THE NEW WORLD OF HERB

LET’S JUST CUT TO THE CHASE HERE: Herb is no longer a four-letter word. State after state is legalizing the use of Herb, and so many are rethinking its value as a source for better health, both physically and spiritually; it’s not just about the high. Some may have experienced the medicinal benefits of Herb for pain management, epilepsy, eye health, anxiety, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and more. Hemp seeds (usually when used for manufacturing purposes the seeds have THC levels that are negligible or non-existent) can be made into a myriad of products from fabric to paper, the seeds can be used to add texture to food or pressed for their oil, while the plant itself (Herb, not hemp) can be made into topical ointments, can be juiced, or dried and smoked. When you think about it, Herb is a natural mystic—humans are in fact born with endocannibinoid receptors, biological receptors in the brain and elsewhere whose specific function is to receive the good and healing properties of Herb. As legalization of the Herb expands, more of its benefits will be revealed and we will certainly unlock even more ways in which this plant that grows in nature is beneficial for our mind, body, and spirit.

Even though my father was a private person, he smoked freely and without fear. He once said, “I man, a farmer, since creation,” so I know without question that he would have loved to witness the legalization of Herb and the movement of acceptance among the medical community as well as those who just want to chill out and relax and use Herb as a way to enlightenment. There are so many beneficial uses for this plant, and its side effects, so inconsequential compared to other man-made medicines (and intoxicants), it is just plain stupid that something natural and from the earth like the Herb has been illegal for so long . . . or maybe it’s political (let’s not even go there!). The ways that my family uses Herb are as diverse and varied as the colors of the ocean. It is really a part of the fabric of our lives—we steep it into tea, infuse it into oil or butter for cooking, juice the raw leaves, grind the dried flower into a spice blend, or we infuse creams and oils to make a medicated or nonmedicated topical treatment for the skin (hemp oil is an incredible moisturizer).

We use Herb to bring us closer to our spiritual selves, to chill out, and of course to have fun. You can infuse your morning green juice with Herb and go for a hike or run, you can pair wine with Herb for a dinner party, you can use Herb to calm achy muscles or add an Herb-spiked tincture to your bath for a spa-worthy relaxing experience. Herb doesn’t have to be used under cover anymore—it can become a part of your life, as much as cooking, exercise, and entertaining are.

The Herb has been on earth since the beginning of time. Now that it is legal and acceptable in more places, consumers can be picky about what they buy, how it is grown, and who grew it. Although people have been growing it in secret and in dark rooms under artificial light or in closets for decades, like any crop, Herb thrives in fresh air and with ample sunlight. Now that the recreational use of Herb is legal in some states and others allow it to be used medicinally, the methods for growing it are constantly improving. Family farmers can feel confident and secure cultivating Herb out in the open.

Smoking Herb just like my parents did is still probably the most popular way to use it, but I like to incorporate it into foods using Herb-infused butters and oils (see here for all the details). Enhancing a dish with some CannaButter or CannaOil turns an ordinary dinner with friends into an immediate celebration of life and feeling good. It’s a really wonderful way to entertain, and put everyone into a higher vibration . . . yeah man. I mean imagine a party where everyone just forgets their troubles and dances! Enhancing dishes with Herb is a way to make everyone feel irie and mellow, just as you might offer them a cocktail or a glass of wine. (See here for more information about putting together an enhanced menu for entertaining.)

MARLEY NATURAL HERB AND OIL

The members of my family all are big believers in the health benefits of Herb (see here)—its healing powers and ability to awaken our inner well-being—even if some of us choose not to smoke. My family launched Marley Natural as a global brand in 2014 as a way to honor my father’s legacy. When Herb is sold under the Marley Natural brand, you can be sure the Herb is all natural and sustainably harvested as nature intended. We source the highest quality premium flowers grown sustainably by experienced growers and without fertilizers, pesticides, or chemicals. We take pride in offering select genetics and heirloom strains of Herb, with the Marley Natural line including Marley Green, a hybrid sativa/indica blend, Marley Gold, a sativa-dominant strain, Marley Red, a high-CBD strain (here), and Marley Black, an indica-dominant strain.

Our Herb oil (a concentrated and very pure extraction of Herb) is extracted from the flowers with care to preserve the fullest spectrum of the plant’s natural terpene profile. The oil is extracted using a combination of pressure, heat, and carbon dioxide to separate the plant material. Advanced refining techniques remove impurities and concentrate the cannabinoid profile of the oil. Of course both our Herb and oil are tested for purity and safety. It is part of the Rastafarian lifestyle—to live in peace and love, and to put only positive things into your body to create a better life for yourself and others. This philosophy was important to my father, and it remains important to our family when it comes to anything we put in or on our body.

If you have unpleasant memories of eating food enhanced with cannabis—perhaps you tried a pot brownie when you were younger—no doubt the item in question was made simply by tossing a handful of dried Herb into the mix. If that was the case, and especially if the Herb used was of low potency and poor quality, you’ll find cooking with and eating food boosted with herb-infused CannaButter or CannaOil a decidedly different experience. To unlock the transportive properties of Herb, you have to set free the THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol)—it’s the THC that brings you up. To activate it, the Herb needs to be decarboxylated (here), a long word for “heated.” This can happen through oven-toasting (if using the herb as a sprinkle or salty seasoning) or by infusing it into butter or oil: The THC in Herb is lipophilic, meaning it needs fat as a carrier (for example, it would be activated if added to broth).

Typically, when people talk about the Herb they are referring to one of two kinds: Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica. The two varieties have distinctly different properties and effects on the body, as well as slightly different chemical compositions. Generally speaking, sativa strains are known to be energizing and inspire creative thought and an uplifted attitude. It’s the “higher” of the two strains and is actually the kind of Herb that my daddy smoked (see here). Indica, on the other hand, usually leads to a more chill and mellow vibe that’s good for relaxation. Hybrids are a third category, in which growers crossbreed sativas and indicas to pull out desirable properties of each. A lot of people argue that there’s really no longer such a thing as nonhybrid Herb; people have been growing on their own for so many years that pure strains are more or less nonexistent. But knowing if the Herb you buy is sativa- or indica-forward can help you determine the effect it may have on you.

Today, at many dispensaries, you can walk up to the counter and ask a budtender for a strain that meets all your needs. Do you want notes of blueberries or citrus? (Note that the terpenes really only come into play with smoking or vaping—for edibles, these delicate flavor compounds more or less get cooked off, much like the nuance of a fine extra-virgin olive oil gets cooked out if you use it in a hot pan.) Will you be using it in the day or at night? Is it for pain relief or purely recreational? Always ask how the cannabis was grown, just as you do when you buy produce at the farmers’ market. You want to support growers who farm in safe and sustainable ways. Be sure that the dispensary is testing the marijuana for any biological impurities, heavy metals, or pesticides. Only put the cleanest and most pristine matter into your body—if it applies to what you buy at the grocery store, it should apply to what you buy at your dispensary, too.

HOW OUR BODY USES HERB AS MEDICINE

Herb is a wondrous plant. It contains more than eighty different cannabinoids that interact in various ways with the human body’s endocannibinoid system, a circuit board of receptors for cannabinoids (yes! Our body has an entire biological system specifically created to receive the benefits from the cannabinoids in Herb) that are as much a part of our body’s architecture as our taste buds and sense of hearing. The endocannibinoid system is made up of receptors in our brain and throughout our body that can help regulate the nervous system and that may even be able to counter diseases like multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and cancer. THC, you know, that stuff in Herb that gets you high, is one type of cannabinoid. CBD (cannabidiol) is another type—it’s not psychoactive, so it doesn’t get you high but can help with pain relief, seizures, and a whole lot of other ailments. You can tap into the CBD benefits by searching out strains that have high amounts of CBD in them—generally these strains (like Charlotte’s Web, Harlequin, and Cannatonic) all have CBD amounts above 4%. CBD can even counter or lessen the effects of THC . . . so they can be good used in tandem, especially if you’re using herb for medicinal reasons. You can also find CBD-only oils and tinctures without any THC at all. CBG and CBC are other kinds of cannabinoids that don’t have psychotropic effects, while CBN, CBDL, and CBL are more like THC and will get you high. From sleep aid to antiseizure medication to reducer of pressure in the eyes (what a gift for anyone with glaucoma), Herb is like the most natural pain reliever on the planet. As we learn more about herb and study its potential, we will continue to harness the many benefits of cannabinoids that naturally occur in Herb.

HERB IN THE KITCHEN

Chances are that at some point in your life, you’ve been given a pot cookie, brownie, or candy without being told how much THC is in it, without knowing when it was made or who made it, without even knowing how it was made or the quality of ingredients used to produce it. Thankfully, the days of questionable edibles are largely behind us, and as one state after another legalizes Herb in some form or decriminalizes possession of small amounts,* home cooks who live where it’s legal to buy Herb can rest easier when it comes to making THC-enhanced foods. You will always know who made it (you!), how it was made (with love), when it was made (fresh today!), and the ingredients used to make it. You can also control how much THC each serving contains, a critical factor that is too often overlooked when it comes to edibles.

I’ve set up this book so you can cook the recipe with or without Herb. It’s really easy to leave it out if you prefer—in most cases you just substitute a spoonful or two of butter or oil for the CannaButter or CannaOil. If the recipe tun up, I hope you get out of it what you want—be it euphoria, healing, mellowness, or whatever! I have kept the per-serving dosages low to encourage the moderate and joyous high that my dad liked. It should be noted, however, that the Herb grown today is much stronger than the Herb Daddy smoked, and also that ingesting Herb has a longer-lasting and more profound effect than smoking it. Be conservative with the Herb, especially when you’re just starting out, so you can sample a few enhanced dishes and still be on the right side of feeling irie.

It should be noted that the standard per-serving dose for edibles in most states is 10 milligrams (mg). However, you will find that all of the edibles recipes in this book were developed to provide a more restrained dose of 5 mg of THC per serving based on Herb with a potency of 15% THC. This way, you can include two or even three cannabis-enhanced dishes on your table and if each person enjoys one serving of each, they will get a total of approximately 15 mg THC over the course of the evening for a completely manageable high. (And you can always double or triple the amount of CannaButter or CannaOil called for to intensify the dosage of whatever you’re making.)

If you choose to enhance a recipe with CannaButter, CannaOil, a CannaSpice Blend (here), or CannaVanilla Extract, I recommend following the chart here to determine how much THC will be in each serving based on the potency of your Herb.

SUGAR TRIM: ARE THE SAVINGS WORTH IT?

On a plant, the buds and flowers are the main source of trichomes: a sticky, oily substance that crystallizes when dried and that contains the highest concentration of cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD, among many others) and are the most valuable parts of the plant. They are generally dried and then ground to either smoke, vape, or use in edibles. Before the buds and flowers are harvested, the leaf tips directly off the bud are usually trimmed away. These leaves are coated with trichomes too, and although it’s a smaller quantity, the quality of the cannabinoids in the leaves is equal to that of the buds. Because of their sugary appearance, the leaves are often called “sugar trim” while the trichomes are called “kief” (pronounced “keef”); when you apply pressure and heat to kief, you get hash.

Sugar trim can be purchased at a significantly lower cost than bud and flower, and for making edibles, this might be an attractive proposition (note that leaves from farther down on the plant usually don’t have any trichomes on them). Use it to make CannaOil, CannaButter, or CannaSpice just as you would use bud and flower, then gauge whether or not you need to add more volume to achieve the same psychotropic effect. Note that this may also affect the taste of the oil or butter, making it stronger and greener in color. Additionally, if you buy sugar trim from dispensaries and invest in a three-piece multi-chamber Herb grinder (available in dispensaries and head shops), you can capture the trichomes that separate from the leaves in the bottom tier of the grinder and use it as a finishing sprinkle to both food and drinks.

Of course, how the body processes THC varies from person to person. Your age, weight, metabolism, gender, level of fitness, and tolerance for THC all will affect how your body digests and processes it. The amount of food you already have in your belly prior to eating the enhanced food will also affect your high. So it’s really smart to be cautious rather than overindulge, get too high, and have a less than optimal experience.

Through experimentation and familiarity, you’ll soon learn your preferences and tolerance levels. When all is said and done, eating an Herb-enhanced salad or banana fritter or cookie should leave you feeling as relaxed and happy as a glass of wine might. The difference is that the edibles take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours to have an effect on the body and mind, so go slow, give it time to work its magic, and treat your body kindly.

DECARBOXYLATED HERB

Herb includes the compound THCA—to make the Herb psychoactive, you need to lose the CO2 molecule (the “A”) to turn it into THC. This happens when THCA is exposed to heat, as when making CannaButter and CannaOil. But for making dry spice blends (here) and infusions like the vanilla extract (here), you need to decarboxylate the cannabis first. To do this grind the buds using a multi-chamber hand grinder (¼ ounce or 7 grams if making the CannaButter or CannaOil) and toast them in the oven at 250°F for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so (there are as many ways to decarb Herb as there are to crack a nut but this is the method I found to work best). When it’s done, the Herb will darken in color slightly and become a toasty, golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely before proceeding with one of the following recipes (store the decarbed Herb in an airtight and light-safe container and use it sooner rather than later). You can also decarb kief (powdery trichomes, see here). Just place the kief in a ramekin and proceed as described above.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED FOR COOKING WITH HERB

Once you’ve made a supply of your favorite canna booster, be it oil, butter, or a seasoning or flavoring blend, you’re all set. Simply cook the recipes as written, adding the boosted fat or flavoring as directed. To make the canna booster, however, there are a few readily available kitchen tools you will want to have on hand and if you don’t own a grinder, you will need to buy one. A grinder is essential for breaking up the dried Herb to a nice, even consistency.

Herb users today have so many options when it comes to grinding their Herb for decarbing or smoking. Back in Daddy’s day, you broke up dried Herb with your fingers, scissors, or a knife! Now there are sophisticated one-, two-, and three-chambered grinders that conveniently grind the Herb without it sticking to your fingers. For decarbing, uniformly ground Herb will dry more evenly. There are entire websites devoted to the pros and cons of various grinders, but my advice is this: buy something of quality that gives you pleasure and gets the job done right. Don’t use a spice or coffee grinder—it will grind the Herb too powder-fine!

Grinders run from less than $20 to more than $100. Generally speaking, you’re paying for the intricacy of the design and the number of parts and special features. For example, a one-piece grinder has only one chamber. It’s simple, yes, but may lead to an inconsistent grind, and it can also can be difficult to dig all of the ground Herb (which gets sticky from trichomes) out from between the teeth. A two-chamber grinder allows Herb from the top chamber to fall through holes to a second chamber. So only Herb that is of a certain size falls through to the second chamber for a finer grind—the second chamber is flat, so it’s easy to collect the ground Herb. The drawback is that there is no screen to collect pollen (kief), and if you go through a lot of Herb, why not collect the kief for sprinkling onto morning porridge or turning into hash? A three-chamber grinder features a screen between the second and third chambers on which the pollen accumulates.

Herb grinders can be made from wood, acrylic, aluminum, or titanium-coated aluminum. The latter two materials tend to last the longest—the teeth are less likely to break off and these grinders are just sturdier overall. However, wood is aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing to hold and use . . . the Marley Natural grinder is a three-chamber, four-piece grinder (with a screen for collecting pollen, aka kief) that blends the beauty of a wood casing with heavy-duty aluminum interior mechanisms, so you get the best of all worlds. Stay away from acrylic grinders; they are not a quality product. You’re better off using a knife!

Aside from this one essential tool, you will also need an instant-read thermometer, cheesecloth, sieve or strainer, and an airtight container for storage. See here if you would prefer to make your CannaOil in a slow cooker.