How Cannabis Gummies Are Made: From Farm to Table

Sweet, bright, chewy, and tasty. What's not to love about cannabis gummies? Best of all, compared to the wild, wild west of cannabis edible manufacturing more than a decade ago, quality-made cannabis gummies now have a precise dose in each bite. They're discreet, easy to enjoy, and taste way better than those skunky brownies your buddy made in college.


But what exactly goes into making a cannabis gummy?


In this guide, we'll take a look at each step of the process that takes cannabis from a living, “breathing” plant to a fruit-flavored gummy on the shelf of your local dispensary.


Step 1 - Cultivating and Harvesting
Every gummy starts with the plant itself. Growers will choose strains depending on a number of characteristics. While THC levels are usually first on the list, terpenes are equally important, as aromatic compounds can have a major impact on the effects and flavor. Even when broken down, an earthy indica can have far different notes than a sour sativa.


The growing location is important too. Since indoor rooms provide better light and temperature control, gummies made with indoor plants tend to have more consistent potency. Outdoor fields may produce larger harvests, but the product can change depending on the conditions. If a grower cuts too early, the cannabinoids won't be fully developed. Too late, and they risk losing potency.


After finding the perfect time to cut, the plants are hung and dried slowly to protect the terpenes. From there, buds are sealed in controlled containers for curing.


The curing process is what stabilizes the chemical profile and gives the cannabis a deeper flavor.


Step 2 - Decarboxylation
In its active form, raw cannabis doesn't actually contain any THC. Rather, it has THCA, which has no intoxicating effect until heat triggers it, giving us a chemical change known as decarboxylation.


Commercial producers will often use ovens or specialized equipment to gently heat ground flower, anywhere from 220 to 240° F for around 30 to 45 minutes.


Isolating the Cannabinoids and Terpenes
Once activated, cannabinoids and terpenes are pulled from the plant via extraction.


There are a few different extraction methods producers use:


CO2 Extraction: Common in large-scale facilities because it’s efficient and produces higher yields.
Ethanol Extraction: Faster and more cost-effective.
Hydrocarbon Extraction: Requires more care than the other two, though it tends to offer more flavorful terpenes.


Some producers also go solventless by pressing rosin with heat and pressure to create pure concentrates.


As a consumer, this part of the process isn’t something to be too concerned about.


Step 3 - Infusion and Mixing
To turn these extracts into gummies, they have to be refined into distillates or converted into water-soluble forms.


Many standard edible manufacturers dissolve THC into MCT or coconut oil, since they bind well with fats. However, they don't often mix smoothly with gummy bases, which is why many manufacturers now rely on distillates.


Distillates are highly refined oils that have been stripped of their plant flavors. The benefit here is that you get a neutral taste and consistent potency. If you’ve ever come across Delta-9 gummies, those rely on the same style of refinement.


Nowadays, we're beginning to see more forward-thinking gummy cannabis manufacturers using water-soluble cannabinoids instead of distillates. With a unique chemical reaction, molecules are broken down so that they disperse evenly in the liquid. This way, you don't get the separation you often see in regular oils, and gummies can be more consistently dosed without overly oily internal pockets.


Step 4 - Creating the Gummy Recipe
If you’ve ever made candy in any capacity, the rest of this recipe will probably look pretty familiar to you. Manufacturers add pectin or gelatin to give their candies a chewy texture, as well as sugar or another alternative sweetener for sweetness.


To mask the cannabis taste we all know and love from old-school brownies, they'll then use fruit juices or other natural flavors to build the profile. Citric acid is one of the most popular ingredients for tartness, and it also happens to take the edge off the cannabis flavor.


As with making any candy or food at scale, the process has to be precise. Mass-produced gummy manufacturers typically use industrial stirrers to evenly distribute the flavors and extracts, so that each gummy tastes the same and contains the exact milligram count on the label.


Step 5 - Molding, Setting, and Quality Control
Next, the infused mixture is poured into a silicone or metal mold to shape the gummies. Once they're filled, the trays are cooled, giving the gummies a chance to firm up. After they've set, they're released from their molds and inspected for consistency.


Accuracy is a huge deal in the commercial cannabis industry, and all professional producers and distributors send their products to third-party labs for stability and potency testing. This is how products in the industry are regulated.


Step 6 - Finishing Touches and Packaging
Depending on the gummies, some manufacturers will roll them in sugar or tangy citric blends for a little bit of extra flavor and fun. They may also add a thin food-grade glaze to prevent the individual gummies from sticking to one another.


Once they're ready to roll, finished gummies are sealed in airtight, child-resistant packaging, such as jars or blister packs. With the proper labeling, safety warnings, and batch numbers for traceability, they can hit the shelves.


Into the Wonderful World of Gummy Manufacturing


There you have it, a look inside Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Well, almost…


The good news is that if you choose to buy your cannabis gummies from a reputable manufacturer or distributor, you can be sure that the process is either the same or similar to the one above, which should give you some peace of mind during your next edible sesh. Who knows? Maybe this will even inspire you to make your own cannabis gummies at home!