How It’s Made
How Cannabis Gummies Are Made
Ever wondered what kind of magic formula is used to make your favourite cannabis gummies? Here’s a look at the precise steps Licensed Producers take to get the cannabis into these tasty treats.
Last updated February 5, 2026 | Published on October 19, 2020
While their colours span the rainbow and the flavours range from tropical to floral to downright imaginative (Blaspberry, anyone?), legal cannabis gummies are backed by precise manufacturing methods, testing and research. Although each Licensed Producer (LP) has its own secret recipe, the basic process for making gummies is pretty much the same as it is for typical chewy candies — the obvious difference being the addition of cannabis.
Let’s look at the steps LPs go through to create safe and tasty cannabis-infused gummies.
Step 1: Mix the ingredients
Cannabis-infused or not, every gummy starts with the same step: Heating sugar, water and a thickening agent to create a warm syrup. This sweet solution forms the base of the gummy.
Through their choice of ingredients, LPs can differentiate their products right from this stage. The thickening agent, for example, plays a major role in defining the final texture. Gelatin creates the classic chewy, springy, melt-in-your-mouth feel, while pectin — a plant-based alternative — produces a softer, cleaner bite with less stickiness. Although another gelling agent or thickening starch, such as agar-agar or cornstarch, can be used, gelatin and pectin are the most common choices.
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To further differentiate their gummies, LPs can choose from various sweeteners, such as sugar, honey or corn syrup. They can also use fruit juice instead of water as the liquid base. At this stage, adding flavours, acids and natural or artificial aromas can help build a signature taste profile and minimize the taste of cannabis.
Once the gummy base is ready — and it has the desired sugar concentration, or “brix” — the cannabis extract is thoroughly blended in to ensure the cannabis cannabinoids are evenly distributed throughout the batch. Any kind of cannabis extract, such as wax, shatter or resin, can be incorporated into cannabis edibles, but many LPs choose to use distillate. Containing cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids, distillate is easy to blend and nearly flavourless, helping ensure minimal aftertaste in the final product as well as consistent dosing.
Step 2: Shape and cool
From here, LPs form the gummies into their unique shapes by injecting the warm liquid into moulds and leaving it to cool and solidify. Once hardened, the gummies are turned out of the moulds. Some LPs go a step further, coating the pieces to prevent them from drying out or sticking together and to protect them from excessive humidity, helping extend their durable life.
Different coatings can also create unique looks. Coating options include:
- a sugar–citric acid blend for a sweet-and-sour kick and a visually appealing sparkling texture
- starch mixed with powdered sugar for a matte finish
- wax, such as carnauba wax or beeswax, for a glossy finish
Step 3: Test for safety
Next comes a crucial step: LPs must ensure the gummies are fit for sale and safe for adults to consume. In Canada, all legal cannabis products must be tested by Health Canada–authorized third-party laboratories. These tests verify that the THC and CBD levels match the labels on the packaging and ensure the product is free from harmful pesticides, microbial contaminants, heavy metals, residual solvents, mould and more.
Beyond these required safety checks, legal cannabis producers must hold a special cannabis research license from Health Canada to conduct in-house sensory testing. This analysis allows LPs to evaluate the taste, aroma, texture and mouthfeel throughout the production process to ensure the final product will appeal to consumers.
Step 4: Pack and ship to stores
Once the gummies have been tested, they’re packaged and labelled according to federal requirements. Labels for edibles in Canada must include specific features, such as the standardized cannabis symbol, brand name, THC and CBD content, health warnings in both English and French, lot number, LP contact information, “packaged on” date and durable life date (if 90 days or less). Plus, they require a nutrition facts table and full list of ingredients, and identify sources of food allergens or gluten and added sulphites. It’s a lot to fit on a label, but it’s essential for consumer safety.
The excise stamp must also be present to show the product is certified legal (not counterfeit) and the manufacturer has paid the duty on it.
After these necessary but decidedly unmagical checks and balances, the finished gummies are ready to take their journey to Authorized Cannabis Stores from coast to coast.
