What are Edibles and how do they work?
What Are Edibles?
Edible medical marijuana is becoming increasingly popular as more states legalize it for medicinal and recreational purposes. Many edible manufacturers claim that edibles provide a more prolonged, more-sustained effect than smoking marijuana. But what exactly are edibles?
Edibles are food and drink products that have been infused with marijuana. They can take the form of candy, cookies, chocolate bars, and other goodies. Many edibles are designed to taste good — offering users an easier way to ingest marijuana.
Medical edibles are available in many flavors, forms, and dosages. In addition, edibles can be found in some surprising places, including drinks, capsules, and teas.
How Are Edibles Made?
Edibles are made with weed that’s ground down into fine material. The fineness of the grind is important because it allows for distribution throughout edibles. Edibles containing marijuana are treated similarly to food products, with edibles being carefully measured before cooking or baking begins.
After being infused, edibles are then heated in the oven to activate the marijuana. Depending on the recipe, you can cook edibles at different temperatures for varying amounts of time. Once the edibles are ready, they’re carefully packaged and delivered to medical dispensaries or stores where patients can buy them.
How Do Edibles Work?
Since edibles require digestion and are more difficult for your body to break down than smoking, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for them to take effect. However, if your edible is in liquid form, your body will process it more quickly, and you will feel the results within an hour.
Once your body digests the edible, it is then metabolized by your liver. Next, your body converts the edible to 11-Hydroxy-THC, making it more powerful. Once the THC passes through your blood-brain barrier, the edible will begin to take effect.
Because this method of ingestion takes longer than smoking, the psychoactive effects of edibles can last considerably longer. Always remember that edibles may take anywhere from four to twelve hours to absorb fully.
How Much Do I Eat?
When consuming edibles, consider your body’s tolerance, weight, and metabolism. Also, think about and other external elements like the edible’s form and potency.
As edibles are more difficult to metabolize, you need to be careful with the dosage. If you don’t know how much THC is in your edibles, begin with a very small piece and wait for the effects to take hold before consuming more.
What If I Eat Too Much?
The first thing to remember if you overindulge in edibles is that you will be fine. It’s typical to feel anxiety if you ingest a lot of THC. If you feel dizzy or sick to your stomach, sit down and try to relax. The adverse effects will eventually fade away, and you’ll be fine.
However, it’s important to note that edibles will not always have a negative impact on your body. First, try to figure out what might have caused your bad reaction. Then, continue experimenting with different types of edibles and strengths until you discover one that works for you.
Conclusion
Although edibles can be fun to experiment with, remember that edibles are often more potent than smoked cannabis. Be careful and don’t overdo it. Always start slow and try edibles when you have a lot of free time.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about edibles, contact our team at Medical Alternatives Clinic today. We are more than happy to answer any of your questions and help you make the perfect edible selection for you.
Sources:
https://www.encore-labs.com/11-hydroxy-thc-why-edibles-can-feel-more-potent
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-long-do-edibles-last
