Comprehensive Guide to Edible Cannabis
Introduction
With the widening legalization of cannabis in US states for both medicinal and recreational use, the popularity of edible cannabis products has grown. This has led to a dramatic increase in sales of brands that are creating edibles available at cannabis dispensaries and increased interest in making edible foods and drinks at home for personal consumption. Edibles provide cannabis users who prefer an alternative to smoking flower or oil with a discreet method to consume cannabis and avoid the risks associated with smoking.
What are Cannabis Edibles?
Cannabis edibles refer to any food or drink that has been infused with cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and or CBD (cannabidiol). Because cannabis is lipid-soluble, once decarboxylated, it usually requires a fat-soluble medium, like butter or oil, for infusion to occur. Infusion methods include slow cooker, Mason jar, and cold infusion. Once infused into coconut oil, olive oil, butter, ghee, and MCT oil, the cannabis extract can enhance cookie and cake recipes, combine with flavored gelatins to form gummies, be added into salad dressing and soups, and when infused with alcohol, create tinctures to mix into cocktails and other drinks.
Benefits and Appeal of Cannabis Edibles
Studies have shown that cannabis can have therapeutic effects to treat chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia, provide anti-inflammatory relief, and improve appetites for people undergoing chemotherapy. Edible cannabis lets patients and other individuals consume cannabis without the risks associated with smoking and provides for accurate dosing when edibles are purchased at a cannabis dispensary, and the edible potency is labeled clearly.
For individuals seeking a longer-lasting high than provided by inhaling cannabis in flower form or from heated oil, cannabis edibles give users ones that can last up to 12 hours, depending on dosage and factors like metabolism and amount of food in the stomach. First-time users often make the mistake of expecting immediate results and don’t allow for the half an hour so required for the edible to be absorbed into the bloodstream. That’s why it’s always best, even for experienced edible users, to give the cannabis time to work before taking another bite of the edible.
Cannabis edibles such as HaHa gummies, Dreamland Chocolate products, and HaHa beverages are also a way for people to enjoy a cannabis experience discretely, and because they look like regular food items, they’re great to take along and enjoy while outdoors or socializing with friends who don’t want to be around or smell smoke from a joint or bowl.
Infusing edibles with cannabis also lets users get creative with gourmet meals when entertaining in the home or making treats for parties and get-togethers. In relaxed gatherings, people can enjoy the flavors that infused cannabis oils bring to salads, main courses, as desserts, and cocktails served throughout the evening.
How Do Edible Cannabis Products Work?
Edible cannabis products affect the body differently than inhalation methods, like smoking or dabbing. With edibles, it can take longer for the cannabis to take effect because it must pass through the digestive system and be broken down by the liver. Depending upon factors like metabolism and other food consumed, it can take roughly 30 minutes to 2 hours for the experience to begin occurring.
Edible cannabis products may produce a more powerful high because when the liver metabolizes the edible, it creates a potent compound called 11-hydroxy-THC, which is believed to have a stronger psychoactive effect than simple THC. Edible cannabis lasts much longer in your system than when inhaled, often between 6 to 12 hours, which make them ideal for extended pain relief or getting a good night’s sleep.
The best rule when consuming edible cannabis products, especially homemade products when actual dosage amounts may be hard to determine, is to start low, give it a half hour or so, then take another dose if needed. It’s recommended that new users start with doses around 2.5 mg, and a moderate dose of edible cannabis in the range of 5 to 15 mg. You should also take into account that cannabis smoking tolerance and edible cannabis tolerance do not necessarily equate, which is another good reason to err on the side of moderation if new to the edible experience.
How Are Edibles Made?
Creating edibles begins with a process called decarboxylation, which heats the plant’s flower to release and activate the THC and CBD compounds. The plant is then ready to undergo infusion by adding the decarbed cannabis to a fat or oil using a slow cooker or Mason jar infusion, which involves heat or a cold infusion method and can take 4 to 6 weeks until the procedure is completed.
If the end product is to be a savory dish, baked good, or dessert, infused fats that make for flavorful recipe ingredients include unsalted butter, coconut oil, or olive oil. For gummies and drinks, adding cannabis decarbed in high-proof alcohol or MCT oil (Medium-Chain Triglyceride) creates tinctures that can be infused in gelatins and vegetable glycerins for candies and gummies or mixed with alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages.
What are the Most Common Types of Edible Cannabis?
Edible cannabis products generally fall into two categories:
- Baked goods, soups, sauces, and desserts prepared using a fat-based infused ingredient like saltless butter, coconut oil, or olive oil
- Gummies, candies, elixirs, juices, and drinks infused with cannabis tinctures.
The most popular butter and oil-infused edible cannabis products include:
- Brownies
- Cookies
- Cakes
- Banana and Nut Breads
- Dreamland Chocolate Bars
- Dreamland Peanut Butter Bars
- Granola Bars
- Muffins
- Ice Cream
The most popular tincture-infused edible cannabis products include:
- HaHa Gummies
- Lozenges and Mints
- Hard Candy and Lollipops
- Sip Elixirs
- HaHa Beverages
- HaHa Juices
- Chews
- Taffy
- HaHa Sodas
How Long Does An Edible Cannabis High Last?
Many factors come into play when determining the length and intensity of an edible cannabis high including dose levels, metabolism, and even the edible can matter because gummies, lozenges, and beverages have different absorption rates than a brownie or cookie.
Most experts agree that users can expect an edible cannabis high that lasts anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. People with medical conditions that interrupt or prevent a good night’s sleep find edibles improve sleep quality and report waking up less throughout the night. Edibles are best enjoyed around a laid-back evening that doesn’t involve any driving or operating of machinery and that takes place in a safe, comfortable indoor or outdoor environment.
Understanding Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that can produce beautiful, succulent buds which contain cannabinoids, chief among these being THC and CBD, that exhibit medicinal and psychoactive properties, The three species of cannabis are:
- Sativa – This is the tallest growing plant of the species, reaching heights of up to 20 feet, and it has a longer growing cycle than the others, typically requiring 10 to 16 weeks to mature. Sativa strains tend to have higher levels of THC, the cannabinoid that produces a more cerebral, energetic, and focused high. This makes sativa a favorite for recreational users. These characteristics also make sativa a preferred strain to combat depression and fatigue. Edible sativa cannabis products offer users discrete ways to enjoy social settings and outdoor activities.
- Indica – This plant is typically shorter and bushier than sativa plants, rarely exceeding 6 feet in height. Their growing cycle is also shorter than their sativa counterparts, taking between 6 to 8 weeks. The indica strain tends to have higher CBD levels and lower levels of THC than sativa plants and produces a calming and relaxing effect and ‘body high’ feelings of tranquility and sleepiness. The levels of CBD found in indica strains make it useful among users for chronic pain relief, inflammation insomnia, and sleep disorders. Other conditions that indica cannabis can be used to treat are anxiety stress nausea, and loss of appetite. Edible indica cannabis products, especially when purchased at a cannabis dispensary and labeled accurately, help users seeking medical benefits or winding down at the end of a long day determine the correct dosages.
- Ruderalis – Although many botanists consider it to be a unique plant apart from both indica and sativa, this plant shares many characteristics with the two. It contains lower levels of THC than the other strains but has the highest CBD content. It rarely grows above 3 feet tall, and its leaves have three main points and two tiny ones, unlike the 7 to 9 point leaves that people associate with sativa and indica leaves. One other major difference is that the ruderalis plant produces flowers based on age, not light cycle. This auto-flowering trait, as well as a high resistance to pests and disease, makes it popular for breeding with sativa and indica plants to create auto-flowering hybrid strains. The strains are often used in balms and lotions for pain relief.
About Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds found in cannabis plants that interact with the body and produce effects dependent upon the strain of cannabis ingested or inhaled. Cannabis plants can contain over 100 different cannabinoids, many of which may have medicinal or psychoactive effects. The most prominent cannabinoids in most cannabis plants are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol).
- THC – This cannabinoid produces the “high” that most people associate with cannabis use, such as euphoria and altered perceptions, although THC levels can vary widely between different strains and products.
- CBD – This compound doesn’t create a euphoric high but instead is known to create a full-body high that is relaxing and calming. It’s been used to treat anxiety and pain and reduce seizures.
Effects of Cannabinoids on the Body
Cannabinoids can cause several effects on the body, both beneficial and unpleasant.
THC leads to feelings of euphoria, altered perception of time, and improved sensory awareness. However, it can also lead to feelings of anxiety and paranoia and result in impaired judgement. It can elevate heart rates, cause red and bloodshot eyes, or produce a dry mouth also known as ‘cottonmouth’. Therapeutic benefits include pain relief, nausea reduction, appetite stimulation, and anxiety relief. High TCH-strains can cause heightened anxiety.
CBD doesn’t produce the same ‘high’ as TCH, but it can influence serotonin receptors, which help with regulating mood, and vanilloid receptors to reduce pain in the body. It has been shown to help manage chronic pain, like arthritis, and reduce inflammation. CBD research indicates that this cannabinoid can address anxiety disorders, improve sleep, treat epilepsy, and perhaps even provide relief for conditions like Parkinson’s disease and reduce high blood pressure. While considered safe, CBD can create a condition called ‘couch lock’ when the body feels heavy and inert.
Cannabinoids pose other potential health risks. When smoked, it can produce the same ailments associated with inhaling tobacco, such as lung cancer and emphysema. Users who develop a cannabis dependence may fact withdrawal symptoms like irritability and insomnia when they stop. Physicians also warn against cannabis use during pregnancies which may affect fetal brain development.
Safety and Dosage
Safe dosing to attain an enjoyable experience and the desired high or therapeutic effect can vary between individuals. It may require a little experimentation for users new to edibles. The reason is that everyone’s body breaks down the THC differently based on factors like metabolism, weight, and even whether it’s consumed in the form of a baked good or a gummy. The rule to follow, especially for first-timers, is ‘Start low, go slow.’
The standard dosage recommendation for new users is to consume no more than 2.5 mg and to allow about 30 minutes for the edible to get broken down by the liver and introduced into the bloodstream, through which it makes its way to the brain. Fortunately, edible cannabis products purchased at a cannabis dispensary near you will have labels that provide THC and CBD percentages and ratios, doses per package, expiration date, and storing instructions. This makes it easier to manage the amount consumed with confidence that the edible will be effective.
One reason it’s important for those new to edibles, even users who have been inhaling for years, to start low and go slow is because the liver converts THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, which has a greater potency than THC and creates a longer-lasting effect. Impatience and consuming too much too early can lead to an unpleasant time that might include anxiety, paranoia, and discomfort.
It can also be a good idea for new users to consume edibles in a safe, friendly environment and among trusted friends. Edibles can impair driving ability, so finding a location where an edible experience lasting hours can be enjoyed without the need to get behind the wheel or on a bike is also suggested. Avoid mixing edibles with alcohol or other drugs, as this can increase the risk of impairment and health risks. Most uncomfortable edible cannabis experiences will pass with time. If breathing difficulties occur or physical symptoms turn unpleasant, seek medical advice or have a friend or family member provide transportation for medical help.
Store cannabis out of the reach of children and pets, and because many edibles look like everyday non-cannabis products, it’s wise to keep them in a separate area. If making and enjoying edible cannabis baked goods or gummies at home, label them distinctively to avoid any confusion and misidentification. Underlying health conditions, like heart disease or psychosis, can be exacerbated by edible cannabis products, and it’s best to avoid edible if pregnant or breastfeeding.
