CBD Edibles

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Many people prefer the discrete option of edibles to take CBD. Many CBD edible options exist for those who prefer to eat their CBD. Among these are baked goods, candies, sauces, and much more.

History of CBD Edibles

While CBD, or cannabidiol, was not discovered until 1963, the plant that it was derived from, cannabis, has been used in food and drink for at least 3 millennia.

The earliest record of a cannabis edible comes from India. In food that’s still made today, bhang not only is popular but has a significant cultural impact in Indian culture.

Bhang is prepared by grinding the buds and leaves of cannabis in a mortar and pestle into a paste. The paste is then mixed into a number of foods including:

  • Milk – usually filtered then flavored with kusha grass, sugar, fruit, and various spices
  • Lassi – a yogurt drink
  • Thandai – a drink prepared with almonds, fennel seeds, watermelon kernels, rose petals, pepper, vetiver seeds, cardamom, saffron, milk, and sugar.
  • Chutney – as a sauce or a powder to be added to a sauce

Bhang is part of the ancient Hindu tradition and custom in India. In rural India, various medicinal properties are attributed to bhang. If taken in proper quantity, bhang is believed to cure fever, dysentery, sunstroke, to clear phlegm, aid in digestion, appetite, cure speech imperfections and lisping, and give alertness to the body.

Bhang is traditionally distributed during the spring festival of Holi. Bhang is mainly sold in specialized shops, which sell the cannabis-infused Indian drinks bhang lassi and bhang thandai.

In modern times, the use of edibles was sparked by a cookbook that was published in 1954. The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book had a recipe for “haschich (hashish) fudge”. As a result of the recipe, Toklas became synonymous with edibles in the 1960s.

Cannabis edibles started coming into the mainstream in the United States when states started legalizing medical and recreational use of cannabis. Cannabis edibles refer to both marijuana (high THC) based and CBD based edibles.

The explosion of CBD edibles has only happened in the past few years. A huge boost came at the end of 2018 when the United States Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed the legal restrictions for the production of commercial hemp (cannabis with less than 0.3% THC content).

What Are CBD Edibles?

A CBD edible, also known as a CBD-infused food is a food product that contains cannabidiol or CBD, An edible may refer to either a food or a drink, a CBD-infused beverage may be referred to more specifically as a liquid edible or drinkable.

Edibles are most often associated with hemp’s intoxicating sibling marijuana, but CBD edibles don’t have that intoxicating effect.

The term edibles originally only included marijuana-based products, but now encompasses CDB products.

A CBD edible is any food or drink that can be eaten that contains CBD. These can be homemade such as the ever-popular CBD brownies or they can be pre-packaged as in the case with items like chocolate or gummies.

20 Benefits of CBD Edibles

  1. CBD is Long Lasting – Edibles take longer to act than most other forms of CBD. That’s because it must process through the digestive system before it can go on to the neurotransmitters and neuroreceptors of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). But it also lasts longer. CBD that’s digested is released slower, so the effects are long-lasting. On average an edible can last 2 to 4 hours longer than CBD that’s vaped.
  2. Gentle on the Lungs and Throat – Vapes can be harsh on the throat and lungs. Most contain glycols and other additives that are used to thin the liquid to be vaporized. Also, by heating the CBD, there’s the possibility of carcinogens that may be created from the high temperatures. Edibles bypass these concerns.
  3. Acts as a Digestive Aid – CBD is known to act with the gastrointestinal system. By eating CBD, the CBD can act directly on those receptors in the GI system to help with digestion.
  4. Readily Available Online – Hundreds of websites have popped up in the last few years selling CBD edibles. With a few keystrokes and a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account, these foods can be shipped directly to a person’s front door.
  5. Can Be Consumed Discreetly – CBD edibles look no different from regular food. A person can take one to work and eat it in the lunchroom and no one would be the wiser.
  6. Balances the Intoxicating Effects of THC – Studies have shown that CBD counteracts the intoxicating effects of THC, so if someone has smoked some marijuana, eating some CBD edibles will help return the person to sobriety.
  7. Easy to Dose – All edibles that are pre-packaged show the CBD content on the package, so there’s no need to measure any dosages.
  8. Easy to Take – As long as the person doesn’t have any intolerances in the ingredients and doesn’t have issues swallowing, all they have to do is eat the food.
  9. Easy to Make – For those who want to make their own edibles and that know how to cook, it’s as simple as using a CBD based cooking oil in place of regular cooking oil or adding CBD to the ingredients.
  10. Causes Minimal Side Effects – No one can overdose on CBD. The main side effect is from consuming too much CBD is drowsiness.
  11. Provides a Boost to Overall Health – Much like drinking a green juice or taking vitamins, CBD can provide a boost in overall well-being. Some people specifically take it for this reason and not any specific illness or condition.
  12. Reduce Anxiety and Depression – CBD has natural anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. Studies have shown CDB as having a direct effect on neurotransmitters such as serotonin to help restore them to normal levels.
  13. Relieve Pain And Swelling – CBD’s natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties help heal swelling and pain rapidly.
  14. A Variety of Products to Choose – Thousands of CBD edibles such as brownies, cookies, gummies, candies beverages, breads, and more are available. There are a CBD edibles for every taste.
  15. Antioxidant Properties – CBD contains antioxidants that protect both the body and brain by removing harmful molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are suspected to play a role in neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
  16. Edibles Need Less CBD than Other CBD Products to be Effective – Because CBD is absorbed by the digestive system and bypass the lungs, less CDB is wasted in the process, so the dosage can be cut back anywhere from 50% to 75% due to the more efficient processing.
  17. Suppress Seizure Activity – CBD has been found to help with seizures. A specific strain of CBD called Charlotte’s Web was instrumental in helping a child overcome a crippling type of epilepsy. In addition, the only prescription drug that contains CBD call Epidiolex is manufactured specifically for seizures.
  18. Helps Chemotherapy Patients – One of the big issues with chemotherapy is nausea. Studies have found that patients who eat food infused with CBD are able to keep food down without vomiting.
  19. It’s a Helpful General Remedy – CBD has so many amazing properties that it can be used for a number of conditions such as acne, headaches, joint pain, and arthritis. Eating CBD infused food can help these conditions.
  20. It Tastes Delicious – CBD by itself has a taste that leaves something to be desired. That’s why tinctures and vapes are flavored. But as an edible, there are so many delicious foods that are available or that can be made that the possibilities are endless.

Tasty CBD Recipes

Many people enjoy cooking with CBD. When cooking with CBD, be sure to buy a high-quality oil to get the greatest benefits.

CBD Infused butter (To use as a standalone or in recipes)

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups butter
  • 1 cup of water
  • 20 milliliters CBD oil

Instructions:

  1. Chop butter into smaller pieces
  2. Put butter (don’t use margarine or butter substitute, it won’t work), water and CBD oil into a small pot
  3. Heat over low heat for 2 hours (Be careful, higher temperatures will cause CBD to evaporate)
  4. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes
  5. Stir and pour into an airtight container
  6. Refrigerate and use like normal butter

CBD Chili

Ingredients:

  • 2 15 ounce cans of black beans (drained)
  • 1 15 ounce can of black-eyed peas (drained)
  • 2 15 ounce cans of red kidney beans (drained)
  • 2 medium-sized onions, chopped
  • 8-12 diced tomatoes
  • 6-8 cloves chopped garlic
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 15 ounce cans of sweet kernel corn (drained)
  • 2 tablespoons cumin
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons chili flakes
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 teaspoons of olive oil
  • 16 ounces of shredded pepper jack cheese
  • CBD oil (amount based on dosage user wished to take)

Instructions:

  1. Place all the beans in a large pot on low heat. When steam begins to rise, add in the spices, Worcestershire sauce. Stir occasionally.
  2. After about 30 minutes, add in the tomatoes, corn, and onions.
  3. Fry the beef in the olive oil with the garlic. When the beef is browned, add it to the beans and spices.
  4. Add in the CBD oil, and allow the chili to cook for 1-2 hours over low heat, stirring occasionally.
  5. When finished serve in a bowl and top with the pepper jack cheese.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 5 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 5 ounce CBD tincture
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoon hot water
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
  2. Mix the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and CBD oil in a bowl, creaming until smooth. Beat the eggs in one by one before slowly stirring in the vanilla extract.
  3. Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water and add it to the batter with the salt. Stir in the chocolate chips and the chopped nuts, along with the flour.
  4. Drop large spoonfuls onto an ungreased pan and bake for 10 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown.
  5. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before eating.

CBD Pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups whole milk
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons melted CBD butter
  • 3 tablespoons of unmelted CBD butter

Instructions:

  1. Combine all the ingredients into a mixing bowl, saving 3 tablespoons of unmelted butter. Be careful not to burn the egg with the melted butter.
  2. Whisk the mixture until blended, but slightly lumpy. Let the pancake mixture sit for 10 minutes.
  3. Heat up a frying pan with the unmelted butter on medium heat and let the pancake mixture sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Pour batter into the frying pan, until the desired size is achieved and cook until the edges firm up and bubbles form in the center.
  5. Flip the pancakes and cook for a further 30 to 60 seconds or until done.
  6. Top with syrup and more CBD butter and serve.

Conclusion

CBD edibles are growing more popular, both as home cooked meals and as pre-packaged items. Even fast food companies are getting in on the action as on April 20, 2019, Hardees/Carl’s Jr. offered a one-day special. A Rocky Mountain High CheeseBurger Deluxe that had a sauce that was infused with CBD (thus the capitalization on the words CheeseBurger Deluxe).

As restrictions on the use of CBD and hemp continue to be lifted and the health and medical benefits of CBD are further publicized, CBD edibles will become even more popular. In the next decade, it’s possible that major food distributors will start infusing CBD into their food and tout “fortification” as products such as orange juice tout vitamin fortification.