CannaBasics: Edibles and Titration

Edibles are classified as any form of cannabis intended to be consumed through eating or drinking. There are many people who do not like smoking or cannot smoke due to lung or throat issues, who find that consuming edibles allows them to get the desired effects without inhaling anything. Interested in trying out edibles for the first time? Here’s what you need to know:

The First Step: Understanding Titration

Before you even start consuming edibles, you need to know about titration. Titration is the fundamental understanding of proper cannabis dosing. The biggest mistake a first-time cannabis consumer can commit is to overmedicate. This can lead to an unpleasant experience that might dissuade them from future cannabis consumption or for medical consumers, not treating the ailment appropriately.

So how do you know how much is enough? The best advice is to start out small and increase to your desired effect, or consult a medical professional for exact recommended doses. You can always take more to increase the sensation, but you can’t un-smoke that entire joint. The only ways to feel less effects are to either wait it out or try to counteract the psychoactive effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with some cannabidiol (CBD) or rescue tonic.

When starting out, there are a lot of factors to consider, and it would be a good idea to consult an expert, either a reputable dispensary, doctor or a friend who is a seasoned cannabis consumer. Other factors to consider are what strain you are consuming, your body make-up and how you will consume cannabis.

Getting Comfortable with Edibles

The downside to edibles is that they are a lot slower-acting than smoking cannabis. The good news is that most edibles you purchase from a dispensary will have the dose, usually in milligrams, on the package. For the purpose of this article, let’s say you have a 10mg brownie. Start by eating a quarter of the brownie (which should contain 2.5mg of THC), wait 45 minutes to an hour, and if you want to continue, try eating another quarter. Repeat the process until you find your sweet spot.

It’s important to know the law in your state, as it can vary greatly from one place to another. In California for instance, Proposition 64 deems the maximum dose of THC in edibles to be 10mg. Colorado has also established a rule through House Bill 16-1436 as 10mg per dose, or 100mg