Which
is the better experience? Eating or smoking your cannabis? “Better” is
in the mind of the user, but the experiences are clearly different.
They’ll both get you high in different ways, and there is no reason you
cannot do both.
Old
school stoners have trouble getting past smoking. They might vary their
strains or smoking technology, but they generally lack interest in
edibles. On the other hand, an increasing number of consumers opt for
edibles because they serve their medical needs and/or because they don’t
like to smoke in principle.
It’s
certainly easier to smoke than it is to prepare a recipe, but there are
at least five bigger differences between eating and smoking cannabis.
Absorption:
Your body and brain process cannabis differently when you smoke and when you eat. When you smoke marijuana,
the chemical compounds are absorbed through the lungs to the
bloodstream. The psychoactive THC expands the blood vessels and
increases the blood pressure rushing the effects to the brain.
Edibles,
on the other hand, take longer to process in the liver tempting users
to unwisely increase the dose. The liver processes the THC into
11-hydroxy-THC which produces a much more intense high, and this
complicates the dosing, too.
Duration:
Depending
on the individual’s physical constitution, the smoked grass hits sooner
while the edible takes from 30-minutes to two hours to hit and lasts
much longer, a subtler stable high. Compared to the inhaled cannabis,
edibles deliver a smaller concentration of cannabinoids to the user’s
neuro-chemistry thus delaying the effects.
Dosage:
Inhaled
cannabis produces a quick buzz, and with experience, users come to know
what they want in terms of an effect. They can raise or lower the dose
to suit their taste for high. At the same time, they run the risk of
reaching a level of tolerance where they want something more or
something different. And, there are enough strains out there to vary the
palate.
Commercially
available edibles should have the dosage on the label. That helps you
understand what works best for you. But, because the effect takes
longer, you must avoid doubling up on the dosage to trigger the high. It
is not hard to overdose on edibles.
In
homemade edibles, you must follow instructions on the cannabis
ingredient. Recipes that include chocolate, fruit, and other flavors may
hide the hashish, diesel, and skunk flavors. But, that should not tempt
you to increase the quantity of grass.
The
wide variety of edibles – from candies to bake goods – lets you consume
your ganja casually and discretely during the day and in environments
where the prohibit smoking.
Temptation:
The
cost of cannabis has a leveling influence on smokers. They are likely
to smoke with others, but they are also likely to limit their reputation
because the grass doesn’t come cheap. Like it or not, they are aware of
the cost of each joint they burn.
Edibles
offer a different temptation. They taste so good, and who wants just
one brownie or one piece of candy? So, users must stay aware of what
they are doing with repeated use. If a candy is correctly labeled as
having 10 milligrams of cannabis, you shouldn’t be popping one after
another in your mouth.
Experienced
consumers recommend starting small and being patient. If 10 milligrams
are a standard norm, you can portion foods with larger doses. Trouble is
that once you prepare a recipe, it is not clear what the potency is or
where it lies.
In
many cases, commercially sold edibles come in small packages of five or
ten pieces, a caution not to indulge too much too soon.
Smoke:
Edibles
do not provide or cause you the harsh sensation and effects of smoking.
There is no cough, no smoke-related aftertaste, or potential damage to
the lungs, tongue, or gums. They are, therefore, a preferred option for
those with asthma, allergies, or respiratory problems.
Edibles
come in many forms besides the proverbial brownies. In addition to the
candies, lozenges, and beverages, cannabis can be a core ingredient in
soups, breads, pastries, and more. Cannabis butters, oils, and grains
can supplement granola, salads, and smoothies.
This
is a great solace to medical patients who may have difficulty with
appetite, nausea, or swallowing. The longer lasting effect is a great
help to those suffering from chronic pain, problems related to AIDS and
following chemotherapy, and autoimmune conditions like arthritis, Lupus,
and Chron’s disease.
The takeaway
There are clear differences between eating and smoking cannabis.
When smoking, you will feel the highest THC hit in brain and body in 15
to 30 minutes, and it will slack off over the next two hours. When
consuming cannabis edibles, you won’t feel that high in the brain as
much as body for up to two to four hours, but it will last up to eight.
You
will more likely cough after smoking, but you are more likely to
mistake the dosage in edibles. So, moderation is recommended whether
inhaling or ingesting.
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