Edibles, Beverages & Tinctures

What Are Cannabis Edibles?

When you consume a cannabis-infused product like any kind of food or drink, you will be experiencing noticeably different effects than when you smoke or vape. When you smoke or vape, cannabis enters the bloodstream immediately, whereas with edibles it takes longer.

However, the psychoactive effects that come along with edibles tend to be more intense, full-body feelings than that of smoking or vaping. Consuming edibles might take between 60-90 minutes to feel the effects, but the effects tend to last considerably longer than that of inhalation methods. Eating edibles is perhaps the healthiest and safest way to consume cannabis because nothing is inhaled or combusted.

In years past, perhaps the most popular way of eating cannabis was to make baked goods like the infamous brownies. Those days are long gone, with high-end chefs creating Michelin-star quality food infused with cannabis. Most food made with cannabis uses an infused ingredient that is high in fat, like butter or oil. But there are also cannabis-infused beverages.

Cannabis-Infused Beverages

According to a report from ArcView and Greenentrepreneur, cannabis-infused beverages are more popular now than ever before. Cannabis beverages saw the highest spike in sales during the pandemic year of 2020, and have not shown signs of slowing down since. Sales of infused beverages could reach more than $5 billion per year by 2025.

The spike in the popularity of cannabis-infused beverages is largely being driven by millennials, women, and people who are newbies to cannabis consumption. These demographics tend to prefer cannabis wellness drinks over edibles like gummies, brownies, cookies, and other snacks that are loaded with sugar. There’s a good chance you’re part of this demographic, so welcome!

Another cause for the increase in popularity of cannabis drinks is their portability and discreteness. Consuming beverages requires nothing but the container they come in: meaning no vapes, bongs, dab rigs, papers, or blunt wraps.

Canna-BEVs are discreet and as normal as a water bottle you take to the gym because everyone must hydrate. And unlike edibles, most people feel the effects of beverages half the time. The dosage of beverages tends to be precise, since the companies who make them tend to be more accountable than your run-of-the-mill gummy-maker.

States that have legal cannabis have been taking a bite out of big alcohol for a few years now. So clearly, cannabis is impacting big alcohol, because connoisseurs understand that the best product is grown and made with love and care. States with legal herb have also seen a decrease in pharmaceutical use. Infused beverages are largely to thank for all of the above.

What Are Cannabis Tinctures?

Ingestible oils are kind of like a combination of concentrates and edibles because you swallow and digest them like edibles, but their consistency is more like oil concentrate. Oils are either taken directly or put into capsules for easy consumption. One of the more popular oils is Rick Simpson oil. Simpson is a Canadian cannabis activist who developed his oil to help treat his cancer. Simpson doesn’t sell any cannabis products himself, but rather he encourages consumers to make their own.

Tinctures are cannabis extract that comes in liquid form. Tinctures tend to enter the bloodstream quickly, meaning they are fast-acting. Tinctures can be a great choice for consumers who are looking for quick effects but don’t want the potential respiratory issues that come along with inhalation methods. Tinctures typically use alcohol as the solvent, but any fat-soluble liquid can be used to make a tincture, like vinegar.

Consumers place drops of tinctures under their tongues depending on the desired dosage, and it absorbs into the body that way. Holding a tincture under the tongue for at least 60 seconds before swallowing allows the tincture to bypass digestion and become rapidly absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Then, tinctures are processed through the liver and the consumer feels the effects.

Ingesting VS Inhaling Cannabis

Eating edibles is a completely different experience than smoking or vaping. Edibles travel first to your stomach, then to your liver, before getting into your bloodstream and brain. The liver converts THC into a stronger form. Combined with the THC from the original product, this adds to the intensity of the high. Cannabis smoke or vapor delivers THC directly into your lungs where it passes directly into your bloodstream and then your brain.

For the inexperienced consumer, this can lead to extremely unpleasant and potentially dangerous situations. As a newer consumer, we recommend against taking anything over 15mg to start. If you do, you could have a bad experience. It’s also a good idea for beginners to consume a high mg dose in the presence of a friend they trust, as this can greatly help the experience if it seems to be taking a turn for the worst.

Dosage Milligram Breakdown

Here is a handy reference guide that breaks down how each level of milligrams (mg) of edible ingesting might make you feel as a consumer. Always keep in mind that everyone is different and that these are generalizations based on previous consumer experiences.

• Ingesting 1mg to 2.5mg of THC in cannabis edibles is often referred to as a microdose. This dosage is perfect for inexperienced consumers, as it can offer mild relief from pain and stress.
• Ingesting 2.5mg to 15mg of THC in cannabis edibles is a relatively small dose that can provide a stronger relief of pain and anxiety, as well as increased euphoria. This dosage starts to cause impaired coordination and perception of the passing of time.
• Ingesting 15mg to 30mg of THC in cannabis edibles is a mid-range dose that can help offer a good night’s sleep and cause even higher levels of euphoria. This range is where first-time consumers might start to experience negative effects, so always consume responsibly. Anything above this dosage is not recommended for inexperienced consumers.
• Ingesting 30 mg to 50 mg of THC in cannabis edibles will cause strong euphoria and noticeably impaired perception, as well as may cause a loss of coordination. This dosage is common for medical patients seeking sleep aid or pain relief.
• Ingesting 50 mg or more of THC in cannabis edibles will almost certainly cause impairment, and should not be done by inexperienced consumers.
• Ingesting 100 mg or more THC in cannabis edibles is often referred to as a “hero dose” and should only be consumed by experienced cannabis enthusiasts. At this level, even experienced consumers can experience negative side effects such as elevated heart rate, racing thoughts, and anxiety.

What We Learned: Edibles, Beverages & Tinctures

Absorbing all of the knowledge about the various ways of consuming cannabis is one of the best ways to get the most out of your experiences. This chapter should hopefully get your feet wet enough with the world of edibles so you know what to expect before your first experience. Here’s what we learned in this chapter:

• Low and slow is the way to go with cannabis edibles, beverages, and tinctures.
• The psychoactive effects that come along with edibles tend to be more intense, full-body feelings than that of smoking or vaping.
• Edibles travel first to your stomach, then to your liver, before getting into your bloodstream and brain.
• Consuming edibles might take between 60-90 minutes to feel the effects, but the effects tend to last considerably longer than that of inhalation methods.
• Eating edibles is perhaps the healthiest and safest way to consume cannabis because nothing is inhaled or combusted.
• In years past, brownies were the primary edible consumers ate. Thanks to legalization efforts, that is drastically changing.
• Sales of cannabis-infused beverages like seltzers, teas, and flavored waters could reach more than $5 billion per year by 2025.
• Tinctures are cannabis extract that comes in liquid form. Tinctures tend to enter the bloodstream quickly, meaning they are fast-acting.
• Each milligram dosage should be carefully read and understood before taking an edible. Refer back to our dosage milligram chart in this chapter for guidance.

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