Thanks to the opening-up of legalities surrounding cannabis products in recent years, there are more ingestible products on the market than ever before.
From gummies, to candies, to mints, to drinks, to brownies, to dissolvable tablets, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy your favorite plant implanted into your favorite foods.
But is it just that simple? Can you just start ingesting cannabis products without any kind of planning or forethought?
Cannabis is said to boast a huge range of health benefits, and a lot of people use them for a variety of different things.
And contrary to what the naysayers might have you believe, they tend to have an extremely good reputation!
But with that being said, it’s also true that there are a few things that you should know before you dive head-first into this cannabis-infused fray.
And in this post, you’re going to learn 5 key things to know before you ingest your first cannabis product.
Let’s dig into it and get you ready for the adventure.
1. Figure Out If Edibles Are Actually Your ‘Thing’
Edibles tend to affect your body at a different pace than vaping or smoking.
Through smoking or vaporizing, the compounds will move quickly into your system and take effect faster.
But with edibles, you’re looking at something more akin to a ‘time release’ capsule.
With that being said, the effects tend to last longer with edibles.
This makes them great choices for people who are taking them for things like chronic pain or insomnia, because they’ll just plain last longer—whereas, they may not be quite as effective if you’re looking for a fast-acting effect, such as for people who utilize cannabis for headache relief.
Note: We’re not claiming that cannabis can cure any diseases or be used to treat any medical conditions. We’re simply reporting on what other people claim to be using it for, and forwarding some of that advice to you.
2. Dosages Are Important
If you plan to make your own edibles, it’s important that you take into account proper dosage measurements.
This is a rather particular science, actually, and involves figuring out exactly how much THC you should use relative to your other ingredients.
You don’t want to overdo it. But you also don’t want your treats to be too underwhelming, either.
3. Edibles Are Better For People With Respiratory Conditions
If you tend to suffer from asthma or any other respiratory conditions that make smoking difficult or dangerous, then edibles may be an especially good choice as a cannabis delivery method.
Obviously, ingestible cannabis products won’t negatively affect your respiratory system—thus helping you to still enjoy the positive effects of cannabis without exposing yourself to as much potential risk.
4. Miscalculating Dosages Can Be… Weird
We’ve all heard stories of people who consumed ‘too much’ cannabis in their edibles.
When consumed in high dosages, THC can lead to side effects like:
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Paranoia
- Drowsiness
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Increased blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Cognitive and motor impairment
- Extreme sedation
- Agitation
- Cardiac stress
But it can also be a just plain weird or unpleasant experience (like getting so paranoid that you curl up in bed for 4 hours, convinced that you’re either having a heart attack or that the cops are coming after you).
So for best results, measure twice—just to be safe!
Note: Some of these side effects do sound pretty unpleasant. But it’s also important to understand that THC is a pretty powerful compound—which is also why it has a reputation for being so effective for so many things. It’s just really important to make sure that you’re using the proper amount when baking with it or ingesting it. Think of it as a ‘spice,’ for your brain, that you don’t want to overdo!
5. Edibles Are Said To Be Extremely Helpful
A lot of people worry about trying ingestible cannabis for the first time.
But it’s important to understand that they actually have a really good reputation for helping with all kinds of different ailments.
For example, some people use them to help ease negative symptoms associated with things like muscle spasms, pain, epilepsy, nausea and vomiting, depression, and PTSD.
They’ve even been known to provide pain relief for cancer patients.
Sure, they might have a ‘mixed reputation’ in our culture.
But hey, you know what they say.
Don’t knock it till you try it!
Conclusion
There you have it.
5 Things to know before you try ingestible cannabis.
As a parting tip, we’ll leave you with this.
If you’ve never tried edibles before, and are planning on partaking for the first time:
- Stay hydrated
- Don’t consume too much
- And make plans not to drive
Aside from that, keep an open mind.
They may just become your new favorite thing!