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Thanksgiving is a holiday for spending time with friends and family over a heaping platter of comfort food, so why not celebrate this year with a special Thanksgiving dinner? After all, 2012 will go down in history as the year Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana, giving cannabis users a lot to be thankful for. Plus, incorporating easy-to-make cannabutter into traditional recipes will give your dinner conversation an extra buzz, not to mention help you and your guests to clean your plates. So, for those of you spending this Thursday with weed-friendly friends and family, here's a quick guide to cooking with cannabis.
Cannabutter. Making cannabutter is the first and most important step to create a THC-rich meal.
1. Pour a few cups of water into a large saucepan and bring to boil. For every ounce of marijuana, add one pound or four sticks of butter (or one ounce of oil for vegans). 2. Once the butter is boiling, add weed, making sure it is floating about an inch-and-a-half from the pan's bottom, and turn the stove to a lower heat. (Keep in mind that you can use vaporized bud, and that high-quality weed is not necessary to get a good buzz.) 3. Without burning the butter, heat the ingredients for at least an hour (the longer, the better) until the mixture resembles a thick, saucy liquid. Then, use the finest strainer you've got to remove the cannabis from the butter. 4. Let the cannabutter sit in the refrigerator overnight so the water and butter separate as the cannabutter collects on top. Pour the water into the sink while blocking the cannabutter with, for example, a Tupperware lid.
Now that you've got your cannabutter ready to go, it's time to incorporate it into your favorite Thanksgiving foods. As you'll see, you can add cannabutter to pretty much anything, making for a wide variety of possible canna-snacks and entrees.
Let's Start With An Appetizer
Green-bean casserole is a regular dish at my family's Thanksgiving dinner (which, unfortunately, will not include cannabutter this year, or ever). Spruce up your recipe by adding cannabutter, or use the one below, from Coed Magazine :
Cannabutter Green Bean Casserole
Cooking time 30 mins, Serves 10 – 12
Ingredients:
• 2 cans Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1 cup milk (fat free or 2%)
• 1 onion finely diced
• 2 tablespoons cannabutter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 8 cups cooked cut green beans
• 1 cup French Fried Onions
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large skillet sauté the chopped onion in a little cannabutter over medium heat for a few minutes until cooked.
3. Stir in the canned mushroom soup, milk, salt and pepper, green beans and 1 tablespoon of cannabutter and mix well until it's all warmed through.
4. Using the leftover cannabutter grease the casserole dish.
5. Transfer to the casserole dish, sprinkle with French Fried Onions and bake for 15 mins or until hot and bubbling.
The Main Course
Nothing is more important on Turkey Day than the turkey, and even that can be infused with cannabis. From Culture Magazine , here’s how to make this Thanksgiving’s main dish extra special:
What you need:
1 medium-sized (12- to 15-pound) turkey
1/2 cup marijuana butter
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon sweet basil
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon sage
How to make it:
Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat and blend in remaining ingredients. Stuff turkey or season with salt and pepper, if desired. Make a small incision in skin of turkey, force a finger through the slit and break the contact between the skin and the meat. Using a meat injector, squirt half the butter mixture under the skin. Cook the turkey according to your favorite method, basting with the remaining butter mixture every half hour until done.
Dessert
When most people think about weed food, they probably think about pot brownies, which seem to be the standard for weed food. There's also cookies and "space cakes," but they're straightforward recipes many of us mastered in high school. So let’s be adults here and start with a Thanksgiving classic: Pot Pumpkin Pie! From High Times:
Chef Ra’s Great Ganja Pumpkin Pie
2 cups fresh pumpkin or 1 16-oz. can of pumpkin pie filling
2 eggs (beaten)
1/4 cup condensed milk
1 tsp molasses
1/2 stick butter or margarine
1/4-oz fine ganja buds or fan leaves
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 9-inch unbaked pastry shell
Place the ganja, crushed and finely chopped, into a double-boiler pot (one pot that fits inside the other separated by water). Cook the ganja in the butter for 45 minutes over very low flame. Cook slowly without burning the butter. Then, strain out the particulate (leaves, stems, etc.) and set aside. Combine the beaten eggs, milk, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, brown sugar and pumpkin in a large bowl, and beat. Add the ganja butter to the mixture. Pour the mixture into the pastry shell. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pie for 50 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
There you have it! These dishes should make for a super-fun Thanksgiving celebration -- and one that, working alongside a little tryptophan, will leave you cozy, full and ready for a good night's sleep. One of the problems with eating a lot of weed food, however, is that THC gives you the munchies, and so quite often, the more weed food you eat, the hungrier you get. It's a slippery slope, so you may want to keep a plate of leftovers hidden away, just in case.
For some people, it still remains difficult to distinguish between the plant’s medicinal and recreational uses. Inhaling the plant’s vapors gets you high, even when that isn’t the primary reason why its being consumed.
It’s not just anti-cannabis critics who have a problem with this issue. Many of the people who consume raw cannabis with a doctor’s recommendation have no interest in getting high. For them, the plant is a safe and natural method of relieving constant pain and constant discomfort, and it’s euphoric and thought befuddling qualities are seen as (unwanted) side effects. Research is now showing benefits from eating or juicing raw cannabis.
One term that is regularly used in conjunction with cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the ingredient in marijuana that produces the “high”. Cannabis does contain another beneficial chemical compound called Cannabidiol (CBD) which has been proven medically to help relieve inflammation, convulsions, nausea, as well as inhibit cancer cell growth.
Raw cannabis contains THCA and CBDA, ineffective alkaloids. They must be heated to produce THC and CBD, which in turn produces the “high.” This is the reason for smoking or vaporizing. By eating or juicing raw cannabis in its natural state, there is no “high” to speak of. Drinking fresh-squeezed cannabis juice (similar to wheat grass juice) or eating raw cannabis as a leafy green vegetable is fast becoming a preferred means of consumption for individuals in search health benefits without losing their heads in the clouds.
I personally have not tried this but please let me know your thoughts on this as it is a very interesting topic gaining popularity for a wide variety of health giving properties.
-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DABFM
6/19/12 Follow up from Dr. G:
I would like to share with everyone an interesting and informative message I received from Jeffrey C. Raber, Ph.D. (thewercshop.com). Please read below:
21 July 2012 - Morgan Freeman adds his name to the list of A-list actors who have spoken publicly about their support of marijuana legalization, a point he gave depth to in a recent interview with Newsweek:
"Marijuana! Heavens, oh yeah. It’s just the stupidest law possible, given history. You don’t stop people from doing what they want to do, so forget about making it unlawful. You’re just making criminals out of people who aren’t engaged in criminal activity. And we’re spending zillions of dollars trying to fight a war we can’t win! We could make zillions, just legalize it and tax it like we do liquor. It’s supid."
Famous Friends Of Cannabis - Pot Stars - Celebrity Stoners - Hemp Heroes - News.
Let’s begin by talking about what cannabis is and how it works on the body. Cannabis is one of the oldest forms of medicine that exists in the world, with evidence dating back to 4,000 B.C. The word cannabis is used to describe the fresh plant and dried buds used for smoking/vaporizing (we call food made with cannabis extracts, “edibles”). Although the effectiveness of medical cannabis has been disputed by most governments (please visit this link to find out why and how cannabis became illegal in the first place), medical cannabis/compassionate use programs now exist in 15 states nationally.
Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief – particularly of neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage), migranes – nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders like Arthritis. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia or anorexia. It has been shown to assist with gastro-intestinal disorders and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Emerging research suggests that marijuana’s medicinal properties may actually protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective.
There are also a wide range of mental health problems that our patients have found relief from. Depression,anxiety, insomnia, ADD, and lack of libido come up frequently at the dispensary as reasons for medical cannabis use.
How can cannabis work so well in treating many illness’ and symptoms? Cannabis’ efficacy has been well-proven by using our own endocannabinoid system, which is involved in a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory; it also mediates the psychoactive effects of cannabis. The cannabinoids from the cannabis plant fit nicely into human cannabinoid receptors. Thus, the cannabinoids from the cannabis plant can be utilized by the human cannabinoid system.
For more detailed info Public Medical.gov ,has many articles illustrating the role of our own endocannabinoid system, find them by searching “endocannabinoid system” in the search box.
One of the most abundant cannabinoids in cannabis – THC – creates a euphoric effect. The other cannabinoids in cannabis do not. CBD is another cannabinoid in cannabis. CBD has medicinal applications both in conjunction with THC, but also independently of it. Other cannabinoids also have likely medicinal applications though there is less data available.
Once you and/or your physician decide to look into cannabis as treatment, you must obtain a “recommendation” for medical cannabis use from a licensed California MD. This is a little different from a traditional prescription written by your doctor and must include the language “I recommend” rather than “I prescribe” or, “I am aware of cannabis use”, as written in the California compassionate use act enacted in 1996, Prop 215. The statement may include, but does not have to, a reason for treatment or any limits, exceptions or guidelines for the patient. The letter MUSTinclude: the Dr.’s signature, the date the statement was written and a phone number or website where cannabis dispensaries can call the doctor’s office to verify the date of expiration or re-evaluation of the cannabis recommendation, usually one year. If your physician is unsure how to format the recommendation, find a PDF file of a BLANK PHYSICIAN’S STATEMENT here.
This letter can be written by ANY LICENSED CALIFORNIA MD and does not have to be made by your primary physician. Many doctors offices now exist that only see patients for medical marijuana evaluations and do not perform other medical doctor duties in that office (let’s call them Medical Cannabis Doctors). Although I would still suggest you attempt to talk to your primary physician/oncologist, etc first — Sometimes those doctors, who do not deal with cannabis evaluations daily, can be unclear on the legality of what you are asking them or, in the case of Kaiser Permanente, have their legal managers forbid them from writing the note properly (Kaiser Dr.’s cannot use the word “recommendation” even though the law explicitly asks for it) – even for the terminally ill.
Mother Jones magazine recently wrote an article, How to get a Pot Card (Without Really Trying). In it, the author and his wife had a competition to see who could obtain a medical marijuana recommendation the fastest – the author, for “writer’s cramp” a vague, undocumented pain in his wrist, went to a Medical Cannabis Doctor; his wife, for the treatment of painful, rheumatoid arthritis with complications found from prescribed pharmacy meds, went to her rheumatologist.Who do you think became a medical patient first? Even a quick search pulls up dozens of articles regarding medical cannabis and treating the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis but still, her rheumatologist and a GP she saw afterwards, were not willing to write her a letter of recommendation for cannabis treatment. The author obtained a recommendation for his writer’s cramp quite easily, costing him $70 and not covered by his insurance.
Going to a doctor who specifically evaluates for cannabis use will certainly mean that cannabis will be considered for your case.
Also, Medical Cannabis Doctors often have systems in place that make it very simple for dispensaries to contact them at any time for verification of the physician’s statement, like a website or 24 hour phone number. California NORML has compiled a list of medical cannabis evaluators by city, find it here. Others can be found by searching with Google.
Verification can sometimes be more difficult for patients who’s physicians keep shorter hours or are harder to reach. For those patients we recommend obtaining a verified Patient I.D. Card from thePatient I.D. Center in Oakland (suggested) or a Patient I.D. from the Public Health Department of your county- in addition to your recommendation. Theses ID cards can help stream-line the registration/verification process when you visit dispensaries for the first time because you have been pre-verified by one of these agencies. Usually, each dispensary you visit will verify your letter of recommendation once when you first register and again each year when you renew your patient status – so it is important your doctor is reachable.
To clarify: the additional I.D. is not mandatory – as long as your doctor can be reached by phone or online, PCC will accept and try to verify any recommendation from any licensed California MD. Aone-time-basis visit will be allowed pre-verification if the patient has provided an original letter with an embossed seal with either a California ID/DL or photo I.D and proof of CA residency. Once verified, please bring your valid patient information and a valid California I.D or driver’s license each time you visit.
Once you receive your recommendation, you are a qualified medical cannabis patient, protected by Prop 215 to possess, consume, transport and grow cannabis.
If you aren’t planning on growing your own medicine you will be visiting a medical cannabis dispensary. Here at Berkeley Patients Care Collective we strive to make the first time visit to our dispensary as comfortable and educational as possible. First time patients come in every day that, because of changes to their health, have decided to try cannabis – sometimes for the first time in decades. For these patients, the cannabis they remember from their teens is often quite different from the quality and potency of cannabis that dispensaries carry these days, and with many more choices available.
The registration process at Berkeley Patient’s Care Collective includes a complete introduction to all types of medicine by one of our extremely informed consultants. When you approach the security at the door, save time by having your physician’s statement and California ID or driver’s license out and ready to be examined. As a first time patient, security will direct you to the front office where you will fill out our membership registration form. You will also be informed of our guidelines and hours of operation, etc. From there, front desk staff walks you to a personal consultant who will acquaint you with how our counter is set up and guide you through your entire experience with information and recommendations, answering any questions you may have along the way.
The first time you visit a dispensary, it’s likely there will be a lot of phrases, strains and products you are not familiar with. Take your time, ask questions and look at different things. A lot of patients enjoy smelling a variety of strains before they make their decision –”The nose, knows!”. For the new user however, this method isn’t always helpful, as new patient’s aren’t used to judging the smell for quality or taste. Share your desired effect – like whether you’re using cannabis for pain or for mood; maybe you’d like to try edibles or using a vaporizer- with your consultant, and a little experimentation of your own, is the best approach to learning about cannabis as medicine.
Coming soon,… Part II of A Beginners Guide to Medical Cannabis… manager David will clearly explains how to go about choosing the right strain and an easy formula for finding what you need when confronted with a sea of foreign strain names.
It’s important, for a certain level of comfort, to feel assisted yet in control of your dispensary experience. Do your own research to find the best dispensaries or doctors in your area. User-based resources like Yelp and Weedmaps can help you find the very best products and service just by reading other patient reviews. Dispensaries should be happy to talk to potential new patients on the phone about what to expect on your first visit, so feel free to call ahead if a phone number is provided. Expect high quality service and if you don’t get it, take your business elsewhere. There are steps you can personally take to make your dispensary experience more comfortable – this interesting article in East Bay Express called Medical Marijuana Dispensary Etiquette – 101 is a useful tool in helping to cultivate the right attitude and in being prepared. Our own David Bowers is quoted several times within!
source: http://berkeleypatientscare.com/2011/01/20/a-beginners-guide-for-medical-cannabis/
Chemical name (−)-(6aR,10aR)-6,6,9-trimethyl-
3-pentyl-6a,7,8,10a-tetrahydro-
6H-benzo[c]chromen-1-ol
Chemical formula C21H30O2
Molecular mass 314.46 g/mol
Glass transition 9.3 °C
Boiling point 155-157 °C (vacuum, 0.07 mbar)
Solubility (water) 2.8 mg/L (23 °C)
Solubility (saline) 0.77 mg/L (NaCl, 0.15 M)
pKa 10.6
log P 3.78 (water @ pH 7 / octanol)
CAS number 1972-08-3
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