Americans have come to love marijuana and there are numbers to prove it. With nine in ten Americans in favor of marijuana legalization, a lot of states have adapted the legal use of the drug for medical or recreational purposes.
One of the most popular marijuana products in the market today is the cannabis edible, which is essentially a food product that contains decarboxylated cannabinoids as its active ingredient.
From the humble “pot brownies” in the 80’s, cannabis edibles have now evolved into a wide range of products that include food, candies, tinctures and drinks.
But the question is: are these cannabis edibles safe? Here’s what we need to know:
Yes, you can eat cannabis.
Consuming cannabis is not new to the world because its history dates back as far back as 1000 B.C. Ancient China and India were the first to use cannabis as medicine and it was gradually introduced to the Western world as the years went by.
Edible cannabis products were first used in the United States in the 60’s and today, these cannabis edibles are evolving and being sold in dispensaries and shops across the country.
Now, you can find cannabis being added to chocolates, teas, oils, gummies and candies. You will even see cannabis butter and other baking ingredients.
There are benefits to consuming cannabis edibles.
Cannabis edibles were first used in medicine because of their potential to help treat different types of ailments. Today, consuming cannabis isn’t just for recreation, but it can also bring benefits like:
- Treating anxiety. Several studies have proven that cannabis edibles can help you relax and feel calmer. This is why you’ll see CBD products being prescribed to treat anxiety and depression, although this benefit is still up for debate, especially since it can induce a feeling of euphoria due to THC, which is the active ingredient in cannabis that gives you that “high.”
- Treating pain. One of the biggest benefits to using cannabis edibles is pain relief. Those who suffer from chronic pain and have ran out of options when it comes to treatments and medications have resorted to using CBD products to help them deal with pain more efficiently and without experiencing any adverse effects.
- Promoting better appetite. Weight loss is a common side effect among people diagnosed with cancer mainly because of poor appetite and pain. Cannabis edibles in the form of gummies, candies and tinctures have been used to address poor appetite and prevent further weight loss in cancer patients.
Many studies have proven that consuming cannabis edibles is a lot safer than smoking cannabis. Although this isn’t exactly harmful to the body, inhaling cannabis smoke can have similar side effects to cigarette smoke.
Eating cannabis edibles and using them as ingredients is also more fun than just smoking, but you still get the same benefits as when you’re smoking weed.
So, if you haven’t tried cannabis edibles yet, this is the perfect time to do so starting with some cannabis butter, tinctures and candies.