Welcome to your master class on edibles! After years of taste-testing, we’ve developed a rather refined pot palate. We’ve also learned a thing or two about the dos and don’ts of purchasing cannabis-infused food and drink products. And now that we’re legal, we want to share our deep industry knowledge.
So, without further ado, here’s some top pro tips on selecting pot-laced snacks.
How do I know store-bought edibles are fresh? Ahhh... the age-old ingestion question. When it comes to freshness, your best option is to purchase edibles from a trusted, licensed head shop like Cotton Mouth. We only stock our shelves with weed-tinged treats that are of the highest quality. As for expiry dates on products you buy elsewhere, it’s important to note that most “best by” dates on edible labels refer to the food ingredients – as opposed to the THC and CBD ingredients. On average, the potency of edibles lasts about six months. Ergo, even if your edible is past its due date, it should still get you high. But we ask you, where’s the fun in eating a stale space cake? Forget about it!
Speaking of baked goods, tasty treats made with whole ingredients obviously have a shorter shelf life than lozenges and gummies. So, if you don’t have any plans to consume your edibles in the foreseeable future, you’re better off with chews and candies. In terms of storage, you should of course always refer to instructions on the packaging. But if it’s a pot cookie, for example, without any specific instructions, we recommend wrapping it in foil or saran and then placing it in an airtight container. For optimal taste, store the container in a cool enough place to ensure the food ingredients do not go off, but not so cold you compromise the cannabis effects. You also want to be mindful of how much light exposure your treats get, as UV rays can degrade the potency of your culinary delights. For that reason, top shelf of pantries, cupboards etc. are optimal – dry, dark and out of reach for pets and tots.
Under Canada’s current laws, a single edible product can contain no more than 10mg of THC. This is a low concentration for regular users, but if you’re new to edibles, it’s quite high. We suggest airing on the side of caution and looking for products that contain 2.5mg. Edibles can sometimes take a while to kick in, so we always recommend beginners wait at least two hours before ingesting another one. As for CBD concentration, there is no legal limit per edible. However, for a nice even high, the general rule of thumb is a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC. Keep in mind, it’s much easier to control the doses if you buy premade products from a store than if try bake them at home. Leave that to the pros... for now anyway.
