Smoking cannabis might offer many responses, sensations, and other psychedelic effects—but those responses pale compared to those triggered by an edible high.
If smoking a joint is a stinging left jab, dosing edibles is a full-on haymaker blast.
With all that said, you can modulate your edible dosages to offer more precise and controlled results—but we’re speaking in broader generalizations for now.
Edibles take your mind to places where joints, blunts, bongs, pipes, and even dab rigs can’t guide you. Those are the facts.
While you might run into the odd person who says edibles don’t hit them hard—and they could be telling the truth—they’ll learn that edibles are highly potent soon enough. It’s only a matter of encountering the right product.
As much as extremely potent highs entice us at Enlighten Dispensary, we’re far more focused on safe, responsible, and fulfilling cannabis experiences.
Although edibles carry heavy THC content, the experience doesn’t have to be overwhelming or anxiety-inducing. More to the point, dosing edibles can and should be fulfilling, relaxing, laid back, and 100% safe despite the high levels of potency.
Read our tips below to get the most out of your cannabis edible experiences.
Get Your Dosage Right
The first mistake most people make when eating edibles is not taking the appropriate amount. Too often, they take either too little or too much.
When you take too little, you end up feeling cheated and let down, and you turn into one of those people who mistakenly think edibles don’t do anything to you.
If you take too much, well, buckle up. It’s going to be a wild ride, not a fun one.
Here are some rules to follow as you enter the world of edibles to have more controlled dosages that offer precise results:
- The suggested edible dosage for cannabis beginners is nothing more than 2.5mg of THC.
- If you’re used to smoking cannabis but don’t have much or any experience with edibles, don’t have a dosage higher than 10mg. The safest option is not exceeding a 5mg dose.
- Use your first time (or first few times) with edibles as experimentation with smaller amounts—don’t be too eager to “go hard.” Eventually, as you get used to them, you can be more adventurous (within reason).
Be Patient—The Effects Take A While To Kick In
Edibles are vastly different from smoking cannabis.
Yes, they both contain similar ingredients, but once you eat and digest THC, it becomes another inebriant altogether as you process and metabolize it through your liver.
Therefore, it takes edibles much longer to kick in than when you smoke cannabis. Your body must first absorb it before the effects take hold.
While this concept might seem simple enough, many people become impatient while waiting for the edible effects to take hold.
Then, they eat more THC-infused treats, only for their initial dosage to smack them in the face a few minutes later.
From there, they’ll have to face an additional, unwanted surge an hour or so later, and the entire experience will be akin to riding the most rickety, unstable roller coaster they’ve ever rode.
When you eat edibles, remember that the effects will take a half hour and two hours (sometimes more) to kick in entirely. Eating extra won’t make it any faster, but it could make for a longer-lasting and more unpleasant experience.
Be Wary Of Homemade Edibles
We are not suggesting you never dabble in your friend’s homemade edibles when they offer. However, we are telling you to be exceptionally cautious under these circumstances.
In fairness, the sale of edibles isn’t necessarily legal in places where selling recreational adult-use cannabis is legalized. So, you might be stuck trusting your pal’s homemade cookies or brownies.
Unfortunately, homemade edibles lack the labeling and uniform composition of products found in most dispensaries.
Edibles you find in a dispensary will tell you how much THC is present in each dosage, whether it’s 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, or more. If they don’t, you’re not buying from a reliable brand.
Conversely, homemade edibles are often a wing and a prayer. Some DIYers have perfected their method and know how potent each brownie, cookie, muffin, etc., is. Still, it’s a rarity that you’ll get the same precision as you would from store-bought products.
None of what we’ve said is meant to scare you.
Instead, we simply want you to be thoughtful and safe when indulging in homemade edibles. Rather than eating an entire cookie or brownie, start with half and wait a while to see what kind of edibles you’re dealing with.
How To Deal With An Overwhelming Edible High
Here, we’ll address something that happens to even the most seasoned of cannabis connoisseurs: Getting too stoned off of edibles.
There’s a vast difference between smoking too much cannabis and eating too much cannabis. The high from smoking will end very soon—at most, you’ll be uncomfortable for three-quarters of an hour. Maybe a bit more. Still, the rough ride won’t last too long.
With edibles, the roughness will only intensify if you don’t take proactive measures to offset your negative response.
Below are some techniques you can use to offset the intensity of an edible high that’s run amok:
- Do some light exercise that doesn’t require much coordination. This could be some pushups or situps, a light jog or walk, etc. Don’t go too hard with exertion.
- Throw on a comforting movie or your favorite playlist to calm your mood.
- Reach out to a friend or loved one you can trust not to judge your current predicament. Talk to them about your thoughts and feelings.
- Stay away from crowded areas and seek out safe spaces.
- When in doubt, go to sleep and live to fight another day. You’ll wake up relieved and feeling like your miscalculated high was all a dream.
Also, all isn’t lost when an edible trip gets too intense.
In specific scenarios, much can be gained by toughing out a harsh wave and holding on until things settle. Because of the more initially challenging stages of the high, you’ll often calm down and experience a heightened sense of euphoria. (Disclaimer: This isn’t a suggestion to take a heavy dosage of edible—it’s merely a way to manage a miscalculated dose that’s making you feel “off.”)
Keep Experimenting
Edibles aren’t cut and dry. Eating them can lead to one of the most mind-blowing experiences of your life (for the better), or the high can turn unpleasant. Unless you eat an enormous, irresponsible amount, they’re also entirely safe—even if they make you feel a bit topsy-turvy.
You’ll enhance your experience with edibles by continually experimenting and determining what brands, types, and dosage amounts suit you best.
Purchase Your Edibles From Reliable Sources
One of the best ways to enhance your experience with edibles is to purchase high-quality products from a reliable source like Enlighten Dispensary.
From top to bottom, our selection of recreational, adult-use cannabis is second to none and cultivated by experts you can trust. This notion extends to our edibles, designed to harness all the benefits of such products while minimizing potential pitfalls.
Visit our location in Marlton, New Jersey, today to speak with one of our budtenders about our selection of edibles. Or, peruse our online menu to research our high-quality edible products and see what might suit you best.