A guide to using edibles without ever smoking weed
Now that cannabis is legal in Canada, it’s an excellent time for consumers who would like to test the waters with THC, without having to puff on a joint. If you have searched for marijuana edibles recipes or how to make edibles, then you have likely come across some of the daunting warnings that explicitly say how careful new consumers should be, and this is for a very good reason. Smoking cannabis is often the most recommended starting point for new consumers, as bud flowers contain the lowest concentration of the cannabinoid. Different methods of ingestion provide different results, and varying strains and potency can also dramatically impact the sensations felt. Since there are so many various aspects to consider, this helpful step by step guide should help to steer you in the right direction, for the very best chance at an enjoyable experience.
Smoking vs. marijuana edibles
Where a marijuana bud might hold up to 30% THC, concentrates typically start at 50% and higher. That’s a dramatic leap as far as the intensity of effects that can be expected, then there is a massive difference in how the THC is absorbed by your body when consuming marijuana edibles vs. smoking.
Smoking
When smoking a bowl, the cannabinoid is delivered into your bloodstream, once it has been absorbed by receptors in the lungs. This process happens almost instantaneously and can take mere seconds to be felt by the consumer. Since this method of ingestion is faster, it is also processed and expelled quicker, so getting high from smoking will last an average of only 2-4 hours.
Marijuana edibles
If you were to eat a fresh batch of weed brownies, the element would eventually be absorbed through the stomach. This is a process that can take up to two hours, which results in a delayed rush of sensation. Since this method of ingestion takes so long to absorb, it can take up to two hours for a person to feel anything after eating marijuana edibles, but the effects can last for up to twelve hours which can be a really long time if you aren’t enjoying the buzz.
Possible adverse effects of marijuana
New consumers are most likely to report uncomfortable or overwhelming sensations from a high. This effect is only amplified when those feelings can take up to four times longer to taper off, which is why it is so important to follow guidelines and use precaution when you first start experimenting with marijuana edibles especially if you have little to no experience with smoking cannabis. Though THC is not toxic and has never killed anyone, it is essential to note some of these less than enticing possibilities before you move forward with trying any new substance.
• anxiety
• paranoia
• difficult to wake
• difficulty with motor function
• grogginess
• dry mouth
• dry eyes
• uncontrollable sleeping
• hunger
• nausea
Dosing with marijuana edibles for beginners
Figuring out the appropriate dose of THC is a process that requires plenty of trial and error, but some helpful guidelines are good to keep in mind when deciding how much to consume.
To start
If you are new to cannabis products, then it would be safer to start out slowly with edibles. The most recommended starting point for beginners is between 5-10mg of THC.
Time to wait between marijuana edibles
This kind of THC product can take up to 2 hours to kick in, so stick to one serving of the cannabinoid, and wait at least that long before assessing how you feel, and consuming anymore.
To increase dosing
Just not feeling it or maybe you enjoyed the experience but would like something with a bit more of a punch. Making it through your first time with marijuana edibles and coming back for more is a good sign that you made the right decision, and likely won’t be experimenting much for adverse effects in the future if you proceed from this point with caution. It is recommended to increase serving by approximately 10mg each time. This may seem like a slow progression, but since marijuana edibles are very much influenced by the strain they are made with, the effects from one to the next can still be very different so increasing your intake by 10mg of THC is a safe pace of progression, that can help you to avoid any kind of adverse reaction.
How to make edibles
Here we have included a weed brownies recipe that is perfect for anyone that is just learning how to make edibles. It’s fast, easy and deliciously sweet, which can help to mask some of the taste that comes with adding cannabis.
Ingredients
• 1 box of brownie mix
• 2 oz cold water
• 3 oz cannabis oil
• 3 oz pecans
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tub of chocolate icing
Tools
• 2 mixing bowls
• 1 whisk
• 1 9x13 baking pan
Instructions
- Sift all dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl (excluding icing)
- Slowly pour wet ingredients into the bowl with dry ingredients then mix together thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and lump-free.
- Pour the batter into a lightly greased baking pan and cook according to the directions on the box.
- Allow the cake at least one hour to cool before icing.
- Enjoy!
