Welcome to Dosing Edibles 101. If you want to find out more about the ins and outs of dosing edibles, you’re in the right place. It’s easy to get carried away on your first time, but it’s also just as easy to not feel anything. So let’s break down what you need to know to have the best edibles experience possible.
What’s in my edibles?
You first have to know what you’re eating before you can even attempt to try dosing edibles. Something referred to as an ‘edible’ contains cannabinoids. The two most common cannabinoids found on the market today are THC and CBD, both of which have amazing medicinal and recreational benefits.
Whether you want to enjoy a day out with your friends or you need help with an old injury, dosing edibles correctly is the most important thing you can do.
THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid that most of us have heard of. To put it plainly, it’s the one that gets you high. So if you’re looking for a good time, then THC is the one you’re looking for.
Recreational users should stay clear of CBD, not because it’s bad, but because there are no psychoactive effects and it has also been shown to diminish the effects of THC. So not only will you not get high from your CBD edibles, but you might also weaken any THC you smoke/eat throughout the day.
How does dosing edibles work?
So now that you know what’s in your brownie, you can consider finding out more about the dosing aspect. It’s all measured in milligrams (mg). So depending on the effects you’re looking for, you’re going to choose an edible that has more or fewer mg – that includes CBD users.
If you’re using CBD for medicinal purposes, you can also find out how much mg is in the product, but it’s a lot less risky than with THC. Why? Because you aren’t going to get mind-blowingly high if you eat more than you should have. Dosing edibles infused with THC is very important because it can be a very overwhelming experience if not handled correctly.
Listen to the regulars when we say, be careful with edibles: start low and go slow. First timers are recommended to start at 5 mg to make sure they don’t have any negative experiences. One of the biggest mistakes rookies do is buy an edible that has a lot of THC and eat the whole thing. That’s a one-way ticket to a panic attack.
Nothing bad will happen to you, but you might think differently when you’re a couple hours into the trip. If you’re reading this after already eating a very strong edible, just chill out and enjoy the ride. A great way to ride out an edible high is by going to sleep or by taking a CBD supplement to negate the effects.
Another important thing to remember is that it takes time for an edible to kick in. If you aren’t feeling anything after 20 minutes it’s completely normal and it can take anywhere from 30 min up to a few hours before you feel anything. Don’t be a newbie and chow another biscuit after 10 minutes. Wait it out and see what happens, if you find it wasn’t enough, you can always do more the next time. Better safe than sorry.
Okay, let’s eat something
Now that you know more about dosing edibles, you are ready to make your first purchase. You can find edibles from most of your local dispensaries, with Canada and the USA having a wide selection to choose from. You will be amazed at the variety available. There really is something available for everyone.
You want to choose a company that you can trust, if you don’t already have somewhere in mind, you can check on the web for a list of products near you, or you can find out from someone you know what their favorite shop is. Word of mouth is the best way to get good advice about an edibles company.
Different edibles
There are generally three categories of edibles to choose from and each following the same dosing edibles guidelines.
- Sweets, Biscuits, and Brownies
As the cannabis industry grows, so too does the amount of cannabis-infused edibles. Sweets, biscuits, and brownies are one of the leading markets when it comes to edibles. Everyone has this image of a beautiful chocolate chip cookie or a brownie when they think of an edible.
If you have a sweet tooth then these are the way to go. Gummy bears, peanut butter cups, chocolate, brownies, fudge, you name it and you can probably find it. Sweets are usually graded per item and they are clearly marked on the packages and on the company’s websites.
If you buy a biscuit that is rated 30 mg and you only want to take 5 mg, just divide it into 6 pieces and go for it. The best companies will have mixed their batters correctly so the THC is divided evenly throughout the treat.
- Meals
There are plenty of cannabis-infused meals available. Craving Italian? Why not get a plate of pasta, or better yet, a pizza. More in the mood for Indian? Well then get yourself a delicious home-made curry. The options are limitless, as long as there is a market for it, you can guarantee a company is making it.
Generally, the meals are not graded like the sweets and you can actually choose between your potency. They offer three different potencies: low, medium, and high. The low one will still pack a punch, especially if you aren’t used to dosing edibles, so you might not want to start with a meal on your first edibles experience.
- Sauces
Not only can you get a cannabis-infused meal, but you can get the sauce to go alongside it. This is for people looking for an added kick to their already cannabis-infused meal or for those that just want something extra for their regular meals. Cannabis-infused sauces are a great way to regulate how much THC you consume since you can just pour as much as you want.
