Cannabis, popularly called weed or marijuana is a psychoactive drug that is derived from the Cannabis indica or Cannabis sativa plants. Both plants are historically well known and have been used for ages given their extensively-documented recreational and medicinal use. 

While the most popular method to consume cannabis is to smoke or vape it, edible cannabis has been rapidly growing in popularity. In many cases, these edibles contain cannabutter. Cannabutter is butter infused with cannabis and can be made at home or purchased at an approved cannabis dispensary.

That said, consumers should remember that cannabis is illegal in a number of countries and US states. It is always advisable to check local laws before using cannabis or related products.

Cannabutter Explained

Simply put, cannabutter is butter infused with cannabis. Cannabutter is often used to make cannabis edibles such as brownies, cookies, and similar baked products. Before using cannabis, consumers should give a thought to the effect they are attempting to experience.

Cannabis contains two basic kinds of compounds or cannabinoids – Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). While THC is the psychoactive compound that leads to the ‘high’ associated with marijuana use, CBD is non-psychoactive.

Depending on the effect that the user wishes to experience, cannabutter may contain only CBD or both CBD as well as THC.

Uses of Cannabutter

There are a number of health benefits associated with CBD and cannabutter. CBD and CBD-based products are fast becoming a more readily accepted form of natural, alternate treatment for a number of medical problems. 

Help with Cancer-related Symptoms

Chemotherapy and a number of related cancer treatments have unwanted side-effects including vomiting, pain, and nausea. Medical research on alternative therapies and natural remedies to provide some relief. 

Cannabis has a rich history of being used as a natural remedy for vomiting and nausea. Truth be told, the anti-nausea benefits of cannabis was one of the first medical benefits of cannabis to be discovered. 

That said, it is important to remember that excessive use of cannabis may cause much of the same symptoms it is meant to treat. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult with a licensed medical professional to make sure that cannabis is consumed safely and in the appropriate dose.

Cannabis is also widely used to treat acute pain occurring as a result of various cancer treatments and related therapies. Cannabutter can be easily added to foods and is a smoke-free, useful, edible option for people suffering from cancer. 

Help Treat Insomnia

The findings of a medical study published in 2019 concluded that Cannabis can effectively combat insomnia. The review found that CBD used alone, or combined with THC can help improve the quality of sleep. 

While research is still ongoing, initial studies have found that the two cannabinoids – CBD and THC – influence the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle and decrease the instances of pain-related insomnia. 

Again, concerns exist that overuse of cannabis can lead to dependency on cannabis as a sleep aid.

Side Effects & Safety

While cannabutter is generally safe to consume, there are some noticeable side-effects that need to be considered. In contrast to smoking or vaping, arriving at the right dosage of edible cannabis for each person can be a difficult, and at times a hit-and try, proposition. 

This is largely down to the difference in THC and CBD concentrations or because of the quality of the cannabis being used, the method of preparation, etc. 

Additionally, ingestible cannabis products such as cannabutter take a longer time for the effects to be noticeable. This is thanks to the different ways the body processes these edible products. Edible products can take up to an hour or more for effects to manifest themselves. At the same, the peak effects of the product may be observed anywhere between 2 and 4 hours after consumption. Again, these times vary by body chemistry, gender, metabolism rate, etc. 

This is in sharp contrast to smokable variations of the compound where the effects can be observed within half an hour and the effect starts wearing off in a couple of hours. 

Given that cannabutter is commonly used in candies and different types of baked products, it is easy to unknowingly over-consume cannabis thanks to the flavor of the edible product and the largely unknown concentration of cannabis used. 

Some common side-effects of ingestible cannabis include drowsiness, dry mouth, impaired motor function, paranoia, etc. When consumed excessively, users may experience delusions or hallucinations or, in some cases, psychosis.

Given that cannabutter and other cannabis-infused baked goods closely resemble normal cookies, buns, and candies, it is important that they are stored securely. This can pose a substantial risk to people who may mistakenly consume. In fact, a study found that children under the age of 5 are most susceptible to mistaking cannabis-infused products with normal baked goods. 

Disclaimer

CBD products that are derived from Hemp and contain less than the prescribed .3 percent of THC are legal per federal law. However, certain state laws may still deem it illegal.

CBD products that are derived from Marijuana are illegal per federal law but remain legal under the laws of certain states. 

It is advisable to check the appropriate state laws in case of travel. It is important to note that over-the-counter CBD products are not approved by the FDA.