Are Edibles Bad For You? Know the Risks and Avoid Them

Edibles are a key segment of the cannabis industry, and they're gaining traction. Sales figures from analytics firms like Headset reveal that consumers love edibles. In Canada and the US, sales jumped in market share by one or two points. But, are edibles bad for you?

Edibles are a crowd-pleaser for a number of reasons. Their popularity helps steer many inexperienced consumers to consider them as well. While edibles may work out for those with lower tolerances, they also carry some increased risk due to the increased potency and more prolonged effects. The good news is that edibles won't kill you, but eating more than you need could result in some short-term unpleasant outcomes we all should avoid. 

Understanding the nature and effects of edibles is the best way to consume responsibly. Read on to learn more about edibles, their side effects, how they're largely safe, when they're possibly dangerous, and a ton more. 

What Are Edibles?

Edibles are a broad category of cannabis with a wide range of choices. Any food or beverage infused with cannabinoids, including but not limited to THC and CBD, falls into the category. From macro to micro dosed, edibles come in numerous consumption forms, onset times, flavors, consistencies, and just about any other differentiating factors you’d find at the grocery store.

Edibles can be produced from various types of cannabis products, such as:

• Decarboxylated Flower
• Distillate
• Extracted Oil
• Nanoemulsified Oil Droplets
• Nanoemulsified Powder
• Various Other Infused Bases

During the DIY days of yesteryear, edibles were primarily limited to butter, teas, and sweets, like mostly cookies and brownies. Today, just about anything is infusible. Take a look at a dispensary or online marketplace, and you’ll see the range of choices. From THC-infused weed water to CBD powders to 5:1 ratio olive oils and so much more, product choice continues to grow.^1,2 Depending on their dosage, the effects of edibles can be felt for four to eight hours in most cases. 

Edibles Side Effects

Cannabis is known to produce a range of effects that many find mostly beneficial. These results are amplified or lessened by, in large part, the potency of the plant used. Edibles can also amplify the effects due to their process through the digestive system and metabolization in the liver, amplifying effects.³ This process is much slower in delivering plant effects than compared to smoking, vaping, or consuming a sublingual under the tongue. While some new edible processes are cutting down on onset time, most products will take effect in 30 to 120 minutes.⁴

The range of effects commonly experienced includes:⁵

• Motor Control Impairment
• Altered Perceptions Of Time And Space
• Euphoria
• Intensification Of Ordinary Sensory Experiences
• Overeating (i.e., extreme munchies)
• Sensory Intensification
• Spatial Distortion

Avoid Overconsumption

Be sure to check the dosage of your edibles before consuming them. Even low-dose products may be a substantial hit for anyone with lower tolerances. And while many bags are capped at 100mg, some items can vastly exceed the threshold, with each dosage increasing along with it. And in some cases, often homemade or illegal products, you may not even know the dosage of the edible.

Even if the product states the dosage, numerous factors affect your experience. Factors including weight, metabolism, gender, and eating habits all influence how THC will interact with us at any given time.²

Effects Take Time

Onset time is the term used to describe how long it takes someone to feel the effects of a substance. In weed, we often feel the effects right away or not long after consuming. With smoking and vaping, you may feel high before putting your piece back on the table. Sublinguals don’t take much longer, often kicking in around 15 minutes after consuming. Some edibles are improving their onset times, but still, most take 30 to 120 minutes to start. This prolonged wait often leads people to consume a second dose or more, leading to overconsumption effects. 

If you aren’t sure about a product’s dosage, or you want to play it safe, consider having half of a piece to start. Then, wait anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes and see if you feel the desired effects. If you need a second round, repeat the dosage and see how you feel again in the same time frame. This is known as the “start low, go slow” method for finding your ideal dose of any consumption item.⁴

Possible Drug Interactions

Cannabis has the potential to produce adverse reactions when mixed with other medications. Some prescribed pharmaceuticals have reported histories of negative interactions with THC or other cannabinoids.⁶ Cannabis has been reported to affect a wide variety of common drugs, including but not limited to

• Cold medicine
• Antibiotics
• Gabapentin
• Adderall
• Various SSRIs (Antidepressants)

Cannabis is associated mainly with positive internal effects. However, there are some individuals and instances where that isn’t the case. On rarer occasions, adverse effects can include side effects such as:

• Increased Drowsiness
• Higher Anxiety Levels
• Altered Blood Pressure
• Reduced Serotonin Uptake/Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome

Consumers are strongly advised to consult with a medical professional before mixing cannabis with any prescribed medications, over-the-counter options, supplements, or otherwise.

When Are Edibles Bad?

Are edibles bad? Certainly not. Are they dangerous? Only in a few situations. 

Edibles come with an array of beneficial results in most cases. However, there is a time and place for everything. The following instances represent times when edibles could cause some issues: 

• When you need an exact dose: Edibles are getting better, especially licensed products, but some still struggle with equal dosing in their portions.
• When your tolerance is low: Newcomers and those who are experienced but have low tolerance should proceed cautiously, as edibles hit harder thanks to their journey to the bloodstream. Remember to start low; go slow. 
• You're on medication: Some medicines, supplements, and other remedies and treatments may be affected by cannabis. This also applies to surgery, where weed consumers often report needing more anesthesia.⁷ 
• You're pregnant or breastfeeding: Conflicting reports make it difficult to gauge the effects on mothers and their children, leaving this pressing subject up for much more analysis.
• Occupational risks: Jobs requiring operating machinery, quick thinking, sharp coordination, and other tasks that are often diminished by cannabis should be particularly wary of using edibles or any cannabis during work. 
• Some social situations: Edibles can make some people quiet or sedated, impacting their ability to interact in some social situations. 
• Possibly expired: Infused edibles are just like any other non-infused food or beverage. With the exception of infused honey, powders, and a few other choices, every item has an expiration date. 

Can You Die From Edibles?

You’re more likely to die from an ingredient in an edible than you would from THC or any other cannabis compound. Cannabis intoxication has been linked to few, if any, direct deaths. The cause of this effect is marijuana's low toxicity, and its inability to produce respiratory failure like an opioid can create.⁸ 

While overconsumption can create a bad experience, rest assured that edibles won’t directly cause your death. Instead, be aware of ingredients in your edibles, such as milk, eggs, nuts, and other common allergens, which may be included in the production of an edible. 

Another wise choice would be to shop only from reputable brands. Edibles made by unlicensed and unknown sources always carry a certain level of risk. Without proper food safety measures or regulations overseeing ingredients, flower, edibles, and other items may contain dangerous additives, pesticides, or other contaminants. 

How To Consume Edibles Safely

Start Low and Go Slow

We mentioned the steps above, so double-check those if you need to. The start low, go slow method is the best way to avoid overconsumption while giving you as much control over the effects as possible.

Be Aware of the Different Effects of Edibles and Smoking

We touched on how smoking and edible cannabis consumption options vary in onset time and effects. In addition to knowing the difference between edibles and smoking, it would be helpful to understand more about each item. Learn about the strain you're smoking, the dosage, and the onset time of your edibles. 

And remember, the best way to consume cannabis is whichever method works best for you.

Understand the Laws and Regulations Surrounding Edibles

Since America doesn't have federally legalized cannabis, each state is left to make its own rules regarding the marketplace. Laws vary across state lines, including what products are offered, allowable doses, and even packaging requirements. It helps to understand the legal status of cannabis and other important marketplace rules in your state or whenever you visit another legal market. Reading up on the guidelines will help you know what you can buy legally, how much you're allowed to have on hand, and other vital details.

Dosage and Labeling

You should always check the details of an item before consuming it, cannabis or otherwise. Checking labels for expiration dates and ingredients is essential to your wellness and overall product experience. This rule is helpful for recreational consumers but critical for medical patients who rely on precise doses of cannabis and other medicines.

Proper dosage is also essential when making edibles at home. Your edibles can become wildly different without all the numbers and details factored in. Avoid under or over-dosed edibles by using an edibles calculator for a consistent quantity every time.

Store Edibles Securely

Like just about every cannabis product, your edibles are most likely to stay freshest when stored in a cool, dark place where exposure to UV light and other elements is minimized. Remember that edibles will vary in storage needs depending on the product. Certain drinks and foods will need to be refrigerated, while others can get by with being stored in a Rubbermaid or Pyrex container in the cabinet.

Parents and pet owners must also ensure that their products are stored safely and far away from the little ones, be they two-legged or four-legged varieties. Ideally, keep your edibles in a locked space only you and other adults can access.

Have a Support System

Almost every cannabis consumer has felt too intoxicated at times, and not everyone has a built-in support system at home to help them process their experience with medical cannabis if they feel anxious or overwhelmed. Fireside Project began its Psychedelic Peer Support Line to provide help to individuals during and after a psychedelic experience. Through their Equity Project, callers who are military veterans or who identify as BIPOC or transgender can connect with a support line volunteer who shares that aspect of their identity.

References

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2. Barrus DG, Capogrossi KL, Cates SC, et al. Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles. Methods Rep RTI Press. 2016;2016:10.3768/rtipress.2016.op.0035.1611. doi:10.3768/rtipress.2016.op.0035.1611 ↩︎
3. Lucas CJ, Galettis P, Schneider J. The pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;84(11):2477-2482. doi:10.1111/bcp.13710 ↩︎
4. MacCallum CA, Russo EB. Practical considerations in medical cannabis administration and dosing. European Journal of Internal Medicine. 2018;49(49):12-19. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2018.01.004 ↩︎
5. Turner AR, Spurling BC, Agrawal S. Marijuana Toxicity. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing; 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430823/ ↩︎
6. Lopera V, Rodríguez A, Amariles P. Clinical Relevance of Drug Interactions with Cannabis: A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022; 11(5):1154. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11051154 ↩︎
7. Alexander JC, Joshi GP. A review of the anesthetic implications of marijuana use. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2019;32(3):364-371. Published 2019 May 21. doi:10.1080/08998280.2019.1603034 ↩︎
8. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice. Injury and Death. In: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. National Academies Press (US); 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425748/ ↩︎

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.