Ohio Dispensaries offer Medical Marijuana Edibles. Here’s how to use them.
Marijuana edibles are available at all state-licensed dispensaries in Ohio.
What types of edible products are available in Ohio and how are they used?
What conditions are marijuana infused edibles good for?
The difference between cannabis-infused candy and baked edibles.
The proper use, typical dosage, and potential for unwanted side effects.
Ohio first introduced legalized medical marijuana with House Bill 523 in 2016. Since then, marijuana products have been made available in multiple forms such as buds, extracts, and, of course, edibles to patients holding an Ohio medical marijuana card. Edibles offer a delicious and effective, albeit slow-acting method of delivery.
Most dispensaries in Ohio carry some form of medical marijuana edibles. The marijuana-infused treats that are readily available at most Ohio dispensaries include items such as chocolate bars, cookies, brownies, and gummies.
Theoretically, it’s not legal for medical marijuana patients in Ohio to smoke marijuana flower. Although making marijuana edibles at home is an option, it can be tricky and takes some experience to get it right. For newer medical marijuana patients, purchasing edibles from licensed Ohio dispensaries is the best option.
Why use marijuana edibles?
Edibles have become popular in recent years for a number of reasons. For one using edibles avoids the potential health risks that come with smoking and vaping. Also, edibles offer a more discreet and more convenient way to consume cannabis. Also, the “high” that comes with edibles can be calmer and more relaxing than smoking cannabis.
How long do medical marijuana edibles take to produce effects?
The onset time and length of effects can vary greatly depending on the type of marijuana edibles being consumed. There are two major types of edibles: candy and baked goods. Cannabis-infused beverages and shots are also becoming more common.
Marijuana-infused candy
- Chocolate and gummies are mostly sugar, thus they melt quickly in the stomach. The cannabinoids are absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach. It can take 30 minutes or more for candy edibles to reach full effect. Keep in mind that onset time is slower when eaten with food.
Baked Marijuana Edibles
- Baked edibles, because they contain fiber and complex carbs take longer to reach full effect than cannabis-infused candy and deliver the cannabinoids into intestines as well as the stomach. The onset time can be as long as one to two hours after ingestion.
How long do the effects of marijuana edibles last?
Although the onset time is slower than smoking or vaping, edibles produce powerful, long-lasting effects. Generally speaking, after eating a marijuana-infused product, noticeable effects can persist up to four hours, but can last as long as eight hours. The duration of the effects will vary depending on whether they are ingested before, with, or after a meal.
The effects of marijuana-infused gummies and chocolate taken on an empty stomach may last around four hours — give or take. And baked edibles can last up to eight hours. However, the effects may start to dwindle after four hours.
What medical conditions are edibles good for treating?
The intestines are well known to have an abundance of cannabinoid receptors. Some researchers are beginning to suspect that certain intestinal conditions might be a result of a cannabinoid deficiency. If this is the case, then supplementing with marijuana edibles might offer relief.
When eaten, cannabinoid-infused edibles can provide benefits at the point of delivery such as the stomach, intestines, or bowel. They can also be absorbed into the bloodstream offering systemic effects. This means they can help non-gastrointestinal conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, inflammation, seizure disorders, neurodegenerative disorders (MS, Parkinsons, ALS) and many more.
Ohio Qualifying Medical Conditions List
Medical conditions best treated with cannabis-infused candy (on an empty stomach)
Marijuana-infused candy is generally absorbed into the bloodstream via the stomach. These products provide systemic effects as listed above, and may help alleviate stomach-related conditions such as stomach ulcers or gastritis.
Medical conditions best treated with baked goods (or candy when taken with a meal)
Intestinal issues such as IBS, IBD, colitis, and Crohn’s disease generally respond more favorably to baked edibles (or candy when eaten with food) as they must travel through the entire digestive system. However, as with candies, baked goods can also benefit patients suffering from the conditions mentioned above.
Videos about marijuana edibles:
How much marijuana edibles should be taken?
When cannabinoids (the active compounds produced in marijuana such as THC and CBD) are consumed in edibles, their effects are profoundly altered. Along with THC and CBD, the terpene content in some products can alter the effects. Therefore, it’s vitally important to know what’s in your edibles.
It’s up to the individual to determine their ideal dosage. Bodyweight, physical condition, age, and medical condition must be taken into consideration. It’s wise to do some research into various available products and compare notes with other patients with similar lifestyles who are attempting to treat the same conditions.
The amount of cannabinoids can vary greatly from product to product. For legal products sold in dispensaries, the exact dosage is almost always prominently displayed on the packaging. (Keep in mind, however, that these labels are something wrong.)
It’s prudent to start low and go slow. First-time users are wise to begin their medical marijuana program by taking no more than 10 mg, and preferably less. Assuming there are no unwanted side effects the dosage can be slowly increased over the course of a few days. The usual dosages for moderate conditions is 10 to 50 milligrams. For more serious conditions, such as seizures and neurodegenerative disorders, dosages of 100 milligrams or more are not uncommon.
Can you take too much marijuana edibles?
There has been limited research on edibles. The findings of one study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence suggests that relatively small differences in dosage can result in large differences in effects. This is especially true for inexperienced users.
Study author Ryan Vandrey, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University says:
“There have been very few controlled studies done in which cannabis edibles were administered, and most did not explore multiple doses. Thus, we felt this was an important study to determine the effects of a range of doses in healthy adults to ascertain the safety of edible cannabis products available in retail stores in many places. Another important component of this study was to determine the effect of these single acute doses on drug-testing outcomes… The effects of ingesting THC-containing food products can vary greatly based on relatively small differences in total dose. Most participants tolerated the 10 mg THC dose well, but many participants reported adverse effects and exhibited impairment on cognitive tests after doses of 25 mg or 50 mg THC. Drug effects occurred much later and lasted longer compared with when cannabis is smoked. Peak drug effects were observed from 1.5 to 3 hours after dosing and lasted 5-8 hours.”
While a 10 mg dose did not cause substantial impairments in attention, motor skills, or memory, 25 and 50 mg doses produced moderate to severe impairment.
Also, according to a report published by the National Institute of health titled, “Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles”:
“The most prominent difference between ingestion and inhalation of cannabis extracts is the delayed onset of drug effect with ingestion. Consumers often do not understand this aspect of edible use and may consume a greater than intended amount of drug before the drug has taken effect, often resulting in profoundly adverse effects.”
Considering the above facts, when first ingesting marijuana edibles patience is most certainly a virtue. Some patients may prematurely ingest more product before the initial dose has fully kicked in, and end up consuming high doses of cannabinoids. If the edible product has a high THC content this can be an extremely unpleasant experience. Also, excessive use of edibles high in CBD can cause lethargy.
It’s a good practice to wait at least two hours before ingesting more of your edible marijuana product. Once one becomes familiar with the onset time and the overall effect, higher doses can be implemented.
All medical marijuana patients are encouraged to discuss their delivery options with a certified Ohio medical marijuana doctor as well as a qualified budtender at an Ohio Dispensary.