Adult Use Age 21 +. Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.
far more intensely than from smoking. This is because the liver metabolizes Delta-9-THC into 11-Hydroxy-THC. The intoxicating effects of 11-OH-THC are far more intense, and last far longer( up to 12-24 hours), than ∆-9-THC. For some patients, those long-lasting effects can be a great benefit. For others, it may prove a liability. For example, taking an edible at bedtime may result in a good night’ s sleep. However, for those who don’ t metabolize 11-OH-THC well( this author included), rather than waking up refreshed, they wake up sluggish and groggy.
Not All Edibles Are Created Equal
The cannabinoids found in edibles come from two primary sources: Full-spectrum and isolates / distillates. Full-spectrum edibles are infused with live resin, rosin, or oil and contain all the plant’ s cannabinoids and terpenes. In contrast, edibles infused with isolates / distillates contain only one or two specific isolated molecules( THC, CBD, etc.). Isolates are very much like pharmaceuticals and, therefore, lack any entourage effect of full-spectrum edibles. Isolate edibles are unlikely to produce the same level of medicinal benefits as full-spectrum products. A large portion of edibles sold are made from isolates, largely because they’ re more profitable / cheaper to produce( as a side note, the majority of CBD products are made from isolate). Determining whether an edible is full-spectrum or an isolate can be challenging, as there may not be any legal labeling requirements. If it doesn’ t say otherwise, assume it’ s isolate.
Alternatives To Edibles
A great compromise between edibles and smoking / vaping is sublingual tinctures( though technically, tinctures are still considered edibles). They most commonly come in a base of alcohol, vegetable glycerin, or MCT. Sublinguals are discrete and long-lasting( 4-8 hours). When absorbed under the tongue, they bypass the liver and go directly into the bloodstream. Rather than requiring an hour or more, the effects are experienced within 10-20 minutes. This makes titration( dosage) simpler, minimizing the risks of overconsumption. And because the liver is bypassed, there’ s little ∆-9-THC to 11-OH-THC conversion to worry about.
Edibles have considerable medicinal benefits( particularly when full-spectrum) and work well for most people when dosed prudently and in moderation. Pro tip: Start low. Go slow. Be patient. Once again: Start low. Go slow. Be patient!
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Peter Kershaw is a medical cannabis consultant. Contact him at pkershaw. email @ gmail. com As with all writers within these pages, if you’ ve benefited from Peter’ s articles, please let him and all writers know. They appreciate your thoughts.
Notice: The information contained herein is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research, experience and the opinion of the writer. The content is for general informational purposes only. As always, check with your doctor first.
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