‘Edibles’ are within a class of products that are often referred to as marijuana-infused products. They are similarly named in the medical program here in Missouri. Edibles are generally made by infusing oil or butter with cannabinoids from cannabis, then substituting the resulting infused oil or butter in a recipe for cookies, brownies, salad dressing, or just about anything else you can think of. The reason for this article isn’t to offer cooking advice, but rather a cautionary tale.
Edibles are a leading cause for emergency room visits due to over-medication and the resulting negative side effects. We believe that there are good reasons for this.
- Edibles infused with THCTHC is the most famous cannabinoid and is psychoactive. TH... can have a stronger psychoactive effect. Edibles are processed via the gut, and then the liver, before continuing their journey into the bloodstream. The liver metabolizes the delta9-THC into a compound known as 11hydroxy-THC. This variation of THCTHC is the most famous cannabinoid and is psychoactive. TH... is known to have stronger psychoactive effects than it’s less vigorous cousin, delta9-THC. 11hydroxy-THC is also very specific to edibles for this reason.
- Edibles have a slow absorption time. This means that it can take 45 minutes to 2 hours to feel the effect of the dose. This can seem like an eternity and can lead a patient to believe it’s not working, so perhaps they’ll take a second or third dose. When it finally does start ‘kicking-in,’ hold on to your hat!
- Edibles have an effect that can last from four to six hours. This means that if you do over-medicate with edibles you will be uncomfortable for an extended period of time. I can’t blame someone for seeking assistance for relief from these uncomfortable symptoms.
All this being said, edibles can be a fine way to consume your medicine. The long-lasting effects can be desirable for some conditions. The moral of the story here is to eat the recommended amount of your edible and then have a seat, relax, and be patient!
Since you have the time before the edible begins to effect you, you might consider using that time to sit quietly and take an inventory of your symptoms so you can properly assess how the edible helps you (or not). Answer the question “How much did it help?” about two hours after you take your edible.
To avoid the compounding effect of dosing, wait a minimum of 8 hours before trying an alternate dose.
Enjoy the following video where some poor chap gets made fun of due to his relevant trip to the ER. Bear in mind, that if you do have an episode of over-medication with edibles, take comfort knowing that this reaction is the worst that it gets. Some will laugh about it later, others won’t. That’s ok too.
Further Reading:
Safety tips from HighTimes.com