01CANNABIS STRAINS
Cannabis strains can be divided into three groups: sativa, indica, and hybrid. Sativa strains have an uplifting effect, whereas indica strains relax and sedate. Hybrids, as the name implies, are somewhere in between the two.
02THC AMOUNT
Most cannabis strains contain 15-20% of THC, meaning 150-200 milligrams of THC per gram of cannabis. Some strains, however, can have over 20% of TCH per gram of cannabis, and some only 10%. With simple math, we can conclude that if you use 10 grams of cannabis with 20% THC, you end up with a cake that has a total of 2000 mg of THC. If you're not used to edibles, a good dose to start is 5 milligrams of THC.
03DECARBOXYLATING CANNABIS
Raw cannabis needs to be heated to get the bioavailable THC, which means it needs to go through decarboxylation. All you need to do is grind the cannabis, for example, to a consistency of dried oregano, place it on a baking sheet and then roast it for an hour in a 230°F/110°C oven.
04CANNABUTTER
Cannabutter is made with three ingredients: cannabis, butter, and water. Cannabis buds are preferred, but cuttings can be used as well. The ratio of water to butter should be 50:50, although a 60:40 ratio in favor of water is often suggested. Water prevents the butter from scorching and keeps the temperature of the mixture low, ideally, at about 160°F/70°C. The temperature should never exceed 200°F/90°C. In case the temperature goes any higher or the water evaporates, add more water. The cannabis should be added once the butter melts, and the mixture simmered for 2-3 hours over low heat. The mixture should be strained through a cheesecloth, then refrigerated overnight. The following day, the cannabutter should be removed from the water, patted dry, and then refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to use.
05CAUTION
When smoking a joint, the effects are almost instantaneous. In contrast, cannabis-infused edibles may take up to four hours to show an effect — one reason why many inexperienced and experienced users overdo with the consumption and experience negative side-effects. If you're new to the world of edibles, we suggest starting with a dose a low as 5 milligrams of THC, meaning you just take one bite and wait for the effects. Unlike in the case of smoking and vaping, edibles take longer to hit, the effects are considerably stronger, and the high lasts longer.
06VARIATIONS
Since there is no one way to make space cake, variations abound. Different flavorings can be added to the batter, such as chocolate chips, melted chocolate, cocoa, vanilla essence, dried fruits and nuts, various spices, and herbs. The cake can be glazed, frosted, or dusted with sugar. Also, it can be made as individual portions in the form of muffins.