Whether you choose to ingest marijuana or not, marijuana edibles happen to be a staple that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
When experimenting with marijuana, there are several differences between eating and inhaling it. Your choice depends entirely on the type of high you’re seeking, your personal preferences, and the time that you want to spend is high.
If you’re debating whether you should ingest or smoke marijuana, the choice is yours. But if you can’t make up your mind, here are some pros and cons of edible marijuana.
About Edible Marijuana
Thanks to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – which is the main active ingredient of marijuana – it is very fat-soluble. This makes it relatively easy to infuse into oil or butter, so you can keep it on hand for all your medicated cooking. The world is your oyster in terms of edible recipes.
As a result, there are many key benefits associated with edible marijuana. But like everything else, there are also some limitations. Here are the main pros and cons.
Pros
Convenient
To begin with, edibles are a much more convenient and inconspicuous way of consuming marijuana. You can consume them almost anywhere and at any time, without anyone knowing, as they are safely transportable and odor-free for subtle consumption.
Many Options
It comes in many options, so consumers can opt to take edibles that appeal the most to their taste buds. Some of the most common variations of edibles include:
- Gummies
- Chocolates
- Baked goods (such as brownies)
- Beverages
- Hard Candy
Easy To Prepare
Edible marijuana can be made or bought. Luckily, it is quite straightforward to prepare – as long as you are prepared to decarboxylate the buds. You will have to decarb before cooking, but this isn’t a difficult process! All you need to do to effectively decarb is follow a specific process that involves heating the marijuana in an oven.
Safe
Ingesting edible marijuana is considered to be a safer smoking alternative. As it requires little to no combustion or heat, it can help you to prevent lung damage. This method of consumption is also better for patients with respiratory conditions or for individuals who want to avoid smoking.
There are zero reports of long-term side effects of a marijuana overdose. All other drugs come with the very real danger of fatal overdose when taken in high quantities. All symptoms from weed end in hours.
Irritation-Free
There are quite a few physical benefits associated with consuming edible marijuana. Some of the most prominent include a lack of dry skin, throat irritation, or dry eyes – which are frustrating irritants. This means you’ll likely have less of an adverse reaction when ingesting marijuana as opposed to smoking it.
Health Benefits
Thanks to all of its properties, edible marijuana is known to be an effective remedy for muscle spasms, nausea, and pain relief. Those suffering from insomnia might also find that the low-dosage and long-lasting calming effects of edible marijuana allow them to have a great night of restful sleep.
Cons
Potential For Overconsumption
Edibles can be quite hard to measure in terms of their potency. This is because the effects could take a few hours to hit you fully. Many people miscalculate just how much they have consumed, which runs the risk of leaving you feeling too high later on. Essentially, it can be quite easy to consume too many edibles.
Potential side effects associated with overconsumption could include anxiety, panic, confusion, paranoia, nausea, increased blood pressure, and a faster heart rate.
Risks
Regardless of your preference, there are always going to be some risks when taking any kind of substance in any kind of way. Depending on the individual’s tolerance, frame of mind, and also factoring in environmental factors, each consumer is impacted differently.
Marijuana edibles are most definitely not for the more inexperienced smoker. If you are sensitive to the effects of psychoactive substances, you should also refrain from consuming marijuana edibles in any capacity.
It Takes Longer To Kick In
Another thing to note about edible marijuana is that the benefits and effects can take longer to kick in fully. This is because it depends on your metabolism rates, which vary from person to person. As a result, it could take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to kick in fully.
Summary
Edibles are a great option for the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, especially if you take it in a careful and controlled way. If you don’t do this, you could end up over-consuming it and may even experience adverse side effects.
Remember that ingesting edible marijuana can affect everyone differently – so it’s a good idea to start slow!
