Marijuana Edibles for Beginners

What are edibles?

Marijuana edibles are food products infused with cannabis extract. At the dispensary, you’ll see infused chocolates, gummies, candies, and even beverages. Edibles, as opposed to smoking products, offer a more discreet and convenient way to ingest marijuana. Additionally, edible consumption allows users to avoid the harmful toxins and negative health impacts that are associated with smoking. Edibles can benefit patients with a wide variety of medical conditions, but especially those with severe pain. Studies have shown that the use of cannabis improves pain relief when taken in combination with oxycodone or other opioids. And those with issues like anxiety and insomnia have shown to have improved mood, better sense of well-being, and less anxiety after taking edibles.

Tips when using edibles

Read the label carefully

Edible cannabis products vary widely in their appearance and ingredients, including how much THC and CBD they contain. But, nearly all measure their dosing in milligrams. Remember to always read the label before ingesting edible cannabis. If you have never tried an edible before or are new to cannabis, consume no more than 5 mg of THC and wait to feel the effects before taking more.

Whenever you see a marijuana product that has a ratio on it, it indicates the amount of milligrams of CBD to THC. For example, a product labeled as a 1:1 means for every milligram of CBD in the product, there will be one milligram of THC as well. This is often called the “golden ratio” and is a great place for beginners to start. One of the main reasons why so many people find the 1:1 THC:CBD ratio so appealing is because the effects are tolerable. There is some evidence that CBD may dampen THC’s psychoactivity and side effects.

Clear your schedule

When you eat cannabis, it’s absorbed through your liver—which is a much slower process than when it enters the bloodstream through the lungs. Some individuals may start feeling the edible after as little as 30 minutes, but for others it may take closer to two hours. So, just because you’re not feeling something at the one hour mark doesn’t mean it’s time to take more. Give it time to take effect before trying additional edible. Edibles also last much longer than smoking, sometimes the effects can last up to 12 hours. This is why edibles are commonly used in the evening, allowing patients to sleep soundly through the night.

If you are new to edibles or to cannabis, use these products in a place where you feel safe and comfortable, and with friends or family who are experienced in using them. If you plan to use edible cannabis at a friend or family member’s home, make travel arrangements ahead of time or plan to stay over. Do not drive or operate heavy equipment after using cannabis.

Don’t use cannabis alongside alcohol or other substances

Alcohol increases the intoxicating and impairing effects of cannabis. Consuming cannabis and alcohol at the same time can significantly raise your risk of over-intoxication and impairment, causing anxiety, panic, nausea, vomiting and paranoia. To reduce the risk of these negative experiences, stick to either cannabis or alcohol, not both. Also, avoid mixing cannabis with nicotine or any intoxicating substance, including stimulants and depressants, as the mix can cause serious health complications. If you are taking or planning to take prescription medications, speak to a healthcare practitioner about whether cannabis interferes with them.

Oops, I took too much…now what?

Though we want to try our best to avoid this situation, there may come a time where you ingest too much edible and begin to feel uncomfortable. The best advice comes from cannabis physician Dr. Bonni Goldstein, who says, “First, and most important: talk yourself down. You are not going to stop breathing and you are not going to die…Try to take your mind off it. Watch television for the distraction, or lie down and take a nap.”

It may be helpful to drink plenty of water to help flush the THC out of your system. Staying hydrated can also help to reduce some of the unpleasant symptoms of over consumption, such as dry mouth and headache.

Taking an edible in the evening is a good option for beginners. If you accidentally take too much, you can try to sleep it off.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try to find a quiet, comfortable place to relax. Lay down, close your eyes, and take slow, deep breaths. Surrounding yourself with familiar and comforting things can also help to reduce anxiety and stress.

Lastly, an overdose on THC is not likely to be fatal, but it can be very uncomfortable and may cause symptoms of psychosis or lead to serious physical injury. If the effects of cannabis become too much, call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.