Frequently Asked Questions

General Cannabis

FAQ's

Here are the MOST Frequently Asked Questions across our Illinois Cannabis Community. This FAQ section is updated regularly, so if you’ve got a question we missed, please let us know.

It is FEDERALLY ILLEGAL to cross any state line with cannabis let alone crossing international borders where cannabis remains illegal. Although the TSA has gone to say they are not looking for medical or recreational cannabis and Mexico announcing legalization of cannabis, there is still a great risk as laws have yet been put into place for legalization and travel.

1. Materials Needed:

  • Cannabis (ground)
  • A cigar or cigarillo
  • A sharp knife or blade
  • A lighter

2. Preparation:

  • Begin by grinding your cannabis to a medium-fine consistency using a grinder.
  • Empty the cigar: Use a blade to cut along the length of the cigar, remove the tobacco inside and discard it or save it for later use.

3. Fill and Shape:

  • Wet the interior slightly with your saliva to make it pliable.
  • Fill the emptied cigar wrap with your ground cannabis. Distribute it evenly along the length to ensure an even burn.

4. Roll:

  • Tuck the side of the wrap closest to you over the cannabis, then roll it over until the other side of the wrap is underneath.
  • Use your fingers to shape and compress the cannabis as you roll to ensure it’s tight and even.

5. Seal:

  • Lick the remaining edge of the wrap, then press it down gently to seal the blunt.
  • You may need to go over the seam with a lighter briefly to help it stay sealed, but avoid overheating it.

6. Enjoy Responsibly:

  • Light the blunt and enjoy. Remember to consume responsibly, especially if you’re in a region where cannabis consumption is legal.

The terms “joint” and “blunt” refer to different methods of consuming cannabis, and they have a few key differences:

1. Material:

  • Joint: A joint is rolled with translucent rolling papers made from a variety of materials including rice, hemp, or wood pulp.
  • Blunt: A blunt is rolled using a cigar or cigarillo wrap, which is made from tobacco leaves.

2. Size and Cannabis Quantity:

  • Joint: Joints tend to be smaller than blunts and typically hold between 0.25 to 1 gram of cannabis.
  • Blunt: Blunts are usually larger and can hold 1 to 3 grams of cannabis or more, depending on the size of the cigar wrap.

3. Flavor and Experience:

  • Joint: The thin paper used for joints is practically flavorless, so the taste of the cannabis is more apparent.
  • Blunt: The tobacco leaf wrap imparts a distinct flavor and can complement or contrast with the taste of the cannabis.

4. Nicotine Content:

  • Joint: Joints do not contain nicotine unless mixed with tobacco (a practice known as rolling a “spliff”).
  • Blunt: The tobacco leaf wrap used for blunts contains nicotine, which can affect the experience and add an additional level of health risk.

5. Burn Time:

  • Joint: Joints tend to burn faster due to the thin paper used.
  • Blunt: Blunts burn slower due to the thicker tobacco leaf wrap, which can result in a longer smoking session.

6. Appearance:

  • Joint: Joints are usually white or light tan, depending on the type of rolling paper used, and have a cylindrical shape with a twist at one end to prevent cannabis from falling out.
  • Blunt: Blunts are brown due to the color of the tobacco leaf and resemble a cigar in appearance.

7. Legality and Social Acceptance:

  • The legality of cannabis consumption, whether in a joint or a blunt, varies widely from region to region. It’s essential to be familiar with and comply with local laws and regulations regarding cannabis use and possession.

Both joints and blunts are popular methods of smoking cannabis, and the choice between the two often comes down to personal preference, the desired smoking experience, and local laws regarding tobacco and cannabis.

Grinding cannabis without a grinder is possible, but care should be taken to ensure that the cannabis is broken down to a suitable consistency for your intended use. Here are a few methods:

1. Hand Breaking:

  • Carefully break apart the buds with your fingers.
  • This method can be a bit sticky and may not provide the most even grind.

2. Scissors and a Shot Glass:

  • Place your cannabis buds in a shot glass.
  • Use a pair of clean, sharp scissors to snip the cannabis into smaller pieces until reaching your desired consistency.

3. Knife and Cutting Board:

  • Place your cannabis buds on a clean cutting board.
  • Using a sharp knife, carefully chop the cannabis until it reaches your desired consistency.

4. Pill Bottle and Coin:

  • Place your cannabis buds in a pill bottle with a clean coin.
  • Seal the bottle and shake vigorously. The coin will help break apart the cannabis.

5. Mortar and Pestle:

  • Place your cannabis buds in a mortar and gently crush with the pestle until reaching your desired consistency.
  • Be cautious to not turn it into a powder as it can be too fine for some uses.

6. Coffee Grinder:

  • A coffee grinder can work in a pinch, but it may grind the cannabis too finely and is difficult to clean.

7. Cheese Grater:

  • Gently rub the buds against the smallest holes on a cheese grater.
  • This method can be effective but may be a bit messy.

8. Pestle and Bowl:

  • If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, using a heavy object like a pestle and a sturdy bowl can work.
  • Gently crush the cannabis until it’s the desired consistency.

Grinding cannabis without a grinder is possible, but care should be taken to ensure that the cannabis is broken down to a suitable consistency for your intended use. Here are a few methods:

1. Hand Breaking:

  • Carefully break apart the buds with your fingers.
  • This method can be a bit sticky and may not provide the most even grind.

2. Scissors and a Shot Glass:

  • Place your cannabis buds in a shot glass.
  • Use a pair of clean, sharp scissors to snip the cannabis into smaller pieces until reaching your desired consistency.

3. Knife and Cutting Board:

  • Place your cannabis buds on a clean cutting board.
  • Using a sharp knife, carefully chop the cannabis until it reaches your desired consistency.

4. Pill Bottle and Coin:

  • Place your cannabis buds in a pill bottle with a clean coin.
  • Seal the bottle and shake vigorously. The coin will help break apart the cannabis.

5. Mortar and Pestle:

  • Place your cannabis buds in a mortar and gently crush with the pestle until reaching your desired consistency.
  • Be cautious to not turn it into a powder as it can be too fine for some uses.

6. Coffee Grinder:

  • A coffee grinder can work in a pinch, but it may grind the cannabis too finely and is difficult to clean.

7. Cheese Grater:

  • Gently rub the buds against the smallest holes on a cheese grater.
  • This method can be effective but may be a bit messy.

8. Pestle and Bowl:

  • If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, using a heavy object like a pestle and a sturdy bowl can work.
  • Gently crush the cannabis until it’s the desired consistency.

Illinois Cannabis

FAQ's

Illinois has a medical cannabis program as well as adult-use, otherwise known as “recreational” cannabis. Illinois was the 11th state to legalize cannabis for adult use. All consumers 21 years old and older, regardless of residency, may purchase cannabis from a licensed seller in Illinois. Visitors are restricted to a smaller possession amount.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) oversees The Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Patient Program. 

The state website lists the following basic requirements prospective patients must meet in order to apply to the program:

  • Be a resident of the State of Illinois at the time of application and remain a resident during participation in the program;
  • Have a qualifying debilitating medical condition;
  • Have a signed physician certification (unless you are a veteran receiving medical care at a VA facility);
  • Be at least 18 years of age;
  • Not hold a school bus permit or Commercial Driver’s License (CDL); and
  • Not be an active duty law enforcement officer, correctional officer, correctional probation officer, or firefighter.

Current Qualifying Conditions

Illinois Department of Health’s current qualifying conditions.

  • Autism
  • Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Arnold-Chiari malformation
  • Cancer
  • Cachexia/wasting syndrome
  • Causalgia
  • Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
  • Chronic pain
  • Crohn’s disease
  • CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II)
  • Dystonia
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
  • Fibrous Dysplasia
  • Glaucoma
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Hydromyelia
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Lupus
  • Migraines
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Myoclonus
  • Nail-patella syndrome
  • Neuro-Bechet’s autoimmune disease
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Neuropathy
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
  • Post-Concussion Syndrome
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
  • Residual limb pain
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Seizures (including those characteristics of Epilepsy)
  • Severe fibromyalgia
  • Sjogren’s syndrome
  • Spinal cord disease (including but not limited to arachnoiditis)
  • Spinal cord injury is damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
  • Spinocerebellar ataxia
  • Superior canal dehiscence syndrome
  • Syringomyelia
  • Tarlov cysts
  • Tourette syndrome
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Ulcerative colitis

Illinois does allow minors with qualifying conditions to register with the program. Minors must have a designated caregiver(s) and are limited to cannabis-infused products only. “Ashley’s Law” allows caregivers of minor registered patients to administer medical cannabis on school property.

To locate a provider and apply for your medical cannabis card, click here:

In Illinois, only registered medical cannabis patients may grow cannabis at home. The regulations state that the patient must keep their “grow” out of public view in a locked area.  There is a limit of 5 plants over 5” tall to be grown at one time. The cultivation of 5 cannabis plants or fewer without a medical marijuana license is a civil violation punishable by a maximum fine of $200, without jail time. However, growing over 5 plants is a felony or at the very least a class 4 violation that is punishable by 1-3 years imprisonment.

Adults may consume or smoke cannabis within their home and on their private property. Property owners, businesses, colleges, and universities have the right to prohibit the use of cannabis as well. Licensed sellers may allow the option of smoking on-premises as would a licensed consumption location. 

Cannabis consumption is prohibited in public areas, motor vehicles, near police offices, firefighters, corrections officers,  near on-duty school bus drivers, on school grounds, or near anyone under the age of 21.

Limits of possession for Illinois residents ( Adults over 21 )

  • Up to 30 grams of cannabis flower
  • Up to 5 grams of cannabis concentrate 
  • Up to 500 mg of THC in a cannabis-infused product 

Limits for out of state visiting Adults over 21 ( Half of that of Illinois residents)

  • Up to 15 grams of cannabis flower
  • Up to 2.5 grams of cannabis concentrate
  • Up to 250 grams of THC in a cannabis-infused product 

Illinois Medical patients

  • Up to 71 grams (2.5 oz) of cannabis products Such as flower, concentrates, and edibles during any 14 day period
  • Allotment increase requests by visiting with their physician and requesting an allotment increase evaluation

Short answer is they will be able to shop at certain dispensaries that are licensed for both medical and rec. And they will pay medical prices there.

But if they lose their card, or go to a rec dispensary only, then they will only be able to purchase as a rec consumer, which comes with the additional taxes. Hope that helps!

As of 2023, you can obtain a medical cannabis card in as little as 24 hours.

Click here to get certified for a medical cannabis card, and save up to 40% in taxes!

There was once a time when everyone in Illinois had to wait 90-120 days before being able to make a purchase with their card! Luckily those days are behind us! After you apply and pay successfully, you should be able to use your card printout immediately.

Maryland Cannabis

FAQ's

Only medical cannabis is legal in Maryland.

Current Qualifying Conditions

Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission’s current qualifying conditions.

  • Anorexia
  • Cachexcia
  • Glaucoma
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Seizures
  • Severe or Chronic Pain
  • Severe Nausea
  • Severe or Persistent Muscle Spasms
  • Wasting Syndrome
  • Any other chronic medical condition which is severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective.

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Pennsylvania Cannabis 

FAQ's

No, adult-use or recreational cannabis is not legal in Pennsylvania, however medical cannabis is.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health and its Office of Medical Marijuana oversee the patient registry.

The state website lists the following basic requirements prospective patients must meet in order to apply to the state program.

Must have acurrent qualifying condition.

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Autism
  • Cancer, including remission therapy
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord) with an objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, and other associated neuropathies
  • Dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV / AIDS
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Intractable seizures
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Neurodegenerative diseases
  • Neuropathies
  • Opioid use disorder for which conventional therapeutic interventions are contraindicated or ineffective, or for which adjunctive therapy is indicated in combination with primary therapeutic interventions
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain
  • Sickle cell anemia
  • Terminal illness
  • Tourette syndrome

Pennsylvania allows minors with serious qualifying conditions to register. Minors must have designated and approved caregiver(s). 

The state of Pennsylvania limits the products and use of medical cannabis and therefore doesn’t allow the combustion or smoking of cannabis.

There are a few steps that must be taken in the proper order before receiving your medical card in Pennsylvania.

  1. Register with the program and await email confirmation.
  2. Have a registered physician certify your qualifying condition.
  3. Pay for your medical card (Once qualified an email will be sent on how to pay the $50.00 fee – Ask about discounts)
  4. Wait for the card to arrive by mail. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Health states that you should allow 7 days for printing from the date you paid for your ID card and 14 days to receive it in the mail. Therefore Your card will be mailed to the address in your patient profile in about 3 weeks. 

Caregivers have a slightly different process. You can learn about caregivers on the DOH site.

No, unfortunately only Pennsylvania resident patients are allowed to participate and purchase at dispensaries.

Unfortunately no, Pennsylvania doesn’t require insurers to cover the cost.

No, regardless of medical use, no one may grow cannabis in Pennsylvania. It’s a felony charge in Pennsylvania to cultivate any number of plants.

Act 16 doesn’t list places for patients to consume. Basically, you will need to be in your private residence or have special arrangements made.

Medical patients are only allowed to be dispensed 30 days worth of cannabis from state licensed dispensaries. It’s illegal for non medical patients to possess cannabis. 30 grams or less may result in $500 in fines and or 30 days of jail time. If convicted of over 30 grams, you could spend up to 1 year in jail.

New York Cannabis

FAQ's

As of March 31st, 2021, cannabis for adults 21 and older are legal. New York also has a medical cannabis program. It’s going to take some time before retail cannabis dispensaries open across the state of course. 

TheMedical Marijuana Program is currently run by the New York Department of Health. There were some excellent improvements included in theMRTA Bill S854A  that was signed into law in March 2021, but for now, until theOffice of Cannabis Management becomes fully functioning, everyone must follow the current regulations for the program. Check back often with the program for changes. 

  • You will need to have a new York State ID Card such as a driver’s license or non-driver ID card 
  • Qualified patients must get certified by approved providers as a first step. 
  • Once certified patients must create an account and register with the Medical Marijuana program 
  • Caregivers are allowed and are mandatory for patients under 18 

Currently, the qualifying conditions to be eligible for medical marijuana are as follows: 

  • Cancer
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Spinal cord nerve injury with intractable spasticity
  • Epilepsy
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Chronic pain
  • Opioid alternative for pain that degrades health and functional capability
  • Neuropathy
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Substance use disorder

Patients must also have one of the following associated or complicating conditions:

  • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
  • Severe or chronic pain
  • Severe nausea
  • Seizures
  • Severe or persistent muscle spasms
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Opioid use disorder, but only if enrolled in a treatment program certified pursuant to Article 32 of the Mental Hygiene Law

Once the new law takes effect for the medical program, the patient’s qualifying medical provider will be allowed to decide if the patient will benefit from medical cannabis instead of being held back by the former list. The certifying providers must be New York State approved. 

Once you have your certification and register with the state, you will get a temporary printable card immediately. Your permanent card will be mailed to you.

  • No Fee for registration
  • 60 day supply of medicine instead of 30
  • Variety of products will expand including whole flower
  • Patients can grow up 6 plants (3 in veg/3 in flower) and begin to grow sooner than the general population
  • Designated Caregiver may home cultivate cannabis
  • Practitioners may choose what illness or ailment are  qualifying conditions instead of having to use the state-approved list only

No, not at this time.

Unfortunately no. New York does not require insurance or Medicaid to cover the cost of medical cannabis.

Yes and no! 

New York state has legalized adult-use cannabis including home cultivation. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act ( MRTA Bill S854A  )  was signed into law in March 2021, but for now, until the Office of Cannabis Management becomes fully functioning, adults must wait to grow. The estimate given in legislation is 18 months wait for adults and 6 months for registered medical patients. Regulations have yet to be written on many of the details. What we do know is that adults 21 and over may grow 3 immature plants and 3 mature plants each. The maximum number of plants per household is 6 mature and 6 immature plants. The amount of cannabis that can be stored in a secure location of your home is up to 5 lbs. The possession amount for cannabis elsewhere is 3 ounces or less which is now current law. No county, town, city or village may completely prohibit home cultivation.

As of March 31, 2021, cannabis consumption for adults over 21 is legal. You make smoke, “vape”,  cannabis in public except where tobacco smoking is prohibited. Private property owners may prohibit cannabis and prohibited on school properties as well as in or near school buses. New York does have the opportunity to issue consumption lounge licenses.

It’s legal to possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrate. You may possess up to 5 lbs of cannabis in a private residence. It is now legal to “gift” cannabis to an adult over 21 in New York but not to sell unlicensed. Although New York is now legalized, it’s going to take a while before retail dispensaries are open to the public.

( research note not for website) See MRTA Article 222 pg 86 

  • Adults over 21 are allowed to possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrate. In effect now
  • Adults over 21 are allowed to home cultivate 3 mature and 3 immature plants each. The maximum number of plants per household regardless of the number of adults is 6 mature and 6 immature plants. Not in effect yet.
  •  Because of home cultivation, adults over 21 may possess up to 5 lbs of cannabis in their private residence. 
  •  No county, town, city, or village may completely prohibit home cultivation but may regulate.
  • An “Opt-Out” provision is allowed for a county, town, city, or village to prohibit the sale of cannabis retail locations and consumption lounges.  
  • You may smoke / vape cannabis in public basically where tobacco smoking is allowed. Never on school grounds, in or near school buses, on federal lands, or on any private property prohibiting. 
  • Consumption lounges will be allowed by licensing
  • Adult-use Cultivator, processor, distributor, cooperative, retail, microbusiness, delivery, and nursery licenses will be available.

FAQ about cooking with Cannabis

FAQ's

⅛-¼  cup Glycerin or you can use additional corn syrup or honey in a pinch

1 tsp Sunflower or Soy Lecithin ( liquid or granules) 

Add the desired amount of concentrated Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO/RSO). 

Use a glass or metal measuring cup on an electric mug warmer to mix these ingredients. Heat and stir often until the mixture is well combined. Do not boil. If you don”t have one of these handy warmers, you’ll need a very small saucepan and stir the mixture constantly until you’re satisfied. I prefer to heat these ingredients separately to limit my cannabis from extra heat, and this step helps to emulsify the oils into the main candy mixture. You don’t want to overheat and degrade any of the cannabinoids.

A mug warmer or candle warmer, as they are called, is amazingly handy for mixing cannabis oils at home. They are inexpensive, and I can usually find them in thrift stores!

Choose THC, CBD or any cannabinoid your dispensary offers. You can make your own combinations or ratios! 

Follow the instructions in the above Gummy Bear answer above but choose a neutral oil that will compliment your recipe as the carrier oil or the actual cooking oil that your recipe asks for. The point is to warm up some oil to add your concentrate in to help distribute it evenly through the batter.  

What is a neutral oil? 

Neutral oils in cooking are oils that have very little flavor. The last thing you want in your cake is the flavor of olives or a coconut flavor in your Italian salad dressing. 

Neutral Oil Examples: 

  • Refined Coconut Oil (solid)
  • MCT oil (liquid)
  • Shortening (solid such as crisco)
  • Vegetable Oil 
  • Canola Oil 
  • Extra Light Olive Oil 
  • Grapeseed Oil 

Examples of Oils with Strong Flavors: 

  • Virgin Coconut oil (solid and has a coconut flavor and scent)
  • Virgin Olive Oils (EVOO)
  • Hemp Seed Oil  

Lecithin will help your cannabis oil stay mixed and evenly incorporated throughout your edibles. 

Soy Lecithin is used widely in commercial baking, but you often don’t hear it used in home baking. Lecithin comes in granules or liquid forms. According to WebMD, “Lecithin is a mixture of fats that are essential to cells in the human body. It can be found in many foods, including soybeans and egg yolks.” 

Lecithin is an emulsifier, which is an ingredient that will help other ingredients not only mix well but remain mixed. Since oil and water don’t like to stay mixed, we add lecithin to our gummy bear recipe, for example. Many people prefer liquid lecithin that is derived from sunflowers. The soy-derived lecithin is known to be an allergen and avoided by many.  Lecithin comes in granules or liquid forms. You may see various amounts used in recipes, so use the amount and type you are comfortable with. 

Glycerin is an odorless, colorless syrup-like liquid made from fats and oils. It adds sweetness to foods and helps prevent the crystallization of sugars in foods like candy.

To air dry gummy bears, individually place each piece on a drying rack or a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Cover the gummies with a flour-sack towel or other breathable lint-free cloth and allow them to dry for 24 to 72 hours. Turn pieces as needed.  Since drying removes moisture, this step is necessary if you want to dust them with sugar and citric acid. Otherwise, the sugar mixture is going to melt. Moisture also contributes to mold, so this step will naturally extend the shelf life. Drying is said to improve texture and make your homemade infused gummy bears more like store-bought candy. 

If you like sour gummy bears, citric acid may be the answer for you! There are both natural and artificial sources of critic acid. Natural sources include tangerines, oranges, grapefruits, pineapples, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, and berries. Citrus fruits such as lemons and limes have the highest quantities. Citric acid is a relatively weak acid, although it’s one of the strongest acids that are harmless for us to ingest. For hundreds of years, we have been lowering the PH of food to help preserve it. And Just think about pickling! Since citric acid lowers the PH, it may help keep your gummies from molding but, will change the flavor. I’ve seen recipes call for anything from 1/4 tsp to 1 Tablespoon or more per batch. So, if sour gummies are your jam, pucker up and add some citric acid. Unfortunately, I don’t have any science on the minimum amount required to prevent mold. I’m sure it would involve testing the PH level.  (If you are infusing with an alcohol tincture, most recipes advise skipping the citric acid.) 

To save money you can buy citric acid in bulk. Think you’ll never use it all? I love how it cleans my dishwasher. Just fill your dispensing cup with a few ounces. Read your manual for precautions.  Lemi Shine is a brand of citric acid cleaning products, but you can easily DIY with some Google searches. 

Potassium sorbate is a naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acid, although it’s most often man-made today. It’s used in cosmetics and as a food additive to extend shelf life. Cheese, yogurt, and dried fruits often contain potassium sorbate to extend shelf life, and these foods benefit from the neutral flavor to prevent an aftertaste. Potassium Sorbate doesn’t offer any particular health benefits and is often used in minute amounts specifically to inhibit mold growth. 

First, you need to know how much does one batch weigh?  That will depend on how you are infusing and your mold size. My recipe will vary from 95 to 140 pieces! A more accurate way to measure your batch for the purpose of adding LorAnn Mold Inhibitor is to take an average weight of your finished batches.

According to the LorAnn Oils website, you’ll need to add 2 tsp per 5 lb (total batch). For example, a 10-ounce bag of Haribo store-bought gummies has approximately 120 bears. Therefore, I estimated this recipe to need ¼ tsp of mold inhibitor.

LorAnn Oils Mold Inhibitor – 2 tsp / 5lb total batch 

2 tsp / 80 ounces

1 tsp / 40 ounces 

½ tsp / 20 ounces 

¼ tsp per   10 ounces

⅛ tsp per 5 ounces

Start Low and Go Slow! The medicated edible rule is to start with a very low dose of THC and slowly increase until you know the effect. Edibles can take up to 3 hours to peak in some individuals. Learn to know your body and your dose. Everyone’s endocannabinoid system is different. Some people prefer 2mg and others feel nothing after 200mg. You can always have more cannabis but you can’t reverse what you’ve eaten. 

Sources and additional reading:

https://www.lorannoils.com/preserve-it-mold-inhibitor-6070-specialityhttps://www.livestrong.com/article/353871-adverse-health-effects-of-potassium-sorbate/https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/705225-potassium_sorbate/https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/P%20Sor%20technical%20advisory%20panel%20report.pdf

"Citric Acid: One of The Most Important Preservatives in The World"

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/citric-acidhttps://www.hunker.com/13419537/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher-with-citric-acid

General FAQ Questions about Cannabis 

FAQ's

Yes, certain varieties of cannabis have been found to be more effective for certain medical issues, and here’s why. 

Strain names are actually just a way to identify the genetic characteristics of a specific chemovar or variety of cannabis. Anyone can give a plant a name, but it’s genetics that truly determines how our bodies will react. The cannabis named Northern Lights in California may be very different from the Northern Lights sold in Illinois. The only true way to identify the many phytochemicals in a specific “strain” is to have the cannabis lab tested. Lab testing is an important aspect that often differentiates medical cannabis from adult use. 

Cannabinoids and terpenes are two of many constituents of cannabis and hemp that can be measured. CBD, THC, CBG, THCV, and CBN are a few of the hundreds of cannabinoids measured in cannabis “strains”.  Cannabinoids are like keys that unlock receptors in our endocannabinoid system. This system sometimes gets out of balance from inflammation, stress, and anxiety. Plant cannabinoids supplement our body’s natural endocannabinoids to help restore that balance.  Terpenes are another common phytochemical in cannabis that is measured. Terpenes determine the smell and taste of many plants and are common in cannabis. Terpenes are known to have medical qualities and studies are ongoing. Pinene, myrcene,  D-limonene, and caryophyllene are examples of commonly measured terpenes. All of these plant chemicals have unique health benefits.

Each time a variety or “strain” is created or grown, a unique combination of these cannabinoids and terpenes is formed. Not only do these individual phytochemicals have medical qualities, but when they are combined they work together to create an improved therapeutic combination. This is what is known as the entourage effect. 

So yes, the variety known as a strain will matter. Pharmacists and doctors specializing in the use of medical cannabis often offer a starting point. Research is abundant for the patient to read up on. One of the most common ways patients choose a variety or method of consumption is to ask one another in groups such as The Cannabis Community.

Here is a large yet very organized private Google Drive of research from Benjamin Caplan, MD

Americans For Safe Access have some wonderful resources for patients. 

How to Talk to Your Loved Ones about Medical Cannabis

The short answer is yes it can.

Primer On Cannabinoid Drug Interactions Download 

To download the link click HERE

Drug Interactions and what you need to know

Reading through Project CBD is a very safe and reliable place to begin. Most people really don’t give much thought but I chose to drop in all the important factors to be transparent. The side effects of the pharmaceuticals themselves are much more dangerous and of concern to most Americans! 

 “The way cannabinoids are administered (smoking, eating, etc.) also has a major impact on whether or not drug interactions occur. Interactions are far more likely when both drugs are taken orally and processed by the liver before being distributed through the body. Cannabinoids are absorbed more if ingested on a full stomach. Ingested cannabinoids will have higher peak liver concentrations than inhaled cannabinoids, so ingested cannabinoids should have more potent drug interactions.”

It’s not advised to take your pharmaceutical medications at the exact same time as cannabis. Often it’s not a true drug interaction but cannabis can emphasize the effect of the medication.