That marijuana infused brownie looks so yummy!
Surely it’s the perfect little bite to guide a newbie into a state of nirvana, right?
Think again. Marijuana edibles are far more difficult to handle correctly than their consumer-friendly packaging suggests, and it’s all too easy for that brownie or tiny little gummy bear to lead you directly down that rabbit hole Alice tumbled into!
Last week I spoke to Miguel Montoya, the Manager at Southwest Wellness’ Dispensary here in Taos, where all the edibles (and other products available for sale to medical marijuana card holding New Mexican residents) are all crafted from the flowers grown in their greenhouses.
Miquel told me that the vendors who make these products are held to the same high standards Southwest Wellness abides by. And he said that “although edibles are hugely popular, many shy away from them because of a bad experience, or fear of one.”
Thankfully Miguel and his colleagues at Southwest Wellness are totally educated in regard to the products they sell and will be happy to assist you in choosing the right edible – from cannahoney to lemonade, brownies, gummies, sour pebbles and more – for your individual needs.
The benefits gained from ingesting cannabinoids is undeniable anybody who has experience with both smoking herb and eating a cannabis edible will be well aware of the difference.
Edibles take longer to set in, but when they do take effect they seem much stronger. You might start wondering why eating a handful of medicated gummies got you far more stoned than a couple of joints.
When smoked or vaped, THC follows a far more direct pathway to the brain. When eaten, the THC present in cannabis is then metabolized by the liver, where it is converted into 11-hydroxy-THC. This metabolite is very efficient at crossing the blood brain barrier and therefore may result in far more of an intense and stronger high. It is also far more beneficial in terms of pain relief and treating anxiety.
Follow these tips to make sure you stay on the right track, and far away from that rabbit hole!
Start with, and stick to a single 5-milligram serving until the high hits you. After all, you can always eat another dose after if the high isn’t strong enough – but if you’ve already eaten too much and find yourself overly stoned, try as you might (and yes, you will try) you won’t be able to find a reverse button.
Smoke or vaporize marijuana, and the high hits you right away. Consume a marijuana edible and you’re going to have to wait. Since your body has to digest the substance before its psychoactive effects take hold, you might not feel anything for up to two hours. So be patient. An edible high, like fine wine, can’t be rushed.
All highs are not created equal. In short, most edible marijuana is metabolized by the liver, which then produces a kind of THC that has a bigger psychedelic punch than the THC that reaches your blood plasma when you smoke it. So when you finally feel the edible’s effects, it will likely be more powerful than what you’d get from a joint – plus be prepared for the high to last much longer.
As you should have gathered by now, an edibles-based high can be potent and powerful. So if you want to be socially functional while using medical marijuana, opt for a joint or a vape using your Liquide Cigarette Electronique vape pen and products, and save your first edible experience for a time and place that’s calm and comfortable. In other words, in the safety of your own home. You also need to think about what strain you’re going to have so again, if you’re going for a medium-strong strain such as gucci og strain then do it in a safe place.
Edibles can be hugely helpful especially for insomnia and pain relief, bur one should approach them with care.
Also, it can be hard to tell the difference between a psychedelic cookie and a regular one. So do the right thing and keep your edibles safely out of reach. No, there’s no risk the marijuana will kill anybody, but you don’t want to be the idiot who accidentally got her kid (or pet), stoned when all he wanted was a brownie!
For more on Southwest Wellness and the services they provide, please visit their site linked below this post.
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