Marijuana edibles are food products that have CBD and/or THC in their recipes. Rather than having to smoke or vape cannabis, you can instead simply eat an edible. The effects won’t kick in as quickly as with other methods but they will often be much stronger and extended. People often prefer them when they want a high that will last longer. As an added bonus, with edibles, you always know the exact amount of THC or CBD you’re consuming. There are many different types of edibles at dispensaries for you to choose from, which can cause some confusion for people looking to try them out for the first time. Keep reading for a thorough introduction on what to expect from marijuana edibles and how to pick the right one.
Common Options
Technically, cannabis could be baked into almost any food as long as it’s added to the recipe. But there are some common types of edibles you can find at dispensaries, such as:
- Chocolates
- Gummies
- Cookies
- Brownies
- Chips
- Pizza
- Ice Cream
- Sodas
- Coffee
- Energy Drinks
Of these, chocolates, gummies, and brownies are the ones you’re going to see most frequently. The smaller the product, the less cannabis it will likely have and the better it will be for you to try on the first time. For that reason, gummies are your safest option, but chocolates can be a great choice for your first marijuana edible as well.
How They’re Made
There are two main processes for the making of edibles. Baked goods like cookies and brownies often incorporate canna-butter or canna-oil into the recipe. These are butter and oil that’s been blended with ground cannabis flowers. They substitute for the normal butter or oil in the recipe. If you ever wanted to make cannabis baked goods of your own, all you need to do is get some canna-butter or oil and add it as needed.
The other method for making marijuana edibles is by using a liquid cannabis extract. Drops will be added to products as necessary to infuse them with enough cannabis.
Effects
The different types of edibles at dispensaries will each come with different effects. Each strain will vary slightly, and can even differ from person to person. Usually, the products will give you all the information about their effects on the packaging for you to easily see. In terms of general rules to follow, keep an eye on the CBD and THC content of the marijuana edibles. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound that offers mental benefits like pain and anxiety relief without causing an intense high, allowing you to still function normally. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is what gives you a high. If you want a stronger experience, look for more THC. If you only want relief, CBD is the way to go.
Differences From Other Methods
There are a few key differences between edibles and other cannabis products like joints or vaporizers. For one thing, the effects of edibles are delayed. Depending on the product, it can take between 30 and 90 minutes to feel the effects of a marijuana edible versus the immediate effect of smoking or vaping. When you do feel the effects, though, they will be much stronger. The entire strength of the cannabis will hit you at once and will stick with you for a longer time. Because of the delay and potency, it’s easy to mistakenly take too much for your first time. Try to start with a lower dosage, like 2mg of THC, and be patient so you won’t overwhelm your system.
Tips
Here are some helpful tips you can follow as you try out the different types of edibles at dispensaries.
Get Comfortable
Marijuana edibles, particularly ones full of THC, will give you a high that’s difficult to manage unless you’re in a comfortable location. The best practice is to set up an area with a place to sit and lie down if you need to. If you’re worried about managing your high, it can also be a good idea to get a close friend or family member to watch you and make sure you do well. Taking edibles in a large group can be fun, but you run the risk of becoming too paranoid or claustrophobic. Unless you know you can handle it, it’s best to start out in a private place.
Have Snacks Nearby
One of the primary effects of marijuana edibles is appetite increase. This is because of how cannabis reacts with your brain and its appetite management. For some people, it won’t be too bad, but many people get incredibly hungry when they take edibles. When that happens, you’re going to want to have snacks nearby that you can munch on when you need to. It’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve eaten while on edibles, so it’s best to pick something light that you can eat a lot of, like fruit or chips.
Take it Slow
You can always take more marijuana edibles if you need to, but you can never un-take any. There will be different dosage guidelines for different types of edibles at dispensaries, but you generally want to start as small as you can and go up from there only if you have to. You can even cut them in half to ease the amount you get. You need to remember that it won’t hit you for a while. It’s a very common mistake for people to take a normal amount, then take a larger amount when they don’t feel anything and end up with too much.
Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something New
With all the different varieties of marijuana edibles to choose from, don’t be afraid to try new ones frequently. Each one will have a slightly different effect on you. It’s easy to fall into your comfort zone and stick with the same ones each time. But if you do that, you may never find the one you like the most. The odds of something bad happening are slim. As long as you’re responsible and manage your environment and dosage, you should be fine.
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