Edibles are a fun way to wind down after a long week. They come in lots of different formats, so you know there is something to suit everyone’s preferences.
However, if you are trying edibles for the first time, or simply don’t know a lot about them, you are going to want to know some stuff! It isn’t about sucking the fun out of it, it’s about safety, and knowledge is power.
As long as you know what cannabis edibles are, what they do, and the dangers associated with them, you’re good to go! Never jump into this kind of thing blind, because there is honestly a lot of information that you should be aware of first.
Everything You Need to Know About Cannabis Edibles
Cannabis edibles are simply food products that typically contain CBD and THC, which comes from weed. THC is the mood-altering chemical that we all know and love, and CBD is often used for medicinal purposes.
Edibles can be made at home or bought at various stores and online, depending on where you are. They are illegal in many states and even many countries. There are edibles of different strengths, and different weed strains can be used to create them.
The most popular forms of edibles are things like cakes and cookies, but there are even gummy edibles and a variety of other types.
Technically, just about anything can be turned into an edible if you know how. So, if they are legal in your state or country, why not do some experimenting and see what you can come up with?
They Can Interfere With Certain Medications
Anything that contains cannabis has the potential to interfere with some medications that you might be taking. This is one of the most important things that you need to be aware of, and why using cannabis can be so dangerous if you are on medications.
If you are not taking medications – great! You won’t need to worry about this. However, to be safe, this is still something that you should be asking anyone who is going to try cannabis for the first time. Being safe should be everyone’s top priority, so make it yours!
Here are some medications that cannabis is likely to have dangerous interactions with:
Pain medications – such as Vicodin, codeine, and Percocet
Antidepressants – such as Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac
Anticonvulsants – such as Depakene, Tegretol, and Topamax
Sedatives – such as Benadryl, Ambien, and Lunesta
Anti-anxiety medications – such as Librium, Xanax, and Valium
Anticoagulants – such as heparin, Coumadin, and Plavix
Store Them Right
This is especially important if you are going to be having edibles in your own home – and you have children or pets. They need to be in a secure location where no kids or animals can get to.
This is probably common sense, but it’s still worth repeating. You do not want anyone other than yourself or the other adults in your house getting their hands on it. Store it high, in a secured and sealed container of your choice.
The Effects Can Sneak Up on You
The effects of cannabis edibles will sneak up on you like you have no idea. One moment, you will not feel a thing, and the next you are in the thick of it.
It can be easy to lose patience if you have taken an edible and nothing has happened for a while. Truth is, it can take anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours for the effects to start kicking in. You will probably only feel the peak at the four-hour mark, so you need patience!
Effects Last A Long Time
Just like your edibles take a while to kick in, they definitely linger, too. The effects themselves will likely last around 12 hours in total.
However, the residual effects can stay on for 24 hours or even more. In other words, you will still be affected by your edible the day after you take it.
Cannabis also has the potential to stay in your system for up to 30 days in some cases. Generally, it will remain in the blood for 1–2 days and the saliva for 1–3 days.
Always Start With A Low Dose
Starting out with a low dose is especially important if you have never taken edibles before. Everyone has a different level of tolerance, and sometimes it really does not take a lot for it to affect you.
As they say, start slow and go slow. Leave enough time between edibles before taking another dose, or else you could be hit with a double.
Make sure you read the product label if there is one. If you have made the edible yourself, ensure that you have been mindful of how much cannabis went into it, and use your common sense.
Don’t eat a whole batch of cookies unless you want to get transported to another realm – and not in a good way.
Final Thoughts
Edibles can be a lot of fun, but they also are not something to play around with if you’re new to it. You need to be safe above all. This relates to knowing whether edibles will interfere with any medications you are on, but also knowing the dosage and waiting times.
Have fun, by all means, but make informed decisions no matter what you do. If you are doing edibles for the first time with friends, make sure they are trusted, and they have an idea of what is going on.
If you want to be as safe as possible, we would recommend having at least one “sober” friend with you.
This will give you some peace of mind knowing that, if something does go wrong, there will be someone available to help out. You can never be too safe, so take every precaution!
Hi, I’m Zack Finch and I work as a Budtender for a Health & Wellness center here, in sunny California. I have been using marijuana recreationally for around 6 years now, and have many a time enjoyed the benefit that weed has to offer.
Whether you’re looking for informational guides about edibles, vape oil, CBD, how to roll a cross joint, the best blunt wraps, anything you can think of, I’ll cover it here.
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