7 Things To Know Before Trying Cannabis Edibles

Cannabis Edibles are becoming the next most popular cannabis products. Edibles infused with cannabis are a simple and effortless way of adding cannabis to your life. They are simple to use, convenient to carry, and do not require the hassle of dosage administration.

Just like any other cannabis product, edibles come with their own set of pros and cons. In this article, we take a look at 7 Things You Need To Consider Before Trying Cannabis Edibles.

7 Things to Know Before Trying Cannabis Edibles

What are Cannabis Edibles?

Cannabis Edibles are ready-to-eat food and drink items that are infused with one or more cannabis extracts. These contain cannabis oil (e.g., CBD, THC, or both) in a food item that can be directly ingested.

Some common examples of cannabis edibles are chocolates, gummies, and drinks like tea and coffee.

The most common types of Cannabis edibles that people buy in India are gummies infused with CBD oil. However, there are some Ayurvedic edible formulations containing CBD and THC in the market as well.

How do Cannabis Edibles work?

Cannabis edibles work like any other food item. They are broken down into smaller components in the liver and the digestive system and finally absorbed into the bloodstream.

Once the CBD, or whatever cannabinoid is present in cannabis edibles, reaches the bloodstream, it interacts with the cannabinoid receptors and shows relevant effects on the body.

This process can take 45-60 minutes. Therefore, cannabis edibles show a visible effect in the body after almost an hour of consumption.

When to use Cannabis Edibles?

While cannabis edibles are a convenient way to use cannabis as a wellness supplement, some people also use them to manage particular health conditions. Some of these include stress and anxiety relief, indigestion and digestive disorders, sleep problems, and inflammatory pain, etc.

How to use Cannabis Edibles?

Cannabis edibles are ready-to-eat food and drink items. Therefore, you just need to directly consume them like any other snack or candy.

In the case of beverages like tea and coffee, you can prepare them as per the directions specified on the label and enjoy them like your regular drinks.

7 Things to Consider Before Trying Cannabis Edibles

Cannabis affects everyone differently. While some people may experience the overwhelming effects of cannabis edibles, some may not feel them at all. It is all the play of biology, genetics, metabolism, body weight, and other similar factors.

To start your cannabis journey on an easy note, there are some things you can pay close attention to:

Decide if Cannabis Edibles are the Best Choice for You

While this decision can truly be made only after trial and error, reading up on cannabis edibles in detail can help you determine whether or not you should give them a try.

Different cannabis ways help the body in different ways. Edibles are generally most suited for those looking for long-lasting reliefs.

Also, edibles have their own pros and cons. Though they are convenient to use and make it easy to maintain consistent dosage, they do not provide instant relief. Moreover, the additional ingredients present in edibles may cause allergic reactions in a body.

Here is a detailed guide about Cannabis Edibles that will tell you everything you need to know before trying them.

Cannabis can interact with Other Medicines

Cannabis compounds can interact with other medications or drugs in ways that have not been completely discovered yet. Like other medicines, cannabinoids also interact with the CYP450 Enzymes in the body.

Some research suggests that on interacting with the CYP450 Enzymes, cannabinoids can potentially slow down the process of drug metabolism in the body. That is, our body will need more time to process the same amount of drugs when taken in addition to cannabinoids.

This can lead to a situation where the body may have more medication than intended. This overage of medication can lead to extreme side effects.

Some common medicines that cannabis edibles can potentially interact with have been mentioned here. You can consult a medical practitioner before you start using cannabis edibles to have all your concerns addressed.

Start Low and Go Slow

Perhaps the most iterated advice about all cannabis products is that you should start with a low dosage and increase it slowly depending on your body’s reaction.

The reasons for this are many. In the case of cannabis edibles, it is important to remember the effects can take 1 to 2 hours to be visible. Therefore, this is the average time window you should let pass before you decide to redose, thinking that the product has had no effect.

Calculate the Dosage Carefully

Yes, cannabis edibles come with a pre-set dosage. But the amount of this pre-set dosage can be different in different products. While calculating the dosage of a product, consider the following two things:

• Strength: strength of an edibles refers to the total amount of CBD that will be present in the whole packet. This is the number that gets equally divided among the total number of servings.
  
  For example, if you have a pack of 30 gummies with 750mg of CBD, then each gummy will have 750/30=25mg of CBD. If your dosage is 50mg of CBD per day, you need to eat 2 gummies throughout the day. You can take them both in the morning or at night or take one in the morning and one at night.
  
  However, if the strength of the same packet was 1500mg then each gummy would have 1500/30=50mg of CBD.
  
  In this case, you would need to take only one gummy throughout the day to meet the 50mg dosage.

• Serving: in the case of eatable cannabis edibles, the serving size is uniform. However, we need to pay close attention to the serving size in the case of beverages and foods like brownies that don’t have a uniform division of servings.
  
  Usually, the label on a product would specify the typical serving size along with the amount of CBD it would contain.
  
  For example, a product label can read, each 10g contains 100mg of CBD. Using this as the base, you can determine each individual serving for yourself.

Keep Calm, This Too Shall Pass

Cannabis compounds will have some side effects, especially in the beginning. Do not panic in case the effects of the edible feel a bit too overpowering. Remind yourself that this is just a temporary state of mind and that the effects will subside in few hours.

Common side effects that you’ll experience after trying cannabis edibles are indigestion or gut problems, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and dry mouth. Stay hydrated and eat light, cold food to feel better.

Store the Edibles Properly

The storage conditions affect the quality and potency of cannabis edibles. The ideal storage condition for each cannabis product should ideally be mentioned on the label. More often than not, cannabis edibles should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from heat and moisture.

It is recommended that you store them in the container they come in. However, if you still want to switch containers, an airtight glass or plastic jar is recommended.

Don’t be lazy, read the Label!

The label on a cannabis product will tell you everything you need to know about a product. In the case of edibles, labels should specify:

• The strength of the product
• Suggested serving size
• Amount of cannabinoids in each specific serving
• List of ingredients (read this carefully to rule out any potential allergens)
• Directions of use
• Storage conditions

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