What kief is
Kief is the resin glands, called trichomes, that fall off cannabis flower. A three-chamber grinder collects it in the bottom section. Kief looks like fine sand or powder. It ranges in color from tan to gold. Kief holds most of the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes. THC content in kief runs from 40% to 60% by weight. Flower tests at 15% to 25% THC. So kief is two to four times stronger than flower.
How to use kief
You can use kief four ways: smoke it, vape it, press it into hash, or cook it into edibles. Each method needs a different amount and tool.
Smoke or vape kief
Load a pinch of kief into a pipe, bong, or vaporizer. Use 0.025 grams to 0.05 grams per hit. That equals 10 to 25 milligrams of THC. Kief burns hot and fast. Put a screen in the pipe to stop pull-through. For vaporizers, set the temperature to 365°F to 430°F. Higher temperatures release more cannabinoids.
Add kief to flower
Sprinkle kief on top of a bowl of flower. Use a 1:4 ratio, one part kief to four parts flower. Or mix kief into a joint with flower. Kief alone in a joint burns uneven. The mix gives a slower burn and a stronger effect. Do not pack kief tight. Airflow keeps the hit smooth.
Press kief into hash
Kief turns into hash with heat and pressure. Put kief in parchment paper. Fold the paper. Press with a rosin press at 180°F to 220°F for 30 to 60 seconds. Or use a glass jar filled with hot water as a rolling pin. The result is a solid block of hash. Hash is easier to store and handle than loose kief.
Cook kief into edibles
Kief needs decarboxylation before you eat it. Heat converts THCA into THC. Spread kief on a baking sheet. Bake at 240°F for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes. Then mix the kief with butter or oil. Use 1 gram of kief per 1 cup of fat. Heat at 200°F for 2 hours. Strain the fat through cheesecloth. One tablespoon of the finished oil holds about 30 milligrams of THC if the kief started at 50% THC and converted at 70%. Start with 5 milligrams of THC for a first edible dose. Wait 2 hours before taking more.
Dosing and storage
Kief is potent. Weigh it with a scale that reads 0.001 grams. A kitchen scale cannot measure kief. For smoking, start with 0.025 grams. For edibles, start with 5 milligrams of THC. Store kief in an airtight glass jar. Keep the jar in a cool, dark place at 60°F to 70°F. Add a humidity pack to hold 55% to 62% relative humidity. Kief keeps for 6 to 12 months. Light and heat degrade THC into CBN, which causes drowsiness.
Legal notes
Cannabis laws differ by state. Possession limits for adults range from 1 ounce to 2 ounces or more. Check your state's rules before you carry kief. Kief counts toward the total weight limit. In some states, concentrates have a separate lower limit. Eden Cannabis operates in a legal market. Buy from licensed shops to know the product's THC content and test results.