Nutella is all the rage, especially on college campuses. It is one of the most popular spreads in the world. The manufacturer, Ferrero, uses over a quarter of the world’s supply of hazelnuts.  Considering the decadence of the flavor and creamy goodness, it is a true treat.  So, are Nutella and marijuana the perfect combination?

You can not say Nutella is nutritious, but it does supply some key vitamins and minerals needed for good health. The hazelnut content can boost the health of your heart if eaten moderately because of the sugar and high fat content.

It is the fat content which allows it to mix well with cannabis oil and to deliver the best experience. Omega-3 fatty acids found in nuts and can enhance the high of THC edibles. These healthy fats bind to the cannabinoid receptors in our brains and help THC pass through the blood-brain barrier quicker. This can help your Nutella treat hit faster and last longer.

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Marijuana Nutella – Quick & Easy

Ingredients

• Store bought Nutella
• Cannabis infused oil

Instructions

Place Nutella in a mixing bowl.

Fold and stir in one dose of cannabis oil for each serving of Nutella. You want to mix it in until it has been evenly disrupted and melded into the chocolate.

Store in the fridge, spread on toast, or just eat it from the container!

The ancestor of Nutella started with Napoleon.  In his war with the British, he led a continental blockade causing the cost of chocolate to skyrocket.  Italian chocolatiers in Turin, Italy began adding chopped hazelnuts to chocolate to make supplies last as long as possible. This delicious paste was then dubbed ‘gianduia’.

Chocolate became expensive once more due to rationing in Europe during World War II. It was then that Pietro Ferrero, an Italian pastry maker, turned to the hazelnut for salvation again. In 1946, he created Pasta Gianduja, which was renamed ‘Nutella’ in 1964. Its popularity is undeniable, with one jar sold every 2.5 seconds across the world.,

The success of Nutella has made the Ferrero family one of the richest in Italy.  The company also makes Kinder Chocolate and Ferrero Rocher.

Edibles on dispensary shelves today are a far cry from the erratically-dosed, untested and unregulated munchies of a decade ago, whether you procured them as a registered medical patient or made your own. Nowadays everything is made in a permitted facility with proprietary technology and formulas, lab-tested and packaged with clear dosing instructions. But as many regular users might have noticed, not all edibles induce the same high, even at the same numerical dose. THC gummies, cookies and chocolate hit differently, and here is why. 

Baked Goods 

Who hasn’t had a magic brownie and freaked out when the effects peaked hours after consumption? Infused baked goods have been around for generations, and is what inspired the name of seminal cannabis activist Mary Jane “Brownie Mary” Rathbun.

Cannabis is fat-soluble, as opposed to water soluble, and cannabinoids bind to lipids, meaning the butter cocoa and eggs in most cookies, brownies and cereal treats are great at storing THC; an anecdotal High Times article deemed butter and coconut oil the best bases for these kinds of edibles. But because baked must, by definition, be baked and exposed to heat, it’s likely some of the potency will be burned off. 

Chocolate

Similar to baked goods, chocolate also contains fats that cannabis compounds like to bind to, though in lesser amounts. Chocolate is also often made with ground flower or a cannabis oil for control, and doesn’t have to be baked and exposed to heat.

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Chocolate masks the taste of cannabis well and is less heavy to eat in high doses if needed. However, some research raises the concern that chocolate could chemically interfere with how THC appears in product testing, according to Healthline, making it appear to be less than what the true value could be.    

Gummies

Gummies may very well be the most popular form of edible today due to their ease with dosing, range of flavors and evolving infusion methods like nano-emulsions. Gummies are also more fast-acting than their other fat-heavy counterparts.

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Due to their formulation constraints, gummies are often made with a cannabis distillate (though some brands use hash or other forms of full-spectrum concentrate) to avoid a strong cannabis flavor, and are digested quickly, meaning they set in and taper off quicker than chocolate or a cookie. But they can also be enhanced in ways other edibles can’t, like having terpenes added to mimic strain profiles and provide their specific effects.

Drinks

Cannabis beverages had a great 2020, emerging as a market of alternatives to alcohol and alcohol-centric socialization while the country was on lockdown. They range in dose, with most sitting within the 5–10mg range, though there are many high-dose options as well. Most beverages nowadays use emulsion technology to create a fast-acting, consistent experience that mimics the onset of alcohol, but with THC, CBD and a blend of adaptogens and/or terpenes for nuance. Due to their liquid form and quick onset, however, cannabis drinks have the shortest intoxication period.   

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This is all to say, if you found what works for you, keep at it, or try something new if you’re feeling unsatisfied. No matter what form of (controlled) edible you choose to consume, you’re bound to have a good time.

Marijuana has become almost mainstream with around 88% of the population supporting legalization.  Homemade treats were the OG edible, but in the new legal recreational world you can get high-end chocolates, gummies, and a whole host of candies.  Those recently hitting legal age in the 23 fully recreational state can work into a store and buy an edible as easy as they can purchase beer.

Science has said marijuana is better over alcohol, has medical benefits and fights don’t break out after getting a bit high.  The new generations are paying attention as alcohol use is dropping and marijuana consuming is rising.

If you are unfamiliar or new to eating edibles, here are some tips on how to consume and what to expect. The first piece of advice is start low and go slow.

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Understand the dosage

Retail bought edibles should be labeled the the per piece dosage .  Most have about 10mg per piece. Casual users should be in the 5-10 mg for a pleasant high.Only seasoned cannabis users and medical marijuana patients are recommended to start dosing above 15mg.  It is very common for people to start with a portion of edible (2.5-5 mg) to see the reaction.  With homemade edibles, like the classic marijuana brownie, you need to find out from the baker how much they put in, to figure out the dosage.  You should proceed with caution since you don’t want to have an over reaction.

How is works

When you take an edible, the cannabinoids/THC is the part which give you the buzz. This is similar the ethanol in alcohol. Unlike vaping, joints, or oils which go straight to the bloodstream, edible THC first travels to the stomach and then liver, before making it to the bloodstream and brain. THC works best with fats, think of chocolates, to help it activate in the body.

Timing is key

Average edibles effects take about 45 minutes to an hour when consumed on an empty stomach due to their digestive nature. When consumed alongside a full meal, it can take up to three hours. If you are not feeling anything about 1.5 hours in, you can take a bit more, knowing it will prolong the high once it hits.  You don’t want to keep consuming like Washington Post columnist Maureen Dowd. The high will peak in about two to four hours.  You can have more edibles to continue the buzz.  As you become better acquainted with use, you will be able to mange length and potentency of your journey.

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What to expect

As portrayed in the classic Doonesbury strip, everyone has their their own reaction, from relaxation, to sleepiness, to just a mind wondering about the beauty of the world. The type of cannabinoid your edible contains guides the different effects. Higher THC edibles typically have a more intoxicating or psychoactive effect. Edibles with greater levels of CBD cause less of the high, and instead relaxes you and helps you feel less anxious.

Remember, no one has died from an overdose of marijuana and if you have a worst case reaction, you can always just go to sleep.  Here are some way to come down from a high.

Enjoy

When you start out on your edible education, find a comfortable atmosphere to begin and don’t overthink it.  Relax and enjoy the journey.