Divisive flavor kicks these weed edibles up a notch

Edible weed takes many forms, with THC gummies being one of the most prominent. Beyond the product factor, sweet, fruity flavors and rich chocolates are popular with consumers, new and old. As these classic favorites hold court, one fiery option is picking up steam.

Spicy edibles are available in almost every state. Chipotle and chocolate, spiced mango, and hot peach are front and center in these chili-forward ingestible options.

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Dr. Norm’s offered up a brand new spicy weed edible last week with the release of the Flamin’ Hot Crunch Bar. This play on rice krispy treats uses Flamin’ Hot Cheetos instead of crisped rice for a fiery experience. The bar contains 100 mg of THC but may not be the simplest to dose as it is not perforated, but it does come with a cutting guide to help.

Flaming hot cereal bars are a new innovation in legal weed, but spicy edibles have been around for years. There are three common ways that cannabis brands deliver chiles: chocolate, candy, and sauce.

Biting, fiery, weed chocolate

Ancient Aztec and Mayan people grasped the beauty of pairing chiles and chocolate. Mexican hot chocolate tells that story. Now, cannabis companies celebrate this beautiful marriage of flavors in infused chocolates across the U.S.

The Fire Dark Chocolate Bar has been a part of the Bhang line since the California medical marijuana days. Delightfully bitter dark chocolate and spicy chiles pair so well that the bar remains a fan favorite a decade later.

All Bhang Bar flavors contain 100 mg of THC in easily perforated 10 mg pieces. The brand wholesales products in California, New Mexico, Nevada, Illinois, Florida, Massachusetts, and Canada. And Fire bars are not the only spicy weed chocolates on the market.

Theory Wellness, a vertical cannabis operation in Massachusetts, has a Chipotle Chili Dark Chocolate Bar. The flavor profile uses similar flavoring to the Bhang option, pairing rich cocoa flavors with piquant chiles.

Hot and spicy chocolate bars are beloved, but not the most prominent fiery edible available at dispensaries today.

Spicy and infused gummy candies

Gummies are one of the most popular edible categories. The culture has even taken to calling them ‘garden gummies.’ Anyone who enjoys a little burn with their gummies must look no further than the vast array of spiced options.

Those in Colorado, California, Maryland, Michigan, and Nevada may choose Dixie Elixirs Hot Mango Gummies when seeking a spiced THC sweet treat. Each bag contains 10 10 mg triple-lab-tested candies. The brand recommends letting them dissolve in your mouth for a faster onset.

Emerald Sky utilizes the same flavor combo of juicy mango with spicy chili, but this time with added cannabinoids and strain-specific start materials. Each vegan candy contains 10 mg THC and 1 mg CBD and is made with Fire OG live resin for a euphoric, energetic experience. This option is only available to California consumers.

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Photo provided by Kiva Confections

Another prominent brand that started in California but has since grown is Kiva Confections. Kiva launched the Camino line for those who love to pop a garden gummy and released the Pineapple Habañero gem for those who love spice.

Camino features a smaller dose (five mg) than similar options, and uplifting terpenes like pinene, caryophyllene, limonene, and linalool, which guide consumers to a more uplifting experience. Find this spicy weed edible in Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, and Maryland–for now.

Vertically-operated Green Lady Dispensary in Massachusetts gives their spiced gummy option a taste of happy hour. Each Spicy Peach Margarita candy contains white peaches, fire-roasted habanero peppers, five mg THC, and 2.5 mg THCV. This cannabinoid may add energizing, stimulating effects not always present with THC alone.

These products are available through the regulated market, which means those in states without legal weed are out of luck. This camp has found solace in the Hemp THC market, which utilizes chemistry to turn Farm Bill legal hemp into THC-heavy extracts. The sector is controversial, with the California governor recently signing a bill banning them, but good players do exist in the space.

Mesobis is a hemp THC brand committed to bringing Latin American flavors, fashion, and culture to modern weed. They accomplish this partially with a variety of gummies, aka Gomitas. Two Gomitas have a little kick.

The uplifting Joyful Gomita harnesses the classic Mango Con Chile, while the Balanced hybrid Gomita grabs onto a richer spiced flavor with Tamarindo Con Chamoy. Both pull flavor profiles from classic Latino candies. Check your local laws to see if they are available in your area.

Skip the food, go straight to the spice

Whether they are cutting calories or have dietary restrictions, not every consumer wants to eat a sweet while getting their cannabinoids. Spice lovers who aren’t into the sweet need to look no further than the infused hot sauce world.

Arizona brand Halo Infusions has long offered Cannabliss Hot Sauce, first to the medical market and now in adult-use stores. The red sauce is tomato and pepper based featuring 100 mg THC with trace cannabinoids thanks to a full spectrum extract. Dab it onto any meal for extra flavor and an added weedy experience.

F.A. Ninos were known for their sauces long before ever infusing them, but now California consumers can try both. The brand released Smokin’ Green Pot Sauce complete with Kushla R.E.A.C.T formulation, which promises rapid onset of effects. Find these products in California Bay Area dispensaries.

The Pacific Northwest has not made this list yet, and rightfully so. Many from the area prefer blander, less spicy flavors. Still, Oregon cannabis edibles brand Portland Oven released wicked hot Louisiana Pot Sauce in Hot and Mild options to the Oregon market. The eye-dropper-sized container implies just a little droplet will do. The sauce is vinegar and cayenne-based and has been compared to Tapatio or Sriracha.

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Spicy weed edibles are here to stay

Hot and spicy food is not for everyone, and much like cannabis, how someone interprets spice may differ completely from the person next to them. What is too spicy for someone may not feel hot at all for another. None of these edibles have been labeled ‘expert only’ but anyone slightly sensitive to spice should tread carefully on the first bite.

Whether or not the spice level is hot, these edibles promise to bring a kick every cannabis consumer loves: a stoney one.