What Are Edibles?

Edibles refer to any edible food or drink containing marijuana or any of its active ingredients, most often tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

Generally, the edible product is infused with cannabis extract. Marijuana is heated in an oil-based liquid to obtain the extract.

Compared to other ways of consuming marijuana, edibles are known for producing a delayed high. Further, they may be more discreetly consumed than marijuana from a blunt, vape pen or bong. Edibles are often broken down into four categories:

Delayed Onset

Unlike smoking marijuana, which has a relatively fast onset, eating marijuana products leads to a high with a delayed onset.

This effect can cause someone to consume much more marijuana than they are ready for.

When an expected high is slow to appear, a person may take more than they should, erroneously thinking that they need a higher dose.

Taking too much marijuana at once has led to overdose.

Longer-Lasting Effects

Because of the way edible marijuana is metabolized in the body, it becomes water-soluble, meaning that it can last longer and may have more pronounced effects. 

Enhanced Negative Side Effects

Extensive data is available documenting the increased side effects edible marijuana has compared to smoked marijuana.

The reason for this discrepancy stems from how THC is metabolized. When marijuana is eaten, more THC makes it to the liver.

The liver breaks it down into several byproducts, including 11-hydroxy-THC, which may be more psychoactive than THC itself.

 Inconsistent Regulations

Labeling requirements for marijuana edibles vary widely by state, leading to inconsistencies in how edibles are packaged and sold. Further, those attempting to make their own homemade edibles may accidentally overindulge due to the inconsistent potency of marijuana products. It is difficult to ensure a uniform consistency of marijuana throughout a product.

Easy to Confuse with Regular Food and Candy

A marijuana edible may look and taste very similar to products without marijuana, so it can be easy for a person to unintentionally be exposed to marijuana. If pets and children accidentally consume marijuana-laced edibles, it can be dangerous.

Unintentional Overconsumption

For people who have never used marijuana, the biggest danger associated with edibles is eating too much, too quickly. In Colorado, where marijuana edibles are easily available to residents over the age of 21, there have already been numerous medical events related to marijuana edibles.

Two Denver residents died after eating marijuana-laced products, and hundreds of others have gone to the ER in need of treatment after ingesting too much. Why? Because it’s easy to take too much.

Most people are used to eating a cookie or two without a thought: but a serving of a marijuana-laced cookie may be as little as one-sixth of the cookie. For this reason, the uninitiated may easily eat too much attempting to get high.

Unknown Effects on the Brain & Body

Many known side effects of smoking marijuana exist, including the possibility of long-term lung damage and changes in mood.

However, few studies exist on how edibles may impact brain growth and development, especially in adolescents and teens. 

Drug Mixing Risks

Consuming marijuana edibles in combination with other drugs, particularly alcohol, is a bad idea. THC may worsen the effects of alcohol, increasing the likelihood that someone will participate in risky behaviors like drunk driving or binge drinking.