Edible cannabis trends for 2017: Sugar highs and pot pretzels

This article was originally published January 19, 2017.

Cannabis-infused foie gras. Pot pretzels. Artisanal THC chocolates.

Whatever form you want to eat cannabis in, you can get it somewhere. Edibles — meaning cannabis-infused drinks, treats and other orally-ingested items — are available in more and more impressive gastronomical forms as the marijuana industry takes off in Canada.

"With any new product that's released to a market, first it's like… 'Lookit, here's a cookie! And lookit, here's a drink!' It's just novel," said Denver-based journalist Ricardo Baca, founder of The Cannabist marijuana news and culture website, who is now involved in a technology startup in the cannabis industry. "But what is novel after two or three years of legal sales? At that point it's … top end chocolate."

While Canada's edibles marketplace is operating in hazy legal territory — in Canada, it's currently illegal to sell marijuana food products — cannabis industry insiders confirm: consumer demand for edibles is growing, and savvy customers want more than just pot brownies and weed gummies.

Here are the edibles trends likely to take off in 2017.

Gourmet chocolates

Think of the fanciest chocolate you can imagine, now add THC — an active ingredient found in marijuana.

"We're talking about high end chocolatiers (working) with 85% cacao, locally sourced ingredients," said Baca, formerly The Denver Post's first marijuana editor.

Baca, who only consumes marijuana by eating edibles or vaporizing, said gourmet chocolates are quickly becoming some of the most in-demand edibles on the marijuana market.

"You can buy a Hershey bar… or you can buy a Godiva," he said. "If you don't eat the Hershey bar in real life, then chances are you don't want to eat the Hershey bar equivalent of cannabis."

One of the best brands, in Baca's opinion, is California's Défoncé, which makes geometric-shaped cannabis-infused chocolate bars.

Gluten-free, dairy-free baked goods

On a clean eating kick? Into paleo? Off dairy? Edibles makers have you covered.

"All of these things that we're seeing in traditional food industries now (are) just being replicated on a micro level in the cannabis-infused industries," said Baca.

One company offering a wide range of products for people with dietary restrictions is MoonMan's Mistress in California. The company makes gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free baked goods, with best sellers such as the pumpkin pecan mini space cake, said co-owner Liz Rudner.

The downside? Baked goods have a shorter shelf life than gummy bears or chocolates.

Sustainably-sourced edibles

If you care where your food comes from, you probably care where your edibles come from.

"More and more people are starting to realize if they're going to be ingesting marijuana, they want to be ingesting it responsibly," said Baca.

He's seeing a shift toward edibles that are made with sustainably-sourced, local ingredients such as honey from local apiaries.

Fine dining

Guy Kramer, a chef with The Green Chef Canada, a Toronto-based edibles business, said he sees cannabis-infused fine dining taking off in Colorado, the epicentre of all things legal marijuana.

He's all too happy to follow the trend.

"I love infusing foie gras," said Kramer. "Very fat goose liver tends to soak (the THC) in quite well."

Savoury foods

On the savoury side, The Green Chef already makes hot sauce and pizza sauce. Kramer is currently perfecting a pretzel recipe, which he expects to start selling next month.

And for those wondering: what about that skunky marijuana taste? Kramer's response: "The cannabis only adds to the savoury effect."

Katrina Clarke is a Toronto-based journalist who writes about relationships, health, technology and social trends. You can find her on Twitter at @KatrinaAClarke.