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In order to determine how long the high from an edible lasts, there are a few different factors that need to be identified first. Edibles do not last the same amount of time for every single person and, in addition to that, edibles are dosed differently in each product.

It is also important to remember that eating an edible is not the same thing as smoking or vaping cannabis. When people smoke or vaporize cannabis, it enters their bloodstream and produces an instantaneous high. It also immediately begins working to relieve the symptoms that medicinal cannabis treats. The high from smoking cannabis is also a lot shorter – roughly one to four hours.

Since this isn’t a universal rule and is dependent on many things, let’s look at those different factors and how it might impact our high from eating an edible.

Step One: Identifying the User

The most important question needing to be answered is, “How often do I consume cannabis?” This poses a lot of gray-area solutions. On one hand, those who have never used cannabis at all may feel the effects to be a lot stronger than someone who uses it every day. On the other hand, there is such a thing as an endocannabinoid deficiency, meaning some first-time users don’t feel the effects from any kind of cannabis consumption, edible or otherwise. If you are a first-time user, it may take you using marijuana or CBD multiple times before you feel anything. This is because your endocannabinoid system is not “awake” yet, so to speak.

The previous points aside, an edible is said to last a lot longer if you haven’t eaten anything before the edible. This 2012 study showed that THC and CBD were absorbed much quicker on empty stomachs than those participants who had a full stomach. There are other factors that can impact an edible high, too, like how much coffee or caffeine you had that day, your stress levels, and other medications you may be taking.

Step Two: Identifying the Dosage

Remember that a CBD edible will present itself differently than an edible that has THC, too. CBD edibles do not create that “head high” that THC edibles do. CBD edibles will make you feel more relaxed, but relaxation of the body only. Edibles that also have THC will also allow your mind to be impacted. A lot of people start their days with a THC edible so they can have a stimulated mind all day long, while others prefer a CBD edible. CBD edibles are especially useful for sleep if it is timed properly.

THC edibles can have as little as 1 milligram of THC, all the way up to 100 milligrams. Some brands even claim to go above 100 milligrams of THC. An edible with 1 milligram of THC will metabolize in the body much quicker than an edible with 100 milligrams of THC; therefore, the edible lasts for a much shorter period of time. The dosage options for CBD are pretty similar to the options for a THC edible. The key to creating a good experience using an edible is to start low and go slow. Wait and see how your body reacts before reaching for another infused gummy bear or brownie. As we mentioned above, it can take up to four hours for edibles to reach their peak in some cases. This is why it is important to really give your body time to react to the medicine it has been given before deciding to take more.

One of the most common reasons people try to deter others, especially young people, from using cannabis is the idea that cannabis kills brain cells. Children are even taught in educational substance abuse programs to tell their friends, “No, thanks, I’d like to keep all of my brain cells,” preparing themselves for when they would inevitably be peer-pressured by their friends to smoke marijuana.

While there are studies that show heavy cannabis use as an adolescent can change the brain, this idea that cannabis “kills brain cells” was perpetuated by a study conducted by Dr. Robert Heath in 1974. His research explored the effects of high-dosage cannabis exposure on a monkey’s brain. The study reported that structural changes were found in the monkey’s brain cells, not the actual killing of brain cells like people claim.

So Does Cannabis Kill Brain Cells?

The idea that cannabis kills brain cells was hinged off this research by Dr. Heath. The Nixon administration’s National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) used this study as their “cannabis kills brain cells” poster child. Some claim the Nixon administration even paid Dr. Heath to create these results, which at this point doesn’t hold much weight.

Regardless of the Nixon administration’s monetary involvement, there just aren’t any additional studies to back up the idea that cannabis kills brain cells other than Dr. Heath’s experiment. In fact, more recent studies have conflicted with this idea entirely. Dr. William Slikker of the National Center of Toxicological Research exposed monkeys to cannabis in high doses for one year. The study reads, “In the monkey brain, we found no alterations in the concentration of neurotransmitters in caudate nucleus, frontal cortex, hypothalamus or brain stem.”

BBC reported in 1974, “[Dr. Heath’s] findings of permanent brain damage have been dismissed by similar, independently conducted studies. But other scientists have argued these methods of animal research are inconclusive.”

What Other Effects Might Cannabis Have on the Brain?

Dr. Mooney of UCLA partnered with Mashable to answer this question. “I don’t think the message to the public should be a dramatic one of cannabis killing brain cells,” said Dr. Mooney. “But I do think it’s important for the public to be aware of a balanced understanding of potential risks of cannabis use.” Dr. Mooney further explained that there is some evidence that marijuana use can negatively impact the brain, but that the need for more research, especially for longtime users, is necessary for drawing a conclusion.

The Effect of Cannabis on a Young Person’s Developing Brain

A huge argument for cannabis use and negative brain changes is that of an adolescent’s use and how it impacts their developing brain. While there are studies that show this is possible, it is also important to point out that it is still inconclusive.

This study, for example, says that “several recent studies have found no evidence that adolescent cannabis use or dependence was associated with IQ decline or neurocognitive performance. A study by Meier et al. of co-twins discordant for cannabis use, found little evidence that cannabis use was associated with impaired executive function between, and suggested that family background may explain the lower neurocognitive performance often reported in cannabis users. Another group investigated associations between adolescent cannabis use and IQ and educational attainment and found no association.”

In other words, some studies find correlations between cannabis use and adolescent cognitive decline, and others do not. This piece of research also emphasizes the need for long-term research on the adolescents who are studied.

The Argument that Cannabis Positively Changes the Brain

Some research actually creates a valid argument for cannabis positively impacting the brain, specifically by igniting the process of neurogenesis or the creation of neurons in the brain. This study says, “A body of data indicates that cannabinoid ligands control cell genesis in the adult brain, regulating cell proliferation and overall neurogenesis in the mammalian brain.” According to this same study, the cannabinoid system plays a central role in adult neurogenesis processes in the hippocampus and lateral ventricles. “Indeed, cannabinoids have clear modulatory roles in adult neurogenesis, probably through activation of both CB1 and CB2 receptors.”

Another study reads, “Recent studies have shown that THC can promote neurogenesis, restore memory, and prevent neurodegenerative processes and cognitive decline in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. CBD also improves cognition in preclinical models of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. To reconcile these seemingly contradictory results, it has been suggested that THC modulates memory and cognition in an age- and dose-dependent manner.”

The Conclusion?

Ultimately, the hard science is still unverified. However, we know that cannabis has fewer side effects than many other commonly prescribed drugs. Most human beings can safely collaborate with their doctor to find a cannabis treatment that works for them, without much of a risk.

Times are changing and so is the stigma surrounding the consumption of medical marijuana. In the past, people assumed that someone smoking marijuana was doing so illegally. Today, however, there are many patients who need to consume it in a variety of ways for important medicinal reasons. Here are several methods that patients can choose from after receiving their medical marijuana card: 

Smoking for Instant Relief

One of the most well-known ways to consume medical marijuana, smoking provides relief to the user instantaneously. Start by placing the recommended portion for you into a pipe or onto a piece of paper that can be rolled. Next, simply light the far end and inhale the smoke.

North Fact #1: A major difference between smoking medical marijuana and tobacco is that one comes with helpful cannabinoids and the other addictive nicotine.

Munching on Edibles

If you’re not a smoker, then consider trying edibles to help you recover from your diagnosis. There are many ways to eat these and they all can be quite tasty. Either bake a brownie for yourself or buy items straight from a dispensary like North. Think gummy bears, cookies, and even healthy snacks like nuts. 

North Fact #2: This method will take longer to take effect so let your edible digest before eating more. Do not take anything on an empty stomach.

Infusing Your Favorite Drink

Another flavorful alternative to inhaling, medical marijuana-infused drinks can be more effective than edibles. Drinking soda, coffee, and even tea can make a relaxing experience such as taking your prescription that much better. 

North Fact #3: Cannabinoids in medical marijuana-infused drinks will be absorbed by the body faster than edibles that need to be digested.

Inhaling a Vapor

According to marijuanadoctors.com, “When you vape, you heat marijuana’s active compounds at low temperatures. There’s no burning or combustion at these low temperatures like there is with smoking.” The website continues to explain that CBD oil and raw medical marijuana can be vaped.

North Fact #4: In order to vape, you must also purchase the proper device. North will soon have several options of vape pens for you to choose from at their two Missouri dispensaries.

Step One: Getting a Medical Marijuana Card

Before you can purchase marijuana in Missouri, you must have a medical marijuana patient card that proves you are approved by a physician as well as the state to purchase. We explained in more depth how you can receive a marijuana card here.

Step Two: Choosing a Dispensary

There isn’t a specific dispensary you need to purchase marijuana from if you are a cardholder, except for the requirement of purchasing in Missouri. Unlike a doctor calling a prescription into the pharmacy, your doctor is simply recommending cannabis for you to try. The choice of what product to purchase and where to purchase it is ultimately your decision. Medical marijuana dispensaries operate more like a high-security vitamin and supplement retail store rather than a pharmacy.

That being said, not all dispensaries are the same and it is important that your dispensary of choice meets some criteria before you give them your business.

We would love to see you at North when our dispensaries open this Spring. You can find our dispensaries in Pevely and Hillsboro.

Check the Location of the Dispensary

North, and several other dispensaries will be offering delivery services to their patients, but make sure you are within their delivery zone. If you are picking it up yourself, verify that it is a reasonable distance from your home for you to visit frequently.

Make Sure the Dispensary is Sharing Knowledge and Educating Their Patients

Look on the dispensary’s website – are there online resources for you to pull from? Are they easily able to be contacted? If so, contact them and ask how they plan to help navigate a new marijuana user through the process of purchasing and using it. Your dispensary should always be willing to guide you every step of the way as you learn this information! Check out North’s resource blog for all of your unanswered questions!

Step Three: Brainstorm With Your Budtender and Do Some Research

There are many choices that go into making a decision to purchase a medical marijuana product. The first would be identifying the kind of marijuana you need – either indica or sativa.

The Indica Strain

Indica varieties are usually shorter in size and have shorter growing cycles than their counterpart, sativa. This doesn’t really matter to patients purchasing at the dispensary, but it’s nice to know anyway.

Indica strains are great for people with a need for full-body relaxation. They are great at nighttime and help the user sleep. They usually offer a lot of anti-inflammatory properties and are favored by people who experience pain or other inflammatory conditions like digestive disorders.

The Sativa Strain

Sativa cannabis plants are taller than indicas and they have a longer growing season. People typically use sativa strains when they want to feel uplifted or to stimulate their minds. Sativa strains are great for daytime and morning use because of their energetic effects. A lot of people use a sativa strain before their morning exercise routine or in place of coffee. Sativa strains would be the right choice for someone looking to improve their focus, spark creativity, or energize their spirits!

Selecting the strain you want is only one piece of the puzzle. Now you need to decide how to consume it:

Smoking

Many people are turned off by the idea of smoking. There is conflicting data when it comes to smoking marijuana and the negative effects it can have on your lungs. The reason so many are drawn to it is because it is instantaneous. As soon as you smoke, you begin to feel relief. If you have a condition that causes extreme nausea and you can’t hold anything down in the mornings, smoking might work for you because of its ability to stop nausea in its tracks the moment you use it.

Vaping

Thanks to cool technology, vaping cannabis is an option. It still provides instantaneous relief without combusting the cannabis and creating potentially harmful chemicals. Vaping cannabis still heats it up and allows you to inhale, but it doesn’t burn it.

Edibles + Tinctures

Edibles can be good choices for people looking to seamlessly blend their cannabis consumption into their daily routine without having to take too many extra steps. Edibles can come in a variety of different foods, such as brownies, breakfast bars, and cookies. Different dispensaries will carry different products, so browse around to find one that meets your needs. You can also use a cannabis tincture in your morning coffee or tea.

Head North

North Dispensaries wants to help patients live their best lives through relief that medical marijuana offers. We look forward to seeing you soon!