Cannabis Flower and CBD Nugs…it can mean more than what you think!

When you hear that term you most likely immediately think of marijuana, and you would not be incorrect, but we like to use a different word around here. For us, we like to look at it as Cannabis instead, which incorporates all things from the cannabis plant! In 2014, the farm bill was approved by President Obama. The farm bill legalized hemp production for research purposes in states where growing industrial hemp is legalized. This was important, as it allowed new studies to be conducted on CBD hemp flower. Hemp, cannabis’s non psychoactive relative produces flowering buds just like all other cannabis except high in cannabinoids and exceptionally low in THC. Actually, the biggest difference between hemp buds and cannabis really only boils down to the concentration of THC in the plant. Any plant that contains less than 0.3% THC is considered hemp and anything with a THC content above 0.3% is considered weed!

What are the benefits of using Smokable Hemp/Cannabis?

You may be asking yourself what type of relief you can get when you smoke CBD. There are many reasons people reach for their favorite smokable strains, but some of the most common benefits people see when they smoke hemp bud are due to whats in the plant. The best CBD flower is rich with cannabinoids and terpenes each with their own set of benefits. When utilizing a whole plant option like Appalachian Cannabis Company’s best flower you get the benefit of the entourage effect, which simply put, means that the cannabinoids and the terpenes in the cannabis plant do their best work when they are all together. When using isolated products like a pure vape or Pure tincture you get only the benefit of that specific cannabinoid, which is not a bad thing, but the combination of terpenes and cannabinoids is a powerful tool when looking for relief from inflammation or help getting a good night’s rest.

How can you use CBD Nugs? Is smoking hemp flower the only option?

Absolutely not! Smoking flower is one of the most popular options for ingestion but is certainly not the only way to use it. Many people like to use smokable hemp because of the fast-acting effects and high bioavailability. Bioavailability describes your body’s ability to absorb a substance into the bloodstream. Different methods of ingestion offer different bioavailabilities. For instance, with any edible option like a gummy or capsule your body must digest and metabolize it before any is absorbed into the bloodstream. During the metabolization process your body will break down a lot of the CBD, other cannabinoids, and terpenes before it is absorbed into the circulatory system. Smokable CBD bypasses your metabolism and allows the top shelf flower to immediately enter your bloodstream through the lungs. So, to smoke CBD leads to high bioavailability for the cannabinoids and terpenes as well as almost immediate relief.

Another question you may ask yourself is if vaping flower is the same as smoking? They are different but have some similarities. When you smoke cannabis flower you combust it, burning all cannabinoids and terpenes and turning them to ash and releasing a smoke that is inhaled. The flame of a lighter is roughly 600 degrees Fahrenheit on average. Dry herb vaping does not combust like smoking flower, it heats it to a specified temperature that is low enough to just release the resins and oils into a vapor without burning the plant material. Cannabinoids and terpenes each have a boiling point at which they will boil into a vapor that can be inhaled. Vaping nugs can be beneficial because you can choose which temperature to utilize to get the most desired effects and you get the full taste of all the different terpenes. If you have a strain high in myrcene, which has a boiling point of 348, if you were to combust it and burn all of the cannabinoids and terpenes you might feel a more lethargic effect or “couchlock” as many call it, but if you could vaporize it at a temperature low enough not to boil the myrcene you might be able to avoid some of that strains sedative effects.

Probably the biggest downfall when you vape or smoke cannabis flower is how long the effects last. Smoking flower only offers 1 to 3 hours of benefit, whereas there are many other ways to use it that offer longer lasting effects.

Can you turn smokable flower into edibles?

 

Yes! For some smoking flower is just not the best option, but many still want the benefits that a whole hemp plant option can provide so making edibles is a great way to get those benefits without having to smoke anything. Years ago, cannabis edible options were limited to brownies or cookies, but these days a cannabis edible can mean almost anything you can think to whip up in the kitchen! There are many ways to incorporate flower into your diet, but one of the easiest ways to do it is to infuse an oil or butter that can be then utilized in your favorite recipes. To properly infuse butter or oil you must first decarboxylate your cannabis flower activating the cannabinoids like CBD. When you smoke hemp strain, these compounds are activated when they are lit on fire. There are many different options for decarbing your flower such as the oven, in a jar on the stove and others have even used crockpots and instant pots, no one way is the correct way. After your flower is fully decarbed you can infuse it with your favorite butter or oil. Coconut oil is a great option because it has many health benefits of its own, its flavorless and is easily incorporated into many recipes. One of the main things to keep in mind when using an oil infused with the best cbd flower you could find is to never heat it to too high of a temperature or you risk burning off the cannabinoids and terpenes. If possible try to add your oils into your sauce after its taken off the heat, only add to baked goods that do not have to be baked at very high temperatures or even add to a whipped cream or frosting that you can add to your dessert after it has cooled. Ask us to include our recipe in with your order!

Don’t like the taste of cannabis? Want the edible effects, but don’t like to cook?

Another option for those who prefer the effects of an edible option over smoking or vaping is to make your own capsules. Capsules are a great way to make pre-dosed, flavorless, cannabis edibles without the hassle of having to incorporate your cannabis into a recipe or an edible with a short shelf life. You can make capsules filled with ground flower that has already been decarboxylated, or you can infuse your cannabis flower into an oil and fill your capsules with oil. This method allows you to make capsules dosed with your most optimal milligram amount of CBD. If you prefer a smaller dose early in the morning and a larger dose in the evening to help you sleep you can make yourself lower and higher milligram capsule options for different times of the day. If you prefer the effects of a sativa strain in the afternoons and an indica in the evenings you can make capsules from each strain and use them accordingly! Capsules really allow for

Don’t’ like to cook or take capsules? Yes, there can still be an edible for you!

Cannabis edibles are not only limited to candies, foods, and capsules, you can also make cannabis infused drinks too! As we all know, there are a plethora of different drink options out there to choose from to start making your first cannabis infused thirst quencher and you can absolutely try any of them, but there are a few that have really gained popularity in the cannabis community. Many have started infusing their CBD nugs or cannabis infused oil into protein shakes before or after a workout. Others are using smoothies or milk shakes because blended drinks are the perfect way to infuse your cannabis oil without any separation! Coffee Drinkers have been known to add a dose of their cannabutter or oil directly to an early morning cup and enjoying the blend of terpenes with their favorite coffee blends. Tea drinkers can also add a dose of their oil or butter to their favorite hot tea, or they can take flower and using a mesh tea ball, steep their newest favorite strain directly into their tea. This method allows you to try different strains with every cup of tea you drink if you prefer. Another way to really utilize the benefits of cannabis in a drink option is to add to cocktails and mocktails! People have used alcohol to relax and unwind after a long day for an exceptionally long time, but alcohol is a depressant and sometimes can have a negative effect. Infusing your cocktail with an oil that you have created from the best flower can really help ease anxiety, relieve stress, and help your mind and body relax. What about something for those that do not drink alcohol, but enjoy a nice fancy drink occasionally? Mocktails are the perfect solution to that problem. A mocktail is a drink that mimics an alcoholic beverage but has no alcohol. It is usually fun, flavorful and looks just like the real deal. Adding an infused oil to these mocktails can provide the stress and anxiety relief that make many reach for an alcoholic beverage, but gives you the option to avoid alcohol, and the possible repercussions that come along with it. Smokable hemp flower is one of the fastest and most effective ways to enjoy the benefits it offers, but that’s just the beginning of the possibilities!