By Owen Smith
When buying ingredients for the V-CBC, who i worked for as a cannabis medicine maker, I was asked to always choose whole, raw, organic, locally produced products wherever possible. The nutritional benefit of fresh ingredients adds to the medicinal effects of the product. A tasty brownie or chocolate chip cannabis cookie will not necessarily suit the particular diets of patients. At the V-CBC I helped make a variety of edible products to suit the general needs of the membership that include Sugar Free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Raw and Organic options. Some recipes call for flax water as a vegan alternative to eggs.
They use hulled hemp seed in many recipes. Hemp seed has no psychoactive properties but provides us with a perfectly balanced 3:1 ratio of Omega 6 (linolei/LA) to Omega 3 (alpha-linolenic/LNA) EFAs, determined to be the optimum requirement for long-term healthy human nutrition (source). The body cannot produce these EFA’s so they have to be taken in with the foods we eat. However, when foods are processed, their EFA’s lose their nutritional value and even become toxic. EFAs are often sacrificed along with the B vitamins and the naturally occurring enzymes to enable extended shelf life in the supermarket. This is a major problem since EFAs are the building blocks for a healthy immune system.
Olive oil, grape seed oil and coconut oil are popularly used as a base for the medicinal infusion and also contain EFAs. Honey provides a natural preservative base rich in nutrients and minerals. Similarly to the vegetable oils, honey can be infused in a double boiler on low heat by allowing the honey to melt and reheat, repeating this process for up to 3 days before straining out the plant material. Other natural preservative sweeteners like agave and maple syrup can also be infused with dry kief hash, and used in medicinal tea’s or soft drinks.
One popular edible is the Budda Ball (named after a former baker). Patients report Budda Balls useful for compromised digestive systems, severe weight loss, and blood-sugar disorders. Buddha balls are intended as a meal supplement for those with wasting disorders associated with HIV/Aids and Chemo therapy while having the added benefit of pain management and nausea suppression. They are simple and easy to make. I helped the V-CBC publish all of their recipes online in this RECIPE BOOK which will soon be updated. It has sections on methods and techniques that should become common knowledge among patients seeking to make cannabis edibles.
(image: V-CBC)
Recipe for 24 Budda Balls
In a large mixing bowl add:
4 Cups Rolled Oats
3 Cups Shredded Coconut
1 Cup Raw Unsalted Sunflower Seeds
1 1⁄2 Cups Pumpkin Seed Protein
1 1⁄2 Cups Soy Protein
1⁄2 Cup Hemp Protein
1⁄2 Cup Hemp Hearts
Mix
add 1 Cup Budda Ball Oil*
Mix
add 400g honey
Mix Thoroughly
Put 1 Cup Almond Powder in a small bowl
Form the balls and roll in almond powder
Add 1⁄2 Cup Chocolate Chips for 1⁄2 the batch
Makes 24
Package, Label, Refrigerate
Keep out of Reach of Children and Pets
*see Preparing Oils and Butter
(previously appeared at Lift)
