Questions concerning cannabis’ impact on general health are becoming increasingly prevalent as the drug becomes legal for recreational use in more jurisdictions. Cannabis consumption through smoking is one thing, but what about edibles, such as brownies, candies, muffins, doughnuts, and even peanut butter? What you need to know about how eating cannabis affects your body is provided below.
How Do Edibles Work?
According to Andrew Stolbach, M.D., M.P.H., an emergency physician and medical toxicologist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is the active component in edibles. You start to absorb THC into your circulation shortly after eating a food that contains it, he claims. However, there is a catch: Depending on how much of that item you ate and how much other food is already in your stomach, absorption may be delayed. According to Stolbach, this can be a major issue because people might not be aware of how much they’ve consumed until they start to experience the full affects.
The unexpected nature of absorption is something to keep in mind when using edibles, advises Stolbach. People don’t reach their greatest effect for several hours after eating, though it can be minutes or hours.
THC eaten through edibles is absorbed through the intestinal walls just way food or pharmaceuticals are. The longer it takes for the THC to be absorbed, the more food that is already in your system (for example, if you ate a marijuana brownie for dessert after a large meal out). Where edibles and a joint differ significantly is in this area: According to Stolbach, when you smoke THC, it enters your system right away, however when you consume THC, you could not feel its full effects for several hours.
While feeling more calm is a positive side effect of Delta 8 gummies, according to Stolbach, things can quickly go south if you unintentionally overdo it. He explains that common overdose symptoms include anxiety, a rapid heartbeat, and panic attacks. “These responses can worsen.”
How Long Are Edibles Good For?
The majority of edibles can take two to three hours for their full effects to kick in, and their effects can last up to six hours, with the biggest adverse effects typically appearing within three hours of consumption. This is why it’s crucial to wait at least two hours before consuming another food (see these suggestions to prevent overdosing). Say you enjoyed the brownie so much that you had seconds or thirds; at this point, extra calories and sugar are probably the least of your worries. According to Stolbach, if the brownie has a high THC content, you might experience the effects for up to 12 hours.
Your body’s response to an edible might be influenced by the type of food you eat. Because THC is a fat-soluble compound, it can be absorbed in the intestines by dissolving in lipids. Because they are created with THC-infused lipids, dessert foods like brownies and cookies make up the majority of edibles. When THC is dissolved in butter, Stolbach explains, “the thing that makes me nervous is that if the solution is unequally [mixed], some parts of your brownie or cookie will have a lot more THC than other parts.”
Some states demand that edibles, such individually wrapped gummy packets, include labels that indicate how much THC is contained in each serving. The amount of THC in each serving of a product may not be strictly monitored in many bakeries and manufacturing facilities, though. In the absence of stringent regulation, you can’t always believe the figures even if they are labeled, much like with supplements. In addition to being aware of where their food is coming from, consumers should do their research to make sure the source is reliable. According to the FDA, it is often prohibited to sell any food containing THC over state lines.
So, can edibles ever be regarded as healthy, provided you don’t overindulge and obey the law? Absolutely, says integrative and functional nutritionist and holistic cannabis practitioner Laura Lagano, M.S., RDN, CDN, headquartered in New York City. When choosing edibles, she advises avoiding inflammatory elements like artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners, sugar, and gluten. It makes no sense to combine cannabis with inflammatory substances because it is a strong anti-inflammatory.
Now that THC has been added to products like protein powders, chocolate bars, and granola pieces, it is possible to take edibles while maintaining a nutritious diet. If you do decide to try edibles, Stolbach advises starting out slowly with modest dosages, making sure the THC concentration is clearly labeled on the packaging, and consuming them many hours before you need to drive. “Give it some time to see how your body handles it,” he advises. “Aim to reduce your stimulus and unwind.”
The potential benefits or drawbacks of cannabis use on health require further study, and Stolbach is extremely concerned about edibles falling into the wrong hands. Edibles are sometimes packaged to seem like typical candies or treats, luring kids in. The American College of Medical Toxicology reports that baked goods and candy are the most typical routes of cannabis exposure in children under the age of 12. If you keep food in your house and have kids, make sure the food is contained in child-resistant packaging and stored out of the way.