Edibles of Edible
Story by Aja Goare
Photography by Jennifer Olson
Among the adult indulgences of today’s world are cannabis-derived edibles, which can have a range of effects from relaxation to creativity to what those who came of age in the ’70s and ’80s might refer to as being “stoned.” Like with alcohol, the effects of THC and CBD are wide ranging and different for each person. But for those who would like to dabble in a different vice, edibles can offer a new sensation without the hangover of alcohol. Marijuana rides the fence of legal and illicit nationally, however, recreational use by adults is permitted in California. Some San Luis Obispo County business owners shared their favorite ways to partake. See the key below to better understand each active ingredient.
Alyx Gille, Good Tides Organic Bistro – Baywood Park
Product Groom’s Cake
What it is “It’s a wedding cake that has cannabis in it. A lot of people don’t want to taste the cannabis so I use a distillate, not a butter. I can tell people exactly how many milligrams throughout and per slice.”
The experience “You feel a high reaction. It’s a more chill experience than drinking.”
What interests her “I’ve been cooking about 20–25 years, so I can make any baked good. I never really wanted to do pastry but I spent 10 years in it and got good at it. I never really got into the sickly sweet. I also use organic and slave-free materials.”
April Worley, Mender – Atascadero
Product Calming Sweets
What it is “It’s a natural gummy that’s more like a fruit square enhanced with CBD and CBG. I sent four different kinds of sage from my yard to our candy maker to try and we landed on white sage. I wanted our gummy to speak to locality, where we’re from here in California. It’s sweetened with wild currant.”
The experience “CBG is great because it may have the ability to create emotional homeostasis while CBD promotes calmness. Everyone’s system is very different, but the main thing we hear is you feel about 20 minutes in like you’ve stepped out of a steamy shower. It’s not a high, rather a deep breath, a calming wave that comes over you. It helps you stay focused while maintaining an even stress load.”
What interests her “Even with alcohol, people may take one drink before going out with friends to take the edge off. With this, you may not feel as strong a need to drink so much. We wanted to create a product that was healthy, low glycemic, vegan and gluten free. Using cannabinoid-based products that are tested and clean, it’s not in exchange for prescriptions but can be used in social settings or at the end of the long day.”
Megan Souza, Megan’s Organic Market – San Luis Obispo
Product Rose Delights
What it is “They’re like Turkish delights. They have beautiful packaging and the company is really ingredient driven. The cannabis concentrate in the edible is whole flour rosin. Most edibles are made from trim from a wide array of cannabis plants using chemical solvents — this one uses low heat and high pressure to make a concentrate. Low heat doesn’t destroy any cannabinoid or terpene so it’s more well-rounded. They’re very delicious, there’s a little bit of cannabis taste but the other flavors in it really balance it out.”
The experience “The experience is a more well-rounded high of both mind and body effects — think therapeutic properties. Each gummy is 5 milligrams, which is a low dose. If your personal dose is low and you’re new to it, start with 5 mg.”
What interests her “When you buy cannabis at a dispensary, you know it’s been tested and it’s better than organic because the levels are balanced and stringently monitored. Given the monitoring, it’s a really controlled experience that you can ensure a better time.”
Miho Watanabe, Baceae Edibles – Cambria
The product Peanut Butter Cup
What it is “We create handcrafted confections with 66 percent fair trade certified dark chocolate. It’s all vegan and naturally gluten free, soy free, and meant to be enjoyed and taken in. The peanut butter cup is similar to a regular Reese’s cup but there are fewer ingredients and a little more bite and crunch. Inside is pure roasted peanut butter with CBD-infused coconut oil but you can’t really taste the CBD.”
The experience “There’s an overall relaxing effect that can help alleviate pain for a couple hours. You feel calmness and bodily relaxation, stiffness in the shoulders and neck relaxes. It can support mental health by reducing anxiety and depression. There’s 20 mg of CBD in this one. Some people start their day with it and it helps them focus and stop darting from thing to thing, while others take it to sleep.”
What interests him “We started back in 2017 with THC but we were more concerned with high-quality ingredients and food than potency. We naturally gravitated toward CBD because not all consumers are interested in getting high — they also value the quality of ingredients more and the experience behind good tasting, good quality, ethical ingredients. We like to pair the CBD with other natural, healing ingredients. The matcha is different because it’s paired with lion’s mane mushroom and CBG, which promotes deep focus and has brain activating herbs.”
Key
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active ingredient in cannabis that is derived from the hemp plant, but it does not cause a high and is not addictive.
Cannabigerol (CBG) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid typically most abundant in low-THC and high-CBD cannabis strains, including hemp. CBG can help alleviate the paranoia sometimes caused by higher levels of THC.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the substance primarily responsible for the effects of marijuana on a person’s mental state.
