What Are Cannabis Edibles Made Of: The Drug Effect Of Edible Marijuana

This article was originally published on 2Fast4Buds and appears here with permission.

WHAT ARE EDIBLES

Edible products (aka edibles) are cannabis-infused products that can come in many different forms such as gummies, brownies, cookies, or any other type of edible, and can contain THC, CBD, or a mix of both. With legalization, this type of cannabis product has become more and more popular as it’s a great way to benefit from the medicinal properties cannabis has to offer without posing risks to your respiratory system such as when smoking cannabis. But the experience of edibles differs from other consumption methods because the effect usually is more potent and lasts much longer. 

Edibles have gained somewhat of a notorious reputation because of their potent effects. Less than accurate dosing in homemade creations often place users in a bad position, in that they take on board more THC than intended. This, of course, leads to a battery of adverse events, including anxiety, paranoia, and full-blown panic attacks. However, many cannabis lovers manage to have a good time after consuming edibles when they take an appropriate dose. People find the high more intense, stoning, and even slightly psychedelic at times. Microdosing, the act of taking a sub-threshold dose of a substance, has also become a more popular way of consuming edibles in recent years and mimics a similar trend seen among users of numerous psychedelic compounds.

Despite their unpredictable nature, edibles have several benefits that place them above other routes of administration for some users. The ability to consume cannabinoids without inhaling anything makes them very popular among both health-conscious and medical users. Even though vapes are much less risky than joints and other methods that involve combustion, they still pose some health risks. Some users who aren’t fans of edibles and really don’t want to inhale choose to take cannabis products sublingually. Simply put, this refers to placing an exact or oil under the tongue. Here, it has rapid access to the bloodstream and comes on quickly, without causing the same intense high as an edible.

But why are edibles themselves so strong? Why is it that they can often even through the most experienced of cannabis users into a spin? Well, it all boils down to metabolism. Whenever you smoke or vape weed, you're experiencing the effects of THC. When it comes to edible, you’re under the effects of an entirely different molecule. Instead of entering through the lungs and gaining instant access to the bloodstream, edible cannabis must first pass through the throes of the digestive system. After processing in the stomach, THCA passes through the gut lining and gets transported to the liver. Here, our major detoxification organ converts the molecule into a metabolite called 11-hydroxy-THC. Like THC, this compound also binds to the CB1 receptor of the human endocannabinoid system but produces much more intense effects.

So there are a lot of things to have in mind when consuming edible products. So read along to read more about cannabis edible products, how to use them, the right dosage, and precautions.

COMMON FORMS OF EDIBLES

As mentioned, edibles are any type of food that has been infused with cannabis, the most common ones are usually cookies and brownies but nowadays you can find several other types of edible products, such as:

• Beverages including tea, coffee, energy drinks, and syrups;
• Candy including gummies, chewing gum, lollipops, and marshmallows;
• Baked goods including biscuits, waffles, cakes, and cookies;
• And other products including butter, sugar, milk, beef jerky, and oils.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU TAKE

If you’re making your own edible products or getting them from a friend, it’s hard to say exactly how much you should eat as you would need to know how much THC or CBD the edible contains. Legal cannabis products usually identify what cannabinoids they contain and how much THC or CBD you are consuming per serving or the total cannabinoid content of the food item. Reding this type of label can be confusing at first, so this takes us to our next topic.

BE SURE TO READ THE LABEL

It’s super important you read the label carefully. So first of all, check for the THC and CBD content and identify if it gives you the cannabinoid content per serving or for the entire product, and based on this you’ll know exactly how much you should take. 

Cannabis Edible THC and CBD recommended dosage
Intensity	THC	CBD
Mild	1 - 10 mg	8 - 20 mg
Medium	10 - 30 mg	20 - 30 mg
Strong	30 - 50 mg	30 - 60 mg

But always remember: Start Slow! It’s recommended to start with a low dose and work your way up if you feel it’s needed because everyone will experience a different effect with edible products. In any case, here’s a table that can help you when consuming edible products.

THC DOSING

Edibles tolerance isn’t the same as smoking because it produces stronger effects. According to the latest research, eating 1 mg of THC is comparable to smoking 5 mg of THC. So even if you’re an avid consumer it’s recommended to start with a lower dose and increase it until you get the desired effect. 

CBD DOSING

Since CBD doesn’t produce psychoactive effects, the minimum dose is a bit higher than THC but high doses can still cause undesirable effects so also start with small doses and work your way up. Also, remember that CBD can make you sleepy, so if it’s your first time consuming CBD, it’s recommended to try it at night until you understand how it works and how it affects you.

HOW LONG DO EDIBLES TAKE TO KICK IN

Edibles usually take a bit longer to kick in, generally from 30 to 60 minutes but it depends on a lot of factors, but mainly on how strong the product is as a higher cannabinoid dose can help the effect kick in faster. Everyone’s metabolism is different, so depending on your age, weight, mood, height, etc… the effect you experience can differ, so if you’re consuming edibles to treat a medical condition, it’s highly recommended to talk to your doctor before doing so. Another thing that can affect how long it takes for your edibles to take effect is how they’re consumed because there’s a difference when consuming cannabis brownies vs lollipops, for example. Because edibles take some time to show their effects, it’s important to remain patient. Some users make the mistake of thinking that they haven’t taken enough when they simply haven’t waited enough. This often leads them to take even more, resulting in a high that they hadn’t bargained for down the line.

DIFFERENCES OF “HIGH” FROM THE TYPE OF EDIBLES

Some edibles such as lollipops and chewing gum are edibles but they’re not actually swallowed, this means that the cannabinoids will be absorbed through the membranes in the mouth (aka sublingual absorption), so the effects could kick in faster.

Edibles such as cookies or brownies which are swallowed will probably take longer as the absorption occurs in the digestive tract and from there the cannabinoids have to travel through the bloodstream to the liver before they enter the brain, which takes a bit longer.

OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING ONSET TIME

Apart from the elements mentioned, there are other factors that can affect how long it takes for you to feel the effects. There are many more variables but the main ones include:

• Your diet;
• Metabolism;
• Tolerance;
• Pre-existing conditions;
• And sex, among others.

EDIBLES DON’T KICK IN RIGHT AWAY

All these factors mentioned influence how long it takes for edibles to kick in. This means that edibles do not kick in right away, so if it’s your first time with edibles you should only take one dose and wait at least 24 hours before taking the next one, this way you’ll know how much is too much for you and avoid any possible emergencies or bad trips.

HOW LONG DO EDIBLES LAST

The length of an edible high depends on all the factors mentioned before, but also the dose, potency, and consumption method. This means that an edible high from a brownie or cookie which you chew and swallow will last much longer than the high from products that are absorbed orally, such as lollipops, for example.

On top of that, all the factors mentioned such as diet, metabolism, age, sex, etc… come into play, so it’s almost impossible to predict when the effects will kick in and how long they will last. 

Having said that, in general, the effect of edibles usually kicks in after 2-3 hours, and the effect can last up to 8 hours whereas the effect of smoking or vaping kicks in after 5-10 minutes, and the effect can last up to 2-3 hours.

BENEFITS OF EDIBLES

Cannabis edibles offer several advantages over other consumption methods, especially if you’re a medical patient. By choosing an edible cannabis product over smoking, for example, you're eliminating smoke which comes with lots of benefits such as:

• Edible products are easier to consume and much more discreet as they don’t produce smoke or smell, so you can take them when needed without attracting attention.
• Avoid carcinogens found in smoke which can cause lung inflammation and bronchitis.
• Longer effect as edible products take longer to kick in but the effect lasts much longer than smoking cannabis.

Now, this doesn’t mean that edibles do not pose a risk, you should be very careful with THC edibles but also with CBD-only products as well in order to avoid any possible emergencies. So what are the risks of consuming edible products?

THE RISKS OF CONSUMING EDIBLES

Despite being considered safer than smoking cannabis, edibles carry their own risks. Both THC and CBD edibles should be used responsibly and in moderation, especially because the main adverse effect of cannabis edibles is the unpredictable onset time and duration. But on top of this, there are risks specific to THC  and CBD.

THC EDIBLES

Edible products containing high doses of THC can result in an unpleasant experience that can last for several hours, up to several days depending on your tolerance, metabolism, and amounts ingested.

This is usually referred to as a cannabis “overdose”, but keep in mind that this type of overdosing is not lethal as it’s humanly impossible to die from smoking too much cannabis. Having said that, overdose symptoms associated with cannabis include:

• Vomiting;
• Nausea;
• Cognitive impairment;
• Hallucinations;
• Psychosis, and;
• Extreme sedation among others.

CBD EDIBLES

Now, CBD edibles can also pose a risk but there’s still more research to be done regarding short and long-term side effects. But according to the research available, the known risks of consuming edible products are:

• Weight loss or gain;
• Appetite loss or gain;
• Diarrhea, and;
• Tiredness among others.

OTHER CONCERNS

When looking for edible products, it’s extremely important to ask your budtender, he should take the time to clear your doubts, and always buy from reputable manufacturers that specify the contents and dosages of their products.

And, if you’re not getting your edible products from a legal dispensary, be extremely careful because black market cannabis products are not controlled. A study from a couple of years ago found that only 17% of cannabis edibles were labeled correctly, approximately 23% contained more THC or CBD than specified and 60% contained less.

WHEN YOU NEED MEDICAL HELP

Both THC and CBD edibles can interfere with certain medications and supplements so if you’re looking for natural alternatives, the first thing would be to talk to your doctor. In places where cannabis is legal, your doctor should be able to prescribe or recommend a specific dose or brand.

THE TAKEAWAY

As mentioned before, the onset time and duration of the effect can differ from one individual to another so always wait at least 24 hours before taking your next dose. It really doesn’t matter if you’re consuming a THC or a CBD product, it’s highly recommended to start with a small dose and work your way up to avoid having a bad trip. And be patient, once you get the hang of it you’ll know exactly how much you need to get the desired effect.

Keep in mind that if you're planning to make your own edibles it's essential to start with the best seeds from reputable seed banks, so make sure to take a look at our autoflowering genetics with up to 27% THC that makes for deliciously potent cannabis edibles.

FAQ

CAN MARIJUANA EDIBLES SEND A CHILD TO THE ER?

Of course! Although no one has ever died from cannabis intoxication, if your pet or kid accidentally eats edible products it can cause serious health concerns, causing paranoia, confusion, fever, nausea, rapid heart rate, trouble breathing, loss of balance, and dizziness. So always keep your edibles stored away to prevent accidental ingestion!

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE SERVING OF MARIJUANA EDIBLES?

The average serving of marijuana edibles depends on the cannabinoid content. For THC-only edible products, the average serving ranges from 5 - 10 mg and for CBD-only edibles around 8 - 15 mg.

IS EATING MARIJUANA MORE DANGEROUS THAN SMOKING MARIJUANA? 

In short, no. But cannabis edibles can be dangerous depending on how much you consume at a time so always be careful and start slow.

ARE MARIJUANA EDIBLES FREQUENTLY USED?

Yes, both recreational and medical consume edible products daily but cannabis edibles are more popular amongst medical users for their benefits.

HOW LONG WILL I BE HIGH FOR EDIBLES?

It depends on how much you take but generally speaking, the effect can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, or even more, depending on the cannabinoid content.

WHAT DOES EDIBLES MEAN IN SLANG?

In slang, edibles refer to all edible cannabis products such as cookies, brownies, lollipops, gummies, and beverages among others.

External References

1. Health considerations of the legalization of cannabis edibles. - Grewal, Jasleen & Loh, Lawrence. (2020).
2. Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles. - Barrus, D. & C., Kristen & Cates, S.& G., Camille & Peiper, N. & L., Timothy & Wiley, J. (2016).