There are many ways to enjoy cannabis, such as smoking, vaping, using it in a tincture, or even in lotions and creams. It’s a versatile plant and one that many people swear by to alleviate the symptoms of many conditions suffered by the general population.
However, edibles have been one of the more prominent cannabis products in recent years, with many cannabis users now preferring the versatility, taste, and convenience of edible products they purchase or make themselves.
If you’re not yet convinced that cooking with cannabis is a suitable solution for your needs, you can learn why other people are doing it below. You might be surprised by what people say are the benefits they experience.
A More Comfortable Experience
In an edibles vs. smoking competition discussed on thehempdoctor.com, many cannabis users would say that eating food and other products containing cannabis would come out on top as a more comfortable experience than smoking or vaping. If you’re not already a smoker, you might find it uncomfortable to draw cannabis smoke into your lungs, and you might even feel like your body reacts differently to the psychoactive substance than it does to food. While some people love pre-rolled joints and smoking CBD flower, it’s not a preferred option for everyone.
Natural Plant Benefits
Much of the focus surrounding cannabis plants is on the effects and benefits of THC and CBD found within them. However, if we get back to basics and consider the green plant itself, you might be surprised by the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it has in its simplest form.
According to studies, hemp seeds contain insoluble fiber, a high omega-6 PUFA acid to omega-3 PUFA ratio, carbs, and a high nutritional value. Alongside containing over 100 active cannabinoid chemical compounds, the entire plant’s stems, seeds, roots, and flowers have a long list of vitamins and minerals we often take supplements to get enough of.
Oil made from cannabis seeds is high in oleic acid, linoleic acid, a-linolenic acid, and stearidonic acid. They also contain potent antioxidants renowned for controlling oxidant stress and anxiety and potentially reducing the risk of chronic illnesses like skin conditions, neurological disorders, and digestive issues. You can also enjoy fiber residue from the stem of the cannabis plant and an abundance of fatty acids typically only found in walnuts, vegetable oils, and flaxseed.
A Longer High
Many people enjoy a comfortable high when they vape or smoke marijuana, but they can often be disappointed when it wears off before long, along with the benefits they believe smoking brings. However, the high you enjoy from ingesting marijuana in food can be much longer.
While you might have to wait longer to experience a high, with many people waiting 30 to 90 minutes, the resultant high from the edibles might last much longer than a pre-rolled joint or vape, with many people enjoying a peak high after two to four hours.
Many factors can determine everyone’s unique experience with edibles and the resultant high, such as your gender, eating habits, metabolism, and weight. You might even find that the strength of some flower used in cooking can contribute to the intensity of the high and the length of time you feel it.
Reduced Nausea
When you’re experiencing nausea due to an illness or even the treatment for one, such as chemotherapy for cancer, it can sometimes seem like you’ll never be able to get rid of the waves of nausea that prevent you from having an appetite or enjoying life to the fullest.
While everyone’s experience with cannabis and cannabis products differs, many believe it stops them from feeling nauseous and even prevents vomiting. When those symptoms are taken care of, they have no problems eating and ensuring their bodies get the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
You might assume the effects are psychosomatic, but studies say otherwise. There is ‘considerable evidence’ that cannabis manipulates the endocannabinoid system and has anti-emetic effects. Evidence from animal studies also suggests cannabinoids might combat difficult-to-control nausea and anticipatory nausea symptoms experienced by chemotherapy patients, which conventional pharmaceutical agents don’t always control as effectively.
If you’re feeling unwell or have been experiencing nausea and vomiting due to a health condition or its treatment, you might find that food containing cannabis and potentially other healthy ingredients not only alleviates these symptoms but improves your appetite.
Important Factors When Cooking With Cannabis
You might be convinced to cook with cannabis, but there are a few critical factors to be aware of before you put on your apron.
Dosage
To ensure your high is everything you could want it to be and more, control the dosage. Failure to do so might mean your high doesn’t last as long as you would like, doesn’t provide the benefits you thought it would, or lasts too long.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a mathematician to establish dosing since many edibles calculators online exist to assist with the process. You simply need to input your data, such as how much cannabis you’re using, the oil or butter you’re using, and the CBD and THC percentages of your cannabis.
The best calculators tell you THC and CBD milligrams per tablespoon. You can then enter how much of your infused oil or butter the recipe calls for and receive an mg/serving measurement.
Strain
While most people won’t care which strain they cook with, as long as it can produce the desired result, it pays to consider it for the sake of flavor. The smell of flower is closely linked to its taste, which means you might not enjoy the food you’ve prepared if you didn’t enjoy the smell of it in its raw form. Choose a strain based on its THC and CBD content, then narrow down your options from the aromatic profile.
Preparation
If you’re using dried flower in homemade edibles, don’t forget to decarboxylate it to convert its cannabinoids into THC or CBD. At home, you can perform this process using heat. Break up the flower into small pieces, place them on a lined baking tray, ensure space between each piece, and heat for 45 minutes before leaving to cool.
There’s no denying that smoking cannabis is an effective and easy consumption method, but it’s not the only one. Edibles are fast becoming desirable for their taste, nutritional value, convenience, and dosage control.