Smoking weed VS consuming edibles. Let's explore.
SMOKING CANNABIS
Is there a difference between the effects of smoking marijuana and eating edibles? Nope!
Cannabinoids are psychoactive components of cannabis that are absorbed via the lungs and into circulation practically instantly upon inhalation, therefore crossing the barrier that separates the blood from the brain. Because of this, cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is sometimes referred to simply as delta-9-THC, can reach the brain in a very short amount of time.
When THC and other cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) reach the brain, they connect with receptors in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), most notably the CB1 receptors. This causes the user to feel the effects of cannabis. This results in the euphoric state known as a "high," which is often connected with the use of cannabis.
Smoking cannabis results in effects that are felt very immediately and last for just a short period. This is because inhalation causes THC to enter the brain so fast. This indicates that you will begin to feel the effects of smoking marijuana nearly immediately and that the peak effects of smoking cannabis will reach you anywhere from two to four hours after you began smoking.
There are simply a few items you need to get started smoking marijuana. Pick out the cannabis flower you want to smoke, a technique or equipment for smoking it (a bong, rolling papers, or pipe), and a source of heat. When you light up, you are smoking marijuana, but you are correct in thinking that there are techniques to improve the smoking experience.
You may take your usage of marijuana to the next level by using a filter to remove unwanted substances from your smoke. Why should you make use of a weed filter in your system? In part, this is because it just has a more satisfying flavour and draws more smoothly. In addition to this, it acts as a filter, removing impurities and pollutants that aren't what you're searching for.
One of the reasons why individuals resort to edibles is because they are concerned about the consequences of smoking cannabis, but at the same time, they miss the sensation of smoking cannabis.
HOW INHALED THC ENTERS THE BLOODSTREAM
When cannabis is smoked or inhaled using a vaporizer, the vapour is inhaled into the lungs, where it travels via the bronchi and into air sacs known as alveoli. It is here that the THC is absorbed into circulation. Once it enters circulation, the THC is quickly absorbed by the majority of the organs and tissues in the body, particularly the fat cells and the brain.
The speedy journey that THC makes to the brain enables you to feel high almost instantly, but it also means that the effects don't last as long as they do when you consume edibles. You will discover that the high from smoking cannabis does not last nearly as long.
WHAT ARE CANNABIS EDIBLES?
Cannabis flowers are used to make edibles, which are food items. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (also known as delta-9-THC) or cannabidiol (often known as CBD), or both, are the active components in cannabis edibles. They may be found in a variety of formats, such as gummies and mints.
These days, edibles are all the rage, and one possible reason for this is that they provide an alternative to smoking marijuana. Before getting started, it is essential to have a solid understanding of how consuming cannabis in edible form differs from smoking the drug.
Edible cannabis products, in contrast to smoking cannabis, are metabolized in the body through the digestive system and the liver. Because of this, it takes a very considerable amount of extra time for the THC to be absorbed into the circulation and make its way to the brain. On the other hand, once it does, the positive benefits of cannabis continue for a longer period.
These days, the majority of dispensaries have a sizable range of edibles, which can be found in a wide variety of formats, including chocolate bars, gummies, hard candies, liquids such as teas and sodas, baked goods such as brownies and cookies, tinctures, and many more. You may get edibles that have varying amounts of CBD to THC in them, and they come in a variety of doses.
There are also artisanal manufacturers of edible cannabis that prepare their products using cannabis extracts derived from the complete plant. This indicates that in addition to cannabidiol (CBD), terpenes, and flavonoids, they also include additional helpful phytochemicals derived from the cannabis plant. Because of this, a lot of individuals take pleasure in consuming edibles that were prepared with RSO or live resin hash. Other producers employ extracted THC or CBD that has been through a purification process; this ensures that the product contains nothing but the specified cannabinoid.
You may also produce your cannabis-infused butter, also known as cannabutter, but keep in mind that this method makes it much more difficult to regulate the dosage and strength of the product. Getting your edibles from a dispensary will provide you with a more reliable experience and dosage of cannabis.
HOW STRONG ARE EDIBLES?
Ediblesmake their way through the digestive system before being absorbed in the stomach and metabolized in the liver, respectively. The liver is responsible for converting THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, a molecule that is more powerful and has an effect that lasts for a longer period compared to delta-9-THC. Consuming cannabis in the form of edibles rather than smoking it results in a higher peak effect, a more sustained high, and a longer duration of effect.
ARE EDIBLES HEALTHIER THAN SMOKING?
Consuming cannabis in the form of edibles, as opposed to smoking or using a vape pen, does not affect whatsoever on the lungs and is thus a far more beneficial option for medical marijuana users who have lung or respiratory problems.
WHAT ARE THE CONS OF EDIBLES?
For those who are used to smoking cannabis, one of the apparent drawbacks of edibles is that they lack the smoking experience. Another drawback is the protracted period required before experiencing any of the benefits. In addition, edibles may be quite high in calories, sugar, and fat content.
It is important to keep in mind that there is no way for you to know for sure what you are consuming unless you prepare the food yourself or buy it from a trustworthy seller who is also subject to regulations. There has been an outbreak of "cannabis" candies all over the globe that not only do not contain any cannabis but are also laced with SPICE. This is a highly risky practice that should be avoided at all costs, despite what certain inmates at HM Prison may assert.
HOW THC EDIBLES ARE METABOLIZED
When compared to inhaling THC, the high that comes from consuming edibles take longer to kick in. The THC that is ingested from edible cannabis makes its way to the liver, where it is digested and transformed into the powerful 11-hydroxy-THC. It might take anything from forty-five minutes to three hours for something to go through the digestive system.
HOW LONG DOES THE HIGH LAST BETWEEN SMOKING/EATING WEED?
11-hydroxy-THC is much more sedative, reactive, and long-lasting, up to 8-12 hours. This is why you are likely to feel the effects of edibles far longer than from smoking cannabis.
Related article:
Where to find your local UK cannabis social club
HOW MUCH THC DO YOU GET VIA SMOKING/EATING WEED?
Because the liver's conversion process produces a more potent form of THC, the high that may be achieved by edibles is far more potent. When ingesting anything appetizing, having patience is essential for this same reason. Give the first dose of THC a time to take effect before increasing the quantity taken.
Both ingesting cannabis in edible form and smoking it has comparable effects:
Soothes negative feelings
Induces relaxation
Relieves stress
Improves some symptoms such as nausea or pain
HOW TO DOSE WEED EDIBLES CORRECTLY
When it comes to determining the appropriate amount of THC from edible cannabis products, there are a few different aspects to consider, and they all go back to how the body metabolizes THC. After ingestion, the THC must first pass through the liver for processing before it can reach the circulation and the brain. This indicates that your experience with edibles is subject to several significant variables:
The way the liver metabolizes substances like cannabis
Consuming fats or other food with THC
Tolerance to THC
there is no generally accepted or suggested dosage of THC because individuals react differently to its effects. The dosage of certain pharmaceuticals is determined by the patient's body weight, however edibles are not subject to this rule.
The "standard" amount of THC that researchers use is 5 milligrams. However, the starting dose recommended by specialists is 2.5 mg. It is possible that a serving size of 5 mg, which is the legal "norm" for edible cannabis products in most regulated cannabis markets, is too much for first-time users, women, or persons who are particularly sensitive to the negative effects of cannabis.
Microdosing cannabis is a method that is recommended by certain medical professionals. To prevent a buildup of tolerance, you must initially abstain for at least 48 hours. After that, take 1 milligram of THC at a time and gradually increase your dosage from there. For most people, 1-2.5 mg is a micro-dose.
The "standard" dosage range of 2.5-5 milligrams is appropriate for most people. The above amounts, such as 15 mg to 30 mg, are for those who use edibles often, while doses of 50 mg or higher are reserved for medical marijuana patients or persons who have previous experience with THC.
The effects of edibles may last anywhere from six to twelve hours, depending on a variety of circumstances including the following:
Lifestyle
Genetic make
Diet
When you ate food versus when you ate the edible
Consuming an excessive amount of edible cannabis products may occasionally cause problems for people. Because it may take up to three hours for the body to metabolize THC, some individuals may get impatient and believe that their edible is not working. As a result, they may eat another one, which results in a high that is much more strong than it should be.
Always begin with a low dosage and work your way up. Before increasing the dosage, you should wait at least two hours to get a sense of how the drug is affecting you, but ideally, you should wait the whole 24 hours. If you decide to boost your dosage, do so in increments of no more than 5 milligrams, between a maximum of 2.5 mg until you get the desired effect.
On the other side, consistent cannabis usage might lead to tolerance concerns in some individuals. This indicates that to have the same benefits, people will need increasingly large amounts of cannabis as the cannabinoids accumulate in their system. Simply abstain for one or two days to solve this problem.
Some helpful safety advice:
Using a filter is less harmful to your lungs than smoking (Check out our post on chest pain from smoking weed for tips on how to improve your experience.)
Avoid mixing cannabis with other substances such as alcohol
If you are new to edible cannabis products start with no more than 2.5 mg of THC. For those new to smoking or vaping cannabis, start with 10% THC content (100 mg/g) as your limit
Be a label reader on THC concentration, strain details, and more
Regular high-strength cannabis use – more than once per week – can lead to tolerance
CONCLUSIONS
There are many different ways to get marijuana. Whether you've used cannabis before or this is your first time, different ways to use it, like smoking or eating edibles, have their pros and cons.
Edibles don't involve burning plant matter or chemicals that can cause cancer, but they take a long time to work, it's much easier to take too much, and you miss the experience and ritual of smoking, which is a big deal if you ask me.