WHAT ARE EDIBLES?

It’s true that cannabis edibles are intended to be consumed. Edibles enter the bloodstream through the digestive system, as opposed to smoking or vaping. Therefore, compared to smoked or vaporized flower or concentrates, edibles take a lot longer to “hit.”

Cannabis edibles come in a plethora of varieties. Baked goods like brownies and cookies, as well as other sweet treats like gummy bears, are some traditional choices. However, cannabis can be added to almost any food or snack. Some creative products that are making their way onto the shelves of legal markets include truffles, coffee, honey, chocolate bars, fudge, pasta sauce, lemonade, and much more, shop here.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CBD AND THC EDIBLES?

Although there are hundreds of chemical components in cannabis, THC and CBD are the two most prevalent ones. THC is the primary intoxicating component that gives cannabis its well-known high, while CBD is a non-intoxicating ingredient that is frequently found in health and wellness products.

The primary distinction between edibles containing THC and CBD is their chemical composition and consequently their effects. CBD edibles won’t make you feel euphoric; THC edibles will. However, be aware that different edibles may have different ratios of THC to CBD, and as a result, different effects.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EDIBLES?

There are many benefits to cannabis edibles that make them an attractive alternative to smoking, vaping, or dabbing.

• STRONGER, LONGER-LASTING EFFECTS

Cannabis edibles provide a slower release of cannabinoids into the body and take longer to start working because the digestive system breaks them down. When using edibles containing THC, this causes a more gradual and longer-lasting stone.

The amounts of cannabinoids in edibles are typically higher than in a few hits from a joint or vape pen. Additionally, when consuming THC edibles, the compound is broken down by the liver into the highly potent metabolite 11-hydroxy-THC, which crosses the blood-brain barrier considerably more readily than delta-9 THC. Edibles containing CBD have a slow release and are metabolized by the liver, so they won’t get you stone cold.

• EASY DOSING

Edibles also have the advantage of being considerably simpler to dose. Your best bet for dosing when smoking or vaping cannabis is to limit how many hits you take. But you can’t really tell how much you’re consuming from that. Conversely, edibles can simplify the dosing process.

To ensure that consumers have a safe and satisfying edibles experience, cannabis edibles in certain legal cannabis markets must be clearly labeled with the amount of cannabinoids in a single serving. While dosing edibles made at home is admittedly a little trickier, it is still simpler than dosing, say, a joint.

• DISCRETION

Regretfully, there are still prejudices and outdated stigmas against cannabis users. Cannabis use by medical patients is still closely monitored. Fortunately, edibles can help cannabis users overcome that stigma by offering a straightforward, covert, and smokeless method of consuming cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes.

• EXPERIMENTATION

Edibles can easily be made at home using infused canna-butter or oil that you can literally add to any dish. This allows cannabis users the opportunity to experiment with doses and recipes to find new ways to enjoy a high that you just don’t get from smoking.

HOW TO DOSE CANNABIS EDIBLES

If you are lucky and have the chance to buy labeled edibles, dosing is easy. It is literally just a matter of following the instructions on the package or modifying the serving size to meet your needs. If not, dosing of cannabis edibles can be a bit harder. We have put together some guidelines underneath to ease the process for you.

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend sticking to the following doses based on your goals and experience level:

• Microdose (2.5mg THC): This is a great entry-level dose if you’re new to the world of edibles. You can expect to feel slightly uplifted and more focussed, with a notable drop in anxiety.
• Low dose (5mg THC): A dose of this size should produce more uplifting, energising effects. You might also experience a boost in creativity or sociability.
• Regular dose (10mg THC): This is widely considered a standard dose of THC. When ingested, a dose of this size will usually kick in after about one hour and produce a relaxing stone that can last for 4–6 hours, depending on your metabolism and body chemistry.
• High dose (25mg+ THC): Medical patients and those with a high tolerance may need 25mg of THC or more to feel a significant effect. For inexperienced users, however, this amount will catalyse a long and intense high. Proceed with caution.

Even though dosing edibles at home is more complicated, you can still work out how much THC is going into your homemade meals as long as you know the % of THC/CBD it contains.

For example, if you’re using 10 grams of dried cannabis flower (10,000 milligrams) with a THC concentration of 10% to infuse 20 grams of butter, you can calculate that the butter will contain a total of 1,000mg of THC (10% of 10,000). If you then use that butter to make a batch of 30 brownies, you can assume that a single brownie will contain roughly 30mg of THC.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR EDIBLES TO KICK IN? HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?

The breakdown of an edible by your digestive system occurs before the effects of the cannabinoids take hold. The type of edible you consumed, the potency of your dose, your metabolism, and whether or not you already have food in your stomach will all affect how long this takes. Of course, tolerance is also a major factor in this.

Generally, an edible should start to take effect after approximately one hour. If not, you should give yourself an extra half-hour before increasing the dosage. This is due to the fact that, despite taking some time to manifest, the edibles’ high tends to go from 0 to 100 very fast. If you’re disappointed in yourself for not being as high.

HOW DO EDIBLES DIFFER FROM OTHER FORMS OF TAKING CANNABIS, LIKE SMOKING/VAPING?

Edibles are not the same as conventional cannabis that is smoked or vaped. Firstly, instead of buds that have been cured, they contain concentrated cannabis suspended in fat, typically butter or oil. They resemble a cannabis tincture more than a typical dry herb in that regard, despite having very different effects on the body.

Edible cannabis is typically said to have strong physiological effects that are distinct from those of smoking or vaping. And this is for very good reasons.

Cannabinoids such as THC that are inhaled through smoke or vapor enter the bloodstream through the lungs’ alveoli, where they cross the blood-brain barrier and start to act quickly. On the other hand, edibles use your digestive system to absorb cannabinoids into your bloodstream. This is where cytochrome P450, a class of liver enzymes, starts to convert these cannabinoids into their individual metabolites. For instance, Δ9-THC is converted into 11-OH-THC, a significantly stronger form of THC, which subsequently crosses the blood-brain barrier to exert its effects.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN EDIBLES

It’s very easy to make edibles at home. To use it in all of your favorite recipes, simply infuse butter or oil with decarboxylated cannabis flower. To make sure your cannabis infusion works, decarboxylation is a process that uses low heat to “activate” the cannabinoids in your flower. THC and CBD, respectively, are produced by this process from precursor cannabinoid acids like THCA and CBDA, shop here.

MAKING CANNA-BUTTER

1. First, decarboxylate your cannabis flower. To do so, grind your flower, spread it out on a lined baking tray, and bake at 120°C for 30 minutes.
2. Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add in your butter, allow it to melt, then add in your decarboxylated cannabis and reduce the heat to low.
3. Allow the mixture to simmer until the majority of the water has evaporated.
4. Cool your butter, strain it into a container through cheesecloth, and place it in the fridge.

MAKING CANNA-OIL

1. Decarboxylate your cannabis flower.
2. Place your flower in a mason jar together with olive, coconut, or any other type of vegetable oil.
3. Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil.
4. Add the mason jar into the water bath and “cook” for one hour, stirring regularly.
5. Strain your oil to remove any pieces of plant matter.

You can use cannabis oil or butter to infuse almost any dish. Remember that cannabinoids are fat-soluble, which is why they need to be extracted into oil or butter. Don’t try to just throw some flower into your food, or you’ll only be wasting weed and ruining your recipe.

INDICA VS. SATIVA — PICKING THE RIGHT STRAIN FOR YOUR EDIBLES

When creating edibles at home, it’s important to use the appropriate strain, just like when smoking or vaping. We suggest using a strain that you are already comfortable with, if possible. Just bear in mind that, depending on how much you take, the effects will be stronger and last longer if you consume it in edible form.

If you’re looking for a more laid-back, couch-lock kind of experience that’s ideal for relaxing after work while watching a movie or listening to your favorite record, generally speaking, stick to indica strains. However, if you’d rather experience a more cerebral, hallucinogenic high, you might want to pick some invigorating sativa strains for your edibles.

Recall that genetics alone cannot determine a cannabis strain’s effects. The amount of terpenes and cannabinoids in a strain is what actually determines how strong of an effect it has. If you’re fortunate enough to reside in a place where cannabis is accepted, speak with your budtender about the kind of experience you’re after and they will help you select the ideal strain for your edibles.

Look for strains with higher CBD concentrations if you’re looking for a less potent high. Research suggests that CBD may be able to lessen some of the psychoactive effects of THC, providing users with a more calming experience that may be especially beneficial for those who are unfamiliar with edibles.

EXTRA TIPS FOR MAKING/TAKING EDIBLES

Here are some hot tips to bear in mind on your journey to making and/or taking edibles. Ultimately, it’s about trial, error, and adjusting the dose to suit your preferences:

• START LOW, GO SLOW

The secret to mastering edibles is really this. Keep in mind that edibles have a delayed onset of action compared to smoking or vaping, but once they do, the effects are much stronger and last much longer. Therefore, always remember to start small and wait a little period of time before consuming larger doses. For instance, if you’re eating brownies, start with a half portion, wait, and then finish the meal in 45 to 60 minutes if necessary, shop here.

• STAY OFF THE BOOZE

Mixing cannabis and alcohol can be messy. If you’re new to edibles, we highly recommend staying off the booze until you’re familiar with edibles and how they make you feel.

• EAT BEFOREHAND

Taking cannabis edibles on an empty stomach is a bad idea. Always eat a proper meal before getting high to ensure the effects come on gradually, shop here.

• DON’T SNACK ON EDIBLES

We’re all familiar with the munchies. If you’re going to try edibles, make sure to keep a solid selection of non-medicated snacks on hand so you’ve got something tasty and, most importantly, non-intoxicating to munch on.

• ADD LECITHIN TO YOUR HOMEMADE EDIBLES

Nutrients such as eggs, avocados, sunflower seeds, and more contain lecthin. In addition to binding together fat, water, and dry ingredients (such as those found in brownies), lecithin has the ability to increase the potency of your edibles. It achieves this by maximizing the body’s absorption of cannabinoids.

• LABEL AND STORE YOUR EDIBLES CORRECTLY

Whether you get your edibles from a store or make them yourself, always ensure you label them correctly and store them safely in your house. This almost goes without saying, but be sure to keep your edibles well away from children and animals.

• DON’T DRIVE

Cannabis and cars don’t mix, regardless of how you choose to get stoned. Always stay off the road when you’re high.

• RELAX AND ENJOY!

Using edibles is an exciting and enjoyable way to consume cannabis; all you have to do to make sure it’s a good experience is to refer to the advice in this article. To ensure you can properly enjoy your edibles, feel free to make a check-list of the points we’ve covered here.