The many foods that have been innovated by cannabis infusion today clearly show that, cannabis consumption is evolving. But, if you’re inexperienced, you may want to delve deeper into what cannabis edibles have to offer. Can consuming edibles get you higher? Well, that all depends on the dose, your own metabolism and how they are administered. Yet, there’s still a fundamental difference between the high you get from smoking or vaping cannabis and eating cannabis laced goodies. In this article, we are going to explain the differences between the high you get with inhaled cannabis versus psychoactive snacks.
The work of THC in flowers vs. edibles
One key ingredient in cannabis is THC (delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol). This is the cannabinoid that gets you high through its interaction with certain neurotransmitters found in your brain.
When smoking cannabis, delta 9-THC journeys through the lung capillaries and into the bloodstream, finally making its last stop in the brain. Although the lungs filters some delta 9-THC, over fifty percent of what’s left of the cannabinoid will cross the blood-brain barrier, making you high.
On the other hand, the metabolic process of ingesting edibles is different. Delta 9-THC first travels through the stomach and then to the liver, where delta-THC gets metabolized and converted into a chemical called 11-Hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (usually referred to as 11-hydroxy-THC). The effect of 11-hydroxy-THC is said to be far more psychedelic than that of delta 9-THC and the key to understanding the difference in effects between edibles versus smoking.
Why do we need decarboxylation for edibles?
To experience a high, cannabis must always be ‘activated’ or decarboxylated (science jargon for “heated”, resulting in the the loss of a carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule, converting THCA into it non-acidic form THC) before consumption can commence. This actually happens every time you put your flame up to a packed bowl or squeeze the button on your vaporizer. And when it does, the non-psychoactive compound THCA contained in dried cannabis (like the kind you buy at dispensaries) gets converted into THC and delivered directly to the bloodstream. So, just like smoking, decarboxylation is the only way edible lovers can get the most out of their cannabis before chowing down.
The differences between smokables and edibles
Between smoking flowers and eating them, there’s a clear difference in their individual effects. If you’ve only ever smoked cannabis or only ever ingested it, you better believe there’s a big difference between the two highs.
Differences in absorption
In comparison to inhaling cannabis, why are cannabis edibles are so much more potent? As mentioned earlier, ingested THC gets metabolized by the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and liver (primarily through the cytochrome P450 system) where it is converted into 11-hydroxy-THC. This process results in a longer-lasting and more intense high, compared to inhaled THC, where Instead of traveling through the stomach and liver, THC travels directly to the brain. This explains why cannabis’ effect, when smoked, comes on fast.
Dosing difficulty
With smoking, if you don’t feel enough, you can take another hit or two. If you feel too much, you can stop and let the effects pass, making dosing a much easier task. As for edibles, they’re a little trickier. Everyone has a unique metabolism and digestion process, but it’s the initial delay of effects and relatively long onset that causes a person to go overboard ingesting THC. This can be overwhelming enough for people to turn away from edibles forever.
Effects and time frame
When you inhale cannabis — whether it be smoking or vaping — you receive a potent blast of cannabinoids almost instantly. However, when ingesting cannabis treats, smaller amounts of cannabinoids are delivered to the bloodstream over a longer period of time. Because of the particular way edibles get metabolized in the body, effects can take 1-2 hours to kick in and once they do, one best prepare for a several-hour stone. As for smoking cannabis, the effects typically peak within 20-30 minutes and diminish after 2-3 hours.
All in All
There are far more than stereotypical recipes for edibles out there, other than your typical brownies and other baked things. These days, you can combine cannabis with whatever dish that comes to mind. Whatever you do, be mindful and try to remember these few things when it’s time to chow down some cannabis-laced treats.
Tip: where to find the best edibles in Amsterdam
While there are a lot of edibles available in Amsterdam, few compare to those from Amsterdam Genetics Spacetry (see what they did there – spacecake x pastry). The secret to their success? A Michelin star pastry chef and a passion for quality. It’s not surprising these artisan cannabis-infused treats won 1st place for Best Edibles at the Jack Herer Cup. From decadent brownies, moreish cakes, carefully crafted tartlets, and indulgent THC infused chocolate; these guys are really taking the edibles game to a new level. The only downside – they look to good too eat.
You can keep up to date with Amsterdam Genetics Spacetry’s latest creations on Instagram.
Or, better yet, stop by any of these coffeeshops to pick up your own mouth-watering treat:
Boerejongens
Tweede Kamer
Ballonnetje
DNA
Relax
Regine
Takeaway (Haarlem)
