Smoking or eating cannabis | Fifth Ave Green House

What is the difference between smoking and eating cannabis?

If you're familiar with marijuana, you know that the way you consume it can significantly change the type of high you experience. Although both edibles and dried herbs contain THC, they produce a different type of high. So what are the main differences between smoking and consuming cannabis products?

While some people like to mix herbs with gummy bears, most people have a preference and generally stick with it. Data suggests that 30% of adults and 47% of 18- to 34-year-old marijuana users have consumed edibles. Edible consumption is more common among the younger generation. Older users prefer more traditional methods of cannabis consumption.

It's all about THC

The high from smoking marijuana is like walking through a vibrant park. While taking an edible is like a kaleidoscopic glitter bomb,

There is a scientific explanation behind this metaphor: When cannabis is consumed as food, the THC is metabolized in the liver and converted into 11-hydroxy-THC.

It is a partial agonist of the CB1 cannabinoid receptors with a significantly higher binding affinity than delta-9-THC and is exponentially more potent than delta-9-THC.

This can potentially produce much more intense psychoactive effects and this compound crosses the blood-brain barrier four times faster than regular THC. For these reasons, cannabis edibles are associated with intense, vivid and hallucinatory experiences.

The two approaches require different doses

Edibles require more experienced users as dosing can be very complex. If you've ever made your own batch of Magic Brownies or Cannabutter and tried to figure out the potency, you know what I mean.

In the legal market, the standard dosage for edible cannabis products is 5 to 15 mg and usually produces a mild to moderate effect.

In addition, your tolerance and experience must be taken into account.

Pre-rolled joints typically contain 0.5 to 1 gram of cannabis, while hand-rolled joints usually contain around 0.3 grams.

An average joint with 18% THC would mean that a 0.3 gram joint contains about 55 mg of THC. However, not all of it is consumed as some is burned. Taking bioavailability into account, one typically consumes about 12 mg from a 0.3 gram joint with 18% THC. Read more about How much THC is in a joint?

Smoking cannabis has a faster effect

When smoking cannabis, it takes 10 to 20 minutes for you to feel the effects, and they last for about an hour before wearing off.

Edibles can take up to two hours to take effect, and those effects can last for several hours. That's why dosage and experience are so important when taking edibles. If you do it wrong, you'll be uncomfortable for a long time.

Edibles are more difficult to dose

As we mentioned before, dosing cannabis edibles is difficult and it can take a while for the effects to kick in.

This leads to a lot of waiting and doubting whether the drug's effects have worked. It is common for people to take edibles and then eat more because they think the first dose did not work. Please do not do this. Remember that edibles can take a while to work in your body and for you to feel the effects. To avoid overdose, a more patient approach is needed. Read more about edible dosage.

They produce different effects

An edibles overdose is different from excessive consumption of dried herbs. While the latter may force you to sleep for half an hour to relax and relieve your paranoia, consuming large amounts of edibles can lead to a very unpleasant time.

They are absorbed differently by the body

Smoked cannabis is absorbed through the blood, which is why it works quickly. THC in food is absorbed through the stomach wall and then processed by the liver. It takes over an hour for the longer-lasting effects to become noticeable.

Which is the best?

Although smoking cannabis is easier to manage and control, you must always consider the negative effects of smoking, especially if you smoke regularly. For this reason Vaping is often preferred.

On the other hand, edibles are harder to manage, but they are also discreet and do not have a negative impact on your health. In fact, you can even avoid sugary foods. There are many delicious and healthy foods and drinks available today.