These tasty, friendly treats are the face of hemp edibles.
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In the olden days of cannabis, most people consumed it by just buying a bag of flower and smoking it—or, if they were feeling fancy, perhaps baking it into a brownie or cookie full of cannabis flavor. But the changing face of cannabis means a shift in demographics. With hemp-based products, whether they contain delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids, gummies and other discreet edibles reign supreme.
What’s responsible for this shifting tide? First of all, making everything above-board has increased recreational cannabis and hemp producers’ options considerably, especially in the hemp world. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, better known as the 2018 Farm Bill, legalized the production of hemp as long as the end product has less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight.
Making hemp federally legal meant cannabis pros could open labs and state-of-the-art facilities, then collaborate and share knowledge with others across the country. Hemp producers have even started offering something that previously only recreational markets could—noticeable levels of traditional, delta-9 THC.
All these new capabilities allow hemp pros to make tastier, more convenient treats than ever before for both seasoned and beginner consumers alike—everybody loves gummies—and it gives the newbies some unintimidating options. On a more scientific level, being able to deal with isolated elements of the hemp plant means that producers can achieve much more accurate dosing, and even fine-tune specific blends of terpenes and cannabinoids.
“Gummies really helped to destigmatize cannabis,” notes Robert Shade, owner of education-forward cannabis brand, The Hemp Doctor. “My dad’s 87 years old, and he’s finally accepted that THC and weed aren’t that bad.”
Familiar experience
For those who got their first exposure to cannabis through after-school specials, smoking, tasting, or even vaping cannabis can be off-putting. It calls to mind outdated stereotypes about drug use that are hard to shake and can make many people nervous, even if they want to try THC. Gummies, along with a whole new generation of edibles, offer a variety of familiar, approachable options, allowing those new to cannabis or coming back from a very long break to choose what works for them. These options are so effective, says Shade, because they’re easy to use and people “can choose their own options as opposed to having to smoke something.”
Unprecedented accuracy
It’s not just the form and flavor that’s user-friendly. Modern gummies typically provide a straightforward, consistent experience, so it’s harder to accidentally overdo or underdo it—a common pitfall with old-school homemade baked goods.
To ensure ultra-accurate, predictable dosing, trustworthy producers check potency at multiple points throughout the process. The Hemp Doctor starts right at the beginning of the process by testing individual distillates before sending them off to manufacturers. When they come back, they test again.
“We don’t rely on the manufacturers to provide those reports; we source those reports ourselves,” explains Shade. “It’s important in the cannabis arena regardless of what you’re making, whether it’s a gummy bear or a vape cart.”
With reliable lab results, producers can get the same THC and CBD levels each time, avoiding surprises for customers. This accurate record also allows them to make specific blends of terpenes and minor cannabinoids. It’s a scientific concept known as the “entourage effect,” which means that elements of cannabis, when put together, can create unique effects that they couldn’t have on their own. When you know exactly what you’re putting in there, it’s much easier to tease out the effects of each blend to create, for example, a gummy that’s especially helpful for those with insomnia or one with just the right amount of daytime vigor.
“We’ve really believed from the onset that it’s not just CBD and it’s not just THC,” says Shade. “There’s CBG, CBN, and there’s CBC, just to name a few. There’s a whole multitude of cannabinoids that we continue to educate ourselves on.
“We recognized pretty quickly these various cannabinoids played a big role in cannabis’s impact on people,” he adds. “From that point, we just took it to say, ‘what’s the safest, and most effective way to blend it?’”
Variety for everybody
In the past, edible flavor options were essentially limited to weed or the slightly-more-subtle chocolate weed. Those days are long gone now, and nothing showcases the edible’s renaissance quite like the humble gummy. The flavor options are nearly infinite, with a selection that rivals the gummies in the actual candy aisle.
They’re also easy to adjust to dietary needs like vegan, keto, or gluten-free—and with so many options available, you can find pretty much any cannabis edible, whether it’s a gummy, cookie, or savory snack, that meets your needs in brain, body, and taste buds.
Choosing the right gummies
Just because producers can make higher-quality goods doesn’t mean they actually do, and some even get lazy enough to just spray isolates on top of gummies instead of infusing them. The Hemp Doctor does it right by blending their formula of isolates/distillates together, then mixing it right into the gummy product before they’re molded. They also publish third-party certificates of analysis, or verified lab results, for each product, a must-have from trustworthy brands.
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This small selection of gummies meets not only The Hemp Doctor’s strict quality standards, but a variety of preferences for potency, effects, and flavors, giving some idea of how versatile gummies can be.
D-9 Downshift: These gummies have a mixed-fruit flavor and a subtle-yet-euphoric effect from a blend of 7.5mg delta-9 THC and 1mg each of CBC, CBG, and CBN.
D-8 Gummy Worms: Feeling like putting the “trip” in “trip down memory lane”? Each of these sweet-and-sour gummy worms has a full 30mg of delta-8 THC with only trace amounts of other cannabinoids.
Delta-9 THC/CBD/CBN Nighttime Gummies: Each of these potent gummies has 12.5mg of delta-9 THC, enough to feel its effects, along with 15mg of CBD and 5mg of CBN for the perfect evening wind-down.
Delta-8 Vegan Gummy: These gummies pack the same potency as the Delta-8 Gummy Worms—that’s 30mg a pop—into a vegan, pectin-based treat that comes in a rotating selection of tasty flavors like watermelon, mango, and lemon.
Delta-9 THC/CBD Full Spectrum Gummy: Another vegan option, these low-key treats each have 12.5mg of delta-9 THC and 15mg of CBD and come in tangerine, watermelon, and elderberry flavors.
Delta-9 Vegan Gummy: These vegan gummies each contain 25mg of premium delta-9 THC with 10 pieces per bag. Find them in blue raspberry, cherry, grape, green apple, pineapple, and watermelon.
Go forth and get your gummy on with these recommendations and a vast world of federally legal hemp-based options for fans of recreational hemp. The Hemp Doctor supplies high-quality, lab-tested cannabinoid products in a huge spectrum of formats, so start your search with them and see what new favorites you discover.
Leafly novel cannabinoid disclaimer:
Use and possession may be restricted by law. This product may expose you to harmful chemical byproducts.
