Cannabis and CBD edibles are have become increasingly popular over the last few years. With a long list of potential medicinal benefits, it's no surprise they are in high demand. Edibles are delicious, discreet, and healthier than smoking or vaping.
But a big question in the minds of many new consumers remains: Should you buy cannabis edibles or make them yourself? Let’s check out some of the pros and cons of each approach.
Pros and Cons Buying Edibles
Pros of Buying Cannabis Edibles:
One of the most significant advantages of dispensary edibles is that they come pre-dosed in milligrams of CBD or THC. If you are a new user and you're wondering if you should buy cannabis edibles or make them yourself, store bought edibles are the best choice for beginners. Beginners can start with an accurately measured 5 mg or 10 mg dose and gauge the effects. It can be challenging to measure dosages with homemade edibles unless you have access to an infusion-testing lab or an at-home potency test kit, like the tCheck Potency Tester.
Another reason people may want to buy dispensary edibles is a lack of time to prepare infusions. However, it may also take a while to sort through the sea of premade edible options available before you find one that suits you.
Cons of Buying Premade Edibles:
Perhaps the biggest drawback of buying edibles is the cost. It’s considerably less expensive to purchase dispensary cannabis and make your own edibles.
Incorrect labeling can also be a problem, especially if you have specific dietary concerns. Packaging stating that an edible is all-natural and free of allergens doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s 100% organic and not manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts or gluten.
Storebought edible options can be limited for people struggling with diabetes, a condition affecting over 10% of the U.S. population and 463 million people worldwide. Many pre-made edibles are loaded with sugar, making them unsuitable or even dangerous for people with diabetes. Additionally, pre-made edibles may contain artificial flavors and preservatives, defeating the purpose of consuming CBD products for health reasons.
Extraction methods can also be questionable with pre-made edibles. Some unscrupulous companies may say that something contains full-spectrum CBD when it’s actually made of isolate, or vice versa.
Making Your Own Edibles
Making your own edibles can be rewarding. It’s cheaper, and you can add cannabis or CBD to any of your favorite recipes. However, measuring the correct dosage can be a real challenge if you don’t own a cannabis potency test kit.
Pros of Making Edibles at Home:
Pictured: The tCheck potency tester & Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen cookbook by Stephanie Hua
Making homemade edibles is economical and completely customizable. You’ll be able to choose ingredients based on your dietary needs. People on restricted diets due to diabetes can control the quantity and type of sweetener they use. Vegans can be sure that their edibles contain only plant-based ingredients and weren’t made in a facility that processes animal products.
Cooking your own edibles also makes it easier to adhere to practices in line with your social conscience. You can make sure your homemade edibles contain all organic, local ingredients that come from free-trade and cruelty-free sources.
You also get to decide which strain of cannabis or CBD product you use. Additionally, you can control the extraction method and the dosage. If you’re a home grower, making edibles provides an excellent way to use trim and leaves from your harvest. Above all, making homemade edibles is a lot of fun!
Cons of Making Edibles at Home:
Making homemade edibles takes time and skill. The process can be challenging if you’re not already a decent cook. The main obstacle for beginners (and many experienced cooks) is calculating appropriate dosages and gauging the potency of homemade edibles.
Measuring the Potency of Homemade Edibles
Starting with a lab-tested CBD or THC product can help, but you’ll still be left with complicated calculations to figure out how strong your final product will be. And if you happen to grow your own cannabis, you won’t know the THC content of your flower or trim unless you send it out for a costly lab test.
That’s why we developed the tCheck cannabis potency testing device, a quick and easy way for you to get an accurate reading on the THC or CBD content of your infusions—right from the comfort of your kitchen. Just add a drop of butter, oil, or tincture to the slide, insert the slide into the tCheck device, push a few buttons, and Voila! tCheck’s digital screen will tell you exactly how much CBD or THC is in your infusion.
Do you want to know how much cannabis infusion you’ll need to add for exactly 16, five-milligram servings? No problem. tCheck comes with an onboard calculator that will tell you precisely how many teaspoons, tablespoons, or milliliters to add for each portion. It’s that easy!
Are you looking to find out the cannabinoid content in your flower or concentrate? We’ve got you covered. With tCheck’s Expansion Kit, you can find out the potency of your homegrown cannabis, hash, or shatter in mere minutes.
