Consuming cannabis in edibles presents a markedly different experience than smoking or other means of enjoyment. In general, edibles provide a milder experience making them a preferred option for people seeking cannabis’ medical benefits.

If you are looking to prepare your own edibles, you should understand some strains work better than others. Some target specific physical ailments. And, some produce a more psychoactive response than others.

The basics

Edibles metabolize more slowly than smoking. That extended processing also creates a longer-lasting and more full-bodied experience. Potency affects different consumers differently but choosing between Sativas and Indicas gives you a wider selection.

Recipes and cooking preparation are likely to distribute the cannabis unevenly so you may find one section of the product more powerful than another. Given these basics, you can rely on Indicas more sedating and relaxing and Sativas more euphoric.

10 best strains

Of course, cooking requires heating, and heating changes the character of cannabis strains. So, you can expect some trial and error before you find the strain you prefer, but here are some to try.

Among the things, you must remember is that strains have flavor, texture, and aroma, all of which can add to the edible. But, they also influence the selection and measure of other ingredients.

Super Lemon Haze has an established reputation for producing energy and focus. High-rated and award-winning, it is a sativa-dominant hybrid with strong, sweet lemon properties. It provides a head and body balance, a chance to relax and enjoy. Recipes include Super Lemon Haze in guacamole, infused olive oil, muffins, and Hollandaise sauce. Purple Power has all the characteristics of a potent sativa including a fast and strong experience. Purple Power offers a fruity, tropical aroma and taste to bring sweetness to your recipe and enjoyment. Potent as it may be, it works well for daytime consumption because it relaxes without making you lazy. Cooks use Purple Power in baked goods that can provide treatment for migraines, arthritic pain, and glaucoma. Skywalker is an Indica-dominant hybrid with Kush and OG DNA. The 18-23% THC impact will produce a strong cerebral trip. As smoked, it will produce a deep and sedating body buzz. It may lose some of that impact in cooking, but it reportedly deals with muscle spasms, nausea, pain, and more. You’ll find Skywalker appearing in cocktails from martinis to daiquiris to blushes. Orange Crush is sativa strong with a sweet orangey taste. Some Orange Crush comes high THC content. So, it can produce a dizzying high. You’ll want to be careful with dosing because of the potential for paranoia. Some medical patients will risk the effects to fight chronic stress, PTSD, and depression. It’s been used in recipes requiring oranges. It works in cakes, oils, and smoothies. Blue Dream is used for its full-body relaxation owing to its 2% CBD. But, the THC can hit as high as 24%. The 60:40 ratio should leave you motivated and focuses followed by a numbing and warm body buzz. It treats chronic pain and stress, depression, and insomnia. Its blueberry pie taste adds to common recipes. You’ll find Blue Dream in caramel-covered apples and various candies. Trainwreck offers relieving therapies for PTSD, stress, and pain. But, with 25% THC, it can slam you against the wall. Its pine and lemon aroma and zesty lemon flavor add something to recipes for cookies, cakes, and rice crispy treats. White Widow has a universal appeal. Peppery and lemony, it is a balanced hybrid leaning toward a cognitive high and relaxing undercurrent. It lets you unwind and relax without losing your sense of alertness and focus. Patients like it for depression, stress, and pain. They have used White Widow to make cannabutter and infused oils that add an experience to chili recipes. Bubba Kush is a highly-valued pure Indica because it puts you to sleep quickly to help you forget the worst chronic pain. It will keep you couch-locked and relieve ADD/ADHD, depression, insomnia, and stress. Its high THC count makes it great for making cannabutter for use in countless recipes including the best brownies. AK-47 is a nicely balanced and mellow strain with as much as 20% THC promising a lasting cerebral impact. It relieves anxiety, depression, strain, and stress. You must be careful of its power when cooking, but AK-47 can add a punch to make as a butter or herb brownies and chocolates. OG Kush is the standard strain for calm and relaxation. Its mighty 24% THC produces a couch-lock after a high euphoria. Its cerebral and lasting rush will manage anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, nausea, and pain. It produces a rich cannabutter for baking but has been used in candies and a trail mix ingredient when combined with coconut oil.

Cook up a storm but do it carefully!

Making cannabutter is the root of making any edible. There are scores of recipes online, and canna-oils and butters are central to any mix. However, there are risks to ingesting cannabis. You need a recipe that will assure you the dosage need. And, that’s determined by your weight, gender, body type, experience with cannabis, and the strain.

Choosing the strain for flavor and aroma is not enough. You must research the THC content and how much will be there once you have cooked the product. Because edibles can be so tasty, take effect so slowly, and last so long, you take a chance on the consequences of high dosing or fast dosing.