When it comes to the market for psychoactive cannabinoids, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one is right for you. So many options, strengths, flavors, prices, how does one even begin to decide? Fear not, dearly beloved! We’re here to help simplify that decision and ultimately help you figure out which product type is right for you. Before you reach into that magic grab back and pick a product completely at random, here’s an article to help break down the fascinating market of cannabinoid-infused products that are readily available at your fingertips.
In this article, we’ll go over the five most common types of edibles. Since edibles are ideal for beginners, you might want to familiarize yourself with the following five product types before moving on to the more advanced stuff (flower, dabs, vape cartridges, pre-rolls, etc). But that decision is completely up to you! If you feel more comfortable with inhalables rather than edibles, that’s your prerogative and you stick to it. As for right now, it’s time to explore the vast world of consumables in all their tasty glory!
What’s The Reason For Your Purchase?
Before we break down the categories by type, you should have a basic idea of why you’re even considering consuming cannabinoid-infused products in the first place. Knowing why and what you’re wanting to get out of a product can help narrow down your search for the perfect product. If you’re wanting to relax after a long day but don’t have a lot of time to spare, you’ll probably want something fast-acting that will kick in after a few minutes. If you’re bored on a weekend with time to spare, you might want something that can help motivate you to become more productive, creative, or focused. If you suffer from mental uneasiness and want something to take the edge of in your daily activities, you may want something that’ll uplift your spirits and send you into a world of bliss that you don’t care how long it takes. Once you solidify your reasoning for consuming psychoactive (or non-psychoactive), you can use that reasoning to figure out which product type will work best with your lifestyle choices.
Edibles - Eat Me!
Edibles are a fan favorite in the cannabinoid world, and for good reason. There’s something truly satisfying about eating a sweet treat that soothes your raging sweet tooth. The category of edibles is a fairly broad one, as it culminates all things that are consumed orally and must be digested in order to activate/enter your bloodstream. We’ll start off with some of the more familiar ones and branch off into the less-common ones. Introducing…gummies!
Gummies
Gummies are probably the most popular product on the market due to the soft and sugary treat that comes in a mind-blowing array of flavors. Gummies are traditionally cube or square shaped, but can also come in the shape of the fruit they’re flavored after, cannabis-leaf shaped, or even gummy bears! It all depends on the manufacturers preference. Gummies are a great option for beginners because there’s no equipment required; simply pop one in your mouth and you’re off to the races! One drawback of gummies is their delayed reaction time. Since gummies must be broken down by your digestive system, it can take anywhere from 30-90 minutes for the effects to fully kick in. It’s often advised to consume gummies with a small meal, as that can help balance out the effects instead of a rapid onset that blindsides you once the high starts. The effects from psychoactive gummies can last for several hours, so make sure you allot enough time to fully enjoy the high.
Baked Goods
A lot of cannabis-enthusisats rave about psychoactive baked goods. “Funny brownies” are probably the most famous of all the baked goods, but you can find “cannabinoid-enhanced baked goods” from select retailers. Whether it be brownies, cookies, marshmallow treats, etc., it’s crucial to make sure you find out the strength of the treat before consuming it. Again, it might be hard to stop yourself once you start, so be sure you’re able to handle the effects of whatever amount you consume. The drawback of this form of edibles is that many people choose to whip up a batch of these treats in their home kitchen, leaving you with a lot of questions.. There are scant sites that offer this particular form, but it’s strongly encouraged not to consume any of the homemade varieties without knowing the specifics of how, when, and where it was made, and the experience level of the individual making it.
Drinkables: A Unique Form Of Consumables
Drinkables are rapidly growing in popularity in the cannabis industry for several reasons. You can read my first-hand experience with drinkables here, where I outline my entire high from start to finish. Drinkables are also popular due to how fast the effects kick in. Even though cannabinoid-infused beverages still require processing via your digestive system, the process is much quicker. Depending on the strength of your drinkable as well as your overall tolerance, you can expect to feel the effects after about 15-30 minutes, and the effects will last for several hours. These beverages can come in powdered or liquid form, with the liquid form being available in plastic or glass bottles that may or may not be resealable. The drawback with drinkables is that it can be difficult to figure out your dose, especially if the bottle doesn’t have any markings on the label on how much a single serving is. You might have to whip out a calculator and do so basic math, but try to stay around the 15-25mg range. You may find that a simple measuring cup (think a ½ or ⅓ cup) can do the trick.
Softgels & Capsules
Next in our classification breakdown of edibles is a bit of an odd one: softgels and capsules. The drawback on this delivery method can raise some eyebrows as it looks, well, like pills! Yet if you’re not fond of cannabinoid-infused baked goods or fruit-flavored gummies, softgels might be a better option. Many users actually prefer the simplicity behind capsules and softgels, as the flavorless, tasteless, and odorless product is more appealing than sugary varieties. Softgels feaure a clear spongey housing that contains a thick mixture of a carrier oil and the specified cannabinoid. Capsules are typically clear material (usually psyllium) that easily dissolves in your stomach and work exactly the same as softgels, just in a different material. Both softgels and capsules must be dissolved by your digestion in order to be absorbed into the bloodstream, but may offer a faster kick-in time due to the liquid contents. The kick-in time can range anywhere from 30-45 minutes and the effects can last for several hours. If you looking for a way to relax after a long day, you may enjoy the ease of incorporating capsules or softgels into your nighttime vitamin routine.
Tinctures
Ahhh tinctures…is it an edible or is it a category all on its own? The answer is actually either one! Tinctures are designed to be consumed sublingually…that is, orally and under the tongue. You’ll need to hold the tincture under your tongue for 30-90 seconds before swallowing. Many users advocate for tinctures to be sprinkled onto food and swirled into beverages, but the bioavailability breaks down rapidly once the tincture passes through the digestion system. Tinctures are also incredibly easy to dose, esepcialy if the dropper is graduated to show how much is sucked up. Tinctures allegedly boast a speedier absorption into bloodstream via this sublingual method as opposed to other edibles that must be digested prior to feeling the effects. The drawback on this particular product type is that many users report feeling a “hangover high” the following day, with lingering headaches and dizziness for several hours.
Conclusion
By now you should be a bit more familiar with the different types of edibles on the market. As a word of warning, you should be careful when consuming edibles for the first time. Depending on your tolerance and the strength of the edible, it can be tempting to keep eating them one after the other as if it were the regular non-psychoactive type.
Always read the amount of the cannabinoid that’s listed for each edible and tailor your doses to your comfort level. Some manufacturers will list the recommended dosage right on the package, but it will ultimately rest on you as the consumer to portion out the right amount. Beginners should start with about 5-15mg, more experienced users can opt for 15mg-30mg, and advanced users looking for a wild high should consume 30mg or more.
The important thing to keep in mind when it comes to dosages is to always start off slow; remember you can always increase your dosage over time but you might not be prepared for the overwhelming effects that kick in once you’ve consumed a larger quantity than recommended. If you’re ready to check out the fascinating world of edibles, be sure to check out our delicious gummies and softgels, available in Delta-8 THC, Farm Bill Compliant Delta-9 THC, HHC, and THC-O. In our next article, we’ll be discussing a more advanced category: inhalables! For all you smokers and vapers, this is an article you won’t want to miss!