The Benefits of Edibles

Smoking is probably the most well-known method of consuming cannabis, but edibles are quickly growing in popularity.

• For people with respiratory health issues, edibles provide users with a method of consuming cannabis that won’t affect their lungs.
• The effects of an edible are often deeper and longer-lasting than what you would experience after smoking or vaping.
• Edibles allow users to enjoy the rich flavor and effects of cannabis in combination with virtually any type of cuisine they choose.

Different Types of Edibles

Edibles come in a variety of forms, including but not limited to:

• cookies
• chocolates
• brownies
• candies
• dried fruit
• honey
• beef jerky
• soda
• coffee
• tea
• tinctures
• cooking oil
• butter

What You Should Know Before Eating an Edible

• Edibles are powerful. While they might take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in, you’ll usually feel the effects for several hours.
• If you don’t have a lot of experience with edibles, or you’re trying a new product for the first time, take the smallest dose possible in order to properly gauge the effect it will have on you. Experiment with edibles that you can easily divide into individual pieces such as chocolates or gummies.
• Cookies and brownies might be more difficult to divide up into pieces, especially if they’re crumbly. They might be a better option for recreational use as opposed to medicinal use, especially if you’re trying to get an exact dose in order to treat a health condition.

How to Find the Right Edible Dose

• Knowing that an edible contains 100 mg of THC may not mean much to a first-time user, especially if you aren’t sure how to dose yourself.
• So the first thing you’ll need to do is figure out your specific optimum dose level. In other words, how many milligrams of THC do you need in order to feel the effects of the edible but not feel completely overwhelmed by it?
• 8-10 mg of THC is considered a standard dose for beginners. After administering the dose, wait 30 minutes to 2 hours for the edible to take effect.
• Once you know how that dose level affects you, you can increase it or decrease it as you see fit.
• If you’re a medical patient or a recreational user who suffers from depression or anxiety, you can also experiment with microdosing. Microdosing involves taking very small doses of cannabis in order to get symptom relief but not so much that you can’t have a busy, productive work day.

Making Your Own Edibles

You can buy edibles from a dispensary, but you can also make your own edibles if you have the time and inclination!

The standard rule for cooking with cannabis is that the flower must be cooked in a fat-soluble substance such as butter or oil. Cooking cannabis in water won’t work.

Once you’ve made your own cannabis butter / oil, you can then use it for a wide variety of purposes: frying, baking, garnishing salads, or even roasting a turkey!