Marijuana edibles can be a great alternative to smoking or vaporizing your flower. The effects of marijuana, when absorbed through the digestive rather than through the respiratory system, are usually much more substantial, longer-lasting, and have a more significant impact on the body. However, because the effects can be quite strong, it is important not to eat too many THC-infused goodies at once. Here are some tips for finding the right dose of marijuana edibles for yourself:

1.) The Basics

Know your Type of Edible, Expected Onset, and Average Duration. Digestibles like cookies tend to give more of an Indica feel to relax, manage pain, and promote sleep. These take longer to kick in (30 minutes to 2 hours), but last longer (2- 4 hours, but some may feel the effects for up to 6 hours). Sublinguals like tinctures tend to give more of a Hybrid effect to relax, and manage pain, but still offer clarity. These take up to 30 minutes to kick in and, on average last up to 2 hours.

2.) Start small 

 The first thing you need to do when taking any edible for the very first time is to start small. Don’t eat an entire marijuana cookie – have a quarter instead. As mentioned above, edibles can be more potent than different methods of consuming marijuana, so you don’t want to overdo it. If you do take too much, and the effect becomes intense, then there is no need to panic. First, hydrate. Drink water. Chewing peppercorns is also known to alleviate some of the intensity. Then, you can either take a nap or curl up with some Netflix to ride it out. Some people also find it helpful to go for a short walk if they cannot rest.

 3.) Start small even if you are an experienced smoker 

 The “start small” rule also applies to smokers or to those who use vaporizers and have built up quite a high tolerance. A tolerance to smoked or vaped cannabis often does not translate to edibles, as the chemicals are absorbed in such a different way. Experienced smokers can easily overdo it by assuming that it is going to take a large number of edibles to feel the desired effect, when this may often not be the case.

 4.) Wait before taking more 

 The key to having a pleasant experience with edibles is to be aware of the fact that it takes much longer to feel the effects than it does to feel the effects of smoked or vaped marijuana. Every time you consume an edible, you should wait for at least half-an-hour to two hours before taking more, as the effects may not have fully kicked in yet.

 5.) Follow the directions on the label 

 If you’re making your marijuana-infused treats at home, then there is no label to follow, and you should stick to the rules above. Knowing how you made them and how much marijuana you used can help you work out the dosage. However, if you purchased your edibles here at Greenleaf, it is crucial to read our labels to dose correctly. You may feel tempted to eat an entire cookie or pack of gummies (especially if the munchies kick in!), but if the label says that you should break it up into smaller pieces, then you better follow the instructions.

 6.) Listen to your body 

Finally, the best rule of thumb to stick to when eating cannabis edibles is to listen to your body. Start with small doses and pay careful attention to how much you eat and how long it takes to kick in. You’ll quickly learn how much is too much and how much is just right for you. We recommend you increase dosing gradually in small increments. Double the amount of cannabis does not mean double the effects, it can increase the effects exponentially to significant proportions. The safest time to experiment with dosing is in the evening because worst-case scenario – you’re in bed early and have not disrupted your early, daily routine by accidentally over-medicating.