Article By : DALE HARRIS
One thing people quickly learn about cannabis is how many different ways there are to use it. If you don’t want to smoke or vape, you definitely don’t have to. Capsules, tinctures, and even topical treatments are becoming more common today.
Another staple is the edible. You’ve probably heard of “special brownies” or another baked good that features marijuana as one of its key ingredients. Also popular are marijuana gummies. In fact, gummies are so popular, the market for them was expected to exceed $1 billion in 2018.
If you’re new to cannabis gummies, though, finding the right dose can be a bit of a trick. This guide will help you find the right dose and use gummies safely.
How do Marijuana Gummies Work?
Before diving into dosing guidelines, it helps to understand how cannabis edibles are absorbed by the body.
Smoking and vaping result in fairly instantaneous results. That’s because the cannabinoids in cannabis enter into the bloodstream through the lungs. It’s a direct route, so you’ll usually see effects within minutes.
Edibles take the long way around. Cannabis that is ingested has to be digested. Once this happens, the cannabinoids can enter into the bloodstream.
For this reason, it takes edibles much longer to get to work. Whereas smoking and vaping take minutes, it can take hours to feel the effects of marijuana gummies and other edibles.
That’s why it’s so important to get the dose right. If you eat too little, you probably won’t feel anything, and you won’t notice for hours. You can always take more, but it will take time for the next “hit” to make its way to your bloodstream.
It’s very common for the opposite situation, where people take too much, to happen as well. Since people don’t feel the effects immediately, they may think the gummy isn’t “doing anything.” This can prompt them to take more.
When the effects finally do kick in, they find they’ve taken far too much. This can lead to some negative effects, such as being “too high” or even experiencing paranoia and anxiety. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to do except wait it out.
Since it can take hours for the effects of edibles to wear off, it’s important to avoid taking too much.
The Issue with Edible Dosing
Aside from the delayed effects and lengthy sobering up period, there’s another reason it can be tricky to get an edible dosage right.
During digestion, cannabinoids like THC and CBD are partially broken down. That means you’re losing some of each dose. In fact, estimates say only about 20 percent of what you ingest actually makes it to your bloodstream.
That means that just because you ate two 10mg THC gummies doesn’t mean you’ll feel the effects of a full 20mg of THC. Other methods of use, such as smoking, also have lower bioavailability than what’s on the package.
Knowing this can help you find the right dose for marijuana gummies and other edibles.
Start Low and go Slow
The common wisdom when dosing cannabis is “start low and go slow
