Christmas cookies are acquired two ways by most Italian-Americans: someone painstakingly bakes them with love and some colorful language, or someone has to wait on line for 2+ hours at the local Italian Bakery. Unfortunately for people who like a little chill with their cheer, even “Nonna Marijuana” isn’t making these Brooklyn cookies with the good stuff, and they remain separate indulgences. Is is the recipe for the best holiday cannabis cookies.
Most Italian holiday cookies are heavily flavored with luscious almond, rich coconut, or dolloped with a dose of fruit jelly. This particular recipe is an allergy friendly and simple pleasure that doesn’t involve expensive and exotic ingredients, but still tastes like a cloud that some saint is chilling on. Thanks to the dose of weed-infused butter, you can climb up there yourself and take a look.
The Lemon Italian Cloud Cookie has a perfect crumble, disintegrating into a tart, sugary, buttery (and now weed spiked) treasure. Try this recipe if you want a less complicated introduction into the delicious cookie culture of the paisanas who raised me. My Mom and aunts put so much lemon on food and drinks every Christmas Eve that we started a drinking game. Everyone yells “LEMON!” and takes a sip of their drink whenever one of them says the word lemon.
Italian Lemon Cloud Cookies
3 eggs
2 ½ cups flour
½ cup butter (½ stick regular unsalted, ½ stick weed infused butter* or one stick of infused if you dare)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbs and 2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp vanilla extract
2-3 drops lemon essential oil
Lemon Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
⅛ tsp vanilla extract
2 drops lemon essential oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees prepare a workspace covered with wax paper for wire racks and icing station. Sift together dry ingredients in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs with hand mixer until well combined and frothy. Fold into dry ingredients gently
Work in butter with mixer on low just until dough forms crumbs. On baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper, drop 1-inch balls of dough, leaving space as they will puff up significantly. Bake for 12 minutes, rotating once for even cooking. While cookies are in the oven, prepare the glaze mixing together all ingredients until incorporated. If icing is too thick, add a teaspoon of water.
Remove cookies from oven and put on wire racks to cool When still warm but safe to handle, dip the top in icing and put on rack to dry. If you’re feeling extra fancy hit the cookies with fresh lemon zest while the icing is still warm. Allow to fully cool before storing, keep up to three weeks in a sealed container, a month in the fridge, or indefinitely in the freezer
Cannabutter
Decarboxylate 3.5g of finely ground cannabis at 225 degrees for 20 minutes in a tightly sealed, oven safe container. Put in lidded mason jar or vacuum sealed bag with cannabis and 1 stick of butter. Heat in water bath just under boiling for at least 1 hour. Strain and chill butter to use in recipes.
These cookies are so delicious and perfect for taking you to another dimension when the kitchen gets too hot with political chat or drama. The light but real lemon flavor comes from using a good quality essential oil like Young Living’s Lemon instead of fake-tasting grocery store extracts. It compliments the subtle cannabis flavor and also helps prevent anxiety from overindulging in cannabis–or politics.
If going the family Thanksgiving route, these gatherings can sometimes be stressful, especially when dealing with relatives you don’t see often or navigating potentially tense conversations. Marijuana can help reduce anxiety and create a more relaxed atmosphere. Microdosing is a popular trend with the younger generations, and it could be helpful in during the holiday. Numerous studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids such as THC and CBD can effectively reduce anxiety. By helping to calm nerves and ease social tension, cannabis can contribute to a more pleasant and harmonious family gathering.
It has been a rough few months for the cannabis industry…could Big Alcohol help during another rough patch?
The cannabis industry was worth $33 billion in 2023 and is filled with mom and pop businesses. With the majority of the population having access to legal marijuana, consumer use is up, states are filling their coffers, and more patients are using medical marijuana. It has become so mainstream, even the staid AARP has acknowledge a signifiant portion of boomers are using it for medical reasons. But federal restrictions are crippling the industry, despite the growth. The industry needs federal help, can Big Alcohol help the cannabis industry. Alcohol is in a majority of grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, resorts, planes and homes. They understand the consumers and sell $260 billion in booze a year, not counting the second level market up. The alcohol industry spends over $20 million annually on lobbying, a drop compared to the $220+ million pharmaceutical spends, but an impressive amount. But Congress, the DEA, and members of the administration are not fans…and help is needed.
Alcohol has a $14+ billion investment in the industry and has a voice in the Congress. Cannabis is a brand and revenue extension for alcohol rather than a competitor. A major change in the beverage industry came with the introduction of purified waters by PepsiCo (Aquafina) in 1994 and Coca-Cola (Dasani) in 1999. Seeing it as way to reach more consumers and revenue, the two soda giants are now the owners of the top two bottled water companies in the North America. WIth a stake in the outcome, the big liquor companies could guide Congress to open up more for cannabis. This would provide both industries access to more customers and more revenue for everyone, including government entities.
“While alcohol and cannabis can play in the same sandbox, we more often see consumers using cannabis as a replacement for more harmful substances like alcohol. In cannabis, we find a paradigm shift—entertainment and relaxation without the costs of alcohol’s physical and social tolls.” shares Jesse Redmond, managing director at Water Tower Research, LLC.
Like bottled water, alcohol could open up markets to an additional set of consumers. They have the expertise and relationships most cannabis businesses lack. Already, hemp beverage are in mainstream retailers like Total Wine (Texas) and in convenience stores.
The incoming administration has few cannabis champions with both the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate and the cabinet doesn’t seem to be focused on marijuana legalization at all. But the majority of members are a fan of booze and that can be used to marijuana’s advantage.
Both would benefit from product development, producing and marketing cannabis-infused beverages and edibles. From a marketing point of view it also makes sense consider the consumer reach. In addition, research shows that people often pair cannabis with alcohol rather than replacing one with the other. The proportion of consumers pairing cannabis with spirits or liquor increased from 12% in 2018 to 22% in 2022. The next 14 months will shape the cannabis industry path for years to come, let’s see if Big Alcohol plays a role.
The holidays can be festive, fun and heartwarming – but for some, there is too much family drama….microdosing could make it better.
Carols, gifts, parties, festive meals with favorite foods are all part of hte holiday season. But even in the best circumstances, there could be stress. Some 89% say concerns around money, missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict cause them stress at this time of year. But roughly have say it is moderate and may not be any more than the rest of the year. While family tend to provide a positive effect, if you look at Reddit, there are are plenty of causes of drama during hte holiday at gatherings. For those who are experiencing some level of stress, can mircodosing help manage holiday family anxiety? It could be a better solution than a half of a bottle of booze.
Microdosing marijuana can be an effective way to manage holiday anxiety, offering a subtle yet impactful approach to stress relief during the festive season. By consuming small amounts of cannabis, typically between 1 to 2.5 milligrams of THC, individuals can experience the therapeutic benefits without feeling overly intoxicated.
Microdosing cannabis can provide several advantages for those dealing with holiday-related stress. Low doses of THC can activate the endocannabinoid system, potentially leading to decreased stress levels without causing an overwhelming high. This can be particularly helpful during family gatherings or social events that may trigger anxiety. It may alleviate the effects of social anxiety, allowing individuals to feel more relaxed and confident in social situations. This can be especially beneficial during holiday parties or family reunions.
Small amounts of cannabis can boost mood and social confidence, contributing to a more relaxed and enjoyable holiday experience. Another benefit is may induce deep, natural sleep patterns without excessive grogginess, helping to combat short term holiday-related insomnia.
To microdose marijuana effectively for holiday anxiety, consider the following tips:
Start Low: Begin with a dose of 1 to 2.5 milligrams of THC and maintain this dosage for at least three days. If you’re new to cannabis, begin with an even lower dose and gradually work your way up.
Gradual Increase: If needed, slowly increase the dosage in 1 mg increments until you begin to feel the desired effects.
Consistency: Once you find an effective dose, stick with it for at least four days to assess its impact.
Choose the Right Product: CBD-dominant strains or products with balanced THC:CBD ratios may be more suitable for anxiety relief.
Consider Terpenes: Look for cannabis products containing terpenes like limonene, pinene, and beta-caryophyllene, which have stress-relieving properties
Timing is Key: Plan your microdose schedule around holiday events or stressful situations to maximize its effectiveness.
While microdosing can be beneficial, there are some general precautions. Consider potential interactions with alcohol or other medications you may be taking during the holidays. If you are some medications, it is important to talk to a health professional. And remember everyone reacts differently to cannabis, so what works for others may not work for you.
By incorporating microdosing into your holiday stress management strategy, you may find yourself better equipped to handle the pressures and anxieties that often accompany the festive season. This approach allows you to potentially benefit from the calming effects of cannabis while maintaining clarity and function during holiday activities and gatherings.