Cannabis edibles, including weed-infused treats, are nothing new but are experiencing a resurgence with hundreds of new, innovative foods that are being infused. This resurgence highlights the diverse cannabis consumption methods available today. You can enjoy cannabis infused edibles like bbq sauce at your next cookout, drizzle infused olive oil over your salad greens, sip an infused wine at dinner, and for the sweet tooth, the dessert options with edible cannabis are limitless.
As edibles gain new traction and popularity in the more mainstream markets, there are several important things to remember to ensure a safe and fun experience – particularly if you’re just setting out to explore infusions.
1. The High From Cannabis Edibles Hits You Differently
When you ingest cannabis that’s been infused into food or beverage you MUST remember to pace yourself. It typically takes about an hour, and sometimes up to two hours, for the effects to kick in so it’s important not to eat too much too fast or you may find yourself feeling worse than before. Compared to when you smoke cannabis, where the effects can occur within 15 minutes, edibles require patience due to the THC being processed by the liver. Do not eat an entire cannabis chocolate bar if you are new to edibles. Start with a small piece and then sit back and relax, wait to see how you feel before eating more. Edibles offer a different experience from other cannabis consumption methods, providing a more prolonged effect compared to the immediate but shorter-lived high of smoking cannabis. Start low (5mg of THC is a lot for many people) and go slow.
2. With Edible Dosage, a Little Bit Goes a Long Way
If you’re consuming edibles with a regular user, don’t try to keep up with them. Pace yourself and remember to find the right edible dosage to get the effects you want without the side effects.
There have been many stories of inexperienced users having not so great experiences with edibles. Like in 2018, a Canadian police officer made headlines when he and his partner ate cannabis infused chocolate they had seized as evidence. They had no idea how potent it was and reportedly had hallucinations and called for backup.
You have to eat a lot of edibles in order to start ‘tripping’ but it can be done, so go low and go slow.
Another one in 2022, a group of senior citizens at a retirement home ate THC laced brownies during game night. The unsuspecting seniors found themselves on a wild psychedelic ride, some thought they could talk to their houseplants.
These could have been avoided if they had paced themselves and been mindful of the THC edible dosage. Always start low, wait and adjust to ensure a safe and fun experience.
3. A Brownie Is Still a Brownie – Don’t Go Overboard With Too Many Edibles
A Brownie is a Brownie – Don’t Get Carried Away with Too Many Edibles
One of the hardest parts of eating edibles is they come in the form of delicious treats. Whether it’s gummies, chocolates, cookies or those classic pot brownies, it’s easy to keep eating them because they taste good. But remember, these aren’t just regular snacks.
Even if you have a sweet tooth, don’t treat cannabis edibles like regular desserts. The golden rule is start low and go slow. Start with a small portion – much smaller than you would if it were just a regular brownie or cookie. Then wait at least an hour or two before you eat more. Typically you would gauge how much to eat based on the THC content, but if you or your friend has baked the brownies then maybe you won’t be aware of how much actual THC is present.
Remember, edibles can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to fully kick in. By the time you realize you had too much, it may be too late to avoid an overwhelming experience and make you green out.
Eating multiple edibles doesn’t just increase the intensity of the high, it can also extend its duration. What started as a fun night could turn into an uncomfortable long experience that lasts into the next day.
So, no matter how good those infused treats taste, always remember what they are. Treat them with respect, stick to the recommended dose and save your snacking for regular non-infused goodies. Your future self will thank you for being patient!
4. You Will Not Die, Effects Can Take up to Two Hours
At least not from the direct effects of consuming cannabis. So if you eat too much and are having an anxiety-riddled horrible experience take heart knowing that you will not die from it. I say this with confidence because no one has ever died from cannabis consumption. Ever.
It has been said that a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of THC in a joint in order to be at risk of dying. That would probably be the equivalent of someone trying to smoke a pyramid’s size worth of pot and take some serious dedication to pull off.
Cannabis infused food and cannabis infused foods offer a variety of safe edible options, ranging from gummies and chocolates to baked goods and beverages, providing a consistent experience.
Overdosing is a possibility (see #s 1, and 2) but a cannabis overdose is not like an opiate overdose. In this case, “overdose” simply refers to taking too large a dose which may potentially give you an increased heart rate, (problematic for those suffering a heart condition but not unlike ingesting higher levels of caffeine). The challenge of dosing with homemade edibles highlights the importance of understanding dosage, as it’s not always easy to determine the THC content or proper dosage, unlike pre-packaged edibles with labeled serving sizes.
5- If You Feel Anxious, Take a Nap
Eating cannabis in the form of edibles like a big cannabis brownie can sometimes lead to feelings of anxiety if consumed in excess. When you consume cannabis through edibles, the effects can be more intense and longer-lasting compared to other methods, due to the way the body processes THC. THC in edibles comes from the cannabis plant, extracted and infused into various products.
Weed edibles, including gummies, brownies, and cannabis-infused drinks, offer a variety of experiences but can cause anxiety if not consumed responsibly. If you begin to feel weird, or anxious, experience an elevated heart rate, or any other symptoms that suggest you’ve overdone it, the first thing you want to do is take some deep breaths and remind yourself that you will be just fine and that you will not die. Try to calm down and take a nap to sleep it off if you can.
If sleep isn’t going to happen, try drinking some water. Staying hydrated and drinking lots of water will help flush the THC from your body. Try a soothing herbal tea (just not a cannabis-infused herbal tea).
Take a bath or a shower or go for a walk or get some exercise to release endorphins. The goal is to relax and distract yourself so if going outside seems impossible maybe you could cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie or listen to a podcast (my favorite way to chill out).
If you just need to come down from your high RIGHT NOW take a page from Neil Young’s book and pop a couple of black pepper balls into your mouth to chew on. This Leafly article will explain the hows and whys of this particular trick but essentially it boils down to both black pepper and cannabis binding to the same receptors in your brain leading to a calming effect. If all else fails and you’re feeling yucky it’s worth a shot.
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