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The history of cannabis edibles goes back further than you may think. Humans have been eating cannabis for more than 50,000 years.
In today’s post, we’re going to take a deep dive into everything you need to know about cannabis edibles, how they work, and how you can make them!
By the end of this post you will know all about
- What is cannabis?
- What are cannabinoids?
- The Endocannabinoid system
- When did humans start eating cannabis
- The differences between smoking and ingesting cannabis
- The first pass effect
- Decarboxylation and activating THC
- Dosing edibles correctly
- Recipes for cannabis edibles
Let’s dive right in!
What is cannabis?
The term Cannabis is a reference to three plant species: Cannabis Ruderalis, Cannabis Indica and, Cannabis Sativa.
When these plants are dried and harvested you are left with one of the most widely used drugs in human history: Cannabis (also known as weed, pot, marijuana, bud, green, dope, and grass).
The cannabis plant is well known for its psychoactive and medicinal properties (when consumed by either smoking, vaping, or as cannabis edibles).
What are cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds that are found within cannabis. The cannabis plant is made up of two main cannabinoids; THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol).
THC (Delta9-THC or Delta8-THC) is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis. THC is responsible for the mind-altering effects we feel when consuming cannabis (including cannabis edibles).
CBD is another major cannabinoid in the cannabis plant yet unlike THC, CBD has no psychoactive properties (although studies have shown CBD to have valuable medical benefits).
The way that these cannabinoids interact with the human body is what causes the cannabis plant to creates its psychoactive effects.
The Endocannabinoid System
The Endocannabinoid System was discovered by scientists in the late 1980s. This biological system is made up of three major components; endocannabinoids, receptors, & enzymes. These components help to regulate a variety of bodily functions such as mood, sleep, appetite, memory, pain threshold, and reproduction.
Even though cannabis contains THC, we wouldn’t be able to feel the plant’s psychoactive effects if it weren’t for the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).
The ECS is able to interact with the key compounds in cannabis (such as THC) which allows us to experience the cannabis plant’s therapeutic effects.
The ECS has two major cannabinoid receptors, known as CB1 & CB2. When cannabis is ingested (including as cannabis edibles) these receptors send signals and messages to the brain which then determines the effects.
When did humans start eating cannabis?
Humans ate cannabis for the first time more than 50,000 years ago! Back when humans were foraging for nutritious food to eat, somebody stumbled across the cannabis plant and accidentally ended up eating the first-ever cannabis edible!
From that point onwards, humans actively cultivated cannabis and used it as a source of food, fiber, medicine, and of course to get high!
Interestingly, scientists & researchers believe that humans began developing more complex ideas around music, art, and religion at the same time they began consuming cannabis.
The differences between smoking and eating cannabis
After a long period of cultivating cannabis as a source of food, evidence suggests that humans began smoking cannabis at least 2,500 years ago. The picture below is a 2,500-year-old artefact (found in China) from which humans used to smoke cannabis, it is likely the oldest cannabis bowl in the world!
Depending on how it’s consumed, the effects of cannabis can vary. Let’s take a look at the main differences between smoking cannabis and eating cannabis.
THC (absorption)
When cannabis is smoked, the THC (and other active compounds) reach the brain through the bloodstream & then bind to the CB1 receptor in the endocannabinoid system. This causes you to feel the euphoric high of cannabis almost immediately.
When you have eaten a cannabis edible, the THC (and other active compounds) are absorbed through the stomach. The THC then metabolizes in the liver. This process converts THC into a new compound called 11-hydroxy-THC, which is stronger and has longer-lasting effects.
Onset
When cannabis is smoked the onset of effects is almost immediate. The concentration of THC in the bloodstream reaches its peak after around 20 minutes from smoking, at which point it slowly decreases to normal levels over a period of around 2 hours.
Cannabis edibles typically take between 30-60 minutes to kick in (yet can take even longer). Due to being absorbed through the stomach, it can take more than 2 hours for THC to hit its peak levels in the bloodstream. The whole experience can last for 5 hours or more (at which point THC levels will drop).
Effects
When eaten, the effects of cannabis can be much stronger than when it is smoked. This is due to the way that cannabis is absorbed into the body when ingested (and converted into 11-hydroxy-THC). It is very important that when taking edibles, you are careful with the dose as a small amount can go a long way! As shown in the image above, It can take up to 2 hours for THC to hit its peak levels when eaten.
The first pass effect
In comparison to smoking, cannabis edibles have a much more potent psychoactive effect which typically lasts for a longer duration.
This is due to the way that THC travels through the digestive system and metabolizes in the liver. As mentioned earlier, this causes THC to convert to 11-Hydroxy-THC, a much more potent compound. This process is known as the first-pass effect.
Interestingly, 11-Hydroxy-THC does not exist in the cannabis plant, therefore it has never been an active ingredient used to make edibles! When breaking down THC (which has been orally ingested), the human body creates 11-Hydroxy-THC itself.
There is still much more research needed on 11-Hydroxy-THC yet it is clear that it is much more powerful due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Decarboxylation (activating THC)
Whether you are smoking or eating cannabis, it has to go through a process known as decarboxylation in order to activate the THC. Unfortunately, you can’t just pop a bud in your mouth and eat it to enjoy the effects of cannabis edibles.
This is because all of the cannabinoids that are found within the trichomes of the cannabis plant have an extra ring or layer of carboxy attached to them that needs to be removed in order to activate the compounds.
In order to decarboxylate cannabis, you need heat! When you smoke cannabis, the temperature of the flame decarboxylates the cannabis instantly and activates its compounds.
During this process, THCA (an inactive compound found within the trichomes of the cannabis plant) is converted into the THC we all know and love!
In order to decarboxylate & activate THC for cannabis edibles, it needs to be left in 220 degrees Fahrenheit heat for anywhere between 30-45 minutes for the THCA to convert to THC (in some cases it may take longer than this). Some people choose to use lower temperatures for longer periods of time in order to preserve the cannabis terpenes.
Dosing edibles correctly
Getting your dose right when making cannabis edibles is crucial – it is very easy to overdo it and get too high!
It is suggested that beginners keep their dose at 5mg or less whilst experienced cannabis connoisseurs can use 80mg or more!
Check out this table that has recommended doses for different tolerance levels.
You can also use this cannabis edible dosage calculator online or download the THC Calculator App on your phone to work out how much cannabis you need when making your cannabis edibles!
Recipes for cannabis edibles
You can make any food a cannabis edible, from chocolate cookies to pepperoni pizza!
In order to make cannabis edibles (like the delicious one pictured above), you will need cannabis (obviously!), an oven/heat for decarboxylation, butter, or oil to infuse your cannabis, and a delicious recipe to cook!
Check out this link to find 240 cannabis edible recipes
Thanks for sticking around until the end!
We would love to hear your thoughts on cannabis edibles in the comments below. Let us know if there’s any other interesting information you would add to this!
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Disclaimer
A B Seedy does not promote drug use nor do we promote anyone breaking the laws of their country. This information is for educational purposes & for those in countries where cannabis is legal.
