What The Science Says About Edibles On An Empty Stomach
Whether you’re enjoying some fire crackers or a brand new strain of cannabis, figuring whether or not you should eat before getting high is a deeply personal choice. There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence, but very little research about how a full stomach affects cannabis highs. It all comes down to one study conducted years ago.
In 1999, the only study that specifically looked at cannabis absorption and die had some interesting results. Here’s how it breaks down.
The study took into account whether or not having a full stomach changes how getting high was experienced. As it turns out, having a full stomach does slow down how fast the body absorbs cannabis. Getting high on a full stomach slows how quickly the high sets in. An empty stomach causes the high to set in much quicker.
However, there’s a twist. The intensity of the high was not changed based on whether or not you had a full stomach. It just changes how long it takes for the peak of the high to set in. This is really all the scientific evidence there is when it comes to taking edibles on a full stomach.
The lack of research comes down to the federal ban on cannabis research. Since cannabis is still illegal on a federal level, it’s hard for researchers to perform studies on the effects of weed and diet.
We do, however, have a lot of information from personal experiences.
Personal Experience
Personal experiences with cannabis show us everything from how to make a firecracker to how edibles work on an empty stomach.
There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence around enjoying cannabis on an empty stomach. Unless you have a specific reason to get high while hungry, most people seem to want to avoid smoking cannabis or consuming edibles on an empty stomach.
People report a variety of negative symptoms when they get high on an empty stomach. There are a few common themes such as higher anxiety, stomach aches, and an extreme case of the munchies. People seem to just have a better time if they enjoy their edibles after having something to eat.
With that said, there is a good reason to enjoy edibles on an empty stomach. Cannabis is a well known appetite stimulant. Individuals who have trouble eating, have a suppressed appetite, or are looking to boost their metabolism could consider kick-starting their appetite.
The what of our diet can also have an impact on your edible experience.
Diet And Edibles
There’s not much official research on how your diet shapes your edible experiences, but there are a few general guidelines that can help people have a better experience when they get high.
It all comes down to what you’re eating. When you smoke cannabis, the THC is absorbed through the lungs which means that your diet wont have a big impact. However, THC loves binding with fatty molecules.
This means a diet rich in fats can help THC have something to connect with in the stomach. There are plenty of anecdotes that show that having a snack with a lot of fats can help an edible high become that much “higher.”
Different Types Of Highs
We all know that different types of cannabis can have different effects. The experience you get with firecracker weed will be different from the experience you get with high CBD edibles. You can also change your meal planning to enhance your desired experience.
Having a light meal before enjoying an edible can dramatically improve your experience. This is especially true for people who are new to the world of THC. In a sense, eating a meal before an edible will help “mellow out” the high and create a smoother experience.
Less anxiety, less risk of a stomach ache, and less intense munchies will make beginner cannabis enthusiasts have a more enjoyable experience while they get more accustomed to edibles.
Final Thoughts On Edibles And What You Eat
Edibles are becoming an increasingly popular choice for people looking to enjoy cannabis without smoking. There will no doubt be an increase in cannabis research as legalization efforts continue, but until then we’ll have to rely on the time-honored wisdom of chatting with people who enjoy the same edibles we do!