Dosage of homemade cannabis edibles : potency calculation

Because of the difficulty of obtaining an accurate analysis, legal cannabis edibles producers typically conduct multi-stage testing. First, they test the marijuana flowers that will be used in production. This initial analysis provides an estimate of the amount of each cannabinoid and terpene available for extraction. Subsequent testing of the extract determines the actual effectiveness of the extraction process. Finally, analysis of the used plant material after extraction confirms the amount of cannabinoids and terpenoids remaining. Amateur cannabis bakers, however, do not have the resources to perform this type of analysis.

Tips for more accurate dosage of edibles (example for brownies)

The difficulty of accurately determining the strength of edibles is staggering, even on a professional scale, so it’s not surprising that accurately dosing your own cannabis edibles at home is virtually impossible. Here are some best practices that can help home bakers minimize the inevitable variation in the strength of their homemade cannabis edibles :

• Before extraction, try to find out at least the approximate THC or THCA (calculate by a factor of 0.88).
• Portion the canna-butter vertically. Gravity affects everything and each cannabinoid has a different molecular weight, so they will settle in different places.” The butter at the bottom of the batch will be different from the one at the top, so don’t take the top directly.
• Measure carefully. Don’t put a big spoonful of cannabutter in the batter – take out the measuring cups, fill them and level them precisely.
• Stir well. If you don’t quantitatively measure consistent portions of canna-butter into each brownie. you have an additional error in the final product. The best thing to do is to stir until you’re sure the batter is perfectly smooth, then stir again.
• Distribute the portions evenly. Don’t poke the brownie pan with a fork; cut into equal pieces (using a ruler can help). Biscuits are even more difficult; use a kitchen scale to weigh out equal portions of dough.
• Allow for variations. When in doubt, assume that the maximum amount of THC has ended up in your final product; you can always eat more if you are wrong.

Example of the calculation of the cannabis edible power

I have 100g of top quality Polaris. I know that the THC content of the top shelf is always about 20% (after decarb), which is 200 mg THC per 1g of cannabis flowers. 200 mg x 100 = 20,000 mg THC maximum available for extraction. Under ideal conditions, this gives an extraction efficiency of 60% in canna-butter, so 20 000mg x 0.6 = 12 000 mg maximum THC available for extraction. If my dosage target is 200 mg per brownie, then 12 000 mg / 200 = 60 brownies containing 200 mg each. This is the maximum that these brownies will contain, but they usually contain much less depending on cumulative errors.

How long does it take before I start to feel the effects of cannabis edibles?

Edibles usually take between 30 and 60 minutes to take effect. However, the time it takes depends on many factors. First of all, it depends on the active ingredients in the product. If the product contains a high dose or concentration of THC, it may take effect more quickly. Remember that CBD edibles are not psychoactive. They do not cause the “high” usually associated with THC-infused products. As a result, it can be more difficult to identify when CBD products take effect. For both types of products, the onset of action also depends on where in the body the products are broken down and absorbed into the bloodstream. Lozenges, chewing gum and lollipops work faster because they are absorbed sublingually. In these cases, absorption occurs through the mucous membranes of the mouth. This is known as sublingual absorption, and the effects are more likely to appear more quickly.

Chewable edibles, such as gum, biscuits and brownies, may take longer to work. This is because absorption occurs first in the digestive tract. From there, the active ingredients pass into the bloodstream and go to the liver. In the liver, the active ingredients are metabolised before being released into the bloodstream and entering the brain, where the effects are felt.

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