It is no surprise that for many, the marijuana brownie, also known as “pot brownie,” is one of their first forays into consuming marijuana. The rich chocolate flavor masks the smell of cannabis and makes it easy for a newbie to consume the product.
The origin of marijuana-laced brownies is from the “Hashish Fudge” recipe that appeared in a cookbook in the 1950s. The brownie was popularized in the 1960s movie, “I Love You Alice B. Toklas”2 when the main character eats a pot brownie.
While cannabis-infused brownies started off as a homespun affair (there are hundreds of different recipes for cannabis infused brownies), with the relaxation of recreational marijuana laws, marijuana companies are mass-producing pot brownies. These THC-infused desserts are often neatly packaged and marketed using the titles “Marijuana brownie,” “Cannabis-infused brownie,” and “smoked” good.
Packaging for these products sometimes show clear images of the cannabis leaf on the surface of the packaging or wrapper (e.g. Stonerdays, Stoneage, Home Grown Bakery), others advertise the products utilizing neutral tones and elegant looks (e.g., “Classic Brownie,” “Love’s Oven”),and some others use unspecific terminology such as “herbal infusion” (e.g. “blazin’ brownies).
As with many edible marijuana products, regulators are working to regulate the dose for each marijuana product to minimize the risk of poisoning.
1. McDonough, E. (2016). Everything you need to know about the history of pot brownies. Retrieved June 1, 2017, from http://hightimes.com/edibles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-history-of-pot-brownies/
2. Spoon University. (2015). A Brief History of Edibles and Why They’re Here to Stay. Available at https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/brief-history-edibles-theyre-stay
3. Schroyer, J. (2015). Industry Snapshots. Retrieved June 1, 2017, from https://mjbizmagazine.com/industry-snapshot-edibles/.
