Cannabis Edibles

Cannabis edibles are food products infused with cannabis extracts for oral ingestion. They can be more potent and have longer lasting effects than other routes of administration. Edibles are useful for patients with chronic 24/7 symptoms or high THC requirements. Edibles can be difficult to use to best effectiveness as the side effect of THC intoxication can be an issue.

Types of Edibles
Edibles are produced using extracts of cannabis plant. They will usually be of a primarily THC (or CBD) composition, although combination products, including some of the “minor” cannabinoids, are becoming more available. Edibles are available in a variety of preparations from chocolates, gummies, and lozenges to locally sourced cannabis infused honey.

Edibles – Oral Administration
Extracts of cannabis are combined with food in specific amounts to produce an edible of a known cannabinoid dose per serving. Edibles are, of course, consumed orally and are absorbed by the gut.

Edibles – Titration
Edibles are a convenient way to dose cannabis, but can be challenging to optimally use. It can be difficult to predict the onset, intensity and duration of effects. Cannabinoids are not water soluble and this significantly affects absorption from the gut. This has an effect on absorption from the gut and accounts for some of the unpredictability observed in edible effects.
Consumption of food containing a high fat content when using edibles will improve absorption of cannabinoids. Be consistent in the fatty food consumed with edibles to achieve more consistent responses. Maximum effects occur anywhere from 30 min to several hours after ingestion and will last from 4 – 12 hours (sometimes longer at higher THC doses) in most patients. Start with consuming food with a significant fat content, use a low dose of THC (2.5 mg in novice patients to 10 mg in those tolerant to THC). Wait several hours for the maximum effects to be noticed. If symptom improvement is inadequate, repeat the dose and wait the same length of time to evaluate response. If side effects occur, the last dose well tolerated will be the one used. This will be the dose used for the week. Chronic conditions seem to require a longer period of time for the maximal effects to be realized, particularly with inflammatory and psychological symptoms, so initial doses should be used from several days to a week before evaluating response. Edibles are a good choice for chronic, long lived symptoms, and patients with high THC requirements. As edibles can have prolonged and intense effects, it is important to take this into account as to how they may affect usual daily activities.

DISCLAIMER: Information provided is for educational purposes to assist medical cannabis patients in using the medication. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and cannabis is not approved by this agency for the use in diagnosis or treatment of any diseases.

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