Already vaped bud (AVB) is not dead yet. Don’t waste that good medicine!
Here’s something to ponder: What would your ultra-efficient, zero-waste, all-salvaging grandmother do with already vaped bud? Well, she almost certainly wouldn’t toss it out like many of us.
Just like grandma, the informed and the cash-strapped among us have known for years that the charred remains of vaped cannabis still contain some all-important compounds. You see, cannabinoids and terpenes all evaporate at different temperatures, and even after vaping, there remain some useful plant compounds that can be harnessed for additional medicinal benefit.
It’s a surprising fact to many, and with so much goodness still to be had from the plant, just how do you go about benefiting from it?
What Does Already Vaped Bud Contain?
Quite a bit as it turns out. But it all depends on the temperature at which you vaped it. You see cannabinoids and terpenes vaporize at temperatures between 310–440°F (155–227°C) and if you’ve vaped your cannabis at the lower end of that range, then chances are, you likely have plenty of cannabinoids and terpenes that are still fully intact and ready to be harnessed.
If, on the other hand, you ramped up the temperature, then you likely won’t have so much left. The giveaway will be in the color. A dark brown or black color is a sure sign that you’ve probably already gotten your money’s worth.
If however, it’s light brown, then there are ways to consume those compounds that remain. You can smoke it, eat it, or drink it. But to really enjoy the benefits, and compensate for the bitter taste and odor of that semi-charred cannabis, there are a few tricks involved. Let’s divulge some secrets.
Make Edibles With Your Already Vaped Bud
Edibles are perhaps the most common way in which already vaped bud can be efficiently recycled. And due to the fact that the cannabis has already been vaped, it makes the process involved in making edibles much more straightforward.
Vaping decarboxylates cannabis. That’s the process whereby THCa is converted to the active form of THC. With your cannabis already decarboxylated, you don’t have to invest time in carefully monitoring the oven temperature over the course of hours all the while wondering if you’re over- or undercooking it.
Before using the already vaped bud in edibles, you’ll have to infuse it with fat. Butter or coconut oil generally work well for this. Simmer the fat in a saucepan with an equivalent amount of water before adding your vaped cannabis. It will require 2-4 hours for the infusion to complete. Ensure you don’t let the solution come to the boil, as this will negatively affect the potency of already degraded material.
Once complete, you can place it in the fridge overnight and by the time the following morning rolls around, you should have a hardened layer on top that you can chip away. Add this to your favorite recipes.
When it comes to consuming edibles, the effects can take some time to manifest, so remember to start slow. This is especially important with edibles made from the already vaped bud, as we can never be sure of the potency.
Curing Already Vaped Bud
As vaped cannabis has been decarboxylated, it can be eaten raw. But who wants to eat semi-charred plant matter? For those that haven’t tried it, don’t! It tastes just as bitter as you might imagine.
Through the process of curing, you can remove the unwanted odor and taste, although it may require the best part of a week to do it. Here’s what you need to do.
- Wrap the already vaped bud in a cheesecloth and submerge it in water.
- Keep an eye on the water and change it out for fresh water once it becomes murky.
- After 5-6 days, drain the water.
- Scatter the cannabis on a baking tray and place it in a preheated oven at 200ºF (90–95ºC) for 30 minutes.
Once this process is complete you can add it directly to your food.
Making Capsules from Already Vaped Bud
We can’t all invest the time required to prepare edibles or cure our already vaped bud. And for those who are stuck for time, or are just plain lazy, one way to consume already vaped bud is to put it in capsules. You can purchase a kit online to make the process simple and straightforward. Finely grind your cannabis and fill the capsules. The main advantage of consuming capsules is that you can avoid a bitter taste, and also tightly regulate your dose.
Making Tinctures from Already Vaped Bud
Convenient yet discrete, tinctures are another way to enjoy already vaped bud. It may only take a few drops under your tongue to feel the medicated effects, and they provide a great way to make your medicine go further.
To prepare the vaped bud for a tincture, you’ll need some alcohol. Go for something in the range of 90 proof. Vodka generally works quite well. The process involves allowing your cannabis to steep in the alcohol solution for up to 3 days. The longer you leave it, the more potent the tincture, but results can be obtained even within a few hours of soaking. Once complete, you can strain it through a cheesecloth and drain it into a bottle.
If you’re someone who is inclined to vaporize rather than smoke, then try some of the aforementioned techniques. Not only is it a shame to toss out perfectly good medicine, but it also helps curtail expenditure, and perhaps that was grandma’s motivation all along!
