Ganja gummies. Pot potato chips. Medible syrup.
If the psychoactive THC molecule can bind to it, edible makers are on it.
Many of these products can be a great entry-level method to sample the cannabis high — that is, if you’re OK with a longer arc to the effects compared with ingesting marijuana via the lungs. Because edibles are activated through the stomach and liver, and can often take well over an hour to hit, the result is a more protracted and intense experience than smoking.
Edibles can also be a far more discreet delivery method that doesn’t require paraphernalia — like pipes, bongs and rolling papers — and is therefore easier to travel with and ingest on the go without so much as a glance from your flight attendant or Uber driver.
But bear in mind, while pot brownies and gummy bears may sound like innocuous ways to delve into sampling marijuana, new users would be smart to heed a little caution on their first few forays into an edible buzz.
That doesn’t mean you should be afraid. Rather, go into your high with eyes wide open, dipping a toe into the weed-infused waters before pulling a full flaming jackknife into the rushing rapids.
News headlines over the past couple years, particularly since widespread legal recreational marijuana hit Main Street, have been chock-full of unsuspecting pot greenhorns spaced out on six-hour white-knuckle rides. That’s almost always due to eating a little bit of an edible, and after not immediately feeling the effects, gobbling a bunch more — and wham! Next stop time warp!
The “let’s take more” method for edibles newbies is almost never a good look. Rather, the “start low and go slow” mantra is a much more fun, manageable and common-sense approach.
With that in mind, it’s sensible to follow the hard-earned wisdom of millions of heads who’ve spent years, even decades, navigating the psychoactive landscape before you, and begin with the training-wheels equivalent of edibles.
The onslaught of consumers these days looking for this kind of mezzanine-level buzz means that many edible makers have expanded their product lines to accommodate the novice market. Catering to every type of user, there are now cannabis-infused gums, drinks and suckers; marijuana-fueled cakes, soups and coffees.
And many of the new products — due to a confluence of governmental regulations and savvy marketing techniques — have been created with THC dosages clearly displayed on the packaging, and a ruler marking for additional and foolproof dosage control. These days, the slow and steady path is widely available in most legal US states.
Our advice? Start low and go slow by trying something like a single 5mg THC lozenge or chocolate square and record that feeling over a few hours. If that feels good and if you’re feeling bolstered by your own prudence, the next time around, boost your dose to 7–10mg and so on.
Once you understand how your body responds to the edible high, you’ll be ready for the triple-loop roller-coaster ride, or just a fun day blazed at the beach.