Getting Better At Sports

Posted on: 30 January 2019

From stress and anxiety to chronic pain and digestive discomfort, cannabis can be an effective option for individuals searching for relief that does not come from toxic medications. Because of the proven benefits, many states have legalized cannabis for medicinal and/or recreational purposes. For example, Colorado currently has over 500 dispensaries registered for medicinal use and over 400 dispensaries registered for recreational use. Even though you can purchase traditional marijuana at these dispensaries, cannabis can also be consumed through edibles. If you are considering cannabis edibles for your own health and wellness, here are a few facts that may surprise you.

More Than Just Brownies

When most people think of cannabis edibles, they think of brownies. Although definitely a popular option today, brownies are not the only option of cannabis edibles offered at dispensaries. Visiting a dispensary can be like visiting a grocery store, since there is a large variety of edibles to choose from. Cannabis can be baked into cookies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, and breads. Other type of cannabis edibles includes suckers, caramels, chocolate pieces and chocolate bars, gummy treats, or even cereal bars and ice cream. Cannabis can also be infused into tea, coffee, butter, and oils, allowing you to consume small amounts of cannabis during different times or a different meal throughout the day.

If you are following a special diet, you may even find cannabis edibles that help you remain on track. Gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegetarian edibles are available at most dispensaries.

More Potent Than Inhaling

Another surprising fact you should know is that consuming some edibles can actually offer more potent effects than inhaling via a vaporizing pen or smoking a joint/pipe. The increased potency is caused by the body's actual response and not necessarily by the amount of cannabis found in the edible/marijuana.

When you consume cannabis edibles, the THC is absorbed by your liver. Once absorbed, the liver metabolizes the THC, allowing it to pass through the blood more efficiently.

When you smoke/inhale cannabis, the THC will get into the body faster and they will be longer-lasting. However, THC bypasses the liver, so the effects are not as fast or as strong as they would be when eating edibles.

Another reason the potency can be stronger and faster in edibles than smoking/inhaling is due to the way edibles are used. When consuming certain types of edibles, such as cakes or breads, you may not know exactly how much cannabis you are putting into your body. Unless the dosage is labeled and followed, you can easily overindulge on cannabis edibles.

Most people are able to control how much cannabis they take in when smoking/inhaling since the dosage of marijuana or cannabis oil can be measured properly.

Overdosing Has Not Occurred

First and foremost, it is important to note that you can overindulge on cannabis edibles. However, there have not been any known reports of individuals overdosing and dying while consuming cannabis edibles.

Even though an overdose has not occurred, overindulging can be dangerous. Consuming large amounts of cannabis can lead to side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Many people who over overindulged on cannabis edibles have also experienced an increased heart rate, clammy skin, and numbness and tingling of the limbs, which are common symptoms of a panic attack.

Professionals recommend starting slow, especially if you have never consumed edibles or used any form of cannabis in the past. You should also avoid eating edibles on an empty stomach, since the stomach and intestines will absorb the THC faster and more thoroughly, causing you to experience severe cannabis effects.

If you are ready to try edibles to improve your health or wellness, consult your local cannabis dispensary for more information.