A Leary biscuit is a snack consisting of a cracker, cheese, and a marijuana bud. It is heated in a microwave oven and causes a cannabis "high" in the eater. The heating is said to activate the tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in cannabis, but in actuality, the heating simply aids in the absorption of the chemical by the snack.
It is a widespread myth that THC must be heated to "activate" it. THC and other cannabinoids are hydrophobic oils. They are insoluble in water but soluble in alcohols, fats, and other oils. As cannabinoids are insoluble in water alone, they suffer from low bioavailability when eaten. By dissolving the cannabinoids in alcohol, fats, or oils (such as the fat in butter and cheese), their ability to be absorbed by the body is increased. Heating the THC in the presence of fats or oils simply accelerates the process of dissolution in the fats, from some hours at room temperature to minutes in the microwave.
Timothy Leary was reportedly fond of these concoctions, even in the later years of his life, and thus they are named for him.
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Last updated: 08-17-2005 01:36:39
