It took some time after legalization, but Canada finally added legislation to allow the sale of edibles in October. As the choice method of consuming cannabis for many, it’s great that edibles are finally being regulated and offered for sale – but many people have not yet experienced edible cannabis. If you’re one of those people, here’s a little information about what you might come across:
What are edibles?
“Edible” is a generalized term for cannabis-infused products, including beverages and foods (often candies or baked goods). Typically, they’re made with cannabis-extracted oils or dried flowers, and are a great option for any user looking to avoid inhaling smoke. However, the effect from edibles can be more potent and longer-lasting, and it generally takes longer for the high to kick in when compared to inhaling methods (due to your body needing to digest and break down the product before absorbing the cannabinoids in your intestines).
To make edibles, inactive cannabinoids such as THCA and CBDA are activated by a process known as decarboxylation, which converts them into active cannabinoids like THC, CBD, and CBN.
How do I take edibles?
That’s the most fun part – taking edibles is like enjoying your favorite snack or drink, but it gives you the effects of being high! When choosing your edible, however, it’s important to look at the dosage of the product. This will help determine how much you should eat, as a package of edibles is rarely designed to be eaten in one sitting. That being said, starting your first edibles experience with about 10-15mg of THC is a good starting point in order to understand how the different high will affect you. Most medical patients who use edibles take a daily dose of somewhere between 30-100mg (wherever they find the best effects), but recreational users have more flexibility as they are using edibles for the high itself. Finding your ideal dose requires experimenting – so make sure you start slow and work your way up to avoid any uncomfortable experiences.
Who are edibles good for?
For medical users, edibles can provide much more utility to certain patients when compared to smoking, as the places where THC is released into the system differs between the methods. For example, patients suffering from Chrohn’s Disease find edibles extremely beneficial due to the product activating within the GI tract, and people with asthma can use edibles to avoid inhaling smoke or vapor.
For recreational users, edibles provide a discreet and tasty way to get high – simply adding to the list of ways a person can consume cannabis. While some recreational users swear by smoking, it’s becoming very common for people to use edibles more regularly. Truthfully, for this demographic, it’s simply a matter of preference (or variety).
All things considered, edibles are a fun and discreet way to consume cannabis when done correctly. If you’re trying them for the first time, be sure to start slowly in order to avoid discomfort. Don’t re-dose until you feel the effects kick in, and you’ll definitely have some fun! Whether you’ll prefer edibles to smoking or not depends on your preferences, but it will certainly be interesting for you to see the different ways it affects you.