A Brief Description
Edibles are consumable products that have been infused with medical cannabis. There are two main types of edibles: sublingual and gastrointestinal. Sublingual is Latin for ‘under the tongue’ and that is exactly what you do – you place the medical cannabis under your tongue. This type of edible allows the cannabinoids to enter your bloodstream through the tissues in your mouth and the effects start to take place shortly after. With gastrointestinal edibles, absorption takes place after the edible has entered your digestive track. This means that it will take longer to feel the effects.
A common mistake that many first-time edibles users fall victim to is eating too much. Make sure to follow these steps when consuming edibles.
Start Low & Go Slow
The suggested starting dose for an edible is 5mg or less. This may not seem like much for an experienced patient, but it is best to consume conservatively the first time. Edibles can take up to 90 minutes before the effects become noticeable. Wait at least 90 minutes before consuming a second dose!
Plan ahead
While the effects of inhaling medical cannabis are instantaneous, edibles tend to take longer to “kick in” and last for a longer time. The effects from edibles are noticeable for roughly five hours, with the peak of the effects occurring around two and a half hours after consumption.
Because of the longevity of the effects, it is important to plan ahead before eating an edible. Do not consume edibles on an empty stomach, as that may intensify the effects.
Get Comfortable
Make sure you are in a safe and comfortable place when using edibles. Never get behind the wheel of a car while under the influence of medical cannabis. If you do have to leave for any reason, use a designated driver.
Be Safe
Read the label thoroughly to make sure you are taking the correct serving size. Be sure to store your edibles out of the reach of children. Do not remove any edible product from its original packaging to prevent unintentional ingestion by others.