Edibles are food items that have been infused with marijuana in order to make them taste better. These items are available in a range of various formats, which might include the following:
- Baked items
- Candies
- Gummies
- Chocolates
- Lozenges
- Beverages
Edibles may be manufactured from scratch or purchased ready-made from a professional kitchen for dispensaries. When tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive element in marijuana, is manufactured at home, it is often converted into oil or butter that may be used in cooking or placed directly on food.
Despite the fact that smoking marijuana remains the most common form of consuming the drug, the ingestion of edibles is fast becoming a popular technique of consuming the drug.
Unfortunately, many individuals who eat edibles are completely oblivious of the hazards that come along with their consumption of these products.
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The Dangers of Consuming Edibles Long-Term Effects of Consuming Edibles
It is common for the effects of marijuana edibles to linger far longer than the effects of smoking, often up to several hours depending on the quantity of THC taken, the amount and kinds of the most recent food consumed, and whether or not additional drugs or alcohol were consumed at the time.
Potency is unknown.
The quantity of THC included in many edibles is difficult to determine and is sometimes unknown. There are currently no regulations or quality assurance measures in place for the calculation of THC content or product labeling, and as a consequence, dose estimates for many edibles are often erroneous.
As a result, many products contain substantially more THC than is indicated on the label, and consumers who ingest these edibles may be taken aback by their potency and long-term consequences.
The onset is delayed, and there is a high risk of overdose.
It is possible that the most noticeable difference between smoking marijuana and consuming edibles is the delayed start of the effects associated with the latter method of consumption. It might take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to feel the effects of edibles, although the effects of smoking marijuana are normally felt within minutes of doing so.
As a consequence of this delay, some persons may consume a higher quantity of medication than they meant to before the medication has taken effect.
Acute marijuana intoxication is another term used to describe a marijuana overdose.
Edibles are the type of cannabis ingestion most likely to result in trips to the emergency department for marijuana overdose, according to research. The authors of at least one study think that this is due to the inability of consumers to properly comprehend the delayed effects of these products.
Negative Side Effects That Are Serious
In many cases, the symptoms connected with ingesting very strong edibles are significantly more severe than the symptoms associated with smoking cannabis.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse's Dr. Nora Volkow, the current head, has said that edible marijuana products are now being linked to "medical issues that we never realized were related with marijuana."
The following are some of the most serious side effects related with the ingestion of edibles:
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Anxiety and panic episodes are quite common
- Agitation
- Psychotic outbursts are common
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Motor function has been impaired
- Depression of the respiratory system
- Heart issues are a common occurrence (ranging from irregular heartbeat to heart attack)
- Probability of self-harm or injuring others is increased.
A large number of individuals who use edibles may unwittingly take overly high doses of THC as a result of the delayed onset and unpredictable strength of the items they eat.
One of the dangers of ingesting an excessive amount of the substance in a short period of time is that users may become aggressive or lose awareness of their activities. These persons may engage in self-harming behaviors or cause harm to others while in this condition, which are actions that they would not have participated in if they had been drinking.
There have been some fatal instances that have occurred as a result of unexpected and potentially dangerous behaviors that have occurred as a result of the eating of edibles.
- Several hours after swallowing a lot of marijuana-laced sweets while on a family ski vacation, one guy shot himself in the head with a revolver.
- While on a spring break vacation with college buddies, another guy died after leaping from the fourth-floor balcony of his hotel room, just hours after having consumed one of the marijuana cookies he had brought along.
- For the deadly shooting of his wife, a man was recently sentenced to 30 years in jail by a jury in California. She had phoned 911 just before she died, concerned about her husband's erratic behavior and hallucinations, which he had been suffering after consuming marijuana-laced sweets, which she believed were the cause of his death.
Regardless of the method of intake that is favored, whether it is by smoking or eating, marijuana usage has the potential to quickly escalate into a major issue.
According to the National Institute on Substance Abuse, three out of ten marijuana users will continue to use the drug while experiencing clinically substantial discomfort or impairment, a condition known as marijuana use disorder, despite their clinically significant anguish or impairment.
According to other research, at least one in every eleven persons who consume marijuana will acquire an addiction to the substance over the course of their lives.
We want you to know that there is treatment available if you are suffering from the side effects of marijuana usage or addiction.
If you are struggling with marijuana addiction, contact a drug abuse rehabilitation facility now to learn about the many marijuana addiction programs that may be personalized to match your unique requirements and assist you in getting on the road to recovery.