Best Hemp and Cannabinoid-Infused Edibles to Try in 2024

If your idea of the perfect hemp product involves a delicious flavor and long-lasting effects, then edibles are for you. And, at The Calm Leaf, we’ve got oodles of tasty treats to try, featuring all kinds of cannabinoids, flavors, strengths, and more. If you’re ready to find out what edibles can offer you, allow us to introduce you to some standout products that we carry, all of which can satisfy you beyond belief with top-notch extracts and fantastic formulations.

An Overview of Hemp and Cannabinoid-Infused Edible Goods

Hemp and cannabinoid edibles are a type of food product infused with cannabinoids, which’re chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. These edibles offer an alternative to smoking or vaping.

Different Types of Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Goods

Presently, you can find all sorts of hemp or cannabinoid-infused edibles such as gummies, baked goods, candies, and more!

Type #1: Gummies

Cannabinoid gummies are the most popular form of edibles that contain either non-psychoactive cannabinoids, psychoactive cannabinoids, or both. They are favored for their ease of use, precise dosing, discreet nature, and enjoyable flavors. These gummies are made using similar principles to regular gummies but with the added step of infusing cannabinoids during the process.

How Cannabinoid Gummies are Made

The process of making cannabinoid gummies involves several steps:

1. Cannabinoid Extraction: The first step is to extract the desired cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. This can be achieved through various methods, such as CO2 extraction, ethanol extraction, or using carrier oil. The extraction method chosen can impact the purity and final concentration of cannabinoids.
2. Decarboxylation: If the gummies are intended to contain THC, the cannabis extract needs to undergo decarboxylation. This process activates the THC by heating the cannabis extract, converting THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) into THC, the compound known for its psychoactive effects.
3. Preparation of Gummy Mixture: The base ingredients for gummy candies typically include gelatin (or a vegetarian alternative like agar-agar), sweeteners, flavorings, and colorings. These ingredients are mixed with water and heated until dissolved into a homogenous mixture.
4. Infusion: Once the gummy base is prepared, the cannabis extract is added and thoroughly mixed. The amount of extract used depends on the desired potency of the gummies. It’s important to mix the extract evenly to ensure a consistent dosage in each gummy. This is actually one of the biggest challenges in making cannabinoid gummies, as it requires precise measurement and thorough mixing of the cannabis extract with the gummy mixture.
5. Molding and Setting: The mixture is then poured into molds, which can be of various shapes and sizes. After pouring, the gummies need time to set and solidify. This can be done at room temperature or in a refrigerator to speed up the process.
6. Demolding and Packaging: Once set, the gummies are removed from the molds. They might be coated with a dusting of sugar or citric acid to prevent sticking and enhance flavor. Finally, the gummies are packaged, with careful attention to labeling that includes dosage information, ingredients, and any necessary warnings.

Type #2: Baked Goods

Cannabinoid baked goods are a category of edibles that include any baked item, i.e., cookies, brownies, cakes, bread, etc. infused with non-psychoactive or psychoactive cannabinoids. These goods provide a discreet and enjoyable way to consume cannabinoids, often with effects that last longer and feel more intense than smoking or vaping. The process of making these baked goods involves infusing cannabinoids into a fat-based ingredient, such as butter or oil, which is then used in baking recipes.

How Cannabinoid Baked Goods are Made

The production of cannabinoid baked goods involves several key steps:

1. Cannabinoid Extraction: The initial step is extracting cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. This can be achieved through various methods, with CO2 extraction and ethanol extraction being among the most popular due to their efficiency and purity of the final product.
2. Decarboxylation: To activate the THC or CBD in the cannabis plant, it must undergo decarboxylation. This process involves heating the cannabis at a low temperature to convert the acidic forms of these cannabinoids (THCA and CBDA) into their active forms, THC and CBD. This step is crucial for achieving the psychoactive effects of THC and enhancing the effectiveness of CBD in edibles.
3. Infusion into Fat: Cannabinoids are fat-soluble, meaning they bind well to fats. This characteristic is exploited by infusing the activated cannabinoids into a fat base, such as butter or oil. The cannabis is simmered with the fat for several hours to ensure full infusion, then strained to remove plant material, leaving behind cannabinoid-infused butter or oil.
4. Mixing the Batter or Dough: Once the cannabis-infused fat is prepared, it's mixed into the batter or dough along with the other ingredients of the recipe. It's crucial to mix thoroughly to ensure that the cannabinoids are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
5. Baking: The infused fat is then used as a direct replacement for regular butter or oil in any baking recipe to create cannabinoid-infused baked goods. This could again include mixing cannabinoid-infused butter into cookie dough or brownie batter, using it to bake cakes, or even incorporating it into bread recipes. Note: Cannabinoids can be sensitive to heat. While decarboxylation requires heat, excessive temperatures during baking can cause cannabinoids to evaporate or degrade, affecting the potency and effectiveness of the final product.
6. Dosage Calculation: It's vital to calculate the dosage of THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids in the finished product. This calculation considers the potency of the original cannabis, the efficiency of the extraction and infusion processes, and the amount of infused fat used in the recipe. Proper dosage ensures that consumers can manage their intake and experience the desired effects. Keep in mind though, homemade edibles can have inconsistent potency, making it challenging to dose accurately.
7. Cooling and Packaging: After baking, the goods are allowed to cool. They are then packaged, often with attention to maintaining freshness and providing information on dosage, ingredients, and consumption advisories. Packaging is also designed to be child-resistant and to comply with local regulations regarding cannabis products.

Type #3: Candies

Cannabinoid candies are sweet, edible products infused with non-psychoactive cannabinoids, psychoactive cannabinoids, or a combination of cannabinoids. These candies offer a discreet, convenient, and enjoyable way to consume the compound(s), with a variety of forms available, including hard candies, lollipops, and soft chews. The process of making cannabinoid candies involves infusing a sweet base with cannabis extracts and requires precision in dosage and consistency.

How Cannabinoid Candies are Made

1. Extraction and Decarboxylation: The first step is extracting cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, often through methods like CO2 extraction, ethanol extraction, or oil infusion.
2. Preparation of the Candy Mixture: The base mixture for the candy is prepared, which typically involves heating ingredients like sugar, corn syrup, and water to a specific temperature. The exact ingredients and temperatures depend on the type of candy being made (e.g., hard candy, gummies, lollipops). Managing the temperature carefully throughout the cooking and infusion process is key to maintaining the integrity of the cannabinoids. High temperatures can degrade cannabinoids, altering the potency and effectiveness of the final product.
3. Infusion with Cannabis Extract: Once the candy mixture reaches the correct temperature and consistency, the cannabis extract is stirred in. This step must be done carefully to ensure even distribution of the cannabinoids throughout the mixture. The timing of the infusion is crucial to prevent the degradation of cannabinoids due to prolonged exposure to heat.
4. Shaping and Cooling: The infused candy mixture is then poured into molds or shaped as needed before being allowed to cool and set. This step determines the final appearance and portion size of the candies, which is important for dosing.
5. Packaging and Labeling: After the candies have cooled and set, they are packaged. Proper labeling is crucial for cannabinoid candies, indicating the type and amount of cannabinoids in each piece, along with other relevant information such as ingredients, batch number, and expiration date. This helps ensure consumers can dose effectively and safely. Also, one of the most critical aspects of making cannabinoid candies is ensuring the accurate dosage. This requires precise measurement and mixing to ensure each candy contains a consistent amount of cannabinoids.

What to Look For in Hemp and Cannabinoid Edibles

When exploring hemp and cannabinoid edible goodies, it's important to prioritize quality, safety, and efficacy. Specifically, here’s what you need to be looking out for:

1. Source of Hemp: Ensure the hemp is sourced from reputable farms that adhere to high cultivation standards. Preferably, the hemp should be organically grown to avoid pesticide and chemical fertilizer residues.

2. Type of Extract: The edibles you come across can be made from a few main extracts: 

• Full-Spectrum: Contains all cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids found in the plant, including trace amounts of THC.
• Broad-Spectrum: Similar to full-spectrum but with THC removed.
• Isolate: Contains only the specific cannabinoid, like CBD, with all other compounds removed.

3. Potency & Dosage: The product should clearly state the amount of cannabinoids per serving. This information helps to manage dosage effectively to achieve desired effects.

4. Lab Testing and Transparency: Look for products that have been third-party lab tested, with accessible reports confirming cannabinoid content, purity, and absence of contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and solvents.

5. Ingredients: Check the ingredient list for quality and any potential allergens. High-quality edibles often use natural and organic ingredients to complement the benefits of cannabinoids.

6. Extraction Method: The method used to extract cannabinoids from hemp affects the purity and quality of the product. CO2 extraction is widely regarded as safe and efficient, avoiding the use of harsh solvents.

7. Product Type and Variety: Edibles come in various forms, including gummies, chocolates, candies, beverages, and baked goods. Consider your preferences and lifestyle when choosing the type of edible.

8. Packaging and Labeling: Packaging should protect the product from light and air exposure to preserve freshness and efficacy. Labels should provide comprehensive product information, including ingredients, cannabinoid content, suggested dosage, and manufacturing details.

9. Brand Reputation: Research the brand to ensure they have a good reputation for quality and customer service. Reviews and testimonials can provide insights into product effectiveness and company reliability.

10. Legal Compliance: Verify that the product complies with local laws regarding hemp and CBD products. The THC content should be within legal limits (usually less than 0.3% THC by dry weight in many jurisdictions).

11. Price vs. Quality: While price can be an indicator of quality, the most expensive products are not always the best. Consider the factors mentioned above and choose products that offer the best value for money.

12. Personal Needs and Preferences: Reflect on what you’re looking to achieve with hemp or cannabinoid edibles. Whether it's for bliss, sleep aid, potential pain relief, or other benefits, choose products tailored to meet those specific needs.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Discreet and Convenient: Edibles are a discreet way to consume cannabinoids, without the smoke or vapor of traditional products, making them convenient for use almost anywhere.
• Long-Lasting Effects: The effects of edibles are generally longer-lasting compared to inhalation methods, as cannabinoids are slowly released during digestion.
• Precise Dosage: Many edibles come in precisely measured doses, making it easier to control consumption and achieve consistent effects.
• Alternative Consumption Method: Edibles offer an alternative for those who cannot or prefer not to inhale cannabis products.
• Wide Variety: Yes, a wide range of edible products are available, including gummies, chocolates, candies, baked goods, etc., catering to different tastes and preferences.

Cons:

• Delayed Onset: The effects of edibles can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours to occur, thus making it challenging to find the right dosage and timing.
• Overconsumption Risk: Due to the delayed onset of effects, there's a risk of overconsumption, as users might consume more than intended before the initial dose takes effect.
• Inconsistent Effects: Factors such as metabolism, recent meals, and individual tolerance can affect the intensity and duration of effects, leading to inconsistent experiences.

Our Picks for Best Hemp and Cannabinoid Edibles of 2024

All of the edibles below promise complete and utter sublime satisfaction, as they come from the most trusted brands in the industry, and contain lab-tested, potent servings of the cannabinoids that you know and crave.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #10: Sunset Lake CBD Chocolate Fudge

If you’re trying to avoid getting high, no worries. This CBD chocolate fudge can give you the benefits of hemp without psychoactive effects. Each dreamy piece contains 25mg of full-spectrum hemp extract, with 12 pieces total in each box. The rich and creamy flavor is so good, you just might want to eat all of them in one sitting.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #9: TabEASE Juicy Bursts Live Resin Delta 9 THC + HHC Nerd Rope Gummy

Let’s start out with a bang – this nerd rope gummy from TabEASE has it all. Live resin, rich in terpenes, is blended with a federally compliant amount of delta 9 THC, along with HHC, to deliver a super satisfying but manageable high that’s on par with weed. With plenty of flavors to choose from, you will have no trouble enjoying every tasty morsel of this edible, while enjoying a whopping 250mg of cannabinoids and terpenes per piece (and 10 pieces in a pack).

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #8: ELYXR D9 + D8 THC + HHC + CBD + CBN + CBG Live Resin Loaded Gummies

ELYXR always knocks it out of the park with their gummies, and these ones just might take the cake. Infused with 150mg of their intoxicating cannabinoid blend (which isn’t overly potent, but “just right” for delta 9 lovers), along with live resin, these gummies get the job done, providing you with a high for hours on end, and some pretty tantalizing flavors to choose from as a nice bonus. Each tin contains a total of 20 gummies.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #7: Wild Orchard Baked Delta 9 THC + CBD 1:1 Chocolate Trip Cookies

We can’t get enough of these delicious cookies from Wild Orchard Co, which each offer a 1:1 ratio of 30mg CBD and 30mg THC, which is plenty to get super high – all while savoring the taste of chocolate chip cookies, which is a party in its own right. If you’re looking to switch it up from the more common gummies, this is a great way to go.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #6: Hemplitude XXXL Delta 8 THC Live Rosin Gummies

If you’re all about delta 8 THC’s soothing psychoactive effects, look no further than these dreamy gummies which combine delta 8 distillate with powerful live rosin for a full-spectrum hemp experience that can last for hours at a time. We love that you can pick from different strains, which is something you don’t see often with edibles. Every strain offers a different flavor as well, thanks to top-quality flavoring ingredients. Bubba Kush and Durban Poison are top sellers, by the way.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #5: Clean Remedies Delta 9 THC + CBD Chocolate Delight Bar

Another mouthwatering treat comes from Clean Remedies, offering a rich and creamy chocolate bar that contains 100mg of CBD and 100mg of delta 9 THC per bar, all while, surprisingly, being very much legal. It’s a great way to portion out your preferred dose, since the chocolate bar is easy to break apart into small segments.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #4: Crooked Creations D8 + THCP + THCH + D10 + THCA + HXY-9 + HXY-10 Twisted Gummies

These gummies from Cooked Creations are absolutely packed with cannabinoids, for a powerful psychoactive effect that you need to try to believe. Not only that, but they come in a spectacular array of strains, and are infused with flavors to match the strain – like Pina Colada (Pineapple Express), Sour Watermelon OG, Sour Cherry Berry Gelato, and more. Each gummy contains 175mg of cannabinoids total.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #3: Binoid Super 7 Live Gummies

These highly popular gummies from Binoid are loaded with 7 cannabinoids total: THCA, THCV, THC-B, THC-H, delta 9P, HHC, and delta 8 THC. They can get you very, very high, with 350mg of this cannabinoid variety per piece. They’re also made with live resin, which again guarantees a solid terpene dosage with every serving.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #2: Exodus Zooted THCA + THCP + THCB + D6 + HXY 10 THC Loud Resin Gummies

With a staggering 375mg cannabinoids per piece, these gummies go above and beyond with a great selection of in-demand cannabinoids that come together to get you mega-high. They’re also infused with loud resin, a more potent form of live resin, for plenty of terpenes in each bite. The flavor selection is on point, with Mango Melon, Sour Berry, and Raspberry Guava being fan favorites.

Hemp and Cannabinoid Edible Product #1: Cali Extrax Level Up THC-A + THC-B + THC-P Live Resin Gummies

An offshoot of industry superstar Delta Extrax, these Cali Extrax gummies offer a dreamy trio of cannabinoids, including two outstandingly potent ones, along with live resin, for a full-spectrum experience with each serving. Zour Apple, Blue Razz Rush, and Watermelon Gelato are the flavors you can choose from, and each gummy contains 200 milligrams of cannabinoid and terpene goodness.

You’re Looking at Some Delightful Edibles That Will Get You Through 2024!

Craving a sweet? These spectacular edibles have you covered with mouthwatering flavors and plenty of cannabinoids to have you flying high for hours. We can’t recommend these sensations enough, and at the same time, we invite you to explore all of the exceptional edibles we carry at The Calm Leaf, since our catalog is enormous, and always growing to introduce our customers to the best products that are coming out right now.