Introduction
Cannabis also known as weed or marijuana is the dried leaves, seeds, flowers and stems of plant cannabis species. It’s commonly used by millions to treat terminal diseases or for pleasure. It’s is used in several ways, though the most common methods are vaping, smoking and eating (also called edibles).
Many people wonder if it is risk free to eat products containing cannabis and its effects compared to vaping or smoking. This article will answer these questions. It’ll explain if it is harmless to eat products with cannabis and their health effects including both negative and positive. It will explain smoking vs. edibles weed and their effects,
Is marijuana edible?
You can consume cannabis. Drinks or foods containing cannabis were consumed in history as medicine. A tincture which is weed in edible kind was used to cure several conditions from digestive disorder to terminal pain. Edible weed products are used to induce euphoria and reduce stress the same as alcohol.
For centuries, bhang a blend of flowers and leaves of weed plant has been eaten in religious festivals like Festival of color and love called Holi. Today, edible weed products are popular and available in several different kinds both illegally and legally according to a country’s laws. Some of these available cannabis types are candies, capsules, chocolates, oils and tea either sold in legal or illegal weed market.
Raw cannabis
Consuming raw cannabis doesn’t have similar effects as eating cannabis products because it goes through decarboxylation to be activated. Raw weed contains cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) ingredient that have to be heated through baking or smoking to activate cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol. Consuming raw weed will not have similar effects as eating heated weed like baked goods, candies and tinctures. Consuming raw cannabis doesn’t make you high but it provides health benefits because of the large group of plant ingredients it has.
Health benefits of edible weed
Edible weed products are used in treatment of cancer related symptoms, anxiety and chronic pain. Edible weed products like tinctures, oils, gummies and pills are used as treatment for pain, weight loss and poor appetite in cancer patients. These products also relieve nausea, vomiting, reduce muscle spasms and pain, improve anxiety and enhance quality of sleep.
Negative effects of weed edibles
It is hard to determine dosage of edible weed because of the quality of weed used or place it was manufactured. Unlike smoking weed, the effect of edible weed products takes longer. Smoked cannabis takes effect between 20 to 30minutes. It wears out within 2 to 3 hours.
In contrast, edibles psychoactive effects take place within 30 to 90 minutes. The effects of edibles last longer than smoking, hoursafter eating depending on quantity, metabolism, body weight and gender which can cause overdose. Other effects of edibles are sleepiness, visual perception changes and dry mouth.
Edible weed product reacts with some medicines like antidepressants and alcohol. Therefore avoid eating edibles with such products. Edible weed products are similar to regular cookies, baked goods and candies posing risk to other adults, children and pets.
Is consuming cannabis secure than smoking?
Smoking weed has negative health effects like cigarette. Cannabis and cigarette smoke both have toxins like hydrogen cyanide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ammonia which increase illness risk and destroy your lungs. Cannabis smoking is associated with bronchitis, brain function impairment and lung inflammation.
In disparity, edible weed products don’t have negative effect on cancer or lung health, therefore if you are afraid of the risks related to weed smoking, you can use edible weed as another option. Eating weed is more secure as compared to smoking it.
Conclusion
Both smoking vs. edibles weeds have positive and negative effects. Edible weed products offer several benefits like reducing anxiety and symptoms of terminal diseases. These products take a long time to react, cause side effects and react with regular medication. You can use recreational or medicinal products legally depending on your locality. Purchase only from reputable and licensed dispensaries that sell products examined for potency and purity.