Edibles are probably among the most appealing ways to consume weed. Cookies that get you high? What could be better? Of course, it’s not that straightforward. The edible market is rapidly growing and diversifying — enter any dispensary and you’ll be confronted with a veritable cornucopia of edibles. This can be a little overwhelming to newcomers. Before you try out your first edible, there are a few things that you need to know. If you keep these tips in mind, you can be sure that your edible experience will be fun, safe, and something that you’ll want to come back to time and time again.
An Edibles High Lasts Longer Than Smoking Weed
Here’s How Long Most Edibles Take To Kick In
Most cannabis smokers are used to feeling their high kick in within a couple of minutes. However, edibles are somewhat different. This is mainly because of how the endocannabinoid system works in our bodies. The ECS is a system of receptors scattered around the human body. THC interacts with these receptors, in particular the ones found in the brain. When you smoke cannabis, it is absorbed by the blood vessels in your lungs, from there it is quickly transported to the brain where it binds to ECS receptors.
When you consume an edible, however, you have to wait for your body to metabolize it. This understandably takes longer. At best, you can expect results after 30 minutes. However, depending on your metabolism and your diet, it could take several hours. With this in mind, you should be careful with how much you take.
A very common edible story involves impatient users taking an extra dose. An hour or two later, they’re hit by a double effect. Be patient, allow your body time to metabolize the edibles!
The Strength of Edibles You Take Depends on a Number of Factors
Edibles are like many cannabis products, the effect it can have on an individual can vary massively. Around 10mg of THC is officially considered a single serving, however, for first-timers or infrequent users should err on the side of caution.
How your body reacts to THC relies mainly on your tolerance and your body weight. If you use cannabis frequently and if you’re on the larger side, then you may need a larger dose than if you were a waifish newbie to cannabis.
Around 2.5mg of THC should be enough to allow a new user to feel the noticeable, but mild effect. From there you can easily gauge how much you want to achieve the psychoactive effects you want. Nearly all edibles sold in dispensaries have their THC content displayed on their packaging, so figuring out the right dose is easy!
The Edibles You Try First Are a Matter of Personal Preference
Thanks to the proliferation of dispensaries, it is now easier than ever to find edibles. These are now available in a baffling range of forms, strengths and flavors. Nearly any type of food can be made into a cannabis edible, from gummy bears to beef jerky. The most common edibles are baked goods like cookies and brownies.
What you choose really comes down to personal preference. Of course, other factors, like sugar content, veganism, and gluten tolerance will inform your decision too. All of these factors will be either displayed on the packaging or available at request from the dispensary staff.
Here’s What To Do if You Eat Too Many Edibles
As we said, earlier, it’s easy to take too many edibles if you’re impatient. However, if you do happen to take too much it’s important that you don’t panic. While the intense effects can be unpleasant, the important thing to remember is that the effects should only last a few hours. In that time it’s important to drink plenty of water and, if possible, get to sleep.
The effects of cannabis should allow you to sleep deeply and soundly and when you awake the worst that you should feel is a bit dehydrated or groggy.
Taking too much cannabis isn’t as risky to your health as an overdose of other drugs or alcohol. That said, it’s still something you should want to avoid. Always consume edibles sparingly and ensure that you know the dosage you’re taking.
