Weed is growing in popularity, as it does a paradigm shift in both public perception and legality. With that shift, there will be changes in methods and consumption preferences.
Initially, the most common way to consume it was to smoke it. However, over the years, new methods were developed that increased the effect and quality. People started to produce new ways of consuming cannabis, such as dabs, vapes, and oils, because not everyone likes to smoke.
Often, smoking leaves you with a smell, and people with breathing problems can’t smoke. Yet, thanks to the advancements of consuming weed, an inability or unwillingness to smoke no longer bars you from enjoying the effects of marijuana. This is where edibles come in.
What Are Edibles?
Edibles are just weed but in food form, and it can take on a variety of shapes and tastes. Edibles can transform into items such as brownies, suckers, gummies, or anything that tastes good. The quality that makes them ‘edibles’ is that marijuana is infused inside these tasty treats.
Of course, smoking and eating weed is much different, which means the experience is different. Edibles need to metabolize in your system, which means that it can take between 1 and 3 hours before you begin to feel the effects. However, the high will last much longer than if you were to smoke marijuana.
Are Edibles Dangerous?
The average person would have to consume fifteen hundred pounds of cannabis in just fifteen minutes for marijuana to kill you. However, when it comes to edibles, the potential for overconsumption (taking too much) is exceptionally high. While it almost definitely will not kill you like a typical drug overdose, it can lead to an extremely unpleasant experience. So, to answer if edibles are dangerous, it can be a yes and no answer.
When you smoke or vape pot, you feel the effects immediately. Edibles are not like that, and many people, especially non-experienced people, grow impatient. Therefore, they will tend to consume more than recommended thinking that they will start to get high sooner.
THC, which is the active ingredient in marijuana that causes you to get a high effect, is hard to measure. Thus, the amount of THC is only approximated when making your own edibles. So, you never really know exactly how much you have consumed unless you purchase products from a reliable source.
Although, one more pressing issue is the fact that people leave edibles within arms reach of kids. Kids and pets can mistake the edibles as normal food and consume it. Since they are a lot smaller than a grown adult, the overdose effects can be seemingly disastrous.
So, if you have kids or pets, make sure your edibles are always locked away and out of reach.
Always remember, marijuana is a drug. Fortunately, if you use edibles responsibly, it is unlikely they will be dangerous.
What are the Effects of Edibles?
Since edibles are still a marijuana product, they will have the same positive effects as smoking weed. Edibles are a more pleasant way for people seeking the medical benefits of weed to consume the products. Edibles can help with the relief of anxiety and sleep disorders. In 2019 more than 79% of people with anxiety or sleep disorders reported that by consuming CBD and THC that their stress levels decreased and they were able to get a full night’s rest.
Edibles are also perfect for people who have chronic pain or are suffering from or recovering from cancer. Patients have noticed their pain levels decreasing after consuming edible products.
Another benefit is that edibles help with the effects of seizures. THC, in precise doses, had been known to decrease seizures.
Edibles are an excellent way for a consumer to enjoy the effects of weed without having to smoke or vape. They can be tasty and come in various foods such as brownies, cookies, and ice-cream. Be mindful because overconsumption can be a huge problem, and since edibles taste like the food it appears to be, kids can mistake them for regular food items.