If you are torn between smoking cannabis and using edibles, there are some key factors to keep in mind. These include the potential health implications, the time it takes to feel effects and the length of the high, the ease of preparation, and the social factors.
Health Factors
Smoking marijuana is linked to various kinds ofi lung damage. When you burn tobacco and marijuana, toxins and carcinogens are released from the combustion of the materials. These can lead to chronic bronchitis, a chronic cough, air pockets forming between the lungs, damage to the immune system, and cancer.
Consuming edibles is a great way to avoid these health complications. Just remember to keep edibles well away from minors who could consume them by mistake.
Unlike with smoking cannabis, when you eat edibles the THC is processed by the liver before you experience the psychoactive effects. The liver converts THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is a more potent metabolite. Essentially, this means when you eat cannabis rather than smoking it, you end up experiencing a significantly more intense high.
In a world where everyone consumed the correct dose of edibles, it would be the clear winner in terms of the safest method to consume cannabis. The problems only come when people, especially beginners, eat too big a dose. People will often get frustrated waiting for the effects to kick in and eat more of the edible, then they will be struck suddenly by a very intense and overwhelming high. So, remember, take a small dose and wait for the effects! If you are concerned about dosage in any way, you may even want to consider microdosing which is where you consume a very low dosage over a period of time, as a way of getting all of the positive changes and benefits without the intoxicating effects.
Length of High
Smoking cannabis has a much quicker psychoactive effect that will kick in from thirty seconds to a few minutes after inhalation. However, this high doesn’t last as long as the high produced by edibles, at just two to four hours, with the peak effects arriving approximately thirty minutes after smoking.
Consuming cannabis provides a much slower psychoactive effect, as the digestive system has to process the edible before you can experience the high. When you consume edibles the high can take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours to present itself, and it can last from four to six hours, or more, depending on the dose.
It is true that it is far faster to roll a joint than it is to make your own edibles, meaning smoking is the more immediate pleasure. However, edibles are available for purchase ready-made in states where they are legal, such as Mississippi, although this can only be done with a Mississippi medical marijuanas card. Alternatively, you can have the fun of designing your own edibles in states where this is possible. If you enjoy the delayed gratification and satisfaction of sampling and sharing your home baking, this is the way forward for you.
Making Edibles
If you have decided that edibles are your preferred cannabis consumption method, why not be daring and try to make them yourself? This can be a super fun activity for you and your friends, and you can create the flavors and type of edible that most appeals to you.
You don’t need to be a professional baker, as there are great guides online that take you through the processes of making your own edibles. There is no one way to make edibles, depending on whether you prefer baked goods, hard candies, gummies, or cannabis-infused cream or butter, the recipe options are endless. You can even make cannabis soups, stews, or sauces using infused oils.
While every recipe is different, depending on what end product you are going for, they all begin with an essential first step: decarbing your cannabis. Decarboxylation is the process of heating up your cannabis until the THCA within turns into Delta 9, otherwise known as THC. This is an essential step, as without thoroughly decarbing your cannabis, your edibles will have absolutely no psychoactive effects. Depending on your starting product, the decarbing process will be different, so use online guides to help you with this crucial step. If you don’t feel confident enough in making your own edibles, there are many CBD edible online sites that offer a wide variety of high-quality products to fit everyone’s needs instead.
Social Factors
We are all familiar with the lingering smell of smoked cannabis. It can cling to your clothes, hair, and furniture for days. This is a negative social effect of smoking, as it can prevent people from wanting to come to your home, and can be embarrassing. On the other hand, you can consume edibles inside without fear of making your house smell. This is a more social environment than when people keep leaving the room to go outside and smoke.
It isn’t advisable to smoke or consume cannabis in public as you can be distracted, drowsy, and slow to react, which can pose a safety concern. However, if you do want to experience a high when out of the house, edibles are a more discreet option than the pungent-smelling smoke.
Edibles: The Better Choice
When choosing your cannabis product of choice, you will want to consider the negative health implications of inhaling burning particles of marijuana. The safer option is to consume edibles, as long as you remember to watch your dosage and not to get impatient waiting for effects! The high will come, do not overuse edibles.
You and your friends can bake edibles together and make a fun day of the experience, choosing which kind of food you will make, what flavors to try, and even decorating your creations with fun colors and toppings.
Finally, consider the social benefits of consuming cannabis. Edibles are the less smelly and more discreet choice.
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