Psychoactive effects of cannabis edibles are less predictable and their potency levels differ depending on the cannabis strain, preparation method, and amounts used.
Two versatile ways of consuming cannabis are either as cannaoil or as cannabutter.
Marijuana extracts and strains like CBD, sativa, or Indica can be made into oils or butter and used in many ways.
Some unsuspecting cannabis lovers become overwhelmed after consuming highly potent edibles. So, it’s important to understand potency when preparing your edibles.
This article highlights the two cannabis edibles, reviews their potency levels, and offers considerations you should make when preparing them.
Does Potency Matter?
Many methods exist for making cannaoils & cannabutter and understanding how to make both is the starting point for many cannabis recipes.
The quantity of THC present in your cannaoil or cannabutter is used as a measure for cannabis potency. Several methodological factors like the type of cannabis product, phytochemistry, cultivation, stability, and sampling methods determine the potency of your cannabis (source).
Different preparation methods produce edibles with varying potencies whether low, medium or high levels.
Edibles with weak potency levels are the best if you intend to relax or get a little bit off the edge.
Those with medium and high potency levels are ideal for people with a high tolerance or with chronic pain conditions.
One thing I like to point out is this:
You can always alter (increase or reduce) the potency of your cannaoil or cannabutter by substituting your cannabis-infused oil or butter with regular oil or regular butter in your recipes.
Potency Levels of Cannaoil
Potency levels of cannaoils are high because they are prepared by separating resins from cannabis buds through a solvent extraction process.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), cannabis oil derived from the concentrated resin extract is the most potent form of cannabis – containing over 60% THC content.
Cannabis plants grow in many regions and climates. So, the amount of resin produced depends on factors like soil, humidity, temperature, and light.
With home-grown varieties flocking the market, a 2020 study showed potency in oils has increased significantly over time.
However, potency assessment of cannaoils remains challenging because of the lack of quality control standards. Measuring the strength of your cannaoil because it can be a broad-spectrum, isolate, or distillate oil.
Also, some labels make it difficult to know exactly how strong the oil is, or the potent level a single dose provides. For example, a product might state it’s 99% or 70% CBD, but it doesn’t state the potency in the oil by volume.
Reliable cannaoils offer the potency and concentration percentages either on the product labels or their websites.
But if you understand the extraction process and prepare your cannaoil yourself, you can determine its concentration and potency by increasing or decreasing the amount of resin.
Potency Levels of Cannabutter
Cannabutter is made from cannabis and butter.
Like cannaoil, cannabutter strength and potency depends on the amount of CBD used in the preparation. However, since you have to mix it with regular butter, it becomes relatively less potent compared to cannaoils.
Although you can buy cannabutter from your local dispensary, you can also choose to make your own in the States where it is unavailable.
Before you buy or make cannabutter, consider the effects you hope to get, and depending on its intended use, choose whether to include both CBD and THC or only CBD.
The best thing about making your cannabutter is that you can determine the strength and potency of your product depending on your intended use or preference.
A 2017 study showed that, like cannaoil, the potency and strength of cannabutter continue to increase over time. So, you should understand the levels of your product contingent on its intended use and your personal preference.
Psychoactive effects of cannabutter are similar to those of cannaoil. However, if you don’t wish to experience them, ensure you use THC-free cannabis or buy cannabutter without THC.
Reliable cannabutter products offer potency and concentration percentages either on the product labels or their websites.
However, if you clearly understand the extraction process and prepare your cannabutter yourself, you can determine its concentration and potency by increasing or decreasing the amount of resin you use.
Possible Risks and Considerations
Consuming cannabutter or cannaoil doesn’t come without risks. It’s challenging to know the exact strength and potency of your products if you don’t know their THC concentration.
Many products don’t indicate their potency levels on labels or websites, which poses risks to new or sensitive users.
As a 2020 study showed, some products are adulterated, which diminishes the CBD’s biological composition, potency, and concentration.
Homemade cannabutter and cannaoil are difficult to make if you don’t know the process.
But, if you do, it’s ideal because you determine the potency and concentration of your edibles.
Conclusion
Concisely, cannaoil and cannabutter remain useful for cannabis users looking for exciting recipes in the kitchen.
Although difficult to make without the correct process, homemade cannabis butter and oil is the best because it allows you to determine the potency you prefer.
If you can’t make them from home, consider buying those that indicate their potency and concentration levels to prevent risks and get the experience you desire.
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