What Are Cannabis Edibles and How to Use Them?
Have you ever wondered why consuming a cannabis edible feels so different from smoking flower? From onset, duration, and effect, there are so many ways that eating cannabis differs from smoking it. Understanding the differences between the modes of ingestion helps to inform us about when and why we might choose edibles over smoking, tinctures or topicals.
As with all cannabis products, our body and endocannabinoid system will respond uniquely. The more information you have, the easier it is to understand what does and doesn’t work for you. Combining knowledge and personal experience allows us to make the most informed choice. Tuning into your own experience and consulting your primary care provider is important when trying to pinpoint the best options for you. We hope our THC edibles guide is an aid in finding the best product for you!
How Does An Edible Effect You?
Contextualizing edibles with other administrations, like tinctures or smoking flower can be helpful. If you prefer quick onset and a shorter duration of effects, inhalation might be your first choice. A tincture has a faster onset than an edible, generally around 15-45 minutes after dosing. An edible has a slower onset and long-lasting effects comparatively.
The peak onset of an edible could be 2-3+ hours after taking and may last 4-12 hours.
Why Use An Edible?
Edibles can be incredibly desirable for applications that require longer-lasting effects. Individuals who need extended relief without having to re-dose or long-lasting sleep-promoting effects may gravitate towards edible use. A well-timed edible at the right dose for you may provide the potential for sedative effects to fall asleep and stay asleep.
The slow onset and long-lasting effects also can make dosing an edible unpredictable. As with all cannabis products, starting low and slow is vital. Since one may not feel peak effects for a few hours, overeating an edible can be easy. It’s essential to assess the maximum effects of what you’ve already taken before consuming more. Many tools can be used to avoid an unpleasant experience. This includes starting low and slow in a comfortable environment and trying high doses of CBD with low THC to help mitigate psychoactive effects.
This variance in effect is largely because a THC edible's exact absorption is unpredictable. An edible is dependent on our metabolism. Our metabolism is impacted by what we’ve eaten and when. Even the same milligram dose of the same edible may have inconsistencies in effect due to absorption variables and tolerance, among other factors.
Why Do Edibles Feel So Different From Smoking Flower?
One of the big reasons why THC edibles feel so different from smoking cannabis flower has to do with the way your body processes an edible through the digestive system, particularly the liver. When you smoke flower, the primary psychoactive cannabinoid found in the plant is called Delta 9 THC. When you eat an edible, the Delta 9 THC converts to 11-hydroxy-THC when passing through the liver. 11-hydroxy-THC is more psychoactive than Delta 9.
Delta-11 THC can also be more profoundly anti-inflammatory and beneficial for shifting pain perception. This is a big part of why metabolized THC can feel more potent, even in small quantities. The unique quality of eating an edible also means that even an individual with a high tolerance to inhaled cannabis should start low if unfamiliar with edibles.
Types of Edibles
Lollipops, chocolates, drinks, snack mix?! There are so many types of edibles at dispensaries it can be overwhelming. Almost any food product can be infused with a desired concentration of any cannabinoid. The most important variables when selecting your edible are dose (how many milligrams per edible and per serving) and type of cannabis extraction.
When experimenting with an appropriate dose, writing down the results can be helpful! The milligram dose you select for a good night's rest will likely differ from daytime-appropriate or functional options. Many people find edibles intense, drowsy, or sedative by nature. A more functional choice might look like a microdose edible with higher quantities of CBD. Your ideal dose or therapeutic window might look different for each set and setting.
Types of Edible Infusions
There are so many different types of THC edibles. Knowing what type of cannabis extraction was used to make an edible can be a great starting place.
You’ll notice that some edibles will be infused with cannabis distillate. Which means the product is made with pure, distilled, isolated THC. Distillate tends to be flavorless and has no aroma. Many ask “Do edibles taste like weed?”. Often the answer is yes. In the case of distillate, you’re less likely to have that overpowering flavor if that’s something you’d like to avoid.
Other products will be full spectrum, which means it’s a whole plant extract. The minor constituents, terpenes, and phytochemicals remain intact in this case. The synergy between all the constituents in the plant is often called the entourage effect. The entourage effect refers to cannabis being most beneficial when other cannabinoids and plant chemicals are present instead of just pure THC. While THC alone has medicinal value, a whole plant product tends to be more therapeutic and often is reported to feel more “balanced.”
On the market, hash rosin edibles are gaining popularity. These edibles are made with hash rosin, a solventless cannabis extract. Hash rosin uses pressure and heat to remove the plant material from all the volatile oils, leaving behind all the desirable cannabinoids, terpenes, and other phytochemicals. Hash rosin is full-spectrum but not all full-spectrum products are made with hash rosin.
When asking “What do edibles taste like?” in reference to a full spectrum edible, the result is generally earthy and distinct. It often tastes very much like cannabis and may leave a plant-y, herbaceous aftertaste. The best type of edibles for you is all up to your preference in effect, taste and how you’re consuming it.
Cannabis-infused beverages are a favorite of many. Many drinks are formulated for enhanced bioavailability and faster absorption. This means you’ll experience faster acting effects. Sometimes cannabis-infused beverages have a more potent effect per mg THC than other edibles. This is for a variety of reasons. One is that our stomachs absorb liquid faster than solids. As with any new product, it’s always best practice to start with an initially lower dose than your established baseline to understand the unique effects of the product you’re trying.
Cannabis extracts are innately fat loving and hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. Think of the experiment many of us did in school when we attempted to mix oil and water. The oil will always float to the top. So, when making a cannabis drink, many companies use a technique called nano-emulsification. This is a process in which the liquid and oil are emulsified into a stable product. The technology being utilized for us to have the best canna experience is incredible and always evolving!
Edibles at Maine Cannabis Exchange
Are you curious about the different weed edibles you could purchase at Maine Cannabis Exchange? We recently came out with a new product we’re incredibly excited to be able to offer our customers! Our kitchen worked ardently to create a low-allergen, RSO-based gummy. Our in-house gummy is vegan and made with all-natural ingredients. The RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) infusion is a very complete, full-spectrum preparation. They currently come in 10mg per gummy serving. These chewy, delicious squares can easily be cut in half or quarters for those who require a lower dose.
Chocolate is often a preferred infused product. Chocolate, especially darker chocolate, can be beneficial for masking the flavor of cannabis. Cannabinoids have increased bio-availability with the presence of fat, so the healthy fat in chocolate makes it an excellent and tasty transport. We produce in-house chocolate for those seeking a cost-effective, high-quality chocolate option. We aim to provide a broad range of concentrations so every customer can find their suitable dose. We currently offer 100mg, 300mg, 500mg, and 1500mg chocolate bars.
We hope this article helped answer questions ranging from “What is an infused edible?” to “How do edible products differ?”. Overall edibles are a highly desirable option for those looking for long-lasting relief. Medicated snacks and treats are a favorite for anyone who is trying to avoid smoking flower while still reaping the benefits and effects of cannabis. We always aim to offer versatile choices that come in many tasty options and varying concentrations. We’re looking forward to hearing from you about what your favorite MCE edible is!
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Daniel G. Barrus, et al. “Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edible”. Bethesda, MD. National Library of Medicine. 2017.
2.https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-food-032519-051834
David Julian McClements. “Enhancing Efficacy, Performance, and Reliability of Cannabis Edibles: Insights from Lipid Bioavailability Studies”. Amherst, Massachusettes. Annual Reviews. 2019.
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3797438/
Raymond J. M. Niesink and Margriet W. van Laar. “Does Cannabidiol Protect Against Adverse Psychological Effects of THC?”. Bethesda, MD. National Library of Medicine. 2013.
