Even before the successful legalization efforts in places like Colorado and California, there have never been any shortages of different ways that marijuana enthusiasts could get high. One way of doing so which has gained additional popularity in recent years is through the use of marijuana edibles.
From the familiar if somewhat cliched pot brownies and cookies to more sophisticated dishes, or marijuana infused beverages like teas and even beers, or even cannabis tinctures, there are many different methods of getting baked that fall under this seemingly catch all term of “edibles.” In order to help some enthusiasts better understand what each type is and how they work, check out this handy guide to everything edible related.
Covering the Basics: What Is An Edible?
Before we get into specific types of edibles, let’s define what we’re talking about more generally. For the sake of this article, we’re defining an edible as any form of cannabis that is absorbed through gastrointestinal uptake, oral uptake, or a combination of the two.
These methods of absorption are different from what happens when you smoke or vape. When you smoke or vape weed, the cannabinoids are absorbed into your body through your lungs.
But when you consume an edible, the cannabinoids find their way into your bloodstream either through your mouth and tongue or through your gastrointestinal system. This means that the different types of edibles actually include drinks, lozenges, tinctures, solid foods, and other substances.
In order to be effective, any type of edible must first be decarboxylated. This is the process through which heat is applied to cannabis plant material in order to “activate” the THC. Really what’s happening when you heat weed is that the more or less inert compound THCA is converted into psychoactive THC. So, in order for an edible to do its job, the weed in it must at some point be decarboxylated.
Are edibles your preferred method of consuming cannabis? Do you have a favorite type of edible?
