Whether it’s because they’re looking for a discrete consumption method, or simply because they prefer the effects, edibles are a common way for consumers to ingest cannabis.  But because the onset of effects from edibles can be unpredictable, taking any where from 15 minutes to 3 (or more) hours, edibles can be intimidating to new (and sometimes even experienced) consumers.

Finding the right dosage is the scariest part of edibles for most consumers, so in this blog post we’ll take a look at some of the factors to consider when you’re finding the best dosage for you.

How do edibles work? 

When cannabis smoke is inhaled, delta-9 THC is delivered directly to the brain via the blood system.  This is the most common form of THC, and it’s the molecule that makes us feel intoxicated when we smoke or vape weed.  This form of THC (and the smoke-borne forms of other cannabinoids, like CBD) are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier and directly affect the consumer’s experience within seconds of inhaling.

But when someone ingests edibles made with cannabis oil, the way the cannabinoids are processed in the body is different. Because the molecules of THC suspended in the oil are too large to cross directly into the blood stream, they are instead digested in the gut and then sent to the liver. Once they reach the liver, enzymes convert the delta-9 THC into another form of THC called 11-hydroxy THC.

11-hydroxy THC is much more potent and psychoactive than delta-9 THC, which is why some consumers report feeling more intoxicated by edibles than by smoking cannabis.

Here are some factors to consider in finding the right edibles dosage

Personal Biology & Your Body’s Unique Needs

Every mammal has an endocannabinoid system (ECS) whose role is to help our body achieve balance in each moment. Because everyone is different, what our body requires for balance will be unique to each one of us, and unique in each moment!  What I require for balance today will look different than what I require to be balanced tomorrow. Because of this, the dosage of THC a consumer takes to achieve an ideal outcome will be unique and personal to that particular experience.   

Tolerance & Experience

Folks who have been consuming THC edibles for awhile will have naturally built up a tolerance to them and will require higher dosages to feel the effects.  People who are new to THC or new to edibles should start with lower dosages until the know what their ideal dosage is. More experienced consumers can feel freer to experiment with higher dosages and different cannabinoid ratios to see what kinds of outcomes they achieve.

Enzyme Response

New studies have shown that a person’s THC levels can vary dramatically depending on the digestive and liver enzymes in their body. People with an unusual liver enzyme variation may be too efficient at processing THC, causing the cannabinoid to become a waste product before its active form can enter the bloodstream or brain.  The consumer’s body breaks down the THC so quickly that it doesn’t have an opportunity to create a psychoactive effect.

It’s also possible that a person could be deficient in the enzymes needed to metabolize THC in the first place, making their body very inefficient at processing the cannabinoid. Other variables, such as how easily the person absorbs and metabolizes fat probably play a role too.

In either case, there seems to be a genetic component to these cases, and many consumers who experience these effects will have a close family member with a similar condition.

Set & Setting

“Setting” means the environment in which you’re consuming, and “set” refers to your mindset, or mood and expectation. The way we’re feeling and our expectations can have a huge impact on the outcome of a cannabis experience.  If you were to consume a 10mg gummy around a lot of new people one day, and then consume the same gummy on another day when you’re at home alone, it would most likely result in two different experiences.  Similarly, eating an edible when your mood is sad and depressed can feel distinct from eating it when you’re feeling happy and carefree.

Because each consumption experience is unique to each consumer and to each moment, set and setting can have a major impact on how altered you feel as a result.

Cannabinoid Ratio

Different cannabinoid ratios will have different effects.  For example, eating a gummy with 5mg of THC will result in a different experience than eating a gummy with 5mg of THC AND 5mg of CBD.  Each additional cannabinoid helps to balance out the effects of THC, and can make the experience feel less intoxicating.  We’re still learning about the effects of different cannabinoids, so we can’t predict exactly how each one will make you feel, but it’s important to understand that each has the potential to provide a unique experience for the consumer.

Consumption Method

Different consumption methods can require different amounts of THC.  Because it’s a different THC delivery mechanism, the amount of THC in bud smoked by a consumer usually seems much larger than the amount in an edible that would have a similar effect.  For example, one person might be able to consume a joint that technically has around 50mg of THC but would feel as intoxicated with 10mg of THC in an edible.  This is due to both the way the THC is processed in the body, and the fact that much of the cannabinoid is lost to smoke or vapor that escapes during consumption.

Fritz’s Cannabis Company is committed to achieving reform in Canadian edibles dosing legislation so that all consumers can affordably access the right products for their body.