If you’ve come across the concept of AVB but aren’t exactly sure what to make of it, you’re certainly not in the minority. AVB is an abbreviation of “already vaped bud”, which is pretty self-explanatory.
When cannabis is vaporized, the vast majority of the THC in the bud is extracted for inhalation. Unlike combustion, the vaporization process doesn’t leave behind a pile of useless ash. Instead, you’re left with a piece of plant matter that’s been stripped of much of its THC content, but by no means not all of it.
Of course, it’s true to say that not all already vaped bud is alike. Depending on the initial THC content of the bud and the temperature you heat it to, you could be left with next to no THC in the resulting AVB, or a surprisingly potent piece of pot. In any case, AVB almost always contains enough THC and/or CBD to do something useful with.
Or at least, something more productive and economical than throwing it in the trash.
In the spirit of all things ‘waste not, want not’, here’s a brief overview of just a few creative uses for the AVB you’ve been wasting all these years:
Make a Batch of Edibles
First up, the most obvious application for almost all ‘waste’ cannabis products is, of course, a batch of edibles. One of the biggest benefits of cooking or baking with already vaped bud is the way in which most of the aromatic and flavourful terpenes will have been removed. This means that the AVB will have little to no impact on the flavour of your CBD edibles, but will still ensure all residual THC and CBD is put to good use.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that as AVB has already been heated to the optimum temperature, it is fully decarboxylated and ready to use. Grind it down and throw it into just about anything you can think of, or whip up a batch of cannabis butter and toss it in the freezer indefinitely.
Psychedelic Sprinkles
Admittedly, ‘psychedelic’ could be pushing it a little, but AVP sprinkles should make an appearance in every kitchen. Whether you lack the time or simply the inclination to cook (nobody’s judging you here!), you can always simply add your AVB to any meals or snack you like in its current form.
By far the quickest and easiest way of putting AVB to use, what you need to do is grind it up and sprinkle it liberally on whatever you’re eating at the time. Stirring generous quantities of AVB into flavourful foods like barbecue sauce, peanut butter, Nutella and so on can be great for masking any residual fragrance and flavour left behind in your bud.
If you’re really not keen on the taste, you could always try your hand at water curing – a time-consuming yet surprisingly effective method of removing every trace of taste and fragrance from your AVB.
THC or CBD Capsules
Cannabis capsules have become the preferred consumption method for millions of recreational and medicinal cannabis users worldwide. Along with simplifying the process of getting a meticulously measured dose of CBD or THC, cannabis capsules are also incredibly convenient, highly discreet and perfect for popping while out and about. There’s also zero flavour or fragrance to worry about, if this is an issue for you.
With already vaped bud, it’s perfectly possible to pack a bunch of empty capsules with finally-ground bud and store them in a sealed container. Of course, it can be difficult (actually impossible) to work out exactly how much THC and CBD is in each of the resulting capsules, as you’ve no idea what was left behind in the AVB. Hence, it’s a case of producing a batch of capsules, trying a couple out and seeing what they do.
Even if the effects are negligible, it’s still far better than letting your AVB go to waste.
Cannabis Coffee or Tea
Another ridiculously easy way to put your already vaped bud to good use is to simply incorporate it into your morning tea or coffee brewing regime. In the case of coffee, all you need to do is add your ground AVB to your coffee grounds, before popping them in the machine or filter and brewing as normal. Slower coffee extraction processes tend to yield better results, so you could always try your hand at making a batch of cannabis cold brew coffee.
With tea, you’ll need to swap the usual tea bags for a filter and follow pretty much the same method. If the flavour of the AVB is an issue, consider a squirt of caramel or hazelnut syrup in your coffee, or perhaps a dollop of honey in your tea. Though you may find with certain herbal teas that the fragrance and flavour of the AVB actually adds to the experience.
Smoking AVB (?)
Last but not least, the debate as to whether you can actually smoke already vaped bud for a second time tends to divide cannabis communities right down the middle. As an alternative to getting creative (or quite lazy) in the kitchen, can’t you simply smoke your AVB in a pipe or joint?
The short answer is yes, you can. At least in a technical sense, there’s nothing to stop you sparking up a bunch of AVB and smoking it in the normal way. There’s also every chance it will contain a decent amount of THC and could get you at least moderately high.
Unfortunately, the fact that you’re smoking largely redundant plant matter will mean you’re in for a harsh and cough-inducing experience. In addition, AVB when ignited and smoked smells and tastes a bit like week-old bong water. So while you can indeed smoke AVB if you want to, it’s not the recommended consumption method.
