What are Edibles?
Edibles… what are they, and why are they so controversial? Weed edibles are food or drinks that contain a plant called cannabis, aka Weed. The intoxication compound that is found in the cannabis plant is THC. (1)
There are many different ways that you can make an edible such as:
- Cannabis Brownies or baked goods
- Weed Gummies or Candies (e.g. Stoner Edibles)
- THC Mints, Icecream, or Chocolate
Some cannabis edible enthusiasts mix their weed with butter or oil to infuse their favourite snacks, to make a favourite pastime.
Some wonder, are they safe? What’s the difference between eating an edible and smoking marijuana?
Today we’ll go over the potential benefits, side effects, and maybe a lot of things that you might not know about edibles.
Benefits of Edibles
There have been some proven benefits to high-quality weed edibles, such as reduced anxiety, reduced chronic pain, and some beneficial medicinal purposes.
Marijuana use has been linked to a decrease in chronic pain and has been known to help the pain of some people with arthritis. A new study also found that most people using marijuana for medicinal purposes use it to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms. (2) It also found that in arthritic patients that, the inflammation is significantly reduced. (3)
When dealing with anxiety, reports have stated that people who take a low dose of marijuana have seen a decrease in anxiety. People have also stated that they receive better sleep due to the nature of THC, relieving chronic pain and being able to relax the body. (4) (5)
Some other studies have shown that edibles have been known to help people with cancer experiencing symptoms like pain, appetite loss, and general pain.
While there are clear benefits to using cannabis products, the general knowledge of therapeutic use is not known. (6)
You should know that there are different types of weed edibles. Some contain THC, whereas others contain cannabidiol, like BioLyfe CBD gummies.
Side effects and Downsides to Edibles
No doubt that there are many beneficial factors to eating edibles, but on the flip side, there are a lot of negatives that need to be taken into consideration.
Some of the downsides and negatives are induced by the overconsumption of edibles and have the reverse effect of what the benefits are.
Some of these adverse effects include:
- Nausea
- Pain
- Vomiting
- Paranoia
- Insomnia
The main problem with ingesting edibles is that it can be challenging to gauge the proper dosages. As a result, you might want a good time but end up in the hospital from Marijuana poisoning.
Another increased risk of determining the proper dosage is that if you overdo it, it may lead to a decline in your mental health. Studies have shown that higher dosages of weed can lead to psychotic states with side effects including anxiety, heart attacks, vomiting, and impaired motor and cognitive function ability. It should be noted that these psychotic effects are only taking place if the consumer has experienced an overdose. (7)
The final potential downside is it takes longer to feel the effects of edibles compared to smoking marijuana. This can make people feel like it’s not working, making them take more, leading to an overdose. Research suggests that it takes around 60- 90 minutes to feel the effects of edibles. (8) While it takes longer to feel the effects of edibles, they stay in your system significantly longer than smoking. One study showed that you may still feel the effects of marijuana up to 12 hours after eating an edible.
Needless to say, there’s no need to drive after eating an edible.
Eating vs. Smoking
When ingesting marijuana there are two ways that you can consume it. Smoke it or Eat it.
While many people rather smoke it, there are some potential benefits to eating edibles vs. smoking. One benefit is that you don’t have to smell like weed if you want to partake in the consumption. Another reason is that in states or areas where marijuana is legalized (for medicinal purposes or recreational), there are some laws or rules against smoking in certain areas.
Another great benefit from a health standpoint is that it saves your lungs from the potential of lung cancer, bronchitis, or general inflammation of the lungs. This is one of the many reasons why some choose to eat it rather than smoke it. In contrast, there have been no studies indicating that eating edibles will cause an increase in the likelihood of cancer.
Therefore if you’re worried about the health effects of Cannabis yet still want to try this experience, then edibles are your safest bet.
What’s the Verdict: Good or Bad?
While the morality of using Edibles is up to the consumer., some things should be noted. First, you should never illegally consume Edibles in a state or country that prohibits them. The use of medical marijuana has been legalized in 36 states in the U.S. and countries worldwide, such as Canada and other European countries.
While there have been many promising medical benefits, Marijuana is still illegal on a federal level in the U.S. and is considered a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) along with drugs such as LSD, Heroin, and Meth. (10)
Edible weed may provide some benefits, such as reduced anxiety, chronic pain, and stress.
There are still many side effects to consider before ingesting any cannabis products.
If you partake in edible consumption, you get your product from licensed professionals and understand the purity and potency of what you’re ingesting.
References
- https://www.livescience.com/24553-what-is-thc.html
- https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2018.05266
- https://biolyfebrands.com/product/cbd-gummies/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851925/
- https://highestfarmacy.com/product-category/brand/stoner-edibles/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306710/
- https://adai.uw.edu/pubs/pdf/2017mjanxiety.pdf
- https://dailymarijuana.io/shop/edibles-canada/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306710/
