Whether you're getting into the world of cannabis edibles or you're just interested in knowing more about it, this guide will help you get all the information you need. In this article, we discuss the essential characteristics of edible cannabis and how you can get the most out of these delicious treats.
What are cannabis edibles?
Cannabis edibles are food products that contain THC or CBD. These foods are absorbed through the intestine, unlike the alveolar absorption when inhaling burning cannabis. This alternative consumption provides a great difference in the level of effect and is not hazardous to the lungs.
How are edibles different from other forms of cannabis?
The main difference between consuming edibles and smoking cannabis is the way the human body processes it. When inhaled, the smoke enters the lungs and sometimes causes a person to cough or have trouble breathing. On the other hand, when consuming edibles, cannabis is released into the bloodstream after being digested.
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What are the benefits of edibles?
Here is a list of benefits of edibles:
- Good taste and variety
- Discretion
- Edibles provide a calmer experience
- You don’t have to light, grind or roll
- Edibles avoid combustion toxins
- The effect lasts longer
- You can prepare them at home
Good taste and variety
This is one of the main reasons why edibles are so popular. Not everyone loves the taste of smoke so edibles are a delicious alternative. All you need is cannabis butter and practically anything can become cannabis-infused food, from soups to desserts. Additionally, weed provides a unique flavor that seasons your dishes with a particular cannabis taste.
Discretion
If you smoke marijuana, most people will notice it because of its pronounced smell. Plus, your clothing will absorb that smoke. However, no one will know that you have been consuming cannabis if you eat THC brownies or sour gummy bears. This is advantageous for medical marijuana patients, as they can do it anytime and anywhere to soothe their pain.
Edibles provide a calmer experience
The absorption of cannabinoids through the intestine is slower and more gradual than through the pulmonary alveoli when smoked. This gradual absorption is what makes THC distribute slowly in the body. Another noteworthy effect is that when eating edibles, the effect starts small and builds slowly. It may be calmer, but its effects are often said to be more intense.
You don't have to light, grind or roll a joint
Smoking cannabis is a ritual that many people like, while others don’t like having weed paraphernalia in their homes. If you want to smoke a bong, you first have to fill the bong with clean water, grind up some weed, place it in the bowl, and light it up.
Rolling a joint, on the other hand, is an art form that requires grinding the weed, getting a filter, rolling the joint, getting a lighter and ashtray, and smoking it. To consume cannabis edibles, all you need to do is take a good bite and be patient. You don't have to light, grind or roll anything.
Edibles avoid combustion toxins
One of the main benefits of consuming cannabis via edibles is that you avoid the toxins and health risks that come with smoking. As you may already know, the effects of inhaling smoke are harmful to our health. Consuming cannabis edibles does not affect lung function or increase the risk of cancer associated with smoking.
The effect lasts longer
When cannabis is inhaled through smoking or vaping, THC reaches the brain within minutes, and its effect peaks within 20-30 minutes. Its psychoactive effects usually last between 2 and 3 hours. However, when marijuana is consumed through edibles, the psychoactive effects only begin after 30 to 90 minutes.
Although they take longer, the effect lasts longer, reaching its peak between 2 and 4 hours after ingestion. Factors such as a person's weight, metabolism, gender, and eating habits greatly influence how quickly marijuana works and how long it lasts.
You can prepare them at home
Buying edibles from a legitimate shop is a sure bet that your cannabis products are of high quality and that the dosage of THC and CBD are well distributed in your edibles. However, edibles can seem costly if it becomes your primary form of cannabis consumption. This is why many cannabis enthusiasts put on their chef’s hat and make their own edibles!
To recreate the famous “space cakes'', for example, you only need a few grams of buds. To finish off this homemade edible recipe, you will need a couple more ingredients that you surely have in your pantry or fridge.
What are the best edibles for beginners?
The best way to start eating edibles is with a low standard dose, between 2 and 5 mg. Gummy bears are ideal to start with, as they are small and usually contain low doses. Beginners should microdose at first to get the gist of the body high it provides.
Why are edibles more potent?
Before thinking about the dose you are going to consume, you must know that the effect of ingesting edible cannabis is much stronger than when smoking marijuana. The difference between consuming edibles and smoking cannabis is that when digested, THC is metabolized into a much more potent form in the liver.
How do you determine the dose of an edible?
If you want to calculate your edible dose correctly, you must know how potent and how much herb you will use to make cannabis butter or cannabis cooking oil. You can find out how much THC your strain contains by checking the packaging or asking the staff at your trusted dispensary.
In case you are using your own cannabis plants, you can find out the amount of THC on the seed packet or by searching on Google. When you know what percentage of cannabinoids your cannabis flower contains, you can use the following formula to calculate the amount of THC or CBD (in mg) that is present in 1 g of dried flowers.
Each gram of dried cannabis flowers is equivalent to 1,000 mg. From here, you can take the total amount of weed that you will use in your cannabis-infused butter or oil recipe and multiply it by the concentration of cannabinoids (in percentage) that the flower has.
For example, if you are using a strain with 15% THC or CBD, you can assume that 1g (or 1000 mg) of dried flowers will contain around 150 mg of THC or CBD. Although there are no overly strict rules, most dispensaries limit cannabis edibles to no more than 20 mg of THC per serving. The recommended or standard dosage is 5 mg.
How long does it take for edibles to take effect?
Typically, cannabis edibles take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to take effect. However, this largely depends on the active ingredients and the concentration of THC or CBD. The morphology of the person who consumed an edible is another factor to take into consideration.
Precautions when ingesting edibles
The main precaution when ingesting edibles is not to overdo the dose, as this can lead to a bad trip, which is something no one wants. That is why it is important to always follow the recipes correctly and not to add more cannabis than intended, or not to exaggerate the dose if you buy it in a dispensary.
It's also important to go slowly and wait for the effects before thinking that it hasn't kicked in and eating more. You should also remember that the effects take longer to start and wear off, so it's good to avoid activities that require a lot of attention, like driving a car or riding a bike. Edibles, like other psychoactive substances, can have an enhanced effect if eaten on an empty stomach, so it's a good idea to eat something light before consuming them.
