Can You Get High From Eating Raw Weed?

Many individuals enjoy marijuana use for a multitude of reasons. It is known to melt the stress and tension from your body, aid sleep, boost creativity, reduce symptoms of anxiety, give you the giggles, and much more.

Can You Get High From Eating Raw Weed?

And there are plenty of ways to choose from when it comes to getting high. Some prefer to rip a bong, whereas others prefer a slow and steady smoke of a joint, and others might sprinkle the stuff into a tasty baked treat and wait for the aftereffects to creep up on them.

However, if you haven’t got the necessary supplies, or you’ve run out, or simply can’t be bothered to sit down and set everything up, you may have at some point or another wondered if you could just eat the weed raw.

But will nibbling away at this raw plant product actually get you that desired high you’re looking for? We’ll find out in this article!

Can You Get High Off Raw Weed? 

Alas, no, you cannot get high from consuming raw cannabis. This is because there are compounds within the plant that are activated during the heating process that are responsible for creating the high.

Therefore when you nibble on a nugget of raw weed the ‘high’ compound is inactivated and so you won’t get that desired feeling you’re chasing.

How Decarbing Works?

Okay, so decarbing is essentially the fancy name for that activation process I mentioned above. To understand it properly, let’s take a look at weed in its raw form. Cannabis has upwards of 150 different types of cannabinoids in the plant.

You’ve probably already heard of some of them such as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC.) All these different cannabinoids are the active components found in cannabis.

They interact with the endocannabinoid system which then creates the effects that the drug is known for. Except you can’t actually find CBD or THC in this form in the plant at all.

What you actually find is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA.) It’s only once these acids are exposed to heat or light that they then change into the CBD and THC we’ve come to know and love.

Once they are exposed to the heat and are ‘activated’ they can then interact with the endocannabinoid system which is found in your body through the cannabinoid receptors which are found in the brain, central nervous system, and immune system.

You’ll start to feel the effects of cannabis once the THC binds to the receptors in the brain. So, this better explains why you don’t feel high when you consume raw cannabis since the THCA must change into THC through the activation of heat before it can bind with the receptors.

With that being said, though, there is no danger from eating cannabis raw and it can still have several therapeutic benefits even if it doesn’t get you high.

The Benefits Of Eating Raw Cannabis

While you won’t get the high that you’re trying to achieve from eating raw cannabis, there are still many benefits to doing so. Let’s take a look at some of them now.

  • Insomnia Treatment – There has been research that has proven that consuming raw cannabis can actually improve sleep for individuals suffering from insomnia.
  • Neuroprotection – The cannabinoid acids found in raw cannabis have been known to bind to receptors in the body that are essential in gene regulation. This is actually better than their active counterparts. And as a result, it can help to prevent a variety of neurological diseases as well as brain-muscle connectivity.
  • Anti-inflammatory – studies suggest that THCA can significantly improve the symptoms of inflammation.
  • Reduced Cancerous Cells – There is also evidence that suggests the THCA in raw cannabis has the potential to reduce the growth and spread of some types of cancerous cells.
  • Anti-Nausea – The THCA present in raw cannabis can help you reduce the feelings of nausea pretty effectively.
  • Minerals & Vitamins – Raw cannabis is actually a great way to get a whole host of different vitamins and minerals that can boost your overall health.

What Happens If You Heat Weed Up And Eat It?

From what we’ve learned today, you can probably answer this question yourself, but don’t worry, I’ll still go into a little detail for you. If you heat your raw weed up before you eat it, you will decarb the marijuana and so you will get those high feelings that you’re looking for.

Marijuana compounds responsible for getting you high are activated when exposed to higher temperatures or light so you will turn the THCA into THC and voila, those receptors and the compounds will do the rest of the work for you, and you’ll come away a little fuzzy, very relaxed, and maybe even a little euphoric from the high.

Of course, eating a cooked bud of weed probably won’t be the most pleasurable experience in the world. And if you leave it in the oven, say, for just a little too long, you’ll probably end up with a burnt and unappetizing bud to crunch on.

That is why in most cases, individuals tend to bake the marijuana into other types of food. This is what is known as ‘edibles.’ There are tons of different varieties of edibles on the market.

You can find gummies and candies that are THC infused, you can also find cookies and brownies that are filled with THC, and there are even some restaurants that serve high-quality meals with the stuff infused into them.

This makes for a much more appetizing way for you to consume heated-up cannabis. But what does it feel like to eat an edible? What’s the high like? How quickly does it hit you? Let’s find out now.

What Does An Edible High Feel Like?

Can You Get High From Eating Raw Weed?

So, what does the high feel like from an edible? An edible high is much stronger than that of smoking cannabis, and it’s definitely something to keep in mind. It may not feel that way at first because it doesn’t hit you instantly.

It can take anywhere between 1 to 6 hours to really start feeling the effects, so you don’t want to eat more just because you don’t feel anything yet.

Once it does kick in, you can expect a pretty strong euphoric feeling but edibles are also well known for inducing heightened delusional symptoms and can cause some users heightened paranoia and anxiety, especially if they have overindulged.

Essentially, you can expect a pretty intense high that can be somewhat unpredictable. This is what many users claim to be ‘part of the fun.’ Each experience can differ from person to person.

The 7 Things To Know Before Eating Edibles

So, as I’ve mentioned above, edibles can be a little more temperamental than smoking a joint. The high can be a little unpredictable, often coming out of nowhere hours later, and the high can be much more intense.

Because of this, there are usually a few things you need to know before trying them. Below you’ll find the top 7 things to consider before experiencing an edible high.

Always Read The Label

As is the case with different types of strains that you can purchase for smoking weed, there are many varying types of edibles to choose from. They will all use different strains of cannabis and can have a variety of different THC and CBD levels.

You should always read the label of any edible before ingesting it to ensure that it is the right choice for you. For example, if you are trying edibles for the first time, you really don’t want to be selecting an edible with more than 2.5mg THC content.

It’s better to start slow and consume more if you need to than take too much at once and regret it.

The Edible Effects Last Much Longer Than Smoking

This is a really important thing to remember. When you ingest cannabis it takes a little longer for your body to absorb the THC and so the effects also last a much longer time.

You can typically expect the effects of eating edibles to last as long as 12 hours and the residual effects can last even longer. 

So, you’ll want to keep this in mind when deciding to eat an edible since the rest of your day should really be clear as you won’t be able to get on with your day as usual.

The Effects Are Stronger When Ingested Compared To Inhaling

So, I’ve mentioned this a few times already, but it’s something really important to know, you will experience a much stronger and more intense high from consuming cannabis as opposed to smoking it.

If you are new to trying edibles, you should always try to do so around trusted friends or family. Take it slow and let yourself feel the effects before taking any more.

Remember that it takes a little bit longer to kick in so you don’t want to consume more just because you’re not feeling the effects straight away.

It Takes Time To Feel The High

As I just mentioned above, you won’t immediately experience the effects of the cannabis straight after consumption.

The amount of time it will take you to start feeling the high can depend on a variety of factors such as the strength of the marijuana, the THC content of the marijuana, and the individual who is consuming it.

Typically, though, you can expect to start feeling the effects anywhere between 30 minutes to four hours after eating your edible. This is because the weed has to make its way through your stomach and liver before it then makes its way to the bloodstream and the brain.

Because it can take so long to feel the full effects, many will consume more than necessary to try and experience the higher quicker. However, this isn’t a great idea as it can lead to over-intoxication which may cause anxiety, paranoia, nausea, vomiting, and even psychosis.

Ensure That The Cannabis Products Are Correctly Stored

Properly labeling and storing edibles is imperative. They will look just like any regular version of the item and likely won’t have any particular scent that indicates that they have marijuana in them.

If they are not correctly labeled or stored, it can be pretty easy for children or pets to unknowingly ingest them and this can lead to several severe health problems. It is so important that you keep them out of reach of those that should not be consuming them.

Don’t Mix Edibles With Alcohol Or Other Substances

Alcohol can increase the impairing and intoxicating effects of weed. If you choose to consume other substances at the same time there is a high chance that you will cause over-intoxication.

This can lead to several unpleasant effects such as panic attacks, paranoia, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting. You should also avoid mixing stimulants and depressants together as this can cause a variety of harmful health complications.

Regular Use May Impact Your Mental Health

It is also important to remember that moderation is the best option when it comes to cannabis use. Daily or near-daily usage can cause you to become dependent on the drug and can also increase the likelihood of anxiety, depression, and psychosis.

Final Thoughts

From this article, you should now be well aware that you cannot get high from consuming raw weed. You should also now know the reason why this is the case. The compounds responsible for making you feel high need to be activated by heat or light before they come into effect.

However, we have also learned that while you won’t get that euphoric feeling from eating raw cannabis, there are several benefits to doing so. There are many reasons to do so such as helping insomnia and its anti-inflammatory properties.

If you want to consume cannabis rather than smoke it, you can heat it up when cooking other food. This is known as edibles. Just remember to read the tips and tricks of edible etiquette to ensure that you don’t over-intoxicate yourself.

Zack Finch

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