If you are not a smoker or you just want to try something a little bit different using cannabis edibles is the way to go! Edibles can be a wonderfully discrete way to consume cannabis but you have to make sure you are eating them properly as there can be some safety concerns. We want to give you the complete beginners guide to consuming edibles to make sure you stay safe but also enjoy them to their full extent.
Edibles have a more potent and have a powerful intoxicating effect for many people. They also have a delayed onset of around 90 minutes to a couple of several hours, making it extremely difficult to predict the onset time, what responses you will have and how long the high will last. Let’s get started with the basics:
What Are Edibles?
Edibles are cannabis infused food and usually contain activated cannabis. Activated cannabis is plant materials or oils which have been heated and chemically transformed into psychoactive substances.
Inhaling cannabis and ingesting cannabis can provide two completely different experiences. Edibles are actually much stronger than inhaled forms of the herb. Both forms provide a psychoactive high however edibles tend to produce a more potent experience for both the body and cognition (Perception of time, memory and movement.) We would recommend starting in small doses and moving up once you have developed some type of tolerance.
How Do Edibles Work?
Edibles work by being digested and then metabolised by the liver. The cannabinoids then go from there and reach the brain. This is why edibles usually take longer to feel the effects. When you smoke the lungs metabolise the cannabinoids and then reach the brain through the bloodstream making the effect quicker.
What Type Of Edibles Should I Try For The First Time?
First of all you will need to decide what type of high you are looking for and then find a product which will provide you with that result. Cookies and brownies are the most popular for beginners and are just popular in the mainstream industry. We, however, would recommend gummies or chocolate because they are not as intimidating.
Do They Taste Like Cannabis?
The answer is yes and no, how much edibles can taste like cannabis will depend on a variety of factors including flavour profile and it’s potency. Strong flavour profiles include chocolate and coffee for example and these will mask the taste of cannabis making it easier to eat for beginners.
What Are The Main Benefits Of Edibles?
Many consumers may be hesitant to smoke due to some of the negative impacts they can have and are more likely to try something they can eat, especially if they are new to cannabis or coming back to cannabis after a long break. Some of the main benefits include:
- Measured Dosage
- Longer Effects
- More of a body high
- You do not need any extra equipment
When you inhale cannabis the effects can occur within 15 minutes. Edibles need a lot longer to take effect, you may need 30 minutes and two hours before you notice any of the effects. It will vary a lot for each individual.
Can You Overdose On Edibles?
It is impossible to fatally overdose on cannabis when ingesting it. It is however, entirely possible to have an uncomfortable experience with edible cannabis. An overdose will not seriously harm you though it can make you feel uncomfortable for several hours. So make sure you are eating the correct amount.
The proper dosage will depend on your tolerance, metabolism and weight. Trial and error will be the only way to find the perfect dosage for you. A standard dosage is 10mg but we recommend starting with 1-2.5 mg and then adding this amount every time after that to find your sweet spot.
It is also important to note that like all food cannabis edibles do expire eventually. If you buy a pre packaged edible there will be an expiration date printed on the package. Homemade edibles last around a week. You can extend their shelf life by wrapping them in plastic and putting them in the freezer.
How Do You Make Cannabis Edibles?
A lot of people prefer the DIY route with edibles. You can even grow your own cannabis to have full control from start to finish. Autoflowering cannabis seeds are a special type of cannabis and will automatically flower within 3-4 weeks after germination.
Autoflowers take around 30% less time to grow than traditional cannabis plants which will save the grower time. If you live in a hotter climate, this makes it possible to harvest outdoors up to 4 times a year. They are also ideal for growers of all abilities. This will also give you a lot more control with how much you are eating, the potency and what type of high you will receive as a result.
With this in mind, cooking cannabis is a lot easier than you would think. Edibles are more often than not infused with some type of cooking oil with activated cannabis. Cannabis compounds are fat soluble which means that they melt into fatty substances. Many baked goods are made with cannabis infused butter, milk, olive oil or even coconut oil.
Dried cannabis can also be activated in the oven using low temperatures, Low temperatures are recommended to prevent the cannabis components from burning off, keeping your edible active. Do not cook your cannabis on a high heat, generally speaking temperatures below 180 degrees celsius are recommended.
How Do You Dose Cannabis Edibles?
This is a very personal experience as mentioned above. For beginners the THC dosage should start at 5mg or lower. 10mg of the psychoactive can seem quite strong for beginners. Medical cannabis users however may require a higher dosage per serving depending on what they are being used for. The appropriate dose for treatment or management of a medical condition should be determined by a doctor or professional.
Advice For Having A Good Experience
If you have done some research on cannabis and people’s experience then we wouldn’t be surprised if you have come across some horror stories too. Don’t let those stories affect you and it is more than likely that you will have a great experience as long as you approach them with caution.
The edible effects are music stronger and do last a lot longer. When cannabis is smoked the effects will usually last around a couple of hours but when you eat cannabis the effects can last as long as 7 hours.
Please keep in mind when you can consume edibles, especially if you are new to cannabis. Other things that you need to keep in mind include:
- Knowing exactly how much you are eating
- Starting off with a low dosage
- It takes from 45-90 minutes for a consumer to feel the effects of an edible.
- Only eat more if after 1.5 hours you still don’t feel the desired effects.
Remember when it comes to edibles you can always eat more to increase the effects, but once you have crossed a certain point the only thing that will help the effect will be time. So less is more with cannabis.
Finding The Right Edible For You
Long gone are the days of being limited to cookies and brownies. If you think of any food we can almost guarantee that people are infusing it with cannabis. Not all cannabis edibles are the same and it is likely that you will prefer the taste of some and dislike some others, this is completely normal. Here are a few edibles which you could start with:
- Mindy’s Lush Black Cherry Gummies – 5mg THC and 5mg CBD. You get twenty gummies per pack.
- Sweet Reason CBD Sparkling Grapefruit Water – 10mg CBD. You get 12pz per bottle.
- Kanha Nano Cran Pomegranate Punch Gummies – 5mg per gummy. You get 20 gummies per pack.
- Coda Signature Burnt Caramel Chocolate Truffles – 10mg THC per truffle. You get 6 truffles per pack.
- Lagunitas HI-FI Hops Cannabis infused Sparkling Water – 5mg THC and 5mg CBD. You get 12oz per bottle.
- Kikoko Mint Green Positivi-Tea – 10mg THC and 5mg CBD per tea bag. You get 10 tea bags per pack.
- Kin Slips Cloud Buster Sublingual Strips – 10mg of THC per slip. You get 10 slips per package.
- Pop-up Potcorn Jalapeno Cheddar Popcorn – 10mg of THC and 1mg CBD per bag. You get 10 bags per package.
- 1906 Bliss Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups – 5mg THC and 5mg CBD per cup. You get two cups per package.
- Peak Extracts Sour Space Candy Hemp Chocolate – 7.6mg CBD per chocolate square. You get 10 chocolate squares per bar.
If you are using cannabis for medical reasons, you might want to avoid products with sugar or gluten but apart from that the options are endless on what you can consume. Shop around and see what you like best. Ask people you know what their preference is and then from there you should be able to find the ones that fit your desired taste, effect levels and price range too.
