Marijuana edibles offer a delicious and discreet way to experience cannabis effects, bypassing smoking or vaping. Edibles include chocolates, gummies, cookies, and beverages infused with cannabis, providing an alternative consumption method for those averse to inhaling.

For newcomers, the vast array of options and dosages might seem overwhelming. While the era of basic marijuana brownies has evolved, exploring cannabis-infused foods doesn’t have to be daunting. Relying on knowledgeable budtenders at Missouri marijuana dispensaries can offer valuable guidance. To introduce you to marijuana edibles, we’ve highlighted their diverse variations and included a straightforward dosage guide. It’s as simple as that!

Gummies and candies

MJ gummies and candy are a sweet way to enjoy edibles and a great place for newbies to start. But unlike baked goods, there’s less risk of them getting squashed since they are hard and don’t break. The sugar content enhances their stability, allowing them to endure heat and air exposure without going bad quickly. Their small size makes them discreet and easy to carry around.

It’s important to remember to not eat or chew them, but rather to slowly dissolve them in your mouth. Try to have some of it absorbed under your tongue. (Personally, I make an effort to keep hard marijuana candy lodged under my tongue for optimal absorption.) This sublingual method takes advantage of the mucus membranes in that area, enabling a much speedier absorption process compared to the slower route through the stomach and the entire digestive tract.

Have you tried Robots or Wana Brand’s gummies? Give ’em a try!

Baked goods

The OG edible, classic marijuana brownies, along with cookies, muffins, cupcakes, and other cannabis-infused baked goods, remain popular choices. In the baking process, varying levels of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are added – literally – to the mix. Edible bakers have elevated these tasty treats to the next level with flavors and recipes cleverly designed to conceal even higher levels of infused cannabis.

The only real downside of marijuana-infused baked goods is that MJ consumers with a strong tolerance to marijuana often need to consume a significant amount of these treats, which can lead to rapid weight gain. If you can handle 50 mgs of MJ a day, that would be eating 5 chocolate muffins or brownies daily. That’s a lot. 

Chocolates

If you think about it, chocolate and marijuana are two of the oldest crops in human history! Chocolate is highly effective at counteracting the potent taste of cannabis, especially for those using concentrates like tinctures, oils, or raw cannabis for medicinal purposes. Chocolate not only conceals the flavor but also has the potential to enhance the therapeutic effects of cannabis. 

Though the research has been limited at this point, some fringe studies have suggested that some of the components within the cocoa and within MJ share some of the same chemical structures – namely anandamide and THC. Anandamide, often dubbed the “bliss molecule,” shares close similarities with THC in how it interacts with the endocannabinoid system. Combining cannabis and chocolate may amplify mood-enhancing effects. Furthermore, combining them might also boost the medical advantages of both, as anandamide contributes to pain management, and mood regulation, and displays anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. Again, fringe studies at this point, but nevertheless promising theories!

The good news is that you don’t have to know much about the molecular or chemical makeup of chocolate and marijuana. Just try CLOVR’s awesome signature marijuana-infused Christopher Elbow artisanal chocolates! 

Drinkables

MJ-infused beverages, or drinkables, have been around for a long time but haven’t really taken off until more recently. They’re attractive to cannabis newcomers, as they’re less intimidating than smoking or vaping, and provide a sophisticated and health-conscious alternative to traditional edibles. Drinkables are also great for newbies who might be “micro-dosing” to find their right dosage and/or cannabinoid ratios.

The slow speed to true market presence can be attributed to the technology behind making these types of “edibles”. Infusing THC and CBD, fat-soluble cannabinoids, smoothly into beverages has traditionally been a challenge. But evolving technology is making better-tasting options with added cannabis terpenes. And voila! Awesome drinks like Keef’s infused beverages.

And MJ drinkables are so much healthier than drinking alcohol, which is just bad for your health. 

Dehydrated fruit

New on the market and CLOVR Cannabis has ‘em! Dehydrated fruit infused with cannabis offers a super healthy way to consume your edibles and not worry about the amount of sugar you are consuming. Not only that, since they are fruit and do not contain gelatin they are also vegan. 

Forbidden Fruit brand dehydrated fruit snacks come in three flavors: Pineapple, Mango, and Apple Cinnamon (wonder if we’ll have pumpkin spice in the fall, haha). If your dispensary does not carry them, ask them to contact CLOVR and get some in stock. In most Missouri cities and larger towns, CLOVR also has brand ambassadors who may be able to pay the dispensary a visit. 

How much to take, i.e. dosage

First and foremost (as mentioned in the beginning) lean on your budtender and your caregiver to recommend the dosage to start off with. Even for recreational users, talk with a budtender and be honest with them. Don’t worry about them judging you because you are a beginner and know very little, or if you’re a heavy Cheech and Chong level user … they will be thrilled to help you out!

But for a sensible place to start, here’s a breakdown of what the different dosages are and what to expect from each:

• 1 – 2.5 mg THC (microdose): Offers mild relief for pain, stress, and anxiety, without intoxication. This amount is great for first-timers and micro-dosing.
• 3 – 5 mg THC (low): Provides stronger relief for pain and anxiety, possibly causing euphoria. Better for more regular users or as a sleep aid.
• 10 – 15 mg THC (moderate): Effective for pain, nausea, and anxiety; will start to affect your coordination. Better for higher-tolerance users.
• 20 – 30 mg THC (high): Should give an intense euphoria; likely impairs coordination. For heavy, more experienced users.
• 50 – 100 mg THC (very high): For experienced users or patients with high-dose needs. You will not be able to do much with this dosage!
• 100 – 500 mg THC (extremely high): Meant for experienced users or patients with specific medical conditions. Really, not many people should be using at this level, except under doctor’s orders and likely while being monitored.

And always, always, always: start low and go slow. If you are not feeling the effects of the edible, wait at least 2 hours (yes, 2 hours) until the effects have worn off before taking any more. I am speaking from personal experience: you do not want multiple ingestions of edibles suddenly all hitting you at once. Yikes, no.

Keep away from kids, and animals, and always keep your edibles and marijuana stash in clearly labeled containers for non-marijuana cohabitants.