Many marijuana users have been quoted claiming that there is a significant difference in their experience with marijuana when it comes to the highs they obtain when they are smoking versus consuming edibles.
On Saturday, August 6, incidents where kids and teens were sent to the hospital for consuming marijuana edibles have brought concern among others. CNN reported that, “Edible marijuana offered at a quinceañera celebration is suspected of sickening 19 people Saturday night in San Francisco's Mission District, according to the city's Department of Public Health.” On Monday morning, they released the symptoms of those individuals, saying that they experienced an increased heart rate, dilated pupils, nausea, lethargy, and confusion.These symptoms, however, are relatively common among those who smoke or ingest marijuana. So did these people just consume too much? Can you consume too much? The controversy over whether or not you can overdose on marijuana has been around for decades.
Another incident regarding individuals being sent to the hospital due to ingesting marijuana edibles occurred on that Saturday in Ohio during a music festival. Some 24 individuals attending the festival were reportedly sick due to consuming THC candies. “No one lost consciousness and everyone seems to be OK," Sheriff's Capt. Donald Zehner said. So was this just a “bad high,” or is there some truth to those who believe that you can overdose on marijuana, at least through edibles?
In 2014, USA Today discussed the difference with consuming edibles as opposed to smoking marijuana, and concluded that there is a significant difference between the two. “Edibles give users a different kind of high than the one they get from smoking marijuana, largely because the pot is absorbed through the stomach instead of the lungs. The effects are slower to arrive, generally last longer and can be more intense because people unwittingly eat more than they intend to.”
Leafly.com revealed tips for consuming edibles, mentioning that the dosage is an important factor to take into consideration. “Edibles on the legal market typically label their THC contents in milligrams for easy dosing. The standard dose according to Colorado’s edibles dosing guidelines is 10 milligrams, but a cannabis newbie or low-tolerance consumer should start with half of that.”
Leafly.com also discussed the importance of patience and restraint when it comes to consuming edibles because they take longer to process, and therefore people become impatient and consume more than they should. “You need to keep in mind, however, that with cannabis-infused edibles you can’t mindlessly snack on handfuls like you can with your favorite snack or treat – if you lose track of what you’re eating, you could be in for a bumpy ride.”
Edibles in the past have been accused of causing death to some individuals. Back in 2014, USA Today reported that “a college student from Wyoming jumped to his death March 11 from a Denver hotel balcony after eating a marijuana cookie. Witnesses told police that Levi Thamba Pongi, 19, was rambling incoherently after eating a large serving of the doped cookie.” Police came to the conclusion that the edible Pongi consumed played a “significant factor in his death.”
Although marijuana is becoming more widely accepted as a drug used for both recreational and medical purposes, users still need to be careful and alert. As opposed to munching on a bag of gummy edibles all day, and experiencing a “bad high,” practice patience and restraint.
It is no secret that marijuana has helped many, whether it is by reducing their anxiety levels, minimizing seizures, helping with arthritis pain, or even shrinking tumors. But for whatever purpose it is you smoke or consume edibles, be aware of the different highs that come with consuming an edible versus rolling up a joint.
