Edibles are probably one of the greatest innovations to come from the cannabis world. They offer an easy way to consume cannabis without smoking or vaping, which many people prefer. If you’re new to edibles, though, it can be tough to figure out how much you should take and how a dose will affect you.
That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide to edible dosing. We’ll explain what happens when you take an edible, factors that can change how a certain dose might make you feel, and some tips for making sure you have a great experience!
What Happens When You Take an Edible
When you consume a cannabis-infused edible, the cannabinoids (like THC, CBD, and others) are metabolized by your body totally differently than they are through smoking or vaping. When ingested, the cannabinoids pass through your liver where THC is converted into a more potent compound called 11-hydroxy-THC. This powerful metabolite THC cousin can result in a more intense, longer-lasting high compared to smokeable methods.
This THC metabolite then makes its way into your bloodstream and brain, causing the “high” you may be familiar with. But, there is a key difference here between smoking cannabis and eating an edible. When you inhale cannabis, the cannabinoids are able to quickly travel from your lungs to your brain. Edibles on the other hand can take quite a bit longer. Your body needs time to digest the edible, absorb the cannabinoids, convert them, then send them into your bloodstream. This means it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours for an edible to kick in. This depends on quite a few factors.
Things That Affect How Your Body Reacts to Edibles
The human body is incredibly complicated, which means there are a few things that can affect how one dose of an edible may feel one day versus another. Here are a few things that can change how an edible might make you feel.
- Your Metabolism: Everyone’s metabolism is unique, which affects how quickly or slowly your body will digest and metabolize edibles. Those with faster metabolisms may feel the effects of an edible quicker, while those with slower metabolisms may take longer to feel the same.
- Your Tolerance: Depending on how often your use cannabis and how much you use, you will build up a tolerance to it. The higher your tolerance, the higher the dose you may need. If you’re a frequent cannabis user, you should start with a low to moderate edible dose and work your way up to find your sweet spot. If you rarely use cannabis, always start low and go slow.
- The Edible Itself: Different edibles may contain different cultivars and cannabinoids, which can change the way they may make you feel. Edibles are often not labeled by cultivar, only by their dose.
- Body Weight and Composition: Your weight, muscle mass, body fat percentage, height, and more can all influence how your body reacts to edibles. Here’s a quick tip: cannabinoids are temporarily stored in the fat cells, so those with higher body fat percentages may experience their high for longer than someone with a lower body fat percentage.
Edible DOSING: How To and Tips for a Great Time
There are a few things you can do to comfortably try new edible doses and find the perfect dose for you! Here are our top tips for having the best experience with edibles:
1. Start Low, Go Slow
We’ve got this tip at number 1 for a reason. Starting with a low dose is so important to make sure you find your perfect dose in the long run! If you have a low tolerance or are unsure how you will react to cannabis, you can start at as low as 2.5 milligrams. If you know that you like cannabis and are more comfortable, you can start between 5 and 10 milligrams.
2. Be Patient
Remember what we said earlier about metabolism? Unlike smoking or vaping, edibles take 30 minutes to 4 hours to take effect. It can be tempting to take more of your edibles if you’re not feeling anything right away, but you have to be patient. The last thing you want is to take too much and overdo it. Even if you think it isn’t kicking in, wait at least 2 hours before upping your dose!
3. Keep Track
Keeping a journal or note of how different doses make you feel can be a great way to figure out the best dose for you. You can also jot down the type of edible you used, when you took it, how much you had to eat that day, your setting, etc. to understand what factors give you the best experience. You can also use this record to track how your tolerance changes.
4. Be Mindful of Serving Sizes
Edibles are often divided into serving sizes with a certain dose of cannabis per serving. Read the package carefully to make sure you know exactly how much you’re consuming. For example, a chocolate bar may read “25mg” on the package, but that may be per square of chocolate, not the whole bar!
5. Consider Cannabinoid Ratios
Cannabinoids like CBD and THC work together in your body to create new experiences. This depends on their ratios, and different ratios can have different effects. Pay attention to the ratios of different edibles and keep track of what you enjoy the most.
Conclusion
Edible dosing doesn’t have to be tricky. Having an understanding of how edibles work, things that can affect your experience, and how to try different doses can help you navigate your experience with edibles in a much more comfortable way. Start low, go slow, and keep track of how different doses make you feel.
If you have any questions about edible dosing, feel free to ask us on our contact page. You can view our locations and shop online here, or check out some more blogs from us! Visit a Dreamz near you for more quality cannabis products in New Mexico. Happy dosing!
