Cannabis-infused foods are called edibles, and they come in various shapes, flavors, colors, and sizes. Thus, if you lace baked cakes, pies, candies, or cookies with cannabis, they become cannabis edibles. Gummies are the most common edibles on the market.
They are chewy, tasty, and can also produce the “high” you want in consuming cannabis due to their THC content. It is easy to underestimate the potency of edibles until after they start kicking in. Thus, before you start stuffing your face with edibles, here are eight things to know.
1. Edibles take time to kick in
Unlike smoking, eating edibles does not produce an almost instantaneous psychoactive effect or “high.” Cannabis takes longer to get to the bloodstream when eaten because of the time it takes to digest. Also, the THC content and other ingredients in cannabis edibles are factors that can determine how long it takes to kick in. It could take at least 30 minutes to get high on edibles in some cases. If you’re not getting high immediately, eating more edibles may not be the solution-just wait.
2. You can make edibles out of anything
Cannabis edibles are foods that are laced with cannabis. Thus, you can make virtually anything cannabis edible. From snacks to soups, there is no shortage of ways to spike your meals with cannabis. If you intend to make cannabis edibles, ensure that you measure the quantity of cannabis in the food. This can help you maintain a healthy cannabis dosage for you and those close to you.
3. Eating cannabis can be more potent than smoking
Ingesting cannabis can be more potent than smoking. Although it takes longer to feel the effects of cannabis when you consume edibles, they can produce a stronger and longer-lasting high. When ingested, the transformation of THC in edibles during digestion causes a more effective high.
An exception is the delta 10 THC edible variant. It may not afford you the same high as other THC delta variants. You can shop for cannabis seeds from reputed online retailers only to learn from those who have had a firsthand experience.
4. Edibles are not a substitute for food
Edibles are food but are not a substitute for your daily meals. Avoid taking them the same way you eat meals. For instance, when hungry, you would want to eat a lot of food to gain energy. Over-snacking on edibles can be dangerous to your health and also get you high. Also, you can embark on virtually any activity, including driving, working, or attending a meeting after filling your stomach with traditional meals. You may not be able to do any of these after stuffing your system with edibles.
5. Keep away from children
Edibles come in various forms–gummies are perhaps the most popular on the market. For instance, gummies look like the typical snacks kids indulge in constantly. It can be easy for kids to assume that all gummy bears are the same. Therefore, keep your stash away from the reach of children. You can find more creative ways to hide your stash besides the fridge. Besides running the risk of exposing kids to cannabis at a tender age, keeping your edibles from children can help preserve them.
6. Edibles can go bad
Another thing to know about edibles is that they can go bad. Like your everyday meals, edibles get spoiled at some point. Edibles usually have an expiration date which means that they can get spoiled and become unsafe to consume. Knowing this can help you take better measures to preserve your edibles. You can tell if your edibles have gone bad by smelling them. Any distinct or unpleasant odor can indicate that you need to throw them away. Also, when air (or oxygen) gets into edibles, they can begin to deteriorate. Thus, store your edibles in a cool, dry place and ensure they are in an air-tight container.
7. Read the label
Before you take some gummies out of a friend’s stash, make sure you read the label. For example, the maximum THC content in edibles is 15 milligrams in Oregon, a US state where edibles are legal. According to Oregon Responsible Edibles Council member David McNicoll, the recommended maximum THC content per serving in edibles is five milligrams for beginners. Knowing this can make a big difference in your experience with edibles. Also, it can help you maintain composure when you expect the THC in the edibles to start kicking in.
8. Eating edibles on an empty stomach can be dangerous
While you can have your meal on an empty stomach, try not to do so with edibles. Eating edibles on an empty stomach can be dangerous to health due to how they digest. If consumed on an empty stomach, edibles can cause stomach upset or a bizarre hallucination afterward. Thus, make sure to eat edibles after taking some fluid or a proper meal.
Final thoughts
Although edibles have many similarities with everyday meals, try not to substitute one for the other. When consuming edibles, patience is key as it takes time for you to see the effects. Be sure of the maximum THC content before consuming any edibles and keep them in a cool, safe place to preserve them. Contrary to what you may think, you may not have had your best high yet until you’ve had some edibles.
