A growing number of places around the world are legalising cannabis. This has led to more people trying cannabis – either medicinally or recreationally.
One way of administering cannabis is to eat it. While cannabis can be eaten in its raw form, it does not taste great on its own and will not produce the high unless heat has been applied. As a result, it’s more popular for cannabis to be mixed into other foods that are baked or otherwise processed to help bring out the high. These cannabis-infused foods are known as ‘edibles’.
Eating edibles can be a lot less damaging to the body than smoking cannabis. This can be very appealing to people who want to look after their health. However, while consuming edibles is much healthier, it does alter the effects. This is something that people need to be aware of before they try edibles. This post explains more about what you need to know.
Edibles are regulated differently around the world
Cannabis legality varies around the world. In most countries or states where cannabis is legal, edibles are also legal. In some cases, you may require a licence to buy these products or you may need a medical prescription. Other countries allow you to buy them over the counter with no licence (although ID may still be necessary to prove that you’re over 18).
Laws concerning how edibles are made and sold can vary. In some places around the world, cannabis may need to be sourced from certain places or may need to be added to the food in a certain way. You may also need a licence to make edibles in some countries. This is all worth researching.
The effects take a while to kick in
When smoking cannabis, it typically takes only 1 to 2 minutes for the high to fully kick in. With edibles you typically have to wait a lot longer to feel the effects. This is because ingesting is a very different process to inhaling.
Most people do not feel the effects of edibles until at least 40 minutes after consuming them. Sometimes the high doesn’t even kick in until 2 hours after consumption. As a result, edibles require patience and you need to plan taking them in advance.
The effects last much longer than smoking
The high not only takes longer to take effect, but also lasts longer when consuming an edible opposed to smoking cannabis. The high may not reach its peak until 4 hours after eating an edible and can last anywhere between 4 and 8 hours in total. This is much less than the 1 to 3 hour high of smoking cannabis.
The potency is much harder to measure
When smoking legally-purchased cannabis, you can often much more easily measure the potency and pace yourself in order to reach the right level of high. With edibles, this high is much more unpredictable. How high you get can depend on how much you eat, how much cannabis is infused in the food, what strain is used and how it is cooked.
You can more easily measure the high by buying edible products that have clearly labelled instructions and THC levels. This will tell you exactly how high you are likely to get from one portion. Additionally, consulting a doctor by searching “medical marijuana doctor near me” can provide personalised guidance and recommendations for safe consumption.
It’s best to start with a low dose
Because edible potency is harder to measure, it is best to start with a low dose. You should stick to labelled products that have a THC level of no more than 2.5 mg. From here, you can then work your way up if you crave a greater high.
When preparing your own edibles, you may want to use low strain cannabis in small amounts to start with to see what impact it has. You can then add more in the future if this is not enough.
When in doubt, resist eating more!
A big mistake that first-time users of edibles make is being impatient. If after an hour or even two hours the high has not kicked in, be very careful of consuming more in an attempt to increase the high. The effects may be delayed and you may find that they are too powerful once they eventually kick in.
If you have doubts about whether the high has kicked in or not, resist eating more. It is better to wait out your first time to see what the effects are.
Gummies can produce a more mellow high
Gummies can be a good starting point when getting into edibles. Products such as these Delta 9 THC gummies are typically designed to provide a mellow high compared to some products that are infused with high amounts of THC. If you don’t want to get too high, consider using gummies first.
Solely using CBD can eliminate the high
For some people, taking cannabis is not about the high. Instead, cannabis may be a form of pain relief or anxiety relief. Low THC-strains can reduce the high, but if you don’t want to get high at all, you’re best sticking to CBD extract.
CBD extract is widely available around the world – even in countries where cannabis is not legal. It is typically purchased as an oil in tincture form. This oil can be added to beverages or foods to provide the relaxing and pain-relieving qualities without the high. Check out these tips for cooking with CBD oil.
Edibles must be stored safely
You need to be careful as to where you store edibles so that they don’t get into the wrong hands. You don’t want a child to get their hands on some cannabis-infused cookies thinking that they are normal cookies. Similarly, you don’t want pets to eat these foods as they could be toxic to them. To prevent this, store edibles in a place that is hidden, securely locked or out of reach.
It’s best to use baking mixes when baking your own edibles
Many people want to try making their own edible brownies or cookies, however it can be very hard to get the right potency when cooking from raw ingredients. Edible baking mixes can be useful for guaranteeing the same potency throughout.
