Edibles 101: All the Basics You Need to Know

What Are Marijuana Edibles?

Marijuana edibles are food items that have been infused with cannabinoids, the principal active ingredients in cannabis. The effects tend to be stronger and longer lasting than smoking marijuana. In addition to being a popular choice for recreational users, edible marijuana is becoming increasingly common as a form of medicinal treatment for patients suffering from chronic pain, mental disorders such as PTSD, seizure conditions, nausea from chemotherapy or other drug treatments, glaucoma, and HIV/AIDS wasting syndrome.

How Are Edibles Made?

In order to make edible marijuana products, you need the basics: a cooking space, some ingredients, and a way to process it all into something you can eat or drink.

Ingredients are chosen based on their own chemical properties, how they mix together when cooked or baked, and what effect they create when eaten. Obtaining the best results means combining cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with terpenes found in cannabis to produce an "entourage" effect that works together to produce certain experiences.

For cooking marijuana edibles, you'll need butter, oil, or some other fat for extraction, along with water or another liquid used to activate marijuana.

The basics of making weed edibles start at the foundation: What's actually in your marijuana edibles? Any reputable dispensary selling recreational marijuana should be able to tell customers the basics about their product before consumption—including THC content.

You're looking to ingest roughly 10mg of THC. This will vary depending on the strain you're using, but at least this much is guaranteed in any bud sold legally. The same goes for edibles containing CBD—you'll know exactly how much your purchase contains before anything else.

What Forms Of Edible Marijuana Are Available?

Marijuana edibles are any food product that contains cannabis, whether it is infused in the form of oils used to cook the dish or an added ingredient. Some popular marijuana edibles include pot brownies, candies, cookies, sodas, snacks like potato chips, and topical ointments. Marijuana can also be made into more healthy choices such as honey or tea by infusing it with cannabis oil.

Edible marijuana products tend to contain high levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), compared to traditional marijuana cigarettes. A single dose of edible marijuana products may range from 5mg- to 50mg while a typical marijuana cigarette only has 2mg-6mg per hit. Since a single dose is usually much larger for edibles than smoked forms of marijuana, the high can be more intense and often last longer.

How Can Edibles Be Consumed?

Edible marijuana is usually eaten, but it can also be added to other foods or beverages and then ingested. When placed in food or drinks, cannabis becomes virtually invisible. It may turn the surface of cookie dough green, but the dough itself will taste just like any other dough before baking—and after preparation, you would never know that it contains marijuana.

Do Edibles Affect  People Differently?

Yes, for the same reason that some people can drink alcohol responsibly and others can't. Everyone has different tolerances for psychoactive substances. Edibles affect people more intensely than smoked marijuana because THC is more rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream through the gut than through the lungs.

As far as how long it takes to feel an edible's effects, everyone will react differently but usually, you'll know after about an hour of ingesting them if they're working. It's not like taking a shot where all of sudden your buzz starts; these things take time.

When it comes to consuming edibles, the onset of effects is delayed when compared to smoking. It can take anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hours for effects to be felt with ingestion as opposed to seconds when smoking or vaping cannabis products.

The high lasts longer. Edible highs are said to last between 4-6 hours on average. Keep in mind that everyone's experience will vary. If you're new, don't try more than 10mg at a time! Feeling uncomfortable isn't worth it!

What Should I Keep In Mind When Ingesting Edibles?

• Read The Label

The label is there for a reason. Most of it you can just skip over if you know what's good, but the basics are the following: First and foremost of course is serving sizes. While these may vary from edible to edible, generally speaking, an "average" dosage is 10mg. So read the label before consuming more than one serving! Other basics on the label include ingredients (what goes inside) and nutritional facts (important to be mindful of your dietary needs).

• Start Low Go Slow

Don't overdo it the first time you try edibles. Less is more! It takes some time for edibles to kick in—it can take up to two hours sometimes—and even once they do hit their mark; it's easy to overdo it because you feel nothing at the beginning. The "spoon theory" is a great guide for how much to eat, but if you're eating your first-ever edible product, keep in mind that each person's metabolism is different and you might be more sensitive than others. Start slow and low until you get the hang of it.

• Eat First

A full stomach makes sure you don't feel sick or nauseous. Eating a full meal before ingesting an edible will also help to avoid eating too much. If you eat a full meal, your body is less likely to feel hungry and will be able to tell when the edible has taken effect.

So there you have it! Everything you need to know about marijuana edibles. Now that you understand the basics, it’s time to give them a try. Remember, start small and be patient; it can take up to two hours for the effects of edibles to kick in. And as always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call us today. We’re happy to help!