As the world goes into lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reddit user AurantiumAmara is spreading something other than bad news and coronavirus: Edibles. 

The Ottawa-based individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, grew three plants last year. The yields were low, they say, “probably a side effect of growing organically and not investing in very strong lights.” But from the off-cut of small buds and sugar leaves, they made a couple of batches of cannabutter. 

“I have more cannabis and cannabutter than I can personally consume, so I’ve been giving away edibles and bud to friends, but also to people who help me out. Now that I have edibles made, I’d rather they be enjoyed than get stale on my counter,” they told The GrowthOp. 

“Amidst this pandemic, people need a bit of a break, I think. So why would I let this stuff go to waste?”

The edibles are cereal bars, made with Frankenberry cereal, marshmallows, vanilla powder and the infused butter. They estimate that each bar has about 30 to 40 milligrams of THC and they will be reminding consumers to start low and go slow. 

AurantiumAmara says they are also taking steps to ensure the process is as safe and sanitary as possible. Ottawa, they say, “is a pretty rough place to be in this current situation.

“We have a fair amount of cases, and the whole city is basically shut down.”

They plan on sanitizing the bag the product is in as well as placing them in another bag that’s also been wiped down with disinfectant. The plan is to drop the bars at the homes of other Reddit users, while wearing gloves and a mask and maintaining a safe distance.

“I also plan on letting people know they should discard the outer bag and re-sanitize the inner bag before they consume the product,” they say. 

AurantiumAmara got interested in cannabis after their brother was diagnosed with cancer. They say they have no particular inspiration for this act of kindness, beyond “wanting to do something for people at the moment.”

“If it were feasible to do more, I definitely would, but I also am cognizant of limiting my exposure. Even if everyone maintains distance there’s still some risk, I think.”

As the pandemic continues to spread around the country, “caremongering” is a trend that has become popular in the cannabis community, from individuals donating grocery store gift cards to others offering mental health support.

“Let’s not overstate my contribution here,” AurantiumAmara says. “It’s just some edibles to a few people. There’s a lot of people doing far more important things these days.”