How to make cannabis-infused sugar

Cannabis-infused sugar allows chefs to sweeten any dish with a hint of THC—and sugar—without needing to add an infused fat such as cannabis butter or cannabis oil.

But what exactly is cane sugar?

Cannabis sugar is simply sugar that has been infused with cannabis after a quick soak in alcohol and a brief time in the oven. It’s incredibly versatile. You can use it just like regular sugar in cookies, in a bowl of muesli to spice it up, or in a cup of coffee any time of day. You can also use it to make cannabis caramel.

Anywhere you like to add sugar, cannabis-infused sugar is a great option.

Are you making edibles Is this your first time? Avoid these mistakes

Chances are you’ve already heard this cautionary tale. An enthusiastic cannabis user tries a new type of’edibles (a cannabis-infused edible) for the first time, and impatience gets the better of him. After 45 minutes or an hour, the THC hasn’t kicked in, so he decides to take matters into his own hands and double his dose. After a few minutes, things take a rocky turn, and our protagonist realizes he’s just taken a double dose and that it’s going to be a long night.

With the edibles, always make sure to wait at least two hours to gauge the effects. This is especially true if it’s your first time using the recipe and you’re not sure how potent it is. You can even try half a dose the first time, just to be safe. In the worst-case scenario, you can always take a larger dose next time.

Another common mistake is to skip the decarboxylation step, without which your edibles won't get you high, even though they're delicious.

What is decarboxylation?

The Decarboxylation is a chemical process during which the cannabis is heated. The application of heat causes the cannabinoid THCA to convert into THC. This happens instantly when cannabis is smoked, but when cannabis is ingested, decarboxylation must be performed in advance for the cannabis to have an intoxicating effect. THCA loses its carbon atom; it «decarboxylates» and thereby becomes psychoactive.

It’s pretty hard to go wrong with decarboxylation. All you have to do is grind the cannabis and bake it on a baking sheet in the oven for 30 to 45 minutes at about 105–120°C. Check every 10 minutes or so to make sure the cannabis isn’t burning, and you can also open a window so your whole kitchen and living room don’t smell like weed.

How to make cannabis sugar

The process of making cannabis sugar is similar to that of a cannabis tincture.

Take about 3 grams of ground, decarboxylated cannabis and place it in a jar. Cover the cannabis with marc alcohol and seal the jar. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, shaking it every 3 minutes.

Next, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth into a bowl and discard the plant matter.

Add the sugar to the strained liquid, stir well, then pour the mixture into a glass baking dish.

Bake the dish at 90°C, stirring regularly until the alcohol has evaporated, then remove it from the oven. You can also place the liquid mixture in a pie dish on the stovetop over low heat until all the alcohol has evaporated.

Once the sugar has cooled, break up any large lumps and place them in an airtight container.

How much cannabis sugar should I use?

The amount of THC in cannabis sugar depends mainly on the potency of the cannabis in question.

For example, 3 grams of a strain containing 20% THC should contain approximately 600 mg of THC. Most people start with a dose of 5 mg of THC, although tolerance varies from person to person.

No matter how potent your cannabis is, consider using half a teaspoon or less of cannabis sugar the first time, until you know how strong it is and how it affects you. You can always use more next time.