific evidence that cannabinoids are powerful in treating pain and other difficult-to-treat conditions including epilepsy and PTSD. The problem is that there are still many among the medical community who are wary about marijuana most especially because it’s still a Schedule I substance in the United States.

Even if cannabis could be prescribed by doctors, we still lack enough data on just how much to recommend and which administration route would work best. We do, however, have studies that can point us in the right direction but oftentimes patients end up self-medicating and refuse to disclose to their primary care physician that they use cannabis because of its legal status.

Nothing makes sense for as long as cannabis is a Schedule I substance, while synthetic cannabinoids and extracts are delisted to Schedule III. If marijuana is finally rescheduled, this would empower doctors and physicians who want to help patients come up with a safe solution for treating their pain with a reliable dose and formulation. It also makes no sense for patients who go to pain clinics in the United States to be prescribed with opioids, then for patients to get discharged if they test positive for marijuana.

At the end of the day, why are we even allowing pharmaceutical companies to market opioids as if they work? The evidence is there – these dangerous drugs do not work well and pose a serious threat to our lives and society as a whole.

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Marijuana legalization is already widespread around the United States.

It has gone a long way from being criminalized just a few decades ago. These days, one can easily purchase cannabis products in dispensaries abundantly found in dozens of states where it’s legal for medical or recreational use, or both. However, far too many Americans still suffer from the consequences that come with having criminal records due to past marijuana-related convictions and arrests.

Now, the American Medical Association, the biggest professional association of physicians, is recommending the automatic expungement of marijuana-related arrests as these cases are no longer illegal based on state cannabis laws. They released a statement that they have just given the go-signal for a resolution on this reform, stating that their objectives are “to introduce equity and fairness into the fast-changing effort to legalize cannabis.” In addition, the AMA indicates that there are at least 18 states that already legalized recreational cannabis use while over 3 dozen have allowed medical use. Despite this, there are numerous cases of people that have been convicted or arrested for weed-related offenses prior to legalization, and they are still paying the price for it.

“This affects young people aspiring to careers in medicine as well as many others who are denied housing, education, loans, and job opportunities,” says Scott Ferguson, M.D., an AMA trustee. “It simply isn’t fair to ruin a life based on actions that result in convictions but are subsequently legalized or decriminalized,” he says.

Furthermore, the new policy recommends stopping court-ordered supervisions such as parole or probation for marijuana-related arrests that have been legalized or decriminalized later on. They acknowledge that such prohibition laws aren’t applied equally since marginalized communities are often the most affected, adding that black people have been 3.6 times more likely to be incarcerated due to marijuana crimes, even if statistics show that both black and white people consume marijuana almost equally.

The irony is that the AMA has made it clear that they still oppose the legalization of marijuana, despite supporting expungement for marijuana-related crimes. While they think that legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes or marketing it as a cure-all is simply wrong, at the end of the day, one can’t deny that the plant is effective for treating many disorders.

More States Move To Expunge Past Marijuana Convictions

Recently, governors in Illinois and Colorado signed laws that would speed up the expungement of individuals with cannabis-related crimes and have their records cleared.

Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed off Senate Bill 99 in Colorado which expands the automatic record sealing for individuals with certain cannabis infractions as well as related crimes. Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker signed off HB4392 in Illinois that would amend current state laws so that petitioners who have appealed to expunge their criminal records would no longer be denied by courts just because they failed a marijuana drug test.

These moves are necessary given the massive failure of the war on drugs. Changing state laws or repealing them are not enough to erase cannabis convictions; there are millions of marijuana-related crimes all around the country that have left these people struggling with the stigma and affecting life opportunities. It’s even worse for marginalized communities that have been disproportionately affected.

There are countless talented people who should have no issue working as a medical professional in any capability. Of course we can understand the reasoning behind AMA’s stance; despite the skills and abilities of one to change and save lives by working as a medical professional, drug charges for marijuana crimes will still appear on their record and on background checks, preventing hospitals from hiring otherwise perfectly capable professionals. Because working in the medical field means that you are responsible for the lives of others, it’s normal for hospitals and physician’s offices to expect one to have moral integrity.

But just because you were charged with a minor felony in the past for possession of marijuana does not make you a less moral person, or one who is less capable of saving lives.

However, only a few states have made expungement automatic; the rest of the states lag behind, relying on manual, time-consuming processes so that records are expunged. Then there are law enforcement and government officials who argue that sealing the records are too complicated since records can’t always be easily accessed. Expungement, rather than sealing, is more effective in terms of removing a criminal conviction because doing so would completely eliminate these records while sealing a record merely prevents the public (such as your employer or potential tenant) from viewing it, though there are still ways that it can still be accessed.

Conclusion

Cannabis-related criminal records should have been expunged automatically since yesterday.

Preventing what could have been stellar doctors and other medical professionals from joining the force just because of a previous offense is ludicrous. It is helpful, though, that more states are following the trend of spreading awareness on non-discrimination for individuals who need to use medical cannabis. After all, jobs shouldn’t be all about conviction – as long as people can show that they are the right professional for the job, you can still do what’s necessary to climb the ladder and be successful in the medical field.

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THCjd: What It Is and Where to Find It

With more states joining the bandwagon of adult-use cannabis legalization, the recreational cannabis market has grown significantly. Now, a lot of manufacturers are in a connection to synthesize and isolate the safest and most powerful compounds from the marijuana plant.

Considering the most popular and classic cannabinoid – Delta 9 THC is still prohibited at the federal level, manufacturers have gone into the lab to find alternative THCs that get the job done. With how far the industry has come, a lot of people are familiar with Delta 8 THC or THCV and Delta 10.

However, a lot more cannabinoids exist and more are still on the horizon. Nonetheless, there’s the latest cannabinoid making new waves in the industry and that is the THCjd. Keep reading to learn more about the cannabinoid and which brand offers one of the safest and most potent THCjd. Let’s begin!

Different types of THC

Except you’re a newbie, you should be relatively used to Delta 9 THC, how it affects the mind and its reaction to the level. At a fundamental level, a lot of consumers are aware that THC is the dominant psychoactive compound present in cannabis.

THC is the reason why consumers get high on weed. But what many are not aware of is the number of THC variants that exist, how they differ from one another, and which has more potency. Not quite long, the cannabis industry came off all bent on synthesizing and accessing hundreds of cannabis. This applied to both variants that have been synthesized in the marijuana plant and several isomers and analogs.

As it stands THC, and the idea of synthesizing different variants of THC has pushed the discussion door open in some circles. Discussions about various chain lengths of THCV, THC-O, THC-H, THCB, THCP, and many more are now being conversed. This variation in chain length is also said to apply to other cannabinoids such as HHC.

You should also note that all these are synthetic cannabinoids. However, defining “synthetic cannabinoids” applies in two dimensions. First, synthetic cannabinoids are compounds that are formulated in the lab and do not exist in nature e.g THC-O. Secondly, synthetic cannabinoids are compounds that do exist in nature but minute quantities. Hence, they have to be manufactured in the lab to be used in large quantities in consumer products. E.g Delta 8 THC.

What is THCjd?

As regards some of the latest cannabinoid compounds such as THCjd to be specific, there’s little to zero available information about the compound. In most cases, only a little information about THCjd is provided by the brand trying to sell its products.

THCjd is a remarkable and naturally occurring cannabinoid made from the separation and containing different cannabinoids. It is also popularly called phytocannabinoid and is believed to be more potent than usual THC.

THCjd  (Tetrahydrocannabioctyl) is an 8-carbon side-chain said to be 19 times more potent than THC. This is courtesy of its long carbon side chain. The theory behind this is, that the longer a cannabinoid sidechain, the higher the number of THC that locks with the receptors.

For a while, the THCP with a 7-carbon side-chain was recognized to be the cannabinoid with the longest carbon side chain and the most potent. Right now, THCjd seems to have taken the position making it the most powerful cannabinoid in this market.

According to manufacturers, THCjd is directly extracted from hemp or cannabis. This means, that producing the compound does not need any chemical alteration more than the usual method of THC processing.

Frankly, there’s still a lot to learn about THCjd as information about this compound is still lacking. But the few findings so far have suggested that more research is being done behind the scenes and more should be known about the cannabinoids soon enough.

Meanwhile, the general consensus about the THCjd compound is that it is a powerful cannabinoid and very safe for consumption. The cannabinoid gives on an indica-type, couch lock kind of high. As things are, possession and use of THCjd are legal given there are no laws governing the use and possession of this cannabinoid.

Where to get THCjd

Are you the curious type ready to experience a new kind of high with THCjd, well there are several brands and manufacturers that produce and sell the compound. Again, considering THCjd is a relatively new product, you should buy from a credible and reputable brand.

A credible brand we are sure of recommending is “Light Out” and they offer various THCjd funniest and disposable series. Let’s have a look at these products.

Lights Out Disposable Series

The “Light Out” disposable series weighing about 2 grams each consists of a distinct combination of powerful cannabinoids to produce a remarkable blend.

The brand offers a smooth blend of THC-JD, Delta 9 THC, THC-P, Live Resin Delta 8 THC, and THC-H. So far, the brand offers three different flavors one can choose from. These include Blueberry Skunk, Ekto Cooler, and Strawberry Kush. These products are incredibly powerful so get ready to have a wonderful experience.

Lights Out Gummies

Lights Out also launched a new line of cannabis products in the form of powerful gummies that contain the latest cannabinoids in the industry. The gummies contain exactly 125 milligrams of robust cannabinoids each. The gummies come in a smooth blend of THC-JD, Delta 9 THC, THC-P, Live Resin Delta 8 THC, and THC-H.

Similar to the disposable series, the brand offers three different flavors one can choose from. These include Sour Peach, Root Beer, and Purple Berry.  The gummies are incredibly powerful, offering one of the best high experiences. Each of the gummies sells for $19.49.

Conclusion

If you’re a newbie and you need to experience something different,  THCjd is definitely a cannabinoid you can try out. While enough information about the product is still lacking, you can carry out more personal research on various cannabis websites or check out various YouTube channels. However, from the experiences of many, THCjd is a cannabinoid that is safe and worth experiencing.

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Did you know? Apart from buying edibles at retail stores or dispensaries, you can make some delicious ones at home. And it all starts from the basic, the best, the allrounder – Cannabutter. To make the process simpler, our weed butter enthusiasts at Online Marijuana Card have documented the perfect recipe for you to follow. 

In this blog, we’ll start by covering some basics about cannabutter. If you wish to avoid that, you can directly jump to the recipe. (Use the table of contents). 

What is Cannabutter?

Cannabutter is cannabis-infused butter, one of the easiest and most commonly DIY-ed edibles. This is also one edible that is used to make a multitude of other delicious edibles at home. 

The cannabis flower used needs to be infused with butter, coconut oil, olive oil, or even vegetable oil. This is because the cannabinoid THC, found commonly in cannabis flowers, needs to bind with fat molecules that are abundantly present in butter and these oils. At the same time, butter has a rich flavor and is versatile to use, making it the perfect choice to combine with cannabis. 

This is to say, that while butter is the best option, there are other alternatives for you to use. 

How to Make Cannabutter?

The process is easy to follow but a little time-consuming. With a little patience, even a beginner can make some incredibly delicious and potent cannabutter. 

It is best remembered that before you make cannabutter, you need to decarboxylate your cannabis flower. 

Decarbing Cannabis – Before infusing the weed with butter, you must first decarboxylate the cannabis flowers. What this means is that the flower will go through a heating process that will convert the THCA into THC, thereby activating the cannabinoid. 

If you consume the flower in its base form or infuse it with butter without decarboxylating it, you won’t experience much. Without the heating process, the cannabinoids present in the cannabis will remain dormant and you won’t feel any psychoactive effects. 

To experience the “high-like” effects, it is crucial to convert THCV into THC. We’ll explain the process of decarboxylating your cannabis further in the blog. 

Before we get into the recipe, here are some things and ingredients you’ll need during the process: 

Material Required

• Oven

• Baking Sheet

• Parchment Paper

• Saucepan (or Stock Pot, Double Boiler, Slow Cooker)

• Mesh Strainer (or Cheesecloth)

• Cannabis Grinder

• Jar

Ingredients Required

Recipe on How to Make Cannabutter

While following the recipe, ensure you’re using high-cannabis strain and butter. The quality of both these ingredients will determine the quality of your cannabutter. Also, avoid using margarine or fat-free butter. The cannabinoid (THC) needs to bind with fat molecules to become digestible and show effects. 

Here are 7 steps to make weed butter: 

Step 1: Grind or Break the Flower

You can use a grinder for this purpose as they will break the cannabis flower down to consistent small bits, and won’t waste any time. Do not grind the flower into a powder as it will get through the mesh strain and into your butter. (You do not want pieces of the flower in your butter). 

Grinding the flower before decarbing makes the process easier. Grinding a toasty flower can be a little difficult and can even ruin your grinder. 

Step 2: Decarboxylate the Cannabis Flower

• Start by preheating the oven to 230-245ºF. 

• Grab your non-stick baking sheet, cover it with parchment paper and place the ground cannabis on it. 

• Heat the cannabis in the oven for 30-40 minutes. 

• Continue stirring the ground cannabis every 5-10 minutes to ensure it is decarbed evenly. 

• Do not exceed the 40-minute limit. Overheating might damage the overall efficacy of the cannabinoids and terpenes. 

Step 3: Melt the Butter

Meanwhile, melt 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter in a saucepan and add 1 cup of water to it. This will help the butter heat more evenly, without scorching. It is preferable to cook the butter at 150-200ºF. Let the butter simmer on low heat and check the temperature with a thermometer if unsure. 

Step 4: Add Cannabis to the Butter

Once the butter is melted, add the decarbed cannabis into it to start the infusion. Cover the pot with a lid. 

Step 5: Simmer for a Few Hours

Let the concoction simmer on low heat for approximately 2-3 hours. For a more potent cannabutter, increase the time duration to 4 hours. Add more water if you wish to extend the time duration. Also, ensure that you stir the mixture after some time to avoid burning. Do not let the butter come to a boil. 

Step 6: Strain the Mixture

Cover a jar with a mesh cloth and pour the weed butter through it. Once fully strained, use the leftover as compost or throw it away. Do not try to squeeze too much butter out of the leftover. This might push some undesirable components into the butter and ruin the overall taste. 

Step 7: Refrigerate

First, allow the cannabutter to cool down for 30 minutes at room temperature. Then transfer the jar to the fridge. If there is any excess water left behind, it’ll be clearly visible once the butter solidifies. You can carefully remove the layer of water on the bottom of the jar. 

Following these 7 simple steps, you should have your cannabutter, ready to be consumed or used to make other edibles. 

Can You Calculate the Edible Dosage Precisely?

Dosing homemade cannabutter can be difficult. Not because you’re unaware of how much THC or CBD is in the edible but because even with those quantities you can never be precisely certain about its potency. 

The potency of your cannabutter depends on the quality of your cannabis and butter, the cannabis strain used, as well as the cooking technique, and the time period. As you change these parameters, the potency of your cannabutter might also change. However, that does not mean you cannot make a rough estimate of the potency and use it as a guide. 

To calculate the amount of THC in the cannabutter, you should be aware of how much cannabis you’ve used to make the butter and the amount of THCV in it. Dispensary-bought cannabis comes with a certificate of analysis. This lab result will have details of the total quantities of all cannabinoids, including THCV and THC. To ensure that you only buy quality cannabis from licensed sellers, you can look up your local dispensary at cannabis.net/find/dispensary. 

You can find a variety of cannabutter ratio calculators that require you to enter the amount of THCV or THC in the cannabis flower you’ve used, the total quantity of cannabis used, and the amount of butter that you’ve infused with the cannabis. 

The least you can do is calculate the maximum amount of THC that will be present in the butter. To do this, follow a simple formula:

This means, with 7gram of flower that has a THCA potency of 20%, you’ll have 1400 mg of THCA (7g x 1000 x 0.2 = 1400mg)

1400 mg x 0.88 = 1232 mg of THC

This is the amount of THC present in the flower before being infused with the butter. 

• During home cooking, it is expected that only 70% of the THC is extracted efficiently. Keeping this stat in mind, 

1232 mg x 0.7 = 862.4 mg of THC

This is the quantity of THC that is expected to be in the butter. Keeping this formula in mind, you can decide if you want a strain with 15% THC or 25% THC. Only experienced cannabis consumers should opt for any strain with more than 20% THC. Also, be careful if your experience has been restricted to smoking cannabis. Edibles are much more potent and have a long-lasting effect, so make your choice carefully. 

To make cannabis flower quantities clearer, read this blog about weed measurements. 

Cannabis to Butter Ratio: Making the Weed Butter Milder or Stronger 

For personal consumption, being aware of the potency of your cannabis flower can help you figure out the quantity you need. Generally, we recommend using a 1:1 ratio of cannabis and butter, which will amount to 1 cup of cannabis and 1 cup of butter. If you want to experience milder effects, you can cut down the cannabis to ½ cup or ¾ cup while the quantity of butter remains the same. 

If you want to experience stronger effects, you can increase the dose of cannabis (1 ¼ or 1 ½  cup of weed and 1 cup of butter). 

If the cannabutter is still too strong, you can mix it with regular butter, while spreading it on toast or adding it to any edible. If the cannabutter is weak, there isn’t much you can do except consume more of it to experience the effects. 

How to Make Edibles With Cannabutter? 

Can you remember how many things you bake or consume that have butter in them? Plenty would be our guess. 

Now, you can use cannabutter in just every bit of them. Once you’ve infused the cannabis with the butter, you can use it to make brownies, cookies, cakes, and more or simply spread it over some toast. 

If you’re hoping to bake some potent edibles, you might have to double up on your cannabis dosage in the butter. On the contrary, if you’re hoping for some mild effects, prefer mixing the cannabutter with regular butter to manage the dosage. 

If you’re hoping to bake some potent edibles, you might have to double up on your cannabis dosage in the butter. This butter is best used in smaller quantities, 

Some Things to Remember

• At the same time, if you don’t follow the procedure precisely, the effects might fall short of satisfactory. 

• If your cannabutter seems extremely potent, you can add regular butter to it. This will change the ratio of cannabis to butter, leading to milder effects. 

• Skipping out on decarboxylation might still provide some benefits of cannabis. This is because the cannabis does get heated while being infused with butter. This cannabutter, however, will not be very potent, proving to be the perfect fit for newbies. 

Now you know how to make cannabis butter!

Now that you know how easy the process of making weed butter is, you can go ahead and try your hand at it. Once done, spread it over a piece of toast and wait for the effects to take place. This will help you evaluate just how your body reacts to its potency. You’ll now be more aware of how much of the cannabutter must be used to make other edibles.

MORE ON CANNABIS-INFUSED BUTTER, READ ON..

HOW TO MAKE CANNABIS BUTTER AT HOME WITHOUT THE MESS!

OR..

HOW DO YOU TEST THE POTENCY OF YOUR CANNABIS BUTTER?