As the community of cannabis consumers grows, so too do the options they can choose from.
The last few years have shown that many consumers are seeking healthy alternatives to smoking. The emphasis on healthy consumption mirrors the more significant trend in society as people look for healthier ways of living. For many individuals, a large part of that healthy living is eating a vegan diet.
Cannabis consumers sticking to an animal-free diet have a few different options for vegan edibles. In this article, we'll discuss how vegan edibles are made, touch on some featured brands, and even share a few vegan edible recipes to try at home.
What Makes an Edible Vegan-Friendly?
To be a vegan product, the ingredients and finishing process must be free of animal products. The ingredient ban includes animal-derived ingredients and genetically modified organisms derived from animals.
Some brands make it easy for consumers to identify their vegan status with clear product labels like "vegan-friendly" or "made for vegans." If it isn't clearly listed on the package, check the ingredients and any allergen warnings posted. If there are warnings for meats, dairy, or eggs, then the edible isn't vegan.
When all else fails, check the company website. If you can’t find the info there, then it’s best to choose another more clearly stated vegan option.
Featured Vegan Edible Brands
The list of vegan edible brands continues to grow, offering consumers tons of companies and edible varieties to discover. Unfortunately, many of these brands are only available in a few select areas due to regulations and other operational hurdles.
Consider this list a kick starter for you to explore top brands in the market.
Kiva Confections Camino Sour Edibles
Kiva has been a top brand in the edible category for years. The company is highly regarded for producing stellar products while catering to a large segment of edible consumer’s tastes.
They have a few different sub-brands (all of which are vegan) but their Camino sour gummies offer flavorful options including strawberry, blackberry, watermelon, citrus and orchard peach. Each sour candy is available in 5 and 10 mg doses. Interested consumers in California, Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Hawaii, Ohio, and Oklahoma can pick up Kiva products in-store or online through their licensed retailer.
Oasis' Mini Peanut Butter Cups
Oasis' Mini Peanut Butter Cup packs are vegan, non-GMO, made from sun-grown cannabis, and packed with extraordinary flavor. Containing 100mg of THC per pack (10 mg per edible), consumers get an average dose of cannabis with every edible.
Oasis is a 2022 Cannabis Cup winner and a top choice for vegan edible lovers. Their peanut butter cups are made from single-origin, fair-trade chocolate, and all-natural peanut butter.
Oasis is only available in California.
Fruit Slabs
Fruit Slabs are one of the healthiest fruit roll-ups you'll come across. The company was Established in 2015 by a legacy grower in California, and in addition to being vegan, the brand's entire line is made without adding sugars, artificial ingredients, pectin, or gelatin. Each slab is made with organic fruit and stored in a biodegradable bag.
These treats are made from just five ingredients, and are available in 10mg slab doses. The flavors include The Tropical, The Coconut, The Grape, Mango Maui Wowie, The OG Mango and Sour Watermelon. Fruit Slabs also offers CBD varieties. Products can be found in California and New York. Shoppers in Michigan, Minnesota, Maine and Oklahoma can anticipate these products arriving in their dispensaries in the coming months.
Vegan Edible Recipes
Edibles used to be exclusively associated with unhealthy foods like cookies, brownies, and at their most versatile, butter. Don’t get us wrong. All three are delicious, but too much of them may not be best for a healthy balanced lifestyle.
Today, you can buy or make your own infused treats–healthy, unhealthy or somewhere in between. Consider some of these DIY vegan recipes to get the wheels turning:
Tools You’ll Need:
- Baking sheet
- Measuring cups
- Mixing bowl
- Oven
- Whisk or two forks
- Edible calculator (Optional but recommended)
Ingredients:
- Cannabis-Infused Cooking Oil (½ cup)
- All-purpose flour (2 Cups)
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
- Coconut Milk (2 Tablespoons)
- Salt (1 Teaspoon)
- Vanilla Extract (1 Teaspoon)
- White Sugar (¾ cup)
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees
- As the oven preheats, line two baking sheets with parchment paper
- Combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt in your mixing bowl
- Using a separate bowl, combine the white sugar and infused oil. Thoroughly mix using an electric mixer for about one minute.
- Add vanilla extract after the mixer is finished.
- Then, stir in the flour mix, adding coconut milk in one-tablespoon increments until they combine.
- Wrap the combined dough in plastic.
- Then let chill for 30 or so minutes.
- Once chilled, roll the dough onto a flat surface. Look for the dough to be between a quarter- to a half-inch thick.
- Then, dip your cookie cutter into flour before cutting out cookie shapes.
- Place the shapes onto the baking sheets.
- Then, place cookie dough into the oven for roughly 10 minutes.
- Afterward, remove the cookies from the heat. Allow to cool for 10 or so minutes, then enjoy!
Vegan Gummies
Tools You’ll Need:
- Large plate
- Saucepan
- Gummy mold and vegan mix (You choose the shape)
- Dropper
- Refrigerator
- Bowl (Optional)
- Edible calculator (Optional but recommended)
Ingredients:
- Cannabis-infused oil
- Agar Agar powder–do not substitute with flakes (2 teaspoons)
- Fruit juice or your preferred liquid (1 cup)
- Sweetener of your choice (2 tablespoons)
Steps:
- Put your gummy mold on a large plate. Set aside for later.
- Combine your juice, sweetener, and Agar Agar Powder into the saucepan, then boil.
- Once boiled, remove from the heat, cooling for 10 or so minutes. Stop cooling when the liquid begins to harden. Optional: You can transfer the liquid from the saucepan to your optional bowl to cool more quickly.
- Use the dropper to transfer liquid from the saucepan to your gummy molds. Follow this step until the molds are filled with liquid.
- Place the mold and liquid into the fridge. Allow it to cool for roughly 20 minutes.
- Once cooled and hardened, enjoy now or store as you’d like. It’s always best to keep cannabis in a cool, dark place if you don't plan on using it.
- You can repeat the process if you want to add several different flavors to your gummies.
Vegan Stir Fry
Tools You’ll Need:
- Cooking gloves (Optional)
- Knives or Vegetable crusher
- Rice cooker (Optional)
- Stove
- Veggie steamer or Steam basket
- Wok or Frying Pan
- Edible calculator (Optional but recommended)
Ingredients:
- Infused THC oil or tincture (1 tablespoon)
- Bell pepper (½ cup)
- Broccoli (½ cup)
- Crushed garlic (1 tablespoon)
- Cubed tofu (½ cup)
- Diced eggplant (½ cup)
- Green beans (½ cup)
- Hot sauce (2 tablespoons)
- Lime
- Red chili (1)
- Salt (1 teaspoon)
- Sesame Oil (2 tablespoons)
- Shallot (1)
- Soy sauce (1 tablespoon)
Steps:
- Since this recipe can be made using any vegetables you like, steam any veggies required, typically for 3-5 minutes.
- At the same time, prepare your rice.
- Set both aside once complete.
- Add your uncooked, non-steamed vegetables and spices into a wok or frying pan. Fry until crisp.
- Add your steamed veggies to the pan. Stir until all are mixed.
- Add your sauces and then mix thoroughly once again.
- Once completed, remove the stir fry from the heat.
- Then, add your infused oil and mix once more.
- Allow for the meal to cool, then enjoy!
The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.
