Can Bees Make Cannabis Honey?

It was surprising to discover how often the question arises in discussion forums and conversations about bees making cannabis honey. Seasoned beekeepers know what it takes for honeybees to make honey, and since cannabis is not a nectar creating plant, the answer is no. Some people hold onto the hope that placing an apiary close to a cannabis farm may lead to funny honey. However, as disappointing as the news may be for some, bees can’t make funny honey because cannabis doesn’t create nectar, which is required for successful honey-making.

How Honey Is Made

Flower nectar is collected by busy worker bees. The nectar begins to break down into simple sugars and is then stored in the honeycomb cells and covered in a protective wax cover. The bees’ wings cause evaporation in the honeycomb, leaving the sweet substance. Depending on where bees are collecting their nectar from, honey’s flavor and color can vary. For example, when orange blossom nectar is collected, the honey is often light in color. Nectar collected from avocado plants and wildflowers tends to have a darker color.

A typical honeybee hive can produce over 50 pounds of honey in a year - much more than bees can consume alone! Beekeepers collect the honeycomb frames and scrape off the caps that seal the honey. Most beekeepers use an extractor to spin the frames, which releases the honey.

So, the fact that cannabis plants don't create nectar makes sense because there is no way for bees to make cannabis honey on their own.

Super Honey

Honey is often considered a superfood and has been for thousands of years. It is known to have medicinal properties for those who consume it. Even today, local honey is used to treat mild health issues like allergies and insomnia. Going back two thousand years, the Greeks believed honey to be the work of God and give power to those who consumed it. This belief likely stemmed from the relationships between flowers and nature's interactions with bees to create this marvelous and edible substance.

Magical Honey

Yes, honey is magical in its appeal and taste. It is sweet and is often infused by beekeepers to provide multiple end products to consumers. However, when honey is infused with anything that causes an intoxication effect, there is risk involved. Honey infused with any illegal substances or left to ferment can cause vomiting, seizures, and hallucinations.

Mad Honey

There is a “mad honey” produced in the mountains of Nepal and Turkey as bees forage and collect nectar from rhododendron blooms. This plant grows in abundance, and when collected at certain times, honey causes hallucinogenic sensations. This mad honey contains neurotoxins and will make those who ingest it sick, and if consumed in excess, it can kill a person.

Show Me the Honey

There are over 20,000 species of bees, but only honeybees can make honey. Honey ends up being a food source for colder months, but because bees make so much more than they could consume in the winter, there is often plenty to go around to the human beekeepers. Honey is the only edible food made by insects!

Commercial beekeepers collect massive amounts of honey; what you see on the grocery store shelf may or may not be from local bees. The best way to ensure that you are promoting bee health in your area as well as supporting beekeepers in your region is to buy local honey. Many beekeepers have shops or products available for purchase to locals. Find a local beekeeper in your area and ask about getting your hands on some ooey, gooey, delicious honey!