Wait Until You See My New Storage Jars!

How do you store your Cannabis?

Have you ever given it a second thought beyond just keeping it out of sight, or away from little hands? Both valid details to be aware of, of course! But did you know some containers can actually degrade your product? I don't mean just bud, or just hash. However you prefer to take your medicine, its storage is important.

No matter what form your Cannabis is in, it contains cannabinoids and terpenes. Both have medicinal value, and both are sensitive to heat, light, and oxygen. It is always best to medicate with clean, fresh product. When I say fresh, I mean newer product. The older it gets the more likelihood of it being exposed to more light, heat and oxygen, degrading its potency and efficiency. No one wants to waste their money, or time on product that's gone stale. How especially sad if its preventable.

Terpenes are the ignored sisters to the THC's and CBD's of Cannabinoids. Very little is written about

terpenes. Most know that it's terpenes that give cannabis its distinctive smell. Fewer know they also give the subtle flavours to the different strains. But its the terpenes that are most responsible for the different names of strains, like Grape Ape, or Animal Cookies, and even Sour Diesel. There are cannabis flavour wheels all over the internet that show the veritable palette of scents and flavours available. And if you look a bit more you will find that many of the healing properties of the different strains are actually linked directly to their scents and flavours more than anything. (I'll have to write a blog about this one day...back on track).

Let's first address the three biggest enemies, light, heat, and oxygen. Keeping our medicine, whether in bud form, oil, shatter, hash or kief, away from these three is most important. Easy enough, store said product in a dark container. Those of us picking up our medicine from a local Ma and Pa set up are likely getting baggies and maybe brown paper bags. Those should be changed right away. Keeping your flower in the original baggie does nothing to keep those three enemies away.

Those of us with LP's receive our medicine in opaque plastic containers, air tight sealed, with "child proof" lids. These plastic tubs or bottles reduce all three enemies so it's easy to assume it's the perfect container to keep your product in.

But, it's not.

According to Ed Rosenthal, in his book Beyond Buds, its the terpenes that break down certain containers, and are in turn degraded by the chemical reaction. The worst containers to use are rubber and plastic. Some kind of chemical reaction occurs between those two compounds and causes the terpenes to degrade, which causes the container to degrade.  The best containers to use would be glass, metal, or silicone. Metal and silicone are usually excellent at keeping out light, provided we close our containers properly. If choosing glass, then preferably it should be dark. If it is not, then store the jar in a dark place when not needed, or paint the outside of it with an acrylic paint from the dollar store, or decoupage it with white glue and dark tissue paper, or news print...anything to keep out the light. Don't paint the inside though, you don't want to contaminate the goods!

Also be mindful of others in your home. I have teens and a husband at home who do not partake in my medicine. So I have had to label, freeze, hide and tape off my foods, oils, honey, and capsules for many months now. This weekend though I went out and purposely pick up special glass jars that are distinctive. I have never owned anything like them before and they have never been used for anything in my home before. I emptied all my various products into the different jars, and labeled them with dissolving labels. I then informed all my family members to steer clear of any products in either of these two styles of jars as they were exclusively for my products, to keep mine separate from everyone else's. I have yet to darken them. I'm considering something that can handle the humidity of a fridge, and washable.

I Could Have You Eating Edibles for Your Next Meal. Interested?

I ran out of 'Med'ibles last week and my stash is the lowest its been in a year. I placed my order, but it didn't make it here before the weekend. Canada Post for ya. Less reliable that a local dealer. But it's what I got. So I make due until I pick it up this aft. (yay!)

Making due but really missing the place my edibles take me to every day. That's why I love this
recipe! It is very simple. And don't assume that because this is not a space brownie or a pot cookie that the high will be less! Who said your first edible had to be a sweet made from a big batch of butter made in a crockpot?!?

Best part? You don't need a lot of weed to make it! Not everyone buys a months supply at once. Not everyone can bake! But if you know how to make eggs already you too can make this healthy breakfast! (Eggs aren't just for breakfast anymore). Just takes a bit of time. Ready?

Green Eggs and Toast
I admit I have stolen this recipe from Water Melon. And for a change I didn't change it. Just made it like I learned it.

Ingredients:
Two Eggs
(Splash of milk)
Two slices of bread for toast
Butter (I suggest at least a Tbsp)
Fresh Bud
Salt and Pepper to taste

The only thing not explained is how much bud to use. In another of her videos she explains that 0.7g per person is a good rule. Especially if you haven't had edibles before. It might seem like a small amount but when you eat Cannabis your body processes it differently than when you smoke it, so a little is all you need! REALLY! And feel free to lessen or increase the amount if you medicate methodically and know how much you take. I for instance know that I need less than 0.7g of bud, being a Newbie and all.

I measured out 0.02oz, which translates into 0.57grams. The 0.7g would be close to the same as a loose and level tablespoon of busted up bud.

Add butter to a fry pan and melt, adding the measured Bud after its melted.
*Important! leave fry pan on low or 2 and stir the bud into the butter every few minutes. This will bubble slightly. It's what you want to see. The bubbles indicate that the THC, Cannabidiol and Terpenes are being released from the plant and absorbed into the butter. Too high, too fast and you burn the butter, and the medicine gets burned off too = No high and No feel good medicine!

Let your butter absorb as much medicine as possible, so let it sit over Low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. The longer the better of course. It means more medicine will be usable. So, if you have the time, let it bubble longer than ten minutes. The result is brownish or greenish butter. Pour most of this off into a small bowl to butter your toast with. Bud and all.

Replace pan on heat and turn up to cook eggs as you normally would. The pan is greased with High Butter and probably some cooked bud. I made scrambled eggs so added a splash of milk, salt and pepper. This way the left over oil and bud on the pan got mixed into the whole meal and added flavour, colour and texture....I know, you just want to get high! Who the fuck cares about texture! ME actually. Cuz I love good, well made food.

When eggs are cooked as to your preference, butter the toast you remembered to make while the eggs were cooking. I literally just spooned the High butter, buds and all as evenly as I could across my toast. I don't like to see dry spots on my toast so when the bowl was drained and scraped out I did add a tiny bit more normal butter to fully cover it.

Plate your finished product. Looks good, smells good and tasted AMAZING!

I had two surprises. The first surprise was how right I was on the amount of medicine I choose to use. About the second paragraph in to writing this and I was happy, dancing in my seat and not really interesting in writing anymore. The Clash was on 105.3 The Fox so I cranked it and danced instead. LOVE that place! The place my edibles take me. Love it.

The second surprise was the taste! The Bud I had on hand was a Sativa called Luminarium, a small amount of Indica called Remissio (Headband) and my high CBD called Avidekel, all from MedReleaf. The flavours were earthy and slightly salty, making it a great addition to eggs and toast. I don't think I could actually enjoy eggs without that flavour now.

In case you are concerned about eating the actual plant material. It was not too much that I felt like my mouth was full of plant matter. Nor did it dissolve into nothing. It was there. But it really did add to the full experience of the meal. It did not detract from the overall enjoyment, in fact it was barely noticeable because the flavour was so overly enjoyable!

Bon Appetite!
Happy Medicating!

And if this is your first try at edibles, You're welcome.