via unsplash.com
With the ever expanding market for cannabis products, there are plenty of options for how to take marijuana. The traditional way of smoking it is still a perfectly valid option, of course, but other means present different effects.
Edible cannabis can be a clean and safe way of consuming cannabis. They offer a different means to engage with marijuana – as opposed to smoking, for instance, – and, also, provide an experience which can be as much as 5 times as potent as THC by itself.
But why are edibles so much stronger than smoking? Let’s find out more about the differences in the processing that takes place in the body when taking edibles compared to smoking THC.
How Edibles are Processed in the Body
Smoking cannabis means that the THC is taken straight out of your lungs and transferred directly into your bloodstream. Depending on the type of strain that you smoke, this could have different effects, from either a stimulating and uplifting effect to a relaxing effect on both your mind and body. However, when it comes to edibles you will see an entirely different process and results.
Consuming an edible works by your body breaking down the cannabis in your digestive system. Both the cooking of an edible as well as the digestion process leads to a breaking down of the terpenes and cannabinoids which removes any of the effects found in the particular strain of cannabis that is in your edible. The removal of unique effects is why we can be sure that edibles cannot be differentiated by strain, despite the myths.
Once your edible has been broken down by your digestive system, it is then processed by your liver, converting the THC into something known as 11-hydroxy-THC. This is a chemical which can be up to 5x more potent than when you inhale THC. Because of this increased potency, it can be more important than ever to dose your edibles properly to avoid having a particularly intense experience which you aren’t prepared for.
But what are the right doses? We will now move on to help you understand and calculate the right dosage of edibles for you.
Guide to Dosing Your Edibles
There is a huge variety of edibles available including brownies, cookies, chocolates, gummy bears and so much more. Whether you are buying in a shop or you buy edibles online, it is important to always know the correct dose for you. All of these will carry a specified level of THC. It is important to remember that how much food you consume is not the important thing, instead, you should be paying attention to the amount of THC in each product.
The first thing you should know about dosage is that the largest amount of THC that is allowed to be contained in any one edible is 10mg of THC. In most places, this exists as state law and is put in place to protect customers and ensure the safety of edibles that are being sold.
Every person has a personal dose that they are best suited to, and each person will have a unique reaction. Because of this, it is recommended that you start slowly and increase your dose very gradually to find your own unique ideal dose. There are several factors which influence the strength of an edible experience, including the dosage, the kind of edible, and a person’s tolerance, metabolism and body weight. A difference in these factors between two people can result in hugely different effects, so it is best practice to make sure you start with a smaller dose and increase gradually until you are happy. Be sure to take your time.
How Much THC is The Right Amount For Me?
When it comes to the consumption of edibles and choosing the right dose for you, here’s a simple guide:
1–3 MG
Usually considered a starter dose, this amount of THC will cause some barely-noticable effects such as the relief of anxiety and stress. This dosage is ideal for people trying marijuana for the first time as well as those users who are looking to try microdosing.
5 MG
The next recommended dose would be considered 5mg. This will provide the user with a stronger experience including feelings of euphoria and impaired coordination or perception.
10 MG
In shops, edibles will often come at a 10mg dose. This is not the strongest dosage available, however, it can cause significant experiences, especially for first-time users. If you are new to edibles, try starting with half or even a third of the piece to see how you react and how you feel. From there, you can adjust it as necessary.
Comments are closed.