A new study shows that a large number of Canadians plan to try marijuana edibles once the nation legalizes cannabis, and an even higher number is in favor of legalization.
The study, conducted at Dalhousie University, found that 46% of Canadians would try cannabis-infused food products if they became available on the market. 39% would be willing to try it in a restaurant, and 20% said that they know enough about cooking with marijuana to do it at home.
The preliminary study, entitled Cannabis-infused food and Canadian consumers’ willingness to consider recreational marijuana as a food ingredient was led by Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, professor in food distribution and policy at the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University, and lead author of the well-known Canada’s Food Price Report. Dr. Simon Somogyi, associate professor in the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie, co-authored the study. A total of 1087 people took part in the survey, conducted in English and French over four weeks in August 2017.
Edibles are among the most popular cannabis products around and for good reason: they offer higher highs for longer periods of time.
While this is wonderful news for the marijuana lover, edibles do come with a metaphorical warning label (and a real one as well). This is because they are different than what some people are used to in regards to pot and dose plays a huge role.
For years, smoking was the most popular form of cannabis ingestion and those who lit up joints or packed bowls were rewarded immediately: inhale, feel awesome, repeat. There was virtually no waiting time before the effects set in.
Edibles are a different game: you keep waiting – waiting for your high, waiting for relaxation, maybe even waiting for Godot. So, exactly what do you do? Or, more accurately, how much do you take?
The 10 MG Dose Rule
There are several things that impact how you’ll react to edibles. If you’re inexperienced with marijuana, you’ll likely find edibles much more powerful than someone whose bong has their own Instagram page. But your metabolism plays a major role too: bigger people tend to have faster metabolisms – a 300 pound offensive lineman burns much more calories each day than the average Joe – and thus they feel the effects of edibles faster. Small people feel them as well, naturally, but the time between ingestion and awesome is longer; it may be thirty minutes longer or over an hour longer.
Whether or not you’ve eaten is also a factor. Edibles should always be consumed when you have something in your stomach. You don’t need to have a four course meal, but make sure your system isn’t running on empty. Not only will this help reign in your high, but it’ll help keep the munchies at bay. Consuming pot via any route when you’re hungry is never a good idea. It’s how pet goldfish become California rolls.
Yet, even with all the variation shown above, the one thing that really impacts the influence of edibles is how much you take
Most people are instructed to begin with 10 mg and go from there. However, if you’re anxious about it or if you’ve had less-than-stellar experiences with pot in the past, starting at 5 mg may be more suitable. You can always take more but you can’t do the opposite.
The rules may change if your edibles only contain CBD. Cheeba Chews, for example, are CBD edibles. Taking more than 10 mg won’t affect you the same way taking an extra dose of THC edibles would, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel anything. Many CBD edibles have some THC, two percent or so. In a dose, the THC level is too low to do much (but it’s included because THC enhances the effects of CBD). Take a couple more CBD edibles and the THC adds up; you risk getting high when that wasn’t your intention.
What all of this means is that 10 mg is a good starting point, not matter what type of edible you have. If you feel as though it’s too low – and it very well may be – at least give it a chance to prove itself. Take 10 mg and wait. Give yourself at least an hour, but you might need more. Women, especially, may have to wait two hours before they understand why Mary Jane is indeed merry.
If you do decide to ingest another dose, consider going lower than you initially did: don’t take another 10 mg, take 5. Then wait some more
You don’t want to reach the point of no return: popping edible after edible will get you there. And, while you won’t overdose the way people do on harder drugs (or alcohol), you’ll regret your decision. Plus, you might find yourself turned off from edibles for a very long time.
Other Edible Tips
Upon buying edibles, pay very close attention to the dosage instructions on the bottle or package. If you buy a chocolate bar with 80 mg of THC, that bar isn’t meant to be ingested in one sitting (though it’s the same size of a normal candy bar); it’s meant to be eaten in segments. It’s the same thing if you buy something like sour gummies – don’t eat gummy after gummy the way you would Sour Patch Kids inside the local movie theater. Eat one gummy. One usually contains 10 mg of THC.
Cannabis edibles are never designed to be eaten as if they’re regular food; you can’t mindlessly snack on pot brownies or suck on lollipop after lollipop. You can, of course, but not without a high that – more than likely – will soar to unintentional altitudes.
Ideally, your first time trying edibles should be somewhere safe: your own home with some friends is much better than at a crowded concert or in your work cubicle. Because everyone’s body chemistry is different, there is no one-size-fits-all experience. Having someone well-versed in edibles by your side is also a good move; they’ll help make sure you don’t take too much and they’ll know how to help in the event you grow paranoid. Or at least they’ll pretend to know.
Your alcohol consumption is another thing that warrants recognition. Some people can and do take edibles with alcohol and find the experience enjoyable.
But if you’re new to edibles, bringing a beer along for the ride has a few downsides
Firstly, alcohol can potentiate the effects of THC, making you feel higher than pot alone. You may love this or you may hate it. Secondly, when you mix alcohol with cannabis, it can be difficult to figure out where your drunk ends and your high begins. This takes away from your experience with edibles by preventing you from discovering what they truly feel like. So, try edibles alone the first few times before you throw alcohol into the ring. You’ll avoid a hangover, as an added bonus.
A final thought about edibles: they’re not for everyone. Some people don’t like their amplified effects and others don’t like how long they last. If a quick, short buzz is more your style, just say no to noshing. Your bong will welcome you back with open arms.
A Washington bill requiring state officials to regulate marijuana-infused food products the same as other foods has been passed unanimously by the state’s House of Representatives.
Marijuana cupcakes. (Photo: Jason Redmond/Reuters)
House Bill 1462 has also been approved by the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade & Economic Development Committee. The proposal “Requires the department of agriculture to regulate marijuana-infused edible processing the same as other food processing under the state food processing act.”
It also “Requires a marijuana processor that processes, packages, or makes marijuana-infused edibles to obtain an annual marijuana-infused edible endorsement.”
What are the best ways to consume marijuana without smoking it?
All types of people use marijuana; all ages, races and social classes. Not everyone likes actually smoking it, however, or some people simply can’t do so depending on their condition. Because of this alternative forms of consuming cannabis have gained widespread popularity in recent years.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the best and most popular ways to consume marijuana without smoking it:
Edibles (Marijuana-Infused Foods)
Marijuana edibles are probably the most popular alternative to smoking, and definitely one of the best. Edibles include any food item that’s been infused with cannabis. This can include traditional items like marijuana brownies and cookies, to more intricate dishes like spaghetti with cannabis-infused marinara sauce and olive oil. Cannabis-infused drinks such as sodas and teas are also gaining popularity.
How it differs from smoking:
When consuming edibles you’ll notice two primary differences from smoking marijuana; one, the onset takes much longer. Whereas smoking gives you an almost immediate high, the effects of edibles can take half an hour to two hours; depending on the edible and person.
Second, edibles have a much longer-lasting higher than smoking; typically 4 to 6 hours compared to 2 to 3 hours.
Edibles also tend to give users a stronger body-high than smoking.
Topicals
Topicals are another way to to get cannabis in your system that’s been growing in popularity. This includes marijuana lotions and ointments, which are common among medical cannabis dispensaries and cannabis retail outlets in areas where it’s legal.
How it differs from smoking:
Unless a massive amount is applied, topicals won’t get you high. Despite this, they provide intense medical relief to the part of the body it’s being applied to. This has made marijuana topicals a popularity option among those who understand the medical benefits of marijuana, but don’t want a change in their state of mind.
Tinctures
Marijuana tinctures function in a way similar to edibles, but are typically much less powerful in terms of their high (though not necessarily in terms of their medical benefits).
How it differs from smoking:
Like edibles tinctures have a longer onset and longer-lasting medical relief than smoking. However, unlike smoking tinctures are unlikely to get you high; this is unless a large amount is taken of tincture that is high in THC. Tinctures are taken by placing a few drops under the tongue or into drinks like tea.
Pills
Marijuana pills are a convenient option for many patients; it doesn’t require smoking, doesn’t require an appetite to consume it, etc..
Typically marijuana pills are simply gel tabs filled with cannabis that has been activated (heated in something fat-heavy like butter or oil). These can be made at home or purchased at a cannabis outlet if in an area where it’s legal.
How it differs from smoking:
The effects of pills are almost identical to edibles; a relatively slow onset and long-lasting effects. Marijuana pills also tend to pack quite a punch, depending on the dose taken.
A new study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, and published online by the National Institute of Health, gives us the clearest answer to date on how long cannabis edibles stay actives after they’ve been made.
“Presented is a method for the preparation and application of THC and CBD containing brownies used as quality control (QC) material for the analysis of marijuana or cannabinoid baked medibles”, states the study’s abstract. “It was determined that the process used to prepare and bake the brownie control material did not degrade the THC or CBD. The brownie matrix was found not to interfere with the analysis of a THC or a CBD.”
1/2 cup marijuana butter (or margarine if vegan), melted
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs (egg-replacer or one cup applesauce if vegan)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
Marijuana-infused banana bread is loved by many. It is delicious, not overly rich and sweet.
The best way to make banana bread is to use cannabutter, however it can also be made using extremely finely ground Cannabis.
This recipe for the moistest marijuana banana bread that you’ve ever tasted. It’s also very easy to make! This recipe makes 1 – 9×5 inch loaf
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, stir together the melted marijuana butter and sugar. Add the eggs and the vanilla, mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the marijuana butter mixture until smooth. Finally, fold in the sour cream, walnuts and bananas. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Then cool the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it to a wire rack to cool completely.
As of June 2nd, it’s legal for everyone 21 and older in Oregon to purchase and use cannabis edibles, topicals, tinctures and extracts. Dispensaries are now able to legally distribute such products, thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 1511 earlier this year.
Under the new law, dispensaries are now able to sell cannabis edibles – such as brownies and truffles – topicals – such as lotions and ointments – and tinctures to everyone 21 and older. Unfortunately dispensaries will not be able to sell edibles to non-patients that contain more than 15 mg of THC per product. Dispensaries will also be able to sell up to a gram of cannabis extracts, given they have more than 1,000 mg of THC per gram.
Starting tomorrow, June 2nd, dispensaries in Oregon will be able to legally distribute cannabis-infused foods such as brownies and cookies, and cannabis extracts such as oils and tinctures, to anyone 21 and older. This is thanks to Senate Bill 1511, which also allows recreational cannabis retail outlets to sell cannabis to patients tax-free.
Under the new law – signed by Governor Kate Brown in March – dispensaries will be authorized to sell edibles to anyone 21 and older, given they contain no more than 15 mg of THC. Once cannabis retail outlets – licensed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission – open sometime next year, dispensaries will no longer sale cannabis or cannabis products to non-patients.
If you have ever eaten or baked marijuana edibles before, you are likely well aware of the difficulty that comes with figuring out your proper dose. Time and time again people either have too little marijuana (leading to no high at all) or far too much (resulting in an uncomfortable high), and they can’t seem to get it right even after some major trial and error. Luckily, this article will give you some of the most important tips for getting the right dose in your next batch of marijuana edibles.
The study, conducted at Dalhousie University, found that 46% of Canadians would try cannabis-infused food products if they became available on the market. 39% would be willing to try it in a restaurant, and 20% said that they know enough about cooking with marijuana to do it at home.
your metabolism plays a major role too: bigger people tend to have faster metabolisms – a 300 pound offensive lineman burns much more calories each day than the average Joe – and thus they feel the effects of edibles faster. Small people feel them as well, naturally, but the time between ingestion and awesome is longer; it may be thirty minutes longer or over an hour longer.
size of a normal candy bar); it’s meant to be eaten in segments. It’s the same thing if you buy something like sour gummies – don’t eat gummy after gummy the way you would Sour Patch Kids inside the local movie theater. Eat one gummy. One usually contains 10 mg of THC.
