When you eat cannabis edibles, the plant's active ingredients—most often tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)—are absorbed through your mouth or directly into your bloodstream. That means it takes longer to take effect than smoking or vaping.
This delay can cause you to consume a larger dose than intended or lead to overdose, which is more dangerous and life-threatening than an overdose from smoking or vaping.
They’re easier to consume than smoking
If you’re new to cannabis, edibles can be a safer and more convenient way to consume cannabis. They don’t put your lungs at risk the way smoking does, and they don’t smell like smoke. However, they can still be dangerous if you accidentally overdose or eat too much.
Unlike smoking, ingesting weed requires the cannabinoids to pass through the digestive tract before entering your bloodstream. This process can take longer, especially if you have a slower metabolism. It can also lead to a delayed onset of effects for some users.
While many consumers prefer consuming their cannabis in this manner, it can be dangerous for anyone who doesn’t know how to use it safely. They can become intoxicated and experience a wide range of unpleasant symptoms, from paranoia to confusion.
Another issue is that cannabis users may not realize they’ve ingested a higher dose than intended. This can lead to a number of negative outcomes, including an unexpected high (Lamy et al., 2016; Lau et al., 2015).
Additionally, people who are used to smoking may have a hard time adjusting to the delayed onset of effects. They may eat an edible, not feel the effects immediately, and then eat a second or third one before feeling any. The resulting high can be incredibly overwhelming and difficult to get through, making it hard for them to function normally the next day (Lamy et al., 2015).
In other cases, people may ingest too much of an edible before they feel the effects. This can lead to serious medical problems, including a dangerously high heart rate or difficulty breathing.
If you’re new to edibles, it’s important to start small and work your way up. It’s also a good idea to consult with your doctor before trying any marijuana products, and to always buy regulated cannabis from a licensed dispensary.
Overall, most people who consume cannabis through edibles report positive experiences. They cite reasons for using them such as longer-lasting highs, better pain relief, convenience, and ease of consumption. They also note that edibles are more socially acceptable than smoking and are less stigmatizing.
They’re not safe for kids
While cannabis is legal for adults in many states, children are at greater risk of accidentally ingesting marijuana products. These foods, which may look like cookies, brownies or gummies, contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
These foods can be easily ingested by children who are unsupervised, and because they’re usually packaged to look like food items that kids like, the products are often mistaken for treats they’re familiar with. In fact, according to a new study published in Pediatrics, accidental cannabis exposure among kids under 6 increased by more than 1,375% between 2017 and 2021.
In addition, children under 5 are more likely to eat edibles because they’re still young enough to be curious and enjoy exploring what they see around them. They also aren’t as sensitive to the taste of marijuana, and it’s possible that they can eat more than one product without realizing it, Nemanich said.
For that reason, parents should take extra precautions when bringing their children to someone’s home who uses marijuana products. Ask family members, friends and babysitters if they have marijuana edibles and how they store them.
If you do bring edibles to a child’s home, make sure they are stored in a locked cabinet or container that’s out of reach. You can also keep the containers separate from other food and snacks.
Buying edibles with less enticing packaging is the easiest way to keep them out of reach, says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Another important factor to consider is the amount of THC that’s contained in an edible. Different people react differently to different doses of THC. That’s why it’s difficult to say how much a person should consume of a specific product, she adds.
If you have an edible that contains more than 5 milligrams of THC, it’s best to store it away or give it to a friend so they can eat it. A high-dose of THC can have serious health effects, including nausea, vomiting and an abnormally slow heart rate.
They’re not good for your heart
Cannabis adults edibles can be dangerous to your heart and should be avoided. Smoking cannabis exposes your body to a number of chemicals that can increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. This is because they can cause inflammation in the lining of the heart and blood vessels, as well as clogging your arteries.
In addition, smoking marijuana increases the concentrations of carbon monoxide and tar in your body. These substances are toxic to your heart and can lead to a number of serious health problems, including heart attacks, chest pain and high blood pressure.
It’s also important to note that the effects of cannabis on your heart are different depending on how you consume it. While smoking marijuana can increase your blood pressure and heart rate, taking it in an edible form doesn’t have the same effect.
According to Nav Bajaj, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, frequent cannabis use can actually be more harmful than not using it at all. He notes that THC can cause inflammation in the lining of your heart and blood vessels. THC can also clog your arteries and cause atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup.
Several studies have shown that people who regularly smoke marijuana are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. These findings are observational, but they are still important to note, as they can help you make informed decisions about your medical treatment.
For example, a recent study showed that frequent cannabis users were significantly more likely to have a heart attack before the age of 50 than non-users. Those who smoked more than once a month were also at a higher risk, even after controlling for other factors such as age, sex and body mass index.
This is because smoking marijuana increases your concentrations of carbon monoxide and a toxic tar called carboxyhemoglobin, which can decrease your oxygen carrying capacity. It can also reduce your blood’s ability to carry calcium, magnesium and other minerals that are essential for good heart health.
As a result, cannabis can cause arrhythmias that can result in ventricular fibrillation (VF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). These disorders are both extremely dangerous to the heart and can be fatal. Thankfully, there are treatments for both conditions.
They’re unpredictable
When you eat cannabis edibles, you don’t know how much THC is in them, and your body can react differently to different foods. It’s important to start small and go slow when trying new edible products. This way, you can be sure you’re getting the right dose for your personal needs.
Taking more than your body can handle is dangerous and can lead to poisoning or injury. To prevent this, always start with a low dose of edibles and gradually increase your consumption until you find the ideal level for you.
The effects of edibles vary depending on many factors, including your metabolism and gastrointestinal health, the time of day you ingest them, and how much you’ve eaten before. It’s best to “start low and go slow” and take just enough to get you a feel for the effects of your cannabis and then take a break to let it wear off.
Most edibles begin to take effect between 15 and 60 minutes after you consume them. This is because they’re absorbed primarily through the mouth’s absorbent tissue and do not need to travel through the stomach tract. strawberry gummy
Some gummies and other hard candy or pastille edibles, like gum, mints, and lozenges, are also absorbed more quickly than others because of their simpler ingredients. They’re often formulated for faster onset times to give you the desired effect sooner.
But while these edibles are gaining in popularity as they’re a more discreet and enjoyable way to consume cannabis, some people still have problems with them because they can be unpredictable. This is because they can cause a variety of side effects, like nausea or anxiety, which aren’t always easy to predict.
In addition, they can make you more violent and uncontrollable, which can be dangerous for those around you. This can be especially true for young people who aren’t familiar with marijuana use.
This is why many experienced cannabis consumers are turning to fast-acting edibles that have the desired effect and dissipate more quickly. These can offer a more enjoyable experience, especially for those who are new to the industry.
