By Naija Bae Ade

Now that the state of Minnesota has joined others in legalizing marijuana it opens up an entirely new, more affordable and more easily accessible, alternative solution for chronic pain, which I certainly appreciate having Chiari Malformation. 

The new laws allow residents to grow and store their own plants but once you get that far what’s the best way to use the plants for muscle relaxation? For me it’s definitely not smoking flower! While my body greatly appreciates the physical benefits of marijauna, my mind cannot get past the strong smell, choking and generally messy process of smoking marijauna flower. However, I’ll happily choose marijuana as a natural source for calming muscle spasms associated with Chiari Malformation - If - it comes in an edible form.

Searching for natural alternative to pharmaceutical pain medications, I spent 2yrs. on the West Coast prior to cannabis legalization in Minnesota, exploring the options. I must have tried every available form of edible in dispensaries. Excluding the one brand of alternative I really enjoyed but would go out-of-stock as quickly as it came in called Statemade, all of the edibles and flowers I tried from different dispensaries had unenjoyable chemical taste and smell. 

What I did learn though is that God’s pure marijauna was much better for my body than the pharmaceutical prescribed in the Midwest. In a relatively short period, surgical solutions and natural cannabis to take the edge off of the physical ache and overstimulation during the healing process, resulted in more employment, more money and a brand-new lease on life which I’m grateful to have discovered!

The method that ended up doing the trick was homemade cookies and brownies that simply substituted regular fats with Cannabutter created from non-commercial, homegrown plants. You get the homemade goodness of food created with love plus all the medicinal relief cannabis can provide to any achy body and overstimulated nervous system.

 

MAKING CANNA-BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked cookies wafting through the kitchen, especially when those cookies are infused with the goodness of cannabutter. Cannabutter chocolate chip cookies are a delightful treat that combines the classic comfort of chocolate chip cookies with the therapeutic effects of cannabis. In this article, I'll guide you through the simple steps that I used to create these delicious cookies, so that you can create your own batch of irresistible goodies.

Step 1

Prepare Your Ingredients To start, gather your ingredients. You'll need:

• 1 cup of cannabutter (homemade or store-bought)
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 2 cups of chocolate chips

Step 2

Make the Cannabutter If you haven't already, you'll need to prepare your cannabutter. For these cookies, I premade a cup of Cannabutter using approximately 1/8 ounce of finely ground kief and bud mixture to 1 stick of unsalted, Irish butter. To do this, gently heat your butter and ground cannabis in a saucepan over low heat for about 2-3 hours. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth, and allow it to cool before using in your recipe. 

Step 3

Mix the Dough In a large mixing bowl, cream together the cannabutter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Step 4

Bake the Cookies Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Use a (safe) non-stick cookie sheet or a silicone baking mat.

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Flatten each cookie slightly with the back of a spoon or your fingers.

Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 5

Enjoy Responsibly Once cooled, your cannabutter chocolate chip cookies are ready to enjoy. Remember to consume them responsibly and be mindful of the potency of the cannabis-infused butter. Start with a small portion and wait at least an hour before deciding if you'd like to indulge further.

With just a few simple ingredients and a bit of time, you can whip up a batch of delicious cannabutter chocolate chip cookies that are sure to impress. Whether you're baking for yourself or sharing with friends, these treats are a delightful way to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of cannabis in a tasty, homemade treat. So, fire up the oven and get ready to elevate your baking game with these irresistible cookies.