COOKING WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Cannabis is a nutritious fiber well known for its ability to increase appetite, producing the state known as the “munchies”. The effects of eating cannabis are less pronounced during the initial stages (first 30 minutes) than are those of smoking it. THC, one of the active chemicals in cannabis, is more efficiently assimiliated if it has been dissolved in fats or alcohol. HISTORY OF HEMP As early as 3000 BC the Chinese were weaving fabric from hemp and were eating the seeds. MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE The cannabis plant has three strains. Cannabis sativa – White Widow, Skunk Cannabis indica – Northern lights Cannabis ruderalis – (also known as industrial hemp) Cannabis is the only plant known to contain the chemical elements cannabinoids. More than 60 cannabinoids have been discovered and isolated, but only six of them are pyschoactive and give the “high” that is most well known. THC is the most well known cannabinoid. To use medical marijuana for cooking you have to cook the herb with an oil or fat since it doesn’t break down in water on its own. Eating vs. smoking Eating cannabis is a completely different experience from smoking it, in several ways. If you smoke a joint, users often get an instant rush or hit from the first toke.
Eating food cooked with cannabis is a much slower process, and diners may not feel any peak highs for anything up to two hours after consuming it. Marijuana effect is also intensifed when eaten, meaning less is required to get the same high from smoking a joint. The effects last a lot longer than smoking it, sometimes up to 5-6 hours. LABELING One of the unpleasant side effects for novice users of medical edibles is a marijuana induced panic attack. MEASURING When cooking with cannabis the hardest aspect to control and get right is the quantity of grass you should add to any given recipe. The balance can be tipped completely depending on the strength of the strain, the intensity of the cannabutter. If cooking for medical purposes, such as for pain relief, a smaller amount is required than would be for pleasure, as the diner should be able to function normally after their meal. THC is basically a psychoactive chemical that alters perception and produces feelings of euphoria and relaxation. On the negative side, it can induce feelings of paranoia and anxiety. FIRST TIME USERS The initial response when smoking or ingesting marijuana varies from person to person. In addition to the desired medicinal effects, including a reduction of body pain, a lessening of inflammation, control over muscle spasms and positive shifts in emotional and mental states. There are some people, however who find that marijuana makes them uncomfortable. RATIO OF COOKING Keep it easy and one ounce for every one pound of butter. When you buy butter by the pound it comes in 4 quarter-ounce sticks. An ounce is usually a combination of buds and leaves/stems which is called “trim�. No need to use only buds when cooking, since the healthy benefits from cannabis are also contained in the trim.
HEMP SEEDS
Hemp seed has one of the maximum concentrations of polyunsaturated fats and an ultimate balance of Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Hemp contains 54.4% linoleic acid (Omega-6), 18.3% linolenic acid (Omega-3), 3-4% gammalinolenic acid (GLA) and 1-2% stearidonic acid; and as such, is one of only 4 oils to do so and is the most economical one of these oils. Hemp’s ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids is about 3.75:1, which mirrors theprimitive diet man evolved on for 2.5 million years. This ratio of fatty acids has been shown to prevent and even reverse Alzheimer’s disease in animal models and humans (Yehuda et al, Int J Neurosci, vol 3, 141-9, 1996). Polyunsaturated fats have been shown to be beneficial for the prevention of heart disease, especially Omega-3 fatty acids. Hemp contains phytosterols (B-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campestrol) in concentrations which are known to decrease cholesterol. In fact, the US FDA allows the claim that plant sterol and stanol esters reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Hemp contains chlorophyll which is anti-carcinogenic. The phytosterols have been shown to be anticarcinogenic as well (Phytosterols as Anticancer Dietary Components, Awad and Fink, Recent Advances in Nutritional Sciences, 2000, pp 2127-2129). Hemp is a source of complete protein, offering 17 different amino acids including all of the essential ones. This protein is relatively high in cysteine and methionine, which are two sulfur bearing amino acids that are usually deficient in vegetable proteins.
Remember, hemp seed oil can be cooked with provided that the temperature does not go above 350 degrees F (180 F). NEVER use hemp seed oil for frying due to its high concentration of polyunsaturated fats. Tucson area stores that carry hemp products: 4th Ave. Food Co-op 17th St. Market New Life Sunflower Market Trader Joe’s Whole Foods All major grocery store chains (Albertson’s, Bashas, Fry’s and Safeway) carry hemp food products but keep in mind they are very expensive because hemp is currently illegal in the United States to grow. Hemp Organizations HIA: Hemp Industries Association (http://www.thehia.org) Hemp Information and Advocacy: Vote Hemp (http://www.votehemp.com)
RECIPES Cheesy Garlic Bread (medicated) 1 loaf French bread 3 cloves garlic (mince garlic by chopping finely) ½ cups Cheddar cheese (grated) ½ cup cannabutter 1 tbsp cilantro (fresh chopped) 1 tbsp shelled hemp seeds Grate cheese and melt cannabutter in the microwave for 30 to 40 seconds (to make the cannabutter easier to spread). Add the minced garlic, to your cannabutter and grated cheese mixture. Spread the mixture on the bread, sprinkle with hempseeds and cilantro, and place under the broiler (or toaster over) for approximately 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and getting a bit crispy and brown, dependent upon individual taste. Mary Jane’s Brownies (medicated) 3/4 pound Dark Chocolate 1 cup Raw Sugar 2 large Range Free Eggs 1/2 cup Plain Flour (substitute no-gluten flour if you like) Nutmeg and Cinnamon (pinch of each) 2 tablespoons Vanilla (real) 4 oz cannabutter (1 stick) Optional: Add to the mixture 1 tbsp finely screened “bud flour” Chopped walnuts 2 tbsps shelled hemp seeds INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 9x13-inch baking dish. Over low heat, melt butter and chocolate, stirring constantly. Once chocolate starts to melt turn off heat and continue to stir. Add spices, sugar, and eggs. Stir mixture until smooth, and add flour, 1/4 cups chopped walnuts (if desired), bud flour and hemp seeds. Stir well (add a dash of milk if necessary) and pour into pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool and cut into 16 squares. Recipe Websites: http://www.projectmarijuana.com WO/MEN’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana (http://www.wamm.org) YouTube (http://www.youtube.com) Search by keywords medical marijuana cooking
NUG Magazine (nice monthly recipe section) http://www.nugmag.com Cookbooks
Mother Earth Co-op: Special Medicinal Recipes (2008)
Marijuana Cooking: Good Medicine Made Easy (2005)
Cannabis Cookbook by Tim Pilcher (2007)
Mary Jane’s Hash Brownies, Hot Pot and other Marijuana Munchies.
ORGANIZATIONS National Americans for Safe Access Now (http://www.safeaccessnow.org) Drug Policy Alliance (http://www.drugpolicy.org) LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Marijuana) http://www.leap.cc MPP (Marijuana Policy Project) http://www.mpp.org NORML (http://www.norml.org)
Arizona/Tucson AZ4NORML (Tucson for NORML) http://www.az4norml.org Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project (AMMPP) http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org
Handout prepared by Michelle B. Graye. Copyright 2010