The Burn Turn: Discussions About Cannabis

Episode 01 is now available.

In this pilot eposode I’ll introduce myself, the project, and give an overview of content.

I’ll also discuss the main goal and idea behind The Burn Turn, Normalization; in this context - socially normalized cannabis culture.

A few times a year, I find myself with an accumulation of “bud trim” (pieces left behind when breaking up buds).  When I prepare flower for consumption, I dispense this trim into a pint sized wide mouth mason jar.  Once it’s full I usually infuse a fat like coconut oil or butter in order to cook or bake. It’s a good way to utilize the trim, while flexing your emulsion muscle (Science!).  This time around, I decided to make a Shea butter topical with said accrued trim. 

Aside from relieving general aches and pains, cannabis topical can be an extremely effective anti-inflammatory.  It can also be used without experiencing a typical high.  Because the topical doesn’t penetrate beyond skin layers, the effects are localized to the application site.       

Shea butter is a common ingredient in lotions, moisturizers, and other skincare products.  I’ve used it on my hands during the winter, and as a general massage lotion when working with tight muscles.  It’s absorbed well by the skin (to the deepest layers of skin, compared to other oils), which makes any greasy side effect minimal.  I considered doing a blend with other mediums such as cocoa butter, bee’s wax, or petroleum jelly but decided to stick with one for the first go.  The Shea butter was acquired from The Vermont Soap Company; it’s organic and specifically filtered in order to remove any remnants of latex, which occurs naturally in the shell of the Shea nut. 

Recipe Overview

The procedure for this infusion is straightforward and requires very little space and equipment.  What you’ll need most of, is time.  The extraction process is low and slow, and requires frequent monitoring… definitely not a “set it and forget it” situation.  Make sure temperature can not only be observed, but also kept as consistent as possible.  During this lengthy extraction period, gather a vessel or vessels in which the finish product can be stored; it’s handy to have these ready before straining the infused butter.  

 Equipment

o   aluminum foil

o   cooking tray

o   oven mitts

o   small saucepot

o   rubber spatula

o   cooking vessel (extraction) – Slow cookers, a.k.a. Crockpots, are ideal.  If you’re on a stovetop, try to use thick stainless steal cookware.

o   digital thermometer (instant read preferred)

o   container for straining

o   cheesecloth

o   storage vessels

Ingredients

o   Shea butter – enough to fully submerge

o   Cannabis flower

 Procedure

1)  Pre-heat Oven to 220° F

2)  Prepare Cannabis for Decarboxylation (This step allows for the active ingredient to become, in fact, active - see link):  Since the trim was already broken up I didn’t need to alter the consistency of shape or size. If I were adding flower to the mix, it would be broken into popcorn size pieces.

3)  The Aluminum Envelope:  Prepared cannabis goes on a sheet of aluminum foil, and is neatly folded closed (a clean fold will help later during transfer).  The envelope goes on a cooking tray, and into the oven – for 40 minutes.

4)  Melt the Shea:  In a small saucepot, the butter melts on low (preferably the “simmer” burner at its lowest setting).

5)  Add Decarbed Cannabis to Cooking Vessel (after the cannabis rests for 10-15 minutes)

6)  Add Melted Shea to Decarbed Cannabis (just enough to fully submerge)

7)  Set it, and Don’t Forget It:  The butter / cannabis mixture is heated to 190°F; this is when the 3 hour timer starts.

8)  Temperature Monitoring:  During those 3 hours, the mixture maintains a temperature range of 185°F to 210°F.  Temperature is checked in multiple spots; mixture is stirred occasionally to avoid pockets of inconsistent temperature.

9)  Gather Straining Supplies and Storage Containers

10)  Strike Oil:  At the 3 hour mark, the oil strains through cheesecloth into a container, and poured into storage containers. 

11)  Rest and Cool:  The strained oil is allowed to reach near room temperature, before briefly cooling in order to completely solidify.  Once the butter is solid, it can be stored airtight in a cool dark place (not refrigerated). 

Variations and Intended Use

To modify this recipe, essential oils can be added to enhance aroma.  Vitamin E extract would also be an appropriate addition.  If I wanted to make a blend with other mediums, as mentioned above, I would choose one to infuse and mix the others with the infused oil.

To get an idea for the effects of the finished product, start by trying a small amount.  I found this topical to be effective on tight muscles and tendons, and to relieve joint inflammation. 

This is probably the part where I should mention that I’m not a doctor, far from an expert, and that this isn’t medical advice.  This is a recipe share with some background information and brief testimony. 

Thanks for stopping by. Here are some links regarding terms and products mentioned:

Decarboxylation

https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/what-is-decarboxylation

Cannabis Topicals

https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/what-are-cannabis-topicals

Organic Shea Butter - Vermont Soap Co.

https://shop.vermontsoap.com/product-category/shea-butter/

Use of Shea Butter as Transdermal Osmosis Promoter

This project aims to navigate the normalization of cannabis culture through organized, casual discussion.  As approval of legalization spreads, so does information.  I’d argue one of the best aspects of legal weed is being able to talk about it.  The Information Age has helped to bring us here, and will continue to help us understand the true potential of this plant. And while this may sound like a persuasive piece, it’s really an attempt to populate the pool of perspectives; with which, others can engage.  The information we constantly receive about cannabis is composed of new benefits, new challenges, and opinions ranging in position and popularity.  The Burn Turn Podcast steers towards inclusion of these ideas. It’s probably important to also mention the intention to entertain, because that’s the underlying theme… if you learn something, that’s on you.

 The debate over legalization is, mostly, yes or no – legitimate or criminal. Normalization is about both favorable and adverse perspectives coexisting.  Everyone has a unique connection with this plant, and the issues surrounding it.  Understanding my personal relationship with cannabis has had the biggest impact on my vision for normalization.  When I first started learning about marijuana the approach was fairly one-dimensional, and we called it nugget most of the time.  Through the years, my understanding and appreciation has evolved. During the first few years, it was all about getting high and developing tolerance (a.k.a. not showing how high you are).  Once it was easier to come by, I was able to take step back for the first time and think about what cannabis does for, and/or, to me.  My connection to the plant became more nuanced, as I was more aware of its effect on anxiety, which I experienced regularly.  The difference between “use” and “abuse” became apparent in ways I hadn’t yet considered.  

 When my jar started to have names like Chem Dawg and Sour Diesel on it, I was introduced to the spectrum of effects marijuana has based on the plants genetic lineage.  While strain shopping wasn’t really a thing on the east coast at the time, this information further facilitated calibration of how I use marijuana.  Once hemp and CBD landed on the scene, I began to learn more about the components that made the cannabis plant what it is.  Words like cannabinoids, terpenes, and trichomes became a part of my lexicon for cannabis.  I was also then able to discern hemp from marijuana, and understand that they’re both cannabis. In hindsight this evolution would have ideally happened in reverse, which is one reason I believe being able to talk about cannabis is so important. Not only does access to information empower me to make informed decisions with regard to my use, it exponentially deepens my appreciation.

Now I can assure you, the content of this podcast will not be as serious and straightforward as this post.  It’s really just a hangout with organic, minimally edited discussion.  The main goal of this post, aside from introducing the project, is to provide context for The Burn Turn’s perspective and hopefully some affirmation that it won’t just be someone talking about smoking weed. Topics discussed will range from opinion, to current events, product reviews, recipes, and general think pieces. With any luck there will be interviews and conversations with professionals, activists, and enthusiasts alike.  It should really be a lot of fun, and I look forward to sharing and engaging with you.