How to Make the Best Cannabis Gummies?

Are you tired of rolling joints all the time?

Maybe a bong sounds good, but the thought of cleaning it puts you off?

Hmm... what about an edible then? A brownie sounds delicious, but you don't have the appetite to chow it down? 

Well, you're not alone. 

Sometimes, we want to try cannabis differently — you know, to keep things interesting, but it's either not easy or we simply don't do it. 

Well, how about another way to try cannabis? Something easy, doesn't take a lot of time, and gets the job done pretty quickly?

Say hello to cannabis gummies. 

They are easy to eat and keep a count of, and the best part? You can make cannabis gummies at home within one afternoon. 

Here is a guide on making cannabis gummies with the best cannabis gummies recipe. 

What are Cannabis Gummies?

Consuming a cannabis gummy is a fun way to enjoy weed, especially if you have a sweet tooth. Cannabis or weed gummy is nothing but candies that get you high. In short, it's a form of edibles that come in a variety, including THC gummies and CBD gummies. 

Depending on why you want to consume cannabis, you can choose gummies that suit you. THC gummies are a terrific way to get high without smoking cannabis, and CBD gummies can help you get all the health benefits of CBD, whether you are taking them for stress, anxiety, or chronic pain.

Advantages of Cannabis Gummies

Cannabis gummies offer various benefits over other forms of cannabis consumption, apart from being fun. Here are some of the top benefits of cannabis gummies:

1. Safer Than Smoking Cannabis

While smoking is the most common method of cannabis consumption, it is not the safest. Cannabis does not contain the same harmful toxins as tobacco, but smoking cannabis can still damage your lungs. 

On the other hand, cannabis gummies are completely safe. They won't harm your health in any way unless you eat one gummy too many. And for those with allergic sensitivities or food preferences, you can make cannabis gummies to suit your lifestyle without compromising on any effects and benefits.

2. Intense High

Gummies are edibles, so they can get you very high. And this high is quite different from that of smoking cannabis. After eating cannabis gummies, you can expect an immersive high with body tingling, happy and euphoric feelings, and even ultimate relaxation (read: couch lock). 

Although they take over an hour to take effect, the high can easily last for a few hours. Patience is well worth the wait.

3. No One Will Know You are Consuming Cannabis

Cannabis gummies look like any other gummies, so even if you are popping one in your office meeting (which you shouldn't), your boss won't get to know you are consuming cannabis. Gummies are a completely discreet way of consuming cannabis. They don't look anything like a joint and they don't smell of cannabis, either.

4. Proper, Stronger Dosage with Each Gummy

Lastly, if you are consuming cannabis for medical reasons, you know how crucial dosing is. It can be the difference between feeling stress-free to being locked to your couch staring at a painting for hours. 

So, with gummies, you can dial in the dosage (during preparation), so you know exactly how much CBD or THC you are consuming each time. 

Disadvantages of Cannabis Gummies

Not everything is good about cannabis gummies. There are a few drawbacks, such as the following.

1. Longer Onset of High

Perhaps the biggest concern with gummies, like any other edible, is that they take a lot of time to kick in. If you want to watch The Big Lebowski while being high with your friends, you better take the gummies and watch two episodes of Game of Thrones before starting the movie. They take over an hour to kick in.

2. Potentially Stronger Doses

Another downside is a benefit for many but a problem for others. Cannabis gummies are strong, so if you are new to cannabis or don't have a high tolerance, be prepared to get super high with gummies. This can be scary for some users and can even lead to bad trips.

3. Can Be Mistaken for Normal Gummies

Imagine your grandmother has a sweet craving and steals a few of your gummies thinking they are regular gummies. You don't want that. That right there is a big problem with cannabis gummies. 

If you store cannabis gummies in your home, you need to ensure no one accidentally takes them, especially if you have kids around you. 

The Chemistry of Cannabis Gummies

When you smoke cannabis, the cannabinoids get absorbed by the lining of the lungs, followed by being absorbed into the bloodstream. Via the bloodstream, they reach your cannabinoid receptors in the brain, producing a high.

But cannabis gummies don't work like that — they take a long way around. When you eat a cannabis gummy, they travel through your stomach, where the cannabinoids are absorbed by the linings and metabolized by the liver. Here, cannabinoids are transformed and transported into the bloodstream, which takes them to the CB receptors in your brain.

The process of cannabis metabolism after eating it is long and can take a couple of hours before you start feeling the effects. Smoking cannabis can produce a high within five minutes. 

Also, cannabis gummies' effects last a lot longer, but this depends on various factors, like meal timing, lifestyle, genetics, dosage, and strain type. 

How to Make Cannabis Gummies?

The best way to experience cannabis gummies is to make them with your hands! So, if you want to make cannabis gummies at home, here is a short guide to help you. 

Making the Cannabis Oil

Before we get into making DIY cannabis gummies, let's understand how to make the cannabis base, i.e., cannabis oil for the same. 

But why do you need to make cannabis oil?

That's because the cannabinoids, CBD and THC, are fat-soluble and need to be infused in fat so your body can metabolize them. Plus, having your cannabis oil handy makes the entire process easy since most recipes for making cannabis gummies (or other edibles) call for cannabis oil as an ingredient.

Fortunately, making your cannabis oil for cannabis gummies is easier than one would think. Here is how you can make cannabis oil at home:

Step 1: Decarb the Cannabis Buds

The first and most important step is to decarb the cannabis buds — otherwise, you will only taste cannabis, not experience the high. Decarboxylation, or decarbing, is a process that activates the cannabinoids like THCA and CBDA, turning them into THC and CBD, which can act on your body and give you the desired effects. 

To decarb your cannabis, first, grind down the cannabis buds into small pieces and spread them out evenly on baking paper. If you are making THC gummies, bake the buds at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, and if you are making CBD gummies, bake the CBD-dominant buds at the same temperature for 40 minutes. CBDA takes slightly longer to transform into CBD compared to THCA.

Step 2: Heat a Cup of Coconut Oil 

Once the cannabis buds are decarbed, pour a cup of coconut oil and heat it in a saucepan until it gets to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3: Mix the Cannabis Buds

As the coconut oil heats up, add around 3.5 grams of cannabis buds to the pan and let the mixture simmer for three hours. Don't forget to stir occasionally. Also, keep an eye on the temperature as extremely high temperatures can destroy the terpenes and cannabinoids. 

Step 4: Strain the Mixture

Lastly, strain the mixture to remove any plant matter. The resulting liquid is your cannabis-infused coconut oil.

Alternative Infusion Methods

Apart from coconut oil, you can also infuse cannabis in other bases like MCT oil or butter. The following recipe works with them as well. 

You can choose MCT oil because it has a light golden color, doesn't alter the taste, and stays in a liquid state at room temperature. In addition, the cannabis gummies will be extra jiggly. 

On the other hand, you can also make cannabutter, which will have a more pronounced cannabis taste while offering a creamier flavor. 

If you are allergic to coconut, you can also replace it with other oils like sunflower seed, canola, soybean, olive, and hemp seed oil. However, they may bring their original flavor to the cannabis gummies. 

How to Make Cannabis Gummies at Home

From here, the real recipe for your DIY cannabis gummies begins, but there are two factors you need to consider before we move on.

The first is emulsification. Cannabis oil does not bond with water and other ingredients used in preparing gummies. Therefore, you need to emulsify the mixture using an emulsifier like sunflower or soy lecithin to have a consistent texture in your cannabis gummies. You can also puree the gummy mixture in a blender at high speed to mix the ingredients evenly. 

The second factor is potency. Since there is a lack of lab testing consistency, the potency can vary significantly. Know your region's legalities regarding cannabis gummies and proceed accordingly. 

Here is the cannabis gummies recipe.

Step 1. Gather the Ingredients

Here are the things you need for this cannabis gummies recipe:

1. A stove, a pot, a dropper, a gummy bear mold, a whisk, and a freezer
2. One cup (240 ml) of water or juice of your choice
3. ¾ - 1¼ ounces of unflavored gelatin (or 21 - 35 grams)
4. 3 ounces of flavored gelatin (any flavor)
5. Half a cup of cannabis oil 
6. 1 tsp of lemon juice to inhibit mold buildup, especially if you are using juice 
7. 2 tsp of lecithin 
8. 5 to 10 drops of flavoring oils for a flavor pop
9. ¼ tsp of LorAnn Mold Inhibitor or potassium sorbate (mold inhibitor)

Step 2. Mix Water and Unflavored Gelatin

The next step is to mix ½ cup of water (or juice) with unflavored gelatin in a small bowl and let it sit for a while so it blooms.

Step 3. Prepare the Double Boiler

Now, prepare the double boiler. Once the water nears boiling, turn the temperature to low and let it simmer.

Step 4. Mix oil and Lecithin 

Mix oil and lecithin and add the mixture to the double boiler. Once it melts, whisk it so it mixes well and let it simmer on low heat.

Step 5. Boil the Remaining Water and Mix Flavored Gelatin 

Take a separate pan and boil the remaining water (or juice). Once it starts boiling, add flavored gelatin and mold inhibitor to the water and mix well so everything dissolves, and turn off the heat. 

Step 6. Pour the Flavored Gelatin Mixture into the Boiler

Next, add the water and flavored gelatin mixture into the oil and lecithin boiler and whisk the mixture further. 

Step 7. Add Bloomed Gelatin and Flavoring Oil Drops

Add the bloomed gelatin prepared in Step 2 and a few drops of flavoring oil to the double boiler and whisk the mixture consistently for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not skip this step to maintain consistency.

Step 8. Add the Mixture to the Mold

After whisking the mixture for ten minutes, your gummy mixture is ready. Turn off the heat and add the mixture to the gummy bear mold. Let the mold sit for half an hour to settle.

Step 9. Remove the Gummies

After half an hour, the gummies will set in the mold and take shape. Now, it's time to take the gummies out of the mold.

Step 10. Dry the Gummies

The final step is drying the gummies. You can either air dry them or put them in a refrigerator. To air dry the gummies, place them on a wire baking rack and let them sit for 2 to 3 days. You can even place a cheesecloth over the gummies to prevent contaminants from settling on the gummies.

On the other hand, you can even freeze the gummies for half an hour. 

After a couple of days, your gummies will be ready. Store them in an airtight jar and keep the jar in a cool, dry place. 

Expert Tips for Cannabis Gummies Recipe

You can never be perfect at making gummies, it's always a learning curve. To help you get ahead of the curve, here are a few tips to help you:

Tip 1. You can even make your own molds

If you don't have access to molds, you can use cornstarch to make molds, too. Pour cornstarch into a baking dish and smoothen the surface. Next, take a bottle lid and press it into cornstarch — make around 20 cavities of ½ tsp. 

Fill the cavities with the gummy mixture and cover with a little cornstarch. After 15 minutes, your gummies will take shape and be ready for drying. 

Tip 2. Make a test batch without cannabis

If you are making gummies for the first time, it is recommended to make a test batch without cannabis-infused oil. This will ensure that you know the process well while also checking the flavor and consistency of the gummies. You can make changes accordingly before adding cannabis-infused oil to the mixture.

Tip 3. Use mold inhibitors

To prevent mold buildup in your gummies, you should use mold inhibitors. While lemon juice can help, you can also use other ingredients like potassium sorbate or ¼ tsp of LorAnn Mold Inhibitor to ensure your gummies are safe. 

Tip 4. Extra tips on air drying

If you live in a humid region, the humidity can cause oil sweating, especially if you have used MCT oil. Here, you should dry your gummies in a refrigerator. 

In other regions, you can sprinkle some cornstarch on the gummies when they are drying to suck out any residual moisture from within.

You can even use a food dehydrator to dry cannabis gummies. Just ensure the dehydrator does not use heat — anything over 90°F or 32°C can melt the gummies. 

How to Dose Cannabis Gummies?

As mentioned earlier, cannabis gummies are a lot stronger than smoking cannabis. This is because the THC is converted into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is more potent than Delta-9 THC when you eat the gummies. Thus, it's critical to dose your cannabis gummies properly for the best experience.

If you are new to cannabis edibles in general, it is recommended that you start with a small dose and build your way up. With the first small dose, you will get to know how tolerant your body is to cannabis edibles and how it reacts to them, which differs from person to person. 

Ideally, for the first time, you should only consume cannabis gummies containing 1 to 3 mg of THC. Eventually, you can keep increasing the dosage to 10 mg — that's a lot, so take it easy. 

Counting the Gummies You Eat

Another important aspect of cannabis gummies dosage depends on how many you eat at a time. Remember, gummies take over an hour to kick in, so don't pop a few in to hasten the onset of effects. 

Also, the number of gummies you're allowed to eat depends on other factors like your experience, tolerance, and strain used for the desired effect. 

If you have made cannabis at home, it is best to stick to a low dose (half a gummy at a time) because the dosage per gummy may not be as precise as store-bought gummies. 

If you want to know how strong your cannabis gummies are, take a look at the weed oil or cannabutter used in the gummies. In 240 ml (one cup) of cannabis oil you prepared, you used 3.5 g of cannabis buds. Let's assume it had a THC content of 20%, then it would contain 700 mg of THC.

240 ml is equal to 48 teaspoons, so dividing 700 (THC) by 48 is equal to 14.5 mg THC in each teaspoon of cannabis oil.

In the cannabis gummies recipe mentioned above, we have used ½ cup of cannabis oil, i.e. 24 teaspoons. So, the entire batch would contain around 350 mg of THC. Since this batch makes 24 individual gummies, each gummy would contain 17.5 mg of THC. 

Do note that this is a rough calculation to give you an idea. The THC content of the gummies entirely depends on the buds you use, how well they infuse with the coconut oil, and a few other factors. With homemade cannabis gummies, it is never easy to tell exactly how potent the gummies are.

What to do if you Ate too Many Cannabis Gummies?

If you accidentally ate too many gummies, don't worry. Happens to the best of us. The good thing about cannabis is that it is non-lethal — even if you eat a hundred gummies, you won't have to say goodbye to Mother Earth, unlike alcohol. 

But consuming too much can still be scary and potentially bad for your health. The high will be intense and won't go away for many hours. And eating too many gummies can also give you a bad stomach, headache, nausea, paranoia, and other symptoms of a bad trip.

If you have consumed too many cannabis gummies, your best bet is to calm down and be in a safe space. Focus on things you enjoy to distract yourself, drink a lot of water, and talk to a friend. The high will diminish soon enough, you just have to wait.

Another technique to calm down as soon as possible is to breathe for 4 seconds, hold it for 4 seconds, and then exhale for 4 seconds. Try it, it works!

But if things get worse and you feel physically sick, you should consult a doctor immediately. While it is not a significant health hazard, it can still give you significant physical stress. Professional help is always advised. 

Other Safety Tips

As mentioned earlier, cannabis gummies look just like regular gummies. If a kid has accidentally popped one thinking they are regular gummies, you and your child can get into a lot of trouble. 

Instead, you should always keep your cannabis gummies sealed and stashed in a place where your child cannot reach them even if they tried to be Spiderman when they are home alone. 

Summary: How to Make the Best Cannabis Gummies?

Making cannabis gummies at home with this recipe is easy. Sure, you have to spend a couple of hours and be meticulous with measurements, but if you play your cards right, you will end up with a batch of cannabis gummies that are just as delicious (and effective) as store-bought gummies.

Just remember to start low. Cannabis gummies are potent, and eating a few of them at a time can lead to intense highs that your body may not bear well. So, it is recommended to start with half a gummy and see how your body reacts to it before increasing the dose.

You should also store cannabis gummies properly, away from the reach of kids or pets. And label them so others don't take a couple of gummies mistaking them for regular gummies. That may be difficult to deal with.