101 Guide to Edibles: Everything you need to know!
Eating cannabis edibles can be amazing. But if you take the wrong dose, it can quickly become an inescapable nightmare. That is why it is so vital to get to know everything about edibles before experimenting on your own.
Edibles are a smoke-free alternative to getting high, which is why most people prefer them. The Marijuana Business Daily actually reported that there was a surge this year in edible sales. They also reported that people were preferring edibles to buying flowers, for example.
One thing is for certain, it doesn't matter if you are a newbie or a cannabis connoisseur. You need to know your edibles before consuming them. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about these high-inducing treats.
Are you wondering how long it takes to feel high? Are you unsure of how much to take?
Do you need a few tips and tricks to maximize your experience? Are you looking for awesome edible recipes?
Continue reading to have all your questions answered.
What are edibles?
Edibles are cannabis-infused foods or beverages. It can come in all sorts of presentations. From the famous pot brownie to THC artisanal beers, the edible industry is infinite. There are actually very few foods or drinks that can’t be infused.
You can divide edibles into two main groups: high-inducing edibles and CBD therapeutic edibles. We will cover everything there is to know about both.
High-inducing edibles are the ones containing high percentages of THC. Also known as the psychoactive substance in cannabis. All these edibles are made with purified THC or a distillate concentration of THC. These are the ones that make you laugh and give you a severe case of the munchies.
CBD edibles, mostly gummies, are for therapeutic purposes. They only contain cannabidiol, which is the non-psychoactive part of cannabis. CBD gummies are used to treat chronic pain, arthritis, Parkinson's, cancer, anxiety, depression, and other common illnesses.
Low-dose CBD edibles do not cause mind-altering effects. However, high-dose THC edibles can even cause hallucinations. So it is important to study edibles before experimenting with them.
Keep reading to find your perfect dose. Also, check out our tips and tricks for having the best edible experience ever! A severe case of the munchies is incoming.
Types of edibles?
There are tons of presentations for edibles. You could actually infuse cannabis into any food or beverage. There are also capsules and oils that you can ingest. But let’s stick to food and drinks. The most common are the following:
- Baked goods (cookies, brownies, biscuits, cakes, bread)
- Candy (gummies, lollipops, chocolate, truffles, marshmallows, caramel)
- Beverages (coffee, tea, soda, beer, wine, whiskey)
- Salty treats (jerky, chips, sauces)
- Base products (milk, butter, olive oil)
Separation of the types of edibles is vital. Why? Well, different foods or beverages have different metabolic processes in our bodies.
This can affect the duration of the trip and how long it takes to hit. For example, sugary foods will take less time to hit and last longer. Furthermore, an alcoholic THC beverage will hit you faster than a THC soda.
This is because alcohol and sugar affect the bloodstream. Which is how cannabis is activated when ingested. The ingredients are basically a vehicle. The easier access to your bloodstream, the better.
So, keep this in mind when consuming edibles. The ingredients affect the outcome of the high.
Smoking vs eating weed
The states that have legalized weed are growing. And the legalization of marijuana on a nationwide level is right around the corner. Because of this, edibles are becoming a highly sought-after option.
The benefits of CBD edibles have proved to be extremely effective against anxiety and chronic pain. This is great news because the alternatives, such as morphine or antidepressants, are far more hazardous to human health.
Let’s talk about the benefits that edibles have and how they differ from smoking. For starters, the high you can get from an edible is much more intense than the one you can get from smoking.
This can be a positive trait, but it is also dangerous for even the most veteran smokers. Why? Edibles take much longer to hit than smoking. And it can be easy to go too hard too fast. Especially if what you are eating is a delicious-tasting treat.
It also tends to last longer. When given really high doses of THC edibles, it is possible to be high for as long as 24 hours. Some might think that sounds like a really great Netflix marathon. But, believe us, it can get to be a lot.
One of the biggest benefits, however, is the fact that edibles are smokeless. Which means you can consume them anywhere. This also means that they are extremely discreet, a huge plus.
Edibles also don’t cause any damage to the respiratory system. They do, however, cause a hell of a bad trip if you aren’t careful. So, here are some awesome dosage tips.
How much cannabis should an edible contain?
The main thing to watch out for when consuming edibles is the dosage. Dosing has always been a matter of debate. And we don’t recommend a standard dosing chart, when starting out.
The thing with knowing how much you should take, is that it is a very personal journey. The amount of cannabis you can eat depends on a lot of things. Some of the factors that alter the dosing per person are weight, metabolism, and whether they ate or not, among others.
If you want to calculate your personal dose in a more interactive way, feel free to take this quiz created by GQ Magazine. This will help you estimate the number of milligrams your edible should contain to have a good mellow trip.
However, there are standard measurements and general guidelines when it comes to edibles. Most have 10 milligrams of THC or CBD per serving. And although this is the standard serving, some doctors recommend from 2.5 to 5 mg per serving.
If you are the wake and bake kinda person, you might need more than just 10 mg of THC to get you where you need to be. If you are inexperienced with edibles, even 5 mg of THC can send you on your way to having the worst trip ever.
You see, one of the main factors when eating edibles is your THC tolerance. The more you smoke, the more tolerance and vice versa. So here is a chart that lets you get an idea of how much it might be good to consume depending on your tolerance.
If you want to make your own edibles at home, we also recommend you check out this edible dosage calculator. This one allows you to know how much to bake into your goods.
How long do edibles take to kick in?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to edibles. The generic answer is that it can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 3 hours. Some people have even reported that the edibles hit 6 hours after consuming them!
The time it takes for an edible to hit depends on a lot of things. That is probably why there is such a big difference in the times that consumers have reported.
First of all, it depends on the percentage of concentrated THC. The higher the dose, the faster the edible will hit. As we mentioned, it also depends on the type of edible.
For example, lollipops are ingested and not swallowed. Meaning the THC is absorbed through the mouth membranes. When this happens, the THC has easier access to the brain, and your trip will probably kick in faster.
Other factors that can affect the time it takes your edibles to hit are:
- Your dietary habits and metabolic rate both play a role.
- The frequency with which you consume cannabis
- It also depends if you are male or female (women have been found to be more susceptible).
- Your weight
- Your tolerance
- Your way of life, exercise routine, and sleep schedule
As you can see, there is no specific answer to this question. You just have to experiment and see how your body reacts to edibles. Start off really small and work your way up.
Remember, don’t take a second dose until you feel the effects of the first one. Some experts even recommend waiting for up to 24 hours before dosing again.
How long do edibles last?
When edibles finally kick in, the next question people ask is: how long will this last? Since marijuana is famous for slowing time down, it can seem like forever. Don’t worry, you will come down eventually.
Unfortunately, this also depends on a lot of factors. What is for certain is that your trip will last a lot longer than when smoking. The average time an edible trip lasts is around 3 hours.
Remember, though, it can depend on individual factors like metabolism, weight, and tolerance. In a 2016 study, researchers actually found that most edible consumers reported a surprisingly high duration of the trip. So, just enjoy the ride, however long it lasts.
Tips and tricks
Here are 10 amazing tips and tricks to help you achieve a great edible experience:
- If you are a newbie, start off with a 2.5 mg dose. This will ensure you don’t have a bad trip.
- If you are just beginning to make your own weed treats, try reducing the THC and CBD amounts the first time, just so you get a gist of how it hits you.
- Make sure you don’t take too much too fast.
- Eating before consuming can be a great idea!
- Set the right conditions for your trip. Ambiance and music, for example, can be very big game changers! We suggest making a playlist and setting calm lighting around you.
- Choose the people you get high with wisely. Try consuming with people you trust and have a great time with. Not the people that might make you feel anxious or bad.
- Prepare your munchies! You never know when they might hit, and trust us, you want to be prepared.
- Lastly, just enjoy yourself! This is your time to lie back and relax, so do it!
- Check in with yourself, an edible experience can be a great time to love yourself.
- If you are getting overwhelmed with the experience, drink lots of milk. The high fat percentage of the milk will absorb the THC and help you come down faster.
Warnings and Precautions
When consuming edibles, there are a few things to look out for. You can’t overdose from smoking weed, but people have ended up in the hospital for eating too many edibles. So here are some precautions you should take when eating cannabis.
Remember to never drive after eating an edible. They can hit you unexpectedly, and this could cause a potentially mortal incident. Just avoid cars all together when experimenting with cannabis-infused treats.
Also, keep in mind how easy it can be to overdose. Make sure you calculate how much you should take. Trust us, you don’t want to have a bad trip on an edible. They’re the worst!
How do you know you’ve had too much? According to Healthline, some of the symptoms of a weed overdose can be:
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Irrational thoughts or general confusion
- Hallucinations
- Out of body sensations
- Lethargy or drowsiness
- Vomiting
- Impaired mobility
- Paranoia
- Heart palpitations
- Low blood pressure and glucose levels
Though these symptoms might sound really scary, an overdose is unlikely to happen if you don’t consume more than 10 mg, which is the industry's average dose. So, you should be fine.
If you feel any of these symptoms, however, please call a doctor and make sure you are not having a bad reaction. We also don’t recommend you experiment with edibles if you have hallucinogenic illnesses like schizophrenia. Edibles will only worsen your condition.
Easy edible recipes
If you are looking for some amazing edible recipes, please feel free to check these out. They are the easiest, most delicious cannabis-infused recipes out there!
This weed grilled cheese is the perfect satly cannabis-infused lunch. You will want to have 10 of these after trying them!
These cannabis chocolate chip cookies are the easiest to make. You will be enjoying your chocolatey cannabis-infused cookies in no time!
You can also make a quick strawberry weed jam. You can use it on a variety of things. It can also make for a great wake and bake experience to enjoy with your morning coffee!
And last but not least, we have a recipe for the famous pot brownies. They are classic for a reason. It is also one of the most potent vehicles for THC given the high percentage of sugar.
Edibles in Miami
If you are in the Miami area, check out Mama Munchies Hemp Coffee Shop. You can also find a great retailer and buy edibles online. There are a ton of legal retailers. So, don’t worry about that.
If you are looking to make your own edibles. We definitely recommend you check out our flower inventory.
There are tons of flowers you can choose from to make you own healthy edibles! Get some of their best CBD strains like purple gas or blue genius exotic.
Conclusion
Edibles can be a great experience! And we are sure that with this information you are set up for an amazing trip!
Always remember to check your dosing and keep calm and carry on when under the influence of edibles. Weed is a great way to self-awareness and a sure way to have a great time! So, keep this in mind and simply enjoy yourself!
Please feel free to comment in the section below and share your own experiences with us.