Go ahead and admit it, you have been at least somewhat curious about the impacts of THC edibles at some point in your life. There is nothing wrong with that! In fact, THC edibles continue to grow in popularity, and you should know some of the basics about them before taking the plunge and getting some for yourself. If you have ever been curious about THC edibles and if they might be right for you, we have you covered. From discussions about proper dosing to the risks and side effects of THC edibles, we will help you better understand this brave new world.
What are THC Edibles?
Often shortened to simply "edibles", THC edibles are food products that are infused with tetrahydrocannabinol, aka THC. This, of course, is the primary ingredient that anyone consuming cannabis is seeking out. It is the ingredient that provides the consumer with the feeling of being "high". As such, many have rushed to embrace the world of THC edibles as an excellent way to consume the THC that they desire in a fun and appealing way.
There are plenty of different examples of what THC edibles might look like. Popular products include the following:
- Chocolates
- Gummies
- Brownies or other baked goods
- Candies
- Beverages (and sometimes tinctures can be considered edibles)
That's right, these days, there are even beverages that have been infused with THC to make them into something of a spiked drink that consumers can sip on and enjoy the effects.
Many THC users enjoy consuming the product via edibles because there is a delayed impact to doing so. This is to say that it takes their liver some time to process the substance, and this can lead to a delayed reaction throughout the remainder of their body. Consider this if you are thinking about trying THC edibles for yourself.
Understanding THC Dosages
It is EXTREMELY important to understand how different THC dosages are likely to impact your body. Knowing about this before you take any kind of edible product can help you ensure that you take in the proper dosage based on your experience level with this product. So, what kind of dosage is appropriate for different levels of experience? This breakdown is a helpful place to start as a measuring stick that you can use to consider how much THC you ought to consume:
- 1-5mg: This is considered an appropriate level for new users and beginners. The higher end of this scale will produce more impacts than the lower end, so you might want to start closer to the 1mg level and see how you feel. You can expect to potentially feel some relaxing impacts as well as a heightened sensory perception.
- 5-10mg: This level is appropriate for someone who is a moderate user of THC products and has some experience using them in the past. This level will likely make the consumer feel moderate levels of euphoria and perhaps even experience some pain relief.
- 10-20mg: Enjoy THC edible products in this range only if you are an experienced user who has enjoyed these types of products in the past on many occasions. This level will produce feelings of strong euphoria within you and has the potential to impact your motor skills. As such, this level of intake is not recommended for beginners.
Always test the waters carefully and see which levels of consumption make sense for your particular situation. It is best to play it safe and consume only the amount that you feel that you can reasonably handle. Getting too far out ahead of things can only result in negative impacts, and you certainly don't want that.
Is 10mg Too Much for Beginners?
Many places consider 10mg to be the standard dosage for THC-edible products. There is nothing wrong with that, but you should understand how this might impact you as a new user. First, you should only ever consume an amount of THC that you believe you can reasonably handle. This means starting off very slowly and experimenting with what your tolerance levels are.
Ideally, you should try to start at a dosage level that is below 10mg as a beginner. This will enable you to see where the line truly is for you and ensure that you don't cross it. As such, you might want to look for products that are below the standard 10mg threshold that so many products offer. Just because the dosage is considered the standard for that product does not necessarily mean that it is the appropriate dosage for your needs.
It is entirely possible that 10mg will be too high of a dosage for a beginner, and you might experience some loss of motor skills or simply feel overwhelmed by the experience. Consuming THC is supposed to be a fun and relaxing experience, and those types of experiences do not qualify. As such, make sure you only scale up to 10mg products if and when you are able to do so.
Risks and Side Effects of Starting with 10mg THC
Let's discuss some of the potential side effects that you might face if you jump straight into a 10mg THC dosage before you are ready to do so. These risks are real, and you should take them seriously. Among the things that you must be concerned about include the following:
- Overly Intense Psychoactive Impacts - Although part of the enjoyment of consuming THC for most people are the psychoactive impacts, they can be too intense if you are not careful. If that should be the case for you, then you might feel uncomfortable and not enjoy the experience of having consumed THC in the first place.
- Physical Distress - There are physical side effects that you might experience from starting out at too high of a dosage of THC as well. Some of the impacts that users have reported before include: dizziness, dry mouth, dry eyes, racing heart, upset stomach, and more. Make sure you monitor your body's response to THC and never consume more than you can handle.
- Feelings of Sedation - Some who take too strong of a dosage of THC may experience feelings of sedation or the inability to get up and move around again. They might feel stuck or almost as if they are wading through water. These feelings are not pleasant and might result in lost productivity and time.
- Impaired Judgment - Those who are under the spell of too much THC can have impaired judgment and may make decisions that they would not have otherwise. Be aware of this and understand that you might make choices that you later regret.
These are just some of the risks of jumping into a 10mg dosage of THC before you are ready to do so. Always be aware of what those consequences could look like and steer clear of taking in more THC than you should.
Suggestions for Beginners Trying THC Edibles
Beginners should be able to embrace the THC edibles lifestyle just like anyone else. The only difference is that they should do so in a slow and steady way to ensure their safety.
A good rule of thumb for a beginner who wants to test the waters with THC edibles is to aim for a 2.5mg dosage for the first product that they try. This is recommended because it is a reasonable dosage for one to try without going overboard. It will give them the effects that they are looking for without getting too far out over their skis.
In addition to starting with a lower dosage, beginners are also advised to give it some time to allow the effects of the edible to begin to take hold. Edibles can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to take effect. Therefore, you might not realize that your body is catching up to the impacts of THC while it is still working its way through your system. Don't start stacking additional THC dosages into your system before you have had time to truly feel the impacts of what you have already consumed.
Alternatives to 10mg Edibles for Beginners
You certainly do not have to begin with a 10mg dosage of THC in your edibles if you don't want to. In fact, as we have already suggested, beginners ought to start at a lower dosage than that. One way to do so is to try some of the CBD edibles that contain only a small portion of THC within them. This is an excellent way to get a small sample of what the impacts of THC might be like on your body without going in too strong.
CBD-dominant edibles are available at virtually any shop that sells THC products throughout the country. Ask the individuals who work there about which products might be right for you.
Final Thoughts
If there is one thing that you take away from all of this, let it be that starting slowly is by far the best thing that you can do for yourself. We know that you are excited to try THC products and see what they are all about, but you will be far better off easing yourself into the process. Allow your body to tell you what it is comfortable with, and go on from there.
For more information about how beginners can experience THC edibles safely, reach out and contact us today.
References
1) Headset. (2022, October 28). Cannabis edibles: An analysis of category trends & performance. https://www.headset.io/industry-reports/cannabis-edibles-an-analysis-of-category-trends-performance
