Edibles: A Brand New Way to Enjoy Cannabis

Welcome to a brand new weed-infused world: legal edibles in Canada! At the end of 2019, the Canadian government finally allowed for the legal sale of edibles, opening up a universe of potent possibilities. Edibles are by no means an innovation, but the options available to buy in Canada today are far superior to the edibles of old.

Never tried edibles before? Or did you have one had experience in college with a homemade brownie that put a bad taste in your mouth (literally) for the rest of your life? Today's infused cannabis foods are precisely dosed, always delicious, and offer an incredible new to enjoy the medicinal and recreational benefits of cannabis. 

It turns out edibles can deliver a delightful experience when you know how to experiment with them. So, it's time to try again. But, this time with a bit of knowledge about how to keep the experience medicinally valuable and positive. 

What Are Marijuana Edibles?

Marijuana edibles include both foods and beverages and come in a wide variety of options. The homemade marijuana brownie is the classic example, but thanks to some creative food engineering, today, you can find just about any THC or CBD infused food. Cannabis gummies, baked goods, drinks, chocolates, and infused oils are all popular options.

What Are the Effects of Edibles?

Smoking cannabis and eating cannabis are two routes of administration with strikingly different effects. Smoking delivers cannabinoids through the respiratory tract for absorption into the bloodstream through the lining of the lungs. Edibles transport cannabinoids down into the digestive tract, where they eventually make their way into the liver, and only then do they absorb into the bloodstream. 

On your first inhale from a pre-rolled joint or vape pen, the cannabinoids take mere seconds to hit the bloodstream. It's less than ten minutes before they flood your brain with THC, and the intoxicating effects are apparent. But with edibles, your body has to fully digest the food before the molecules enter the bloodstream. That means it can take over an hour for the onset. 

A final notable difference is the duration of the effects. When smoked or vaped, the effects come on hot but dissipate quickly. Edibles come on slowly and linger. A strong edible may have long-lasting effects, including the intoxication, for six hours or more. It's not uncommon to wake up groggy the next morning after an especially big dose.

What are the Medical Benefits of Edibles?

Edibles deliver the same medicinal value as more conventional products, like joints and vapes, but in a slightly different way. That means edibles are just as suitable for targeting hard to treat chronic pain, stress and anxiety, and other chronic conditions, but the medicinal effects feel differently. Edibles, therefore, have slightly different applications.

Edibles tend to deliver profound effects for chronic conditions, especially those that may not always respond to more conventional pharmaceutical approaches. Those with chronic and difficult to treat conditions often turn to edibles (over smoking or vaping options) because the effects penetrate deeply into the endocannabinoid system, for long-lasting relief. Edibles also make it easier to take big doses, sometimes more than 100 milligrams of THC, which would be impossible for other consumption methods.

A final benefit for edibles, when used therapeutically, is the ability to dose accurately. With the THC content printed clearly on each package, it's easy to take a precise amount to avoid any adverse effects. If you take a 10 mg THC, you know that two will equal 20 mg. There is no guessing about how many puffs equal what amount of relief.

Tips for Your First Edible Experience

As you might have discovered, even people who are passionate about cannabis have a bad edible story. Edibles get a bad rap because some people only have experience with homemade edibles, and the dosage is never truly known. If you go into an edible without knowing the dosage, it's easy to overdo it. 

Thankfully, the modern edible for sale in Canada is an entirely new experience, from packaging to dosing to the final result. If you want to experiment with edibles today, here is what you need to know

1. Start with a low to moderate dose edible: Total cannabis-virgins will want to aim for 5 milligrams or less. Those with some experience with THC can start with 10 milligrams or less.
2. Don't Double Dip: Going back for seconds is the most common reason why people end up uncomfortable and comatose from edibles. Remember, edibles can take 90 minutes or more to begin. Always wait at least two hours before going back for seconds to avoid getting both doses at once.
3. Stay away from homemade edibles: The problem with homemade edibles is the unknown. How much THC does one piece contain? One bite? Unless the home chef knows what they are doing, a homemade edible can pack a big punch that you aren't ready for. Homemade THC treats are best saved for people with high tolerance, and a lot of experience.
4. Combine THC with CBD: Cannabidiol (CBD) is THC's gentler cousin. It's non-intoxicating and has antipsychotic benefits. Combined, THC:CBD gummies help to mellow out the high from THC. It will not only reduce the intensity but shorten the duration. If you have trouble with THC, adding a small dose of CBD is a good option.

Nothing beats a well rolled blunt, or big cloud of vapor, but edibles offer a brand new way to enjoy the recreational and medicinal benefits of this magical plant. With the new wave of marijuana edibles now available for sale in Canada, the rustic infused brownie-days of old are over. With delicious flavors, unique formats, and precise dosing, there is an edible out there for everyone. 

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