The Current Buzz Newspaper Vol 2 Issue 6 | Page 12

The Current Buzz Vol 2 Issue 6
Page 12
The BLUNT Truth
Beyond Brownies by Amy Addams
Before doing anything new with MM,
EASY ways to use medical
cannabis to address and ease pain it is recommended that you prebake
(decarboxylate) your MM: All you need to
If you’re new to the Medical Cannabis thing, do is de-stem your buds, break them up
you might feel a bit intimidated by your local
dispensary; the edibles are strange, and
some of us are resigned to finding a new
way to get medical marijuana (MM) into our
systems via trial by no fire. There is also
the cost factor. You are paying more for that
added process. Why not make your own?
This month, we’ll focus on ingestible oils
for pain management. This is NOT meant
to replace your current pain program, only
help you address your pain.
Quick lesson:
There are three main types of medical
marijuana (MM): Sativa, Indica and
Ruderalis. Sativa and Indica address
mind and body issues respectively and
Ruderalis is used to enhance other plants’
growth and functions (there’s more, but
for the moment). What makes MM work
better is drying, aging, or heat – it releases
the plant’s psychoactive compounds you
need to feel better, so it makes sense that
cooking with it will help you. Sativa and
Indica have been mixed to make strains
that help with pain and mimic opioids’
mental effects, thus helping dependent
people slowly wean themselves off. Ask
your budtender to recommend the best
strain for you if this is one of your issues.
into small pieces (about the size of raisins),
place your buds on a baking sheet (I
wrapped mine in foil) and bake at 200F for
35-40 minutes. This intensifies the strength
of your medication and makes it easier to
work with later.
No matter how little you cook, you can
infuse MM into everyday foods. We’ll start
with Canna oil; an oil that has been infused
with MM, you can use it in varying amounts
as needed in any number of dishes from
salad dressings to pasta. Add garden herbs
such as basil, oregano, thyme, salts or
cheeses and use it as a topping on burgers,
fish, grilled meats or sandwiches. Feel free
to get creative with this, but watch your
intake! It’s easy to overdo. Our suggestion:
allocate your amount, then add more oil,
herbs, salt, etc. from there.
You’ll need:
• 2 cups (16 ounces) olive oil (extra virgin
has more options for use in other dishes
and tastes better)
• 1-ounce cannabis
1. Grind your prebaked MM (or break
down with hands; you don’t want
dust). Add to the olive oil.
2. Heat oil and MM in a saucepan
on lowest heat for 3 hours, stirring