Cannabis edibles, affectionally referred to as medibles, are a staple for many medical cannabis patients. An extremely effective option for severe pain and insomnia, edibles provide long lasting and full body relief.

Eating a healthy diet, along with avoiding my many food sensitivities, has long been an essential piece of managing my symptoms. It's up there with cannabis on my personal importance scale. I've been able to replace prescription sleep medicine with the use of oral cannabis. I recently started using edibles instead of cannabis capsules. I'm finding them much more effective, but since sweets are the easiest cannabis edibles to make I've been completely overdoing it on the sugar. Sugar increases inflammation, sets off a blood glucose rollercoaster, and promotes unhealthy gut flora. It's also often an underlying trigger for chronic pain and other chronic illness symptoms. Even though I've been sleeping like a champ, I'm starting to wake up with achy joints, an upset stomach, and itchy skin - my typical sugar symptoms.

Good sleep is way too important for health, so I knew I needed to come up with a healthier lower carb medible option. Made from healthy fats and collagen protein, these Paleo Cannabis Collagen Chocolate Bars feel like a treat - but pack a wide array of health benefits. The combo of healthy fat and protein helps to provide a satiating bite, effective at regulating blood sugar and staving off food cravings.

Why Collagen?

If you don't have collagen on hand and want to skip right to medibles, you can leave it out - but I'd encourage you not to! It's a health superstar.

Repairs gut damage
Reduces joint pain & degeneration
Strengths nails, hair, & teeth
Promotes healthy weight
Protects the heart by preventing hardening of the arteries
Promotes bone growth and health, may prevent osteoporosis
Boosts metabolism
Improves skin health
Improves blood sugar regulation
Helps to detoxify liver
Helps balanace hormones
Is high in gylcine, which can reduce anxiety

What Kind of Medical Cannabis Should I Use?

Using cannabis concentrates is the most cost effective and efficient way to make medical cannabis edibles in Florida. I primarily use edibles for sleep, so I need a high THC product. I prefer Curaleaf's concentrate or Trulieve's Truclear. You could also use any cannabis oil such as Surterra's 1:1 tincture or Aphria's oral oil (the flavors could make for some delicious treats!), but you may need to adjust the amount of coconut oil in the final recipe to allow for what you add.

How Do I Know How Much to Eat?

Effectively dosing medical cannabis edibles takes some trial and error. Because of the way THC is metabolized when eaten, the effects are intensified and long lasting - upwards of 6 to 8 hours. This makes it extra important to dose low and slow. An average adult dose is considered 10mg, with 5mg recommended for the inexperienced edible consumer. Do not add to your dose until waiting at least 2-3 hours as you may experience a compound effect.

To determine how many milligrams of medicine are in your Paleo Cannabis Collagen Chocolate Bars, take the total amount of milligrams in your cannabis product and divide it by the total number of pieces. This recipe can easily be cut into 20-25 pieces, or even more if you have the patience. If you're a little neurotic like me, you can use a digital scale to make sure final servings are the same size.

I cannot stress enough to go slow with cannabis edibles. Depending on your tolerance you may need to start with half of a bar, or even just a bite.

Florida Medical Cannabis Product Examples:

Curaleaf 400mg Concentrate/20 pieces = 20mg per piece
Curaleaf 1:10 Concentrate/20 pieces = 2.5 mg:25mg CBD:THC per piece
Curaleaf 375 mg Indica Concentrate/25 pieces = 15mg per piece
850mg Trulieve Truclear/25 pieces = 34 mg per piece
.5mL (425mg) Truclear/25 pieces = 17 mg per piece

Let's Get Cooking

Paleo Cannabis Collagen Chocolate Bars

Ingredients

3/4 cup cocoa powder (use carob for AIP)
1/2 cup Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup sustainable palm shortening
Cannabis concentrate, distillate, or oil*
1/3 cup maple syrup (more or less to taste)
1 TBS vanilla extract (use powder for AIP)

Directions

In a small bowl whisk together cocoa powder and collagen peptides. Set aside.
In a small heavy bottom pan melt coconut oil and palm shortening over medium low heat.
Add cannabis concentrate. Using a fork or small whisk, stir continuously until concentrate is completely insused into the oil. Remove from heat.
Add maple syrup and vanilla extract, stirring until well combined.
Using a spatula or mixing spoon, fold in dry ingredients until well combined. It should form into a thick & runny paste like consistency. Some excess oil is ok.
Transfer chocolate mixture to a 9x9 silicone pan and lay flat in the fridge. Line a cutting board or flat cutting surface with parchment paper. Once set (approximately 30 minutes), remove from fridge and transfer onto the cutting board (with a silicone pan you can carefully flip it over to remove). Cut into 20-25 equal sized pieces. I use a pizza cutter. Work quickly as the bars will begin to melt with body heat. if you work on parchment you can pop the sheet into the fridge or freezer and salvage anything that melted while cutting.
Transfer chocolate bars to an airtight container and store in freezer. Bars can also be kept in the refrigerator if used within 5-7 days.

*If using a thick cannabis concentrate heat the syringe with a hair dryer or in a baggie in warm water prior to adding to the coconut oil/palm shortening mix.

Notes

Once set these bars will have a firm but creamy consistency. The coconut oil helps to provide some structure, while the palm shortening and collagen adds a creamy texture. I know some have reservations about using palm shortening, so if you can't find a sustainable brand you can opt for all coconut oil, or coconut oil and ghee. These melt fast - so be sure to keep them in the fridge or freezer.

You can use this recipe as a base for any type of chocolate you want. Some ideas:

Reduce the vanilla extract to 1/2 TBS and add 1/2 TBS orange extract. You can even sprinkle it with orange zest for extra zing. (This is one of my favorites!)
Add cardamom (to taste) to the chocolate mixture.
Mix in pomegranate seeds, raisins, coconut shreds, nuts, seeds, or dried fruit.
Sprinkle with flaky sea salt or maple sugar.
Use silicone mini muffin molds or candy molds instead of cutting into squares.