There are so many known methods and mechanisms of consuming
cannabis otherwise known as marijuana and making sure desirable amounts of
cannabinoids are entering your bloodstream. The two most common ways of
achieving this is smoking the herb which is also through different means, such
as pipe, bong, spliff, joint or blunt, and by eating of foods that have been
infused with cannabis or eating cannabis directly. As a result of huge
advancements in food production, the latter may include almost any food you can
think of, such as cakes, ice cream, pasta, sandwiches, sweets, coffee, wine and
so on. Both of these methods however have their advantages and disadvantages
and what sets them apart the most is the way they affect the type of high you will experience.
Anybody who has had an experience with smoking and eating
marijuana will be of no doubt well aware of the differences in strength
involved. Edibles take longer time to set in, but when they take effect they
seem to be stronger than smoking herb. When smoked or vaped, (THC) follows a far more direct pathway to the
brain, while when eaten the (THC)
present in cannabis is metabolized by the liver, where it is converted into
11-hydroxy-THC which is very
efficient at crossing the blood brain barrier and therefore may result in far
more intense and stronger high.
Tetrohydrocannabinol (THC),
is the ingredient known to be responsible for causing the high sensation that
you get from consuming marijuana. Amazingly, there are certain benefits gotten
from the consumption of marijuana asides the highness gotten. Below are some healthy benefits of smoking weed:
1)
Pain Relief: Medically, marijuana is used to eliminate
or reduce pain in the body and there is no other special agent responsible for
this wonder of pain-relief effect asides Tetrohydrocannabinol, the same
ingredient responsible for the highness gotten from consuming marijuana.
2)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): This is a common
reason marijuana is consumed medically. Interestingly, the high sensation gotten
from (THC), is also associated
with temporary impairments of memory.
3)
Tetrohydrocannabinol (THC)
which is the most recognized ingredient in marijuana has been available in
pills since the 1980s for treating nausea and vomiting in cancer patients all
over the world.
4)
Asides its ability to reduce nausea,
tetrohydrocannabinol (THC) is also
known to work as a powerful appetite stimulant in both healthy and sick
individuals. This means that it stimulates the intake of food.
5)
Another benefit of THC
recognized earlier on was its potential to relieve eye pressure in patients
with glaucoma.
Here are some of the benefits gotten from eating marijuana (edibles):
Many marijuana users are wondering if it’s better eating marijuana
instead of smoking it. What’s behind the interest in marijuana
edibles? Sure, smoking marijuana is the fastest way to deliver THC and other cannabinoids into your body and mind.
But some people are tired of coughing, throats hurting, having to buy and use
pipes, bongs, or vaporizers. The smell of smoked marijuana, or a big cloud of
marijuana smoke, brings unwanted attention that can harm your privacy and
freedom.
When you eat marijuana, your digestive system converts the
inactive form of THC to delta-11 THC, a compound that produces different effects
than delta-9. But you get the combined effect of the two. If you smoke
marijuana but as yet you do not consume pot edibles, here’s a summary of the
differences in these two methods of marijuana intake:
1)
Smoking marijuana starts to take effect within a few seconds
or a minute or two. The highness derived lasts between one to three hours after
which you become “un-high.” Depending on whether your stomach is empty or not,
eaten marijuana could take thirty to ninety minutes before the effects start to
manifest. The effects of eaten marijuana can last for as long as three to seven
hours, after which you gradually descend. The burned-out, tired feeling you
sometimes get when you come down from smoked marijuana is far less noticeable
when you eat marijuana.
2)
When you eat marijuana, it produces more body-centered
effects compared to when you smoke marijuana, and effects are more evenly
distributed throughout the body.
3)
Eaten marijuana works better for LONG LASTING pain
relief, muscle spasms, and similar conditions, but it takes longer to work
than smoked marijuana and is thus not as useful for people needing immediate
medical marijuana relief.
4)
Because you can’t feel the effects right away when you
eat marijuana, it’s easier to underdose or overdose. The way to get it right when
you eat marijuana is to start with a dose measured marijuana edible, eat a
small amount of it on an empty
stomach, wait at least an hour until it takes full effect, then decide if you want to eat more, and how much more you want to eat.
stomach, wait at least an hour until it takes full effect, then decide if you want to eat more, and how much more you want to eat.
When smoking weed, the effects can be felt almost
immediately. Depending on the strain and the volume smoked, this could be
immediate relaxation, euphoria, creative thoughts or even energy. These effects
then start to wear off and disappear within the next hour or so. Because of
this fast onset, you can practically feel how much THC
you are consuming, how much would be far too much and when to stop or have a
break. For these reasons, it is far easier to control how much THC you are taking in.
The story is totally different when the herb is eaten.
Edibles require longer processing by the body before effects start taking
place. Therefore, it can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours for the effects to
start manifesting and be experienced depending on the body system of the consumer.
The effects can last up to several hours after the onset. Due to the reason of
the period of time between actually eating a medicated piece of food and
feeling the effects, it is very easy to abuse it. (For example, an hour has
passed already and no effects have manifested yet, a person may assume more
dose is needed to feel the desired effects. Then within a few hours, what is
believed to be a light and relaxing high turns into a challenging and
psychedelic experience, that they are not mentally prepared for and capable of
handling).
The above scenario is mostly common among those who have
little experience with marijuana edibles. When taking marijuana edibles, it is
advised to start off with small doses and then exercise patience until you feel
the full effects of the dosage before deciding to consume more.
Know Your Limit!!!
If you have smoked far too much, chances are you will just
surrender, put the half smoked joint for a rest in the ashtray and take a nice,
deep and restful nap on the couch. If you have overmedicated, it might be a
different story. Perhaps you weren’t prepared for the waves of high that keep
washing over you, increasing with strength. If that is the case, perhaps the
most important thing is not to panic. Take a seat, engage in some deep and
controlled breathing and relax. Keep in mind, that you will be sober in the
next hour or two and you will be totally fine.