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Edibles Pros and Cons

Posted by CANNASaver on Saturday, 11 March 2023 in Canna Blog

Trying to decide whether to smoke, vape, or ingest your next cannabis purchase? Well, we’re here to tell you that you can’t go wrong. However, most people have a preference. Perhaps you’ve tried edibles in the past but it wasn’t a great experience. Or maybe it was a great experience and you’re looking to try them again? Either way, we do think edibles are a great choice. Tread lightly, however, because edibles do come with their own negatives, too. Here are the pros and cons of edibles.

What Are Edibles?

Cannabis edibles can exist in several forms, including baked goods like muffins or cookies. They also exist in hard candies, gummies, sodas, tea, and other forms.

There are many pros and cons to using edibles over other forms. In this article, we will go over the issues, and by the end, hopefully, it will help you decide if you want to try edibles or not.

When talking about cannabis potency it’s hard to judge edibles vs the different preparations for smoking. The edibles are graded on mg per serving, instead of a percentage of THC.

Edibles - Pros

Okay, here are the reasons why edibles are a great choice the next time you step into a dispensary.

Edibles Are Healthy(ish)

Okay, yes, it’s a chocolate chip cookie you're eating, or perhaps a chocolate fudge brownie, so we can’t say it’s super healthy.. but it is healthier…in a way.

Yes, edibles are the safest (healthiest) way to consume cannabis (marijuana). Any time a substance is burned before inhalation, there is a risk of developing carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), in the body, especially if inhaled through the lungs. This occurs with water pipes, joints, blunts, bowls, etc.

Vaporizers use a different method for extracting THC. When using a vaporizer, the marijuana leaves are heated, but not burned. A vapor is inhaled, to receive the desired effect. Vaporizers can be set to different temperatures to heat the leaves. However, there is the chance that if the vaporizer is heated too high, the leaves will be burned, and carcinogens will be inhaled, even though it has not been definitively proven.

It has also been shown that oil vaporizers produce carcinogens. It is believed that the chemicals used to create the oil suspension produce inhaled carcinogens when heated. Thus, the question remains; is vaping a safer alternative to smoking cannabis? Yes, and edibles are even safer than vaping.

Edibles Last Longer

The high lasts much longer than other forms of consuming cannabis.

Edibles provide a longer-lasting high compared to other methods of cannabis consumption. When consumed, THC is metabolized by the liver and converted into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is a more potent form of THC that lasts longer in the body.

The high sensation that is produced from the edibles will last much longer than the high from inhalation. The high produced from edibles peaks at about 2 hours and can last up to 24 hours.

This is in contrast to the high from inhaled cannabis which usually peaks at 10 minutes and usually lasts 1-3 hours.

Edibles Are More Discreet

Yes, there’s more privacy during use.

If you don’t live at the end of a cul-de-sac, or live on a huge isolated property like a ranch or horse property, you likely will have non-420-friendly neighbors, who don’t appreciate the resultant smell of weed.

Not to mention, the consumption of edibles is legal in public places. Before you get too excited, this is not true in all states. Even in some states where cannabis is legal for recreational use, like Colorado, edibles are not legal in public places. However, in Arizona, cannabis edibles are legal in public places, as long as the person is not operating a vehicle.

Edibles are a discreet way to consume cannabis, especially in situations where smoking or vaping may not be acceptable. They do not produce a strong odor and can easily be consumed without attracting attention.

There Are More Options With Edibles

Edibles come in a wide variety of forms, including:

Gummies
Candy (suckers, etc)
Chocolates
Baked goods
Honey/oil
Beverages

This variety allows users to find a product that suits their taste preferences and dietary restrictions.

cannabis edible chocolates

Edibles - Cons

It’s good to know about the disadvantages of edibles before consuming them, just so you can make your own decisions about which cannabis product is best for you.

Edibles Take a While to Set In

As opposed to inhaled cannabis, from smoking or vaping, edibles can take much longer for the user to feel the effects. Smoking or vaping allows the user to feel the effects of the cannabis, within 2-10 minutes, while edible cannabis can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to feel the effects.

Some users even take additional edibles instead of waiting for the ½ hour to 2 hours. Then a few hours later, they can receive a high from cumulative edibles. This delayed onset can lead to users consuming too much, thinking that they haven't consumed enough. This can lead to unpleasant experiences, such as anxiety or paranoia.

Edibles can take up to 6-8 hours to wear off, so if sobriety is needed within that timeframe, it is not ideal. This is compared to smoked varieties taking 1-4 hours to wear off.

Edibles Can Last Longer

While we mentioned the long-lasting effects of edibles can be a benefit, they can also be a drawback for some users.

If you take too much, you may experience prolonged effects that can interfere with your daily activities.

Edibles Can “Hit” You Harder

Edibles can have a more intense effect than smoked varieties. Some people get very anxious and can even experience panic attacks from edibles. For a first-time cannabis user, the pronounced edible cannabis effects can feel overwhelming, leading to an eventual visit to the emergency room or urgent care center. The dosage can also be hard to dial in, sometimes. While precise dosing can be a benefit of edibles, it can also be a challenge. Many factors can affect how edibles are metabolized, such as body weight, metabolism, and the presence of food in the stomach. This can make it difficult for users to dose themselves accurately.

Edibles Don’t Have a Social Aspect

Many people enjoy the social part of smoking together, like getting together to share a blunt or joint. For these people sharing an edible is just not the same. Just like smoking cigarettes can be a very social activity, smoking cannabis can be the same. However, this could be a positive point because some people don’t like to smoke anything, and don’t like the smell.

Apart from the social aspect, many people enjoy the act of smoking cannabis, especially if they are trying to quit or have quit tobacco smoking.

Accidents Can Happen with Edibles

Edibles very much resemble real food, so accidental ingestion can and does occur. The edibles need to be kept in special jars or refrigerator containers. Proper labeling is very important. The edibles must be kept away from children and pets.

Not only can accidental ingestion happen, but accidental “overdose.” Don’t worry, we use that term loosely because you can’t actually overdose – we just mean you can accidentally have too much in the sense that you get too high.

Edibles Can Go Bad

A common question is can edibles go bad? The answer is yes, absolutely. The cannabis that is in the edible doesn’t usually go bad but the edible substance (food product) itself goes bad. It is known that leaf cannabis does have a shelf life, can become moldy, lose its potency, and/or lose its flavor. Because the food or drink product goes bad first, there isn’t evidence available if the THC contained in edibles loses its potency.

Just like food, everyone has different tastes, and which kind of edible is best depends on the preference of the consumer. Now that you can weigh edibles' pros and cons, you may make a more informed decision.

For those of you in the Denver area, or visiting the Denver area, here’s a great source for the best edibles you can get, in the Denver area.

If you’re concerned about the price of edibles, we’ve got you covered also with some great edible deals around town, too.