Marijuana edibles are a popular way to consume marijuana but have their risks, particularly in the fact you can’t easily control the dosage. This article will explore those risks.
What Are Marijuana Edibles?
Marijuana edibles, also known as THC edibles, are food or beverage products infused with cannabis. Unlike smoking or vaping marijuana, edibles are ingested and processed through the digestive system, leading to a slower onset of effects but often producing longer-lasting and more intense highs.
Common types of edibles include:
- Baked Goods: Brownies, cookies, cakes
- Candies: “Weed gummies,” chocolates, lollipops
- Beverages: THC-infused sodas, teas, and coffees
- Savory Foods: Chips, sauces, and even full meals
- Tinctures & Capsules: Oil-based THC or CBD extracts for oral ingestion
These products can contain either THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound that creates a “high,” or CBD (cannabidiol), which is non-psychoactive but can have calming effects. They can commonly be found in “head shops” or “smoke shops” in states where local law allows such products to be sold.
How Do Marijuana Edibles Work?
THC edibles work differently than smoking or vaping cannabis because they must pass through the digestive system before their effects are felt. This leads to a slower onset but often a stronger and longer-lasting high.
When a person eats an edible, it travels down the esophagus into the stomach, where digestion begins. Since THC can be absorbed by fat, those marijuana edibles that contain fat, such as brownies, tend to have better absorption. The THC in the edible is absorbed into the bloodstream through the small intestine and liver, after which it reaches the brain.
The effects of marijuana edibles can take thirty minutes to two hours to begin, depending on several factors:
- Metabolism: Faster metabolisms process edibles quicker.
- Food Intake: Eating edibles on an empty stomach leads to quicker effects, while eating them with a meal can delay absorption.
- Dosage & Potency: Higher doses take longer to metabolize and can produce more intense effects.
Depending on the dose, the effects of marijuana edibles can last between four and six hours, though at significantly higher doses it could be longer. Edibles can show up on drug tests for between one to seven days, depending on type of test.
Effects of Marijuana Edibles
THC edibles can have a variety of effects in both the short and long term, and there’s a mix of positive and negative effects.
In the short term, positive effects of THC edibles include:
- Euphoria
- Relaxation
- Increased Sensory Perception – Music, colors, and flavors feel more intense
- Altered Time Perception – Time may feel slower or distorted
- Increased Appetite (“Munchies”)
- Drowsiness
Negative effects of marijuana edibles in the short term include:
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Impaired Coordination
- Slowed Reactions
- Rapid Heart Rate
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
Over the long term, the positive effects of THC edibles can include inflammation reduction and perhaps improved sleep.
Negative long term effects are much more prevalent:
- Cognitive Impairment – Long-term use, especially in young adults, may impact memory and attention. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), long-term use of marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss.
- Cannabis Use Disorder (Addiction Risk) – While less addictive than other substances, some users develop cannabis dependency.
- Increased Tolerance – Frequent use leads to needing higher doses for the same effects
- Mental Health Effects – Potential worsening of anxiety, depression, or psychosis in predisposed individuals.
Marijuana edibles can be enjoyable and therapeutic but require careful dosing due to delayed onset and stronger effects. Long-term use may offer benefits for pain and sleep but could lead to tolerance and dependence if overused.
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Call 866-881-1184Risks & Potential Dangers of Marijuana Edibles
Aside from the aforementioned negative effects of THC edibles, one of the biggest risks of marijuana edibles is its links to depression, anxiety, and psychotic episodes. A meta review from 2019 on the effects of marijuana found that cannabis use has a strong correlation to increased risk of psychosis. It also found that a THC overdose can trigger manic episodes in those with bipolar disorder. it has a harmful influence on depression
Those aren’t the only mental health issues to be aware of. A 2020 systematic review on the relationship between cannabis and schizophrenia found a close relationship between the two. For those with borderline personality disorder, marijuana is also not recommended.
And, of course, there are the general risks to cognitive functioning. According to SAMHSA, chronic marijuana usage in one’s youth can lead to permanent IQ: up to eight points.
All this is to say that there are various potential negative effects to marijuana edibles and cannabis abuse is far from harmless – especially if you are prone to mental illness.
Marijuana Edibles and Addiction: Can You Develop Dependence?
Yes, while marijuana is not as addictive as substances like nicotine or opioids, it is also not true that marijuana is not addictive. It can lead to dependence, especially when consumed frequently in high doses. This condition is known as Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD).
According to a study from the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, repeated marijuana use can, in fact, lead to physical dependence. Per the study, “A variety of withdrawal responses occur in cannabis-dependent individuals: anger, aggression, irritability, anxiety and nervousness, decreased appetite or weight loss, restlessness, and sleep difficulties with strange dreams. But the long half-life and other pharmacokinetic properties of THC result in delayed expression of withdrawal symptoms, and because of the lack of contiguity between drug cessation and withdrawal responses the latter are not readily recognized as a clinically relevant syndrome.”
THC, the psychoactive compound in edibles, interacts with the brain’s endocannabinoid system, affecting dopamine release and creating feelings of relaxation and euphoria. Over time, regular use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and marijuana withdrawal symptoms upon stopping.
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Cannabis edibles, including edible cannabis products like THC gummies, cannabis-infused drinks, and baked goods, have become a popular marijuana product for those seeking an alternative to smoked cannabis. Unlike the immediate effects of smoke and vapor, consuming THC in food or drink leads to delayed onset but often more intense and prolonged effects of cannabis. The amount of THC in edibles containing cannabis extracts like cannabis oil varies, making it crucial to understand THC content to avoid adverse effects. Strains such as Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica contribute to different experiences, and without proper cannabis education, users may underestimate the potency of edible cannabis compared to smoked forms.
The long-term effects and challenges of cannabis consumption are still being studied, but misuse can lead to drug abuse, and poison control centers have reported an increase in cases related to overconsumption of marijuana edibles. Those using a medical card for treatment should carefully monitor their dosage, as long-term cannabis use may impact the cannabinoid receptor system in the brain.
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