Cannabis caramels are chewy candy edibles made with THC, CBD, or both. One piece can hold 5 mg to 100 mg of cannabinoids. A standard adult serving is 10 mg THC. New users start at 1 mg to 2.5 mg. Read the package label and the lab report before you buy.
What is in a cannabis caramel
The base recipe is sugar, cream, butter, and corn syrup. Cannabinoids go in after the candy cools, so heat does not degrade them.
THC caramels sell in state-licensed dispensaries. CBD caramels sell online and in stores. Hemp-derived CBD caramels can carry up to 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis under the 2018 Farm Bill. Full-spectrum caramels hold trace THC plus other plant compounds. Isolate caramels hold CBD alone.
Dosing
- Standard serving: 10 mg THC.
- First-time dose: 1 mg to 2.5 mg THC.
- Labels list mg per piece and mg per package. One caramel may hold 4 servings.
- CBD doses used in clinical studies run 100 mg to 600 mg per day. That is not a candy-sized portion.
Onset and duration
Edibles pass through the stomach before the liver converts THC into 11-hydroxy-THC. Onset runs 30 minutes to 2 hours. Peak blood levels land at 1 to 3 hours. Effects last 4 to 8 hours. A second piece eaten at the 30-minute mark stacks on the first and extends both.
What a lab report shows
- Cannabinoid potency per piece and per batch
- Pesticides
- Residual solvents
- Heavy metals
- Microbials and mycotoxins
Match the batch number on the package to the batch number on the certificate of analysis. A COA with no batch number proves nothing about the bag in your hand.
Safety
Caramel and chocolate edibles are a common source of accidental cannabis ingestion in children. Store them in a locked box. Keep them away from pets.
CBD can raise blood levels of drugs processed by CYP450 enzymes, including some blood thinners and seizure drugs. High doses have been linked to liver injury. Talk to a pharmacist if you take prescription medicine.
Storage
Caramel is perishable. Keep it cool, dry, and sealed. Heat turns it into a slab. Humid air makes it sticky.
What is unknown
State law on hemp CBD edibles varies. Some states ban them outright. Federal legality of hemp does not override state rules. Check your state before ordering.