What are Edibles and How do They Work?
When you think of edibles, you might think of space cakes or cannabis brownies. Your mind might go to some scenes from TV shows or films in which the main character accidentally ingests some and acts crazy for the rest of the evening.
But what are edibles? How do you make them and consume them? Are they better than smoking or vaping herb?
In this article, we'll go over everything you've always wanted to know about canna edibles. Read on for more information.
What Are Edibles?
Let's get this out of the way first. What are edibles, exactly?
Well, the answer is everything, as long as it can be made with oil, butter or fat. Most people think of desserts when they think of edibles for exactly that reason. It's because it is super easy for beginners to grind up herb and make it in a brownie or a cake, whereas making it in a soup, salad or main course isn't as apparent if you don't have the right ingredients.
That's why you've probably either had a "space cake" in Amsterdam or consumed an entire herb brownie with your friends at a party in high school.
However, edibles can be literally anything edible. As we said above, anything with oil in it can be created as one. Our site has the traditional edible fare, but as long as you have the right ingredients, you can make edibles for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.
Or, if you're more of a CBD person, you can still use our devices and ingredients to make tasty gummies, desserts, and CBD edibles for any meal of the day. It's a tasty way to enjoy recreational canna or to help control your pain. Or for some people, it does both, making it a delicious win-win.
Inhaling vs. Ingesting
Other than the delicious factor, you may wonder what the differences are between inhaling and ingesting cannabis. Most people have a preference for one or the other, so why do some people prefer smoking while some prefer ingesting?
There are several key differences when you discuss inhaling vs. ingesting canna, but the main difference people notice is the speed at which you begin to feel the effects of the THC.
THC vs. CBD
For the uninitiated, THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol. It is what produces the psychoactive effects of herb that is grown from canna. CBD, or cannabidiol, is found more plentifully in hemp plants, where there is less THC.
You can get products that have both THC and CBD; but most people purchase edibles, vapes, and herb precisely because of the THC or CBD. As we stated above, CBD is more often associated with helping relieve pain and don't make the user feel "high." THC, however, has that psychoactive effect that some people feel helps relieve their chronic pain more efficiently. THC is also used for recreational purposes.
Why Ingest Rather Than Inhale THC?
When you inhale THC, the compounds hit the bloodstream almost immediately. As such, those seeking a "high" will feel it very quickly.
If you're eating an edible, this takes longer; often between 30 minutes to an hour. For some people, it can take as long as two hours. Because of this, it is important to pace yourself when eating your edibles if you are eating THC-infused products. Your high will come, but don't keep eating wondering where it is. Otherwise, you'll find yourself much higher than you intended.
But, how much you weigh and how much you have eaten that day can also vary how quickly you'll feel the effects. If you're eating edibles on an empty stomach, you can expect to feel their effects a lot faster.
Additionally, if a 100-pound individual and a 250-pound individual take edibles at the same time, they'll find that they may have different tolerances due to their weight difference.
Even if you have experience inhaling THC, it is recommended that you start small and slowly with your edibles. That way, you can experiment with them and see what your tolerance is as you go. Otherwise, you may find yourself feeling so many of the effects that it is uncomfortable for you, giving you overall an unpleasant experience.
But you should also be aware that the effects of edibles last for a much longer time than if you simply inhale. This is often why people choose to do edibles over vaping or smoking, especially if the THC is used as a method of pain control.
Let's explore why the psychoactive effects of edibles last much longer in your system than those that are inhaled.
Why Are Edibles So Strong and Last So Long?
That's a great question. And the answer lies within the body's liver. After ingesting edible THC, the body processes it in the liver, where it creates 11-hydroxy-THC, a metabolite that is much smaller. While oral THC is not all that bioavailable, 11-hydroxy-THC is more so.
The 11-hydroxy-THC crosses the blood-brain barrier much more easily than THC itself.
A 1970s study has shown that the liver might even convert 100% of the ingested THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, which makes the effects that much more potent. It also makes the effects hang around much longer, making it the preferred method of ingestion for many.
Why Do Edibles Sometimes Fail to Work? And What Can You Do About It?
Not everyone feels the effects of edibles, and sometimes you may feel the effect of an edible, only to try it again with the same ingredients and feel nothing. You might think you're going crazy, but you're not at all. Instead, you're experiencing something known as the "first pass" effect.
This happens if the liver breaks down so much of the THC that it fails to make it into the metabolite. That means your liver is so good at its job it has forgotten to do what you tasked it to do: make you feel the effects of your edible.
Sometimes this happens, and there isn't much you can do about it. In that case, you can always just enjoy the edible for the food you made it with; which is why learning to create amazing edible recipes is so important. That way, if your liver dropped the ball, you can still have a super impressive, and totally delicious, meal or snack.
But, one way some people can stave off this feeling is to eat a meal before they eat their edibles. While this can mean it takes a little bit longer for your edible to make you feel the THC, it does mean that the feeling might be stronger and last longer.
One way you can strategize if you struggle with the "first pass" issue is to create an appetizer and use one of our amazing recipes for the main course.
Or, you can eat the main course and then make a delicious edible for dessert. As dessert edibles are a tradition, this might feel like you're harkening back to your days in high school or college. But now, you know a little bit more about herb and how to temper the THC; this time you won't be crying to your friends about how you're sure this is your last moment on earth because you didn't know how to temper the product correctly.
Are Edibles For Me?
While everyone has their preferences when it comes to how to ingest their herb, we'd definitely suggest giving them a try. You may love them, or you may hate them, but until you try them correctly, you'll never know. Plus, baking edibles yourself is actually really fun; and you might wind up picking up a new hobby from it.
Benefits of Edibles
We hope this article has answered the question of, "What are edibles?" And hopefully, it has inspired you to have a look at some of our delicious recipes, as well as have opened your eyes to the different ways in which you can make edibles.
We've already discussed some of the benefits of edibles, including ensuring you have a longer "high" than you would if you weren't ingesting them. And for most people, the added mixture of eating something yummy is also an added benefit.
Have a look at our molds, which can help extend the life of your herb-infused butter and keep you making amazing canna goods for longer.
