How Safe are Cannabis Edibles?

The safety of cannabis edibles all depends on the responsibility of the user and their knowledge. When consuming edibles, you need to take the appropriate dose to use them most safely. You can do this by researching and practicing moderation, considering your body’s limits and tolerance.

When using correct doses, cannabis is deemed safe when both smoking and as edibles. However, one thing to concern when using cannabis edibles is they can look, smell and taste like regular food, opening up the possibility for an unsuspecting person to unknowingly eat it, only to find out later something isn’t right. Usually, people panic when they start to feel the effects because they weren’t expecting the sensation. 

You need to be especially careful around children and edibles. The danger to an accidentally eaten THC edible is much more dangerous for children because large doses of cannabis can be harmful to them. Clearly label all weed edibles and keep them in a child-proof container it is the law in Canada. 

Additionally, watch out for pets. Marijuana can be harmful to your dog and cat, and THC edibles are especially harmful. 

Like any other controlled substance, edibles are not inherently dangerous, but only when the user makes poor decisions becomes unsafe. Then, you properly use and enjoy edibles. You need to understand your body’s effects and never operate heavy machinery, a car, or any vehicle. 

When used correctly by the user, edibles become an enjoyable experience with little to no potential danger. 

What Can I Expect to Feel After Eating an Edible?

Marijuana is a constantly evolving controlled substance; scientists and users continually find new ways to use the various compounds. As a result, cannabis is more potent than it was decades ago. 

Now that the drug is legalized, research companies can also perform more extensive research to study its effects. 

Currently, the most common effects known are: 

• Relaxation
• Happiness or euphoria 
• Uncontrollable laughter or giggles
• Sedation 
• Sudden creativity or inspiration
• An uptick in general mood
• Lethargy 
• Munchies 

That is only the surface of the effects of marijuana. Depending on the strain, cannabinoids, tolerance level and metabolic rate, you can experience different outcomes. 

Are There Medical Benefits of Cannabis Edibles? 

One reason for the legalization of marijuana is the massive medical benefits it can provide. This list is constantly growing as more research is conducted. 

Recreational cannabis users are not the only users of edibles. Older people who suffer from incurable diseases can alleviate a wide range of symptoms. These older patients often use edibles as their preferred method of consumption. 

Some Common Medical use for Cannabis: 

• Help with Anxiety
• Relieving Stress
• Reducing Inflammation
• Help with Insomnia
• Stop Nausea 
• ADHD
• Glaucoma 
• Depression 
• Relieve Aches and Pains 
• Muscle Spasms
• Vomiting 
• Help with PTSD
• Epilepsy
• HIV/AIDS
• Autoimmune diseases
• Spasticity 
• Lack of Appetite 

Cannabis is not a “one treatment fits all” situation. It still affects everyone differently. Treatments may work for one individual and not for another. If you suffer from any of the listed medical issues above, ask your doctor about treating it with cannabis.

Potential Side Effects of Cannabis

We discussed early weed could have adverse side effects if improperly used. Generally, the plant is relatively safe. However, the following are some potential side effects of edibles. 

The most well-known and common side effect is impairment. That can be hand-eye coordination, speaking, or general coordination. This side effect makes it dangerous to drive any vehicle when under the influence. 

It is a common misconception that weed makes people better drivers. The truth is it affects your coordination, including your reaction time, which means you shouldn’t get behind the wheel of a car when high. Heavy machinery is even worse to operate while high you could hurt yourself, hurt someone else, or lose your job. 

Weed becomes dangerous when users make poor decisions while using it. Limiting your reaction time and coordination weed can lead to harmful accidents if users are not savvy while using it. 

Besides potential accidents, marijuana is also known to cause possible adverse side effects. However, these side effects are short-lived and minor; more often, there are no side effects after using marijuana. 

Adverse side effects usually follow a user overusing or mixing substances, like alcohol and weed. Once again, we see weed is only harmful by user error, even if that error is just having too much fun. 

Here are some of the adverse side effects you could expect: 

• Red Eyes
• Nausea
• Anxiety
• Chest Pain
• Increased Heart Rate
• Memory Loss
• Drowsiness
• Impairment
• Coordination Issues
• Headaches 
• Lethargy
• Paranoia 
• Dry Mouth
• Decrease in Blood Pressure

What’s the shelf-life of a weed edible?

Unfortunately, edibles have a very short shelf-life. It’s the biggest downside to using them when compared to other methods of cannabis consumption. The shelf-life of an edible is the same as the food the THC is infused into, and the time frame for food staying fresh is wide-ranging, and that’s why you need to store pot edibles as soon as you are no longer eating them. 

The best place to store your edibles is in the fridge or freezer, and just as you would with a regular food item, make sure you store them in a freeze-safe bag. That should extend the shelf-life drastically. Additionally, science says sunlight will break down THC, so avoid keeping any marijuana edible in direct sunlight. 

Interesting Reads

How to Make Shatter, How to Roll A Basic Marijuana Joint, The Benefits, Uses, & Effects of Marijuana

In Conclusion

THC edibles can affect people differently so it is crucial to know your own body and limits. Also, you want to buy cannabis edibles online in Canada from trusted sources such as those featured on trusted sites such as Weed List. Or if you live in the Lower Mainland of BC, you can order now and get you package in 2-3 hours when you order from Weed Delivery Vancouver.

 

References

• Department of Justice. Cannabis Act  (2018). Available at: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-24.5/
• Government of British Columbia. (2019, December 17). Edible Cannabis Affects People Differently ‘start low – go slow’ Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/public-safety/cannabis/cannabis-edibles-safe-use-fact-sheet.pdf
• Grinspoon P MD. (2020, April 10). Medical Marijuana. Harvard Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085
• Iffland, Kerstin. (2017, June 1). An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information.  Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28861514/