What’s the scoop on Cannabis Edibles?

Cannabis edibles, or edibles for short, are products that contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is a cannabinoid. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that are found in cannabis which, when consumed, affect both your mind and body. That’s just a fancy way of saying that these edibles will get you high!

These days, you can get all sorts of edibles. To name a few that we’ve seen so far: jerky, dried fruits, gummies, chocolates, and in drinks, just to name a few. When edibles come in these forms, it can be quite difficult to get a proper dosing. In my experience, I’ve found that taking gummies have been the most accurate form of dosing when it comes to edibles. I hate it when I take a bit too much and then I’m basically a zombie the rest of the night.

The effects of consuming THC can last up to 12 hours, with residual effects lasting up to 24 hours! Holy shit! Most people who have experience messing with edibles have a story to tell about “greening out” because they didn’t properly dose. Greening out just means you feel sick, dizzy, and nauseous from consuming too much cannabis. You might even puke! I know I have. This doesn’t lead to a good time. Cannabis, when consumed properly, can definitely lead to hilarious moments and euphoric experiences. However, a bit too much and you get the complete opposite.

So why is it that when we consume edibles, it is so much more intense than smoking it? Let us break it down for you. When you ingest cannabis, the THC first travels to your stomach and then to your liver. The liver begins to metabolize the THC, turning it into a metabolite called 11-hydroxy-THC. This metabolite is much more potent and has a longer half-life, which makes it more intense overall and stays in your system much longer. This causes the high to last a lot longer. Going through the digestive system takes a lot longer but when they do kick in, oh boy, do they make their presence felt! Because edibles take a lot longer to go through your system, most people will accidentally consume too much!

Let me paint you a picture – its Friday night and one of your genius friends suggests staying in and take edibles for a good time. You all take a serving and wait … and wait… and wait… 1-hour passes. What’s the deal? Is the dosage too weak? So, you all decide to take another dose. That’s double the dose you thought was the correct amount now. After another 30 minutes passes, you all start to feel it. And feel it. And feel it and oh no… ITS ALL HITTING YOU AT ONCE. The average person feels effects within 30 minutes to 2 hours of ingesting – that’s a huge time frame! Full effects can even peak 4 hours after ingesting. It’s no wonder many of us accidentally take too much.

As you can tell, it’s extremely important to take it slow when using edibles. Be patient! The recommended dosage for beginners is 2.5mg THC and no more. If you have some experience, it’s okay to take more. Remember, enjoy responsibly! Do not mix cannabis with Alcohol or other substances. Alcohol increases the impairing effects of cannabis, and you risk over-intoxication which can lead to health implications. Obviously, don’t drive and operate heavy machinery either. Just kick back and relax!

Cheers,

Peter