What is a Cannabis Edible? A cannabis edible, often known as a cannabis-infused food or just an edible, is a food product that contains decarboxylated cannabinoids from a cannabis plant. Both cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can be found in edibles, as can other minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBN. The term edibles can apply to either a food or a drink. Some cannabis-infused drinks are referred to as a liquid edible or drinkable.
The edible weed industry is continuously expanding from the production of gummies and baked products, to other edible forms like mints, beverages, capsules, and dissolvable powders.
In this blog, we’re going to talk about everything you need to know about cannabis edibles. This includes its history, effects, legalization, products, and more.
History of Cannabis Edibles
The usage of cannabis in cuisine has been traced back to 2000 B.C. in India. Bhang, a cannabis-infused drink prepared with yogurt, almonds, spices, and rose water, is an official drink of Holi, which is one of the most widely cherished and revered holidays observed by Hindu community members. The ancient Indians were aware of the oil-solubility of cannabis extracts. Hindus began consuming it as food and drink as early as 1000 B.C.
Another early kind of edible, known as majoun or cannabis jam, was initially developed by the nomadic Berber tribes of North Africa around the 11th century. The original recipe for majoun asks for cannabis extract, seeds from the datura plant, honey, nuts, and sometimes dates and figs.
The first recipe for a cannabis-infused edible product was published in the US in the early 1960s, in a cookbook written by Alice B. Toklas. This recipe, referred to as “Hashish Fudge,” was given to her by her close friend, Brion Gysin.
What is the Difference Between Edibles and Smoking Cannabis?
Consuming cannabis as edibles is one way to enjoy weed, aside from smoking marijuana. The primary distinction between marijuana edibles and smoked cannabis is the length of time it takes for you to feel the effects of the substance.
Cannabis edibles may reach their full effects from two to three hours after consumption and continue for six to 20 hours. Thus, while edibles take longer to take effect, their effects are longer-lasting.
On the other hand, smoking cannabis causes cannabinoids to enter the bloodstream much faster, reaching their peak in about 10 minutes and wearing off in a couple of hours.
Effects of Edibles
Both recreational and medicinal users use edibles. Compared to the effects produced by inhaling or smoking cannabis, edible effects may be more potent and long-lasting. The rate of cannabis digestion and its effects varies from person to person.
Possible Benefits from Eating Edibles
Possible health benefits of using edibles include:
- Pain relief
- Decreased inflammation
- Decreased muscle stiffness
- Anti-seizure
- Relaxation
- Lowered levels of anxiety
Related: What are the Best Weed Strains for Anxiety?
What Happens if You Eat Too Many Edibles?
Some people who consume too many THC edibles have reported experiencing adverse effects. Overconsuming edibles with significant amounts of THCcan produce various adverse side effects such as:
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Derealization
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Panic attacks
- Increased levels of anxiety
- Disorientation
Overconsumption of marijuana-infused products may also cause impairments in coordination and balance. This can increase the risk of falling, especially in older users. Short-term impairments in cognition, memory, and alertness can also be present.
Using a high dose of edible marijuana in the long-term has increased dangers, too. These include adverse effects on brain development, operation of the heart, memory, and cognition, as well as the state of psychiatric health.
Are Cannabis Edibles Legal?
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 categorized marijuana as a Schedule I substance. This means it is not recognized for use in any therapeutic applications.
However, the number of people buying cannabis edibles has skyrocketed in areas within the US where the drug is now legal. And it is now legal for recreational use in Missouri!
From The Earth dispensaries cater to recreational and medical cannabis use.
Stop in and see us in one of our five locations.
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 categorized marijuana as a Schedule I substance. This means it is not nationally recognized for use in any therapeutic applications.
However, with the current legalization of adult use marijuana in dozens of U.S. states, the number of people buying cannabis edibles has skyrocketed in those areas. Cannabis is now legal for recreational use in Missouri, so cannabis edible use among adults 21+ is allowed!
Most states in the US that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana require that the dosage information be included on the product label of packaged edibles. The details should include THC and other cannabinoid amounts in milligrams per serving, servings per package, and total amount per package in milligrams.
To ensure that your cannabis edibles are safely produced, properly labeled, and perfectly legal, make sure to only purchase edibles from a licensed dispensary like From The Earth. Our dispensaries cater to recreational and medical cannabis use. Stop in and see us in one of our five locations!
Eight Types of Edibles
There are many different types of edible infusions you can consume to enjoy edibles’ potential benefits and effects. You can find most of these options at From The Earth’s five dispensaries in Missouri.
1. Food
Cannabis is fat-soluble, so any food item that contains butter, oil, milk, or any other fatty material is capable of being transformed into weed edibles.
Gummies, baked goods, hard candies, chocolates, and other tasty treats are some examples of foods that can be infused with cannabis.
2. Drinks
Cannabis-infused drinks are liquids that contain THC, CBD, and/or other cannabinoids. With today’s emulsification technology, any beverage, such as soda, lemonade, punch, seltzer, and others can have cannabis infused into it.
3. Tinctures
Tinctures are concentrated extracts of cannabis made with alcohol. They are classified as edibles since they are intended to be consumed via the mouth and tongue.
Tinctures are often administered by placing a dropper full of the liquid beneath the tongue, which can then be absorbed directly into the bloodstream via the vast network of blood vessels located there. This is called the sublingual method. Because this method bypasses the digestive system, tinctures are able to take effect more quickly.
You may also add a tincture to any food or drink. Make sure to use the measured dropper for careful dosage, giving you control over the amount of cannabis you consume.
4. Dissolvable Cannabis Powder
Cannabinoid powder is tasteless and odorless, but it can still evoke the effects of cannabis. It can be used with a wide variety of meals and beverages.
Due to its solubility, dissolvable cannabinoid powder is easily absorbed through the digestive tract and produces effects in as little as 20 minutes.
5. CBD Edibles
Some edibles have a trace amount of THC, but the cannabinoid that predominates in them is the non-psychoactive CBD. CBD is the second most common cannabinoid in cannabis. CBD interacts with your endocannabinoid system without the psychoactive qualities of THC, so CBD products do not cause intoxication.
However, some CBD edibles do contain varying levels of THC, so read the label carefully. Edibles that contain only CBD may deliver the benefits of cannabis without the high that comes from the psychoactive effects of THC.
6. Cannabis Capsules
Since they are also digested in the gut, cannabis capsules are classified as edibles. It is simple and discreet to ingest cannabis in the form of capsules. Many people enjoy the ease of incorporating cannabis capsules into their daily vitamin and supplement routine.
7. Cannabis Oil
Canna-oil or cannabis oil is a product made by combining cannabis with any edible oil. Cannabis is often infused into MCT oil to be used sublingually, as with a tincture.
It can be used in baking or combined with other ingredients to create sauces or dressings. You can incorporate cannabis extracts into olive oil, avocado, walnut, or coconut oil, among others.
8. Cannabutter
Cannabis butter or cannabutter combines unsalted butter, cannabis, and water. Marijuana buds are cleaned and dried before soaking in melted butter or oil. Any cannabis cooking or baking recipe can benefit from the use of cannabutter.
Ten Considerations When Using Edibles
Exploring various cannabis edibles may be an exciting journey, but take note that edibles have qualities that are unique to them that you should take into consideration. Read on for ten of these considerations.
1. Decide Why You Want Edibles
Some people use edibles to enhance an enjoyable experience. If that’s the case for you, check out the best edibles to try before watching a comedy.
On the other hand, edible cannabis products can also be beneficial for managing specific health issues. Take note that these products might not be suitable for everyone, and will affect different people in different ways
The first step is to get the assistance of your primary care physician or a cannabis expert. This way, you can figure out whether consuming edibles is the most effective approach to accomplish your goal.
Even if the use of cannabis for medical purposes is permitted in your jurisdiction, it is normal that you might not feel at ease discussing the topic with your doctor. If you think your doctor is not equipped to discuss cannabis medication, you can try finding a list of licensed doctors to certify cannabis patients in your state’s health department. Such physicians can offer helpful advice on the use of cannabis in your particular case.
Do You Need a Marijuana Medical Card?
Having your medical card may be beneficial if you need a higher dosage or discount pricing on cannabis. Sign up for From The Earth’s medical card program so you can purchase, grow, and consume medical marijuana legally within Missouri. Schedule your appointment now to get in-store discounts and credits.
However, this may not be necessary since adults 21+ can now also enjoy recreational cannabis in Missouri! You can experiment with how cannabis edibles affect you before deciding if you want a medical card.
2. Decide on Edibles vs. Smoking or Vaping
There are several reasons why you may opt for edibles versus choosing to smoke cannabis. Inhaling cannabis through smoking or vaporizing will allow its compounds to act quickly, but effects will only last for 2-3 hours.
On the other hand, edibles are the complete opposite. While they take longer to take effect since they have to pass through your liver before they reach your bloodstream, once you digest them, they will continue to work for a significantly longer time.
Due to this, those who require the effects of marijuana to last for a more extended period (struggling with chronic pain or sleeplessness, for example) may choose to ingest cannabis rather than smoke or inhale it.
Edibles are probably not the greatest option if you want immediate relief from problems such as headaches. But edibles may be a safer option for patients with impaired lung function. Another benefit to edibles is that consuming edibles is often more discreet than smoking or vaping.
3. Cannabis May Cause Prescription Drugs to Not Work Properly
There is a possibility that using products containing cannabis might cause adverse interactions with other drugs you currently take. If you take prescription medication, you should first get the advice of a medical professional or a pharmacist before you decide on using edibles or any cannabis products.
There are specific interactions in which the use of cannabis can either boost or reduce the effectiveness of other drugs a person is taking. For instance, CBD relies on the liver to be broken down. If you take other pharmaceuticals that use the same path, it might influence how the body processes both drugs.
Both CBD and THC have been shown in laboratory studies to affect specific enzymes that are usually involved in processing many types of medications. Such medications include antidepressants and blood thinners. So, it is possible that cannabis could alter the functioning of these medications.
It is vital to speak with either your primary care physician or a medical professional specializing in cannabis treatment before using marijuana in conjunction with other medications.
4. Start With a Low Dose
The most important thing to remember when using edibles is to “start low and go slow.”. This means you should begin with the lowest dose and wait at least two hours before consuming any more. When trying new products or using edibles for the first time, you should start with an amount that is possibly even lower than the dosage in one serving .
A low dosage of THC in edibles is commonly believed to be 5 mg. If you are sensitive to substances or just nervous, you can start with something as little as 1 to 2.5 mg. Most edibles, like gummies or baked goods, can be cut in halves or fourths in order to lower the dosage.
A moderate dose would be between 10 and 15 mg, while a high dosage would be greater than 20 mg. Most users may receive the effects they want between 5 and 10 mg of cannabis. More experienced cannabis users may need to consume 20 to 30 milligrams to acquire the same results.
In the end, a dosage is simply a starting point, and it may take some trial and error to figure out which cannabis products and dosages are best for you.
5. Read the Product Label Carefully
Choose products that are clearly labeled with the dosage for a single serving. . Such products may be anything like gummies or capsules that are already individually dosed, as opposed to something like a chocolate bar that you would have to split into separate dosages manually.
To ensure you consume the appropriate quantity of THC, the product’s packaging should make the amount of THC present evident. Before being sold at dispensaries, cannabis products must be subjected to regulated testing before they can legally be purchased.
All of From The Earth’s edible options are accurately dosed and clearly labeled. Check out edibles with complete details on their product packaging at a dispensary near you.
6. Take Your First Dose in the Evening
Cannabis is known to have several effects, but two of the most frequent are relaxation and drowsiness. If you are using an edible cannabis product for the first time, the best time to sample it is in the evening. That way, it won’t be a problem for you if you do need to go to sleep. And if it doesn’t make you sleepy, you’ll know that it may be appropriate for day use as well.
7. Wait at Least Two Hours Before Taking Another Dose
It is known that edibles take a considerable amount of time to produce effects, sometimes at least two hours. The golden rule is to always go slow. This could be difficult for you to get used to if you often consume cannabis through other methods, such as smoking or vaping.
If it has been a few minutes and you still do not feel any effects, this does not indicate that you should increase your dosage. People run into trouble with edibles when they start feeling bored and take another dose since they believe the last one was ineffective. Once the first and second doses eventually take effect, they end up in an uncomfortable situation. And because edibles’ effects linger for a considerably more extended period, they have to endure their discomfort for several hours. There is no going back once you have taken them into your system, so always wait at least two hours between doses to be safe.
If it is your first time taking edibles, you should not take more than one dose within 24 hours. If you take your first dosage at night and do not experience any effects, you can try again the following morning.
8. Do Not Panic
Cannabis contains several chemicals, including THC and CBD, that exert their effects through interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that is naturally present in the human body. This system comprises many types of cannabinoid receptors responsible for a wide range of vital biological activities such as hunger, mood, memory, and the control of body temperature.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), when these systems get overloaded due to consuming too much cannabis, a person may experience confusion, anxiety, dizziness, and nausea. You may also experience a rapid heart rate at large dosages and may even be susceptible to developing auditory or visual hallucinations.
Despite how unpleasant these effects may be, they are just transient and are not expected to pose problems in the long run. While you wait for the effects of the drug to wear off, drink water, shower, practice deep breathing, and get some sleep.
9. Prepare Your Snack Food Before Ingesting Cannabis
Since there is such a wide selection on the market, you should have no trouble finding an edible cannabis product suited to your preferences. Most of these edibles are delicious– but do not leave them out for snacking purposes! You may end up consuming more THC than is comfortable.
The fact that cannabis has been shown to stimulate hunger makes it much more challenging to consume only one dose of a tasty edible.
Make sure to put the edibles away in a safe place after one dose and complement your edible with a cannabis-free snack like fruit or nuts, rather than junk food. Remember to also stay hydrated by drinking lots of water!
10. Keep Your Edibles in a Safe, Secure Location
If you keep cannabis edibles in your home, make sure to store them in a secure location that is out of reach of children, pets, and guests who might not be aware of what is in the items.
Even though consuming excessive cannabis won’t necessarily harm anyone, the experience may be somewhat unpleasant, particularly if it comes as a surprise.
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Note: This article is not medical advice. Please consult with your doctor for treatment for any medical conditions.
About the Author:
David Craig is the VP of Marketing for Illicit and From The Earth. Craig has been on the ground floor of developing multiple lifestyle and retail brands in the cannabis, fitness, and entertainment industries from Las Vegas to New York City.
