How to use cannabis edibles to feel your best
Slowly but surely, cannabis edibles are making their way into people’s home pharmacopeias. The therapeutic benefits of edibles and their versatility in effects has led to their increasing popularity as a wellness product for all kinds of consumers. Let’s take a look at the ways edibles are being used as a wellness product.
The rise of edible cannabis products
Edible cannabis products are a growing trend. While it’s obvious to most consumers that using edibles is a safer alternative to smoking or vaping, but many people don’t realize just how many benefits they can offer to overall health and wellness.
In fact, edibles are becoming an increasingly popular method of consuming cannabis because they provide a different type of high than smoking or vaping. Edibles tend to last longer and for some consumers, can cause less anxiety too. This makes edibles appealing to people who want to take their time in order to enjoy the experience more fully.
The rise in popularity of edible products has been caused by several factors: one is the health benefits associated with CBD (cannabidiol), another is the health benefits associated with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Other cannabinoids such as CBN (cannabinol) and CBC (cannabichromene) also contribute positively towards wellness; however these compounds are only present in small amounts compared with THC and CBD respectively so they aren’t as common among edible products at this time.
More people are using cannabis edibles for wellness
Cannabis edibles are becoming more popular for health benefits. A study published in 2017 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that cannabis may reduce pain and inflammation associated with diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Another study from 2015 suggests that cannabis could be beneficial for people with anxiety disorders or PTSD by reducing symptoms such as fearfulness, irritability and insomnia.
Current regulations in Canada have strict rules surrounding where consumers can purchase edibles. They must go through a licensed recreational cannabis retail store where budtenders are often precluded from speaking about their wellness benefits to consumers due to federal restrictions on cannabis promotion and advertising. While budtender education programs that teach budtenders to explain wellness benefits do exist, many budtenders have not had enough training to confidently and accurately offer this information to consumers. This makes it even more difficult for consumers to understand and access the wellness benefits of cannabis edibles.
As CBD regulations ease in the coming years, CBD products will be available over-the-counter at pharmacies like Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall Pharmacies across Canada. As this occurs, pharmacists will become even more familiar with the benefits of this cannabinoid, and consumers will be able to more easily access information.
The CBD vs THC debate
The most commonly known cannabinoid is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis and has been used for pain relief, sleep aid and appetite stimulation. On the other hand, cannabidiol (CBD) doesn’t produce a high like THC does but it’s still used to treat anxiety and inflammation. Although CBD works quite differently from THC, there are still some ways you can use both cannabinoids together to maximize their therapeutic effects.
CBD can be used to reduce the side effects caused by over-consumption of THC such as feeling paranoid or anxious; experiencing headaches or dizziness; having trouble concentrating; feeling nauseous or vomiting; getting dry mouth; etc. Because it acts as an inhibitor of THC, reducing or blocking its psychoactive effects, many people prefer CBD to THC for wellness applications.
Some researchers believe that other non-intoxicating cannabinoids such as CBN and CBG may be useful for treating certain mental health disorders including anxiety and depression. CBN has been shown to induce sleepiness in some users while CBG is known to improve focus and mood without causing intoxication — both traits that could help with anxiety disorders if taken at night before bedtime.
Recommended cannabis edibles doses for different cannabinoids
The most common cannabinoids in cannabis edibles are THC and CBD. In terms of psychoactivity, THC is more potent than CBD—but that doesn’t mean all cannabinoids have the same effect on everyone.
CBN (cannabinol) is a breakdown product of THC and may be mildly intoxicating for some consumers. CBG (cannabigerol) is one of three major precursors to both THC and CBD. CBG comes from young cannabis plants, so it’s less common in mature buds or extracts derived from them; however, some people report experiencing mild euphoria when consuming products containing high amounts of this cannabinoid (such as certain strains grown outdoors).
Everyone’s ideal dose is unique to them, and the best way to figure out what will work best for you is to experiment. Be sure to start with a low dose (around 2.5 mg) and gradually increase the dosage until you get the effects you’re looking for. Be sure to give yourself enough time to feel the edible before ingesting more. Most people feel effects in 45-90 minutes, but others will need hours to notice any changes.
There are some medications that can be affected by CBD, so if you’re taking any prescription medications, or if you have any questions or concerns about using cannabis edibles safely, please talk with your doctor first!
Conclusion
These are just some of the ways cannabis edibles have been making their way into the wellness industry. As people become more familiar with different cannabinoids and their effects, they will become standard medicines for people looking for natural treatments of ailments.
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