Cannabis has been put into food for centuries, creeping into India’s infamous Bhang as early as 1000 BCE –  a mixture of cannabis, ghee, spices, and milk used as a mild sedative and to reduce anxiety. However, due to recent changes in the United States laws, edibles have become a popular staple in our Western society.

Cannabis edibles come in three basic types:

1. CBD edibles, which are CBD dominant and contain little to no THC.

2. Balanced THC/CBD edibles, which contain equal amounts of THC and CBD.

3. THC edibles, which are THC dominant and contain little to no CBD. They also produce a strong mental high.

Since balanced edibles also contain THC, consumers will experience the psychedelic effects weed is well known for. Alternatively, CBD dominant edibles will not induce any feelings or sensations of intoxication.

Cannabis edibles, as a whole, are quickly becoming one of the most popular products in the growing cannabis industry.

What Are CBD Edibles?

CBD gummies were the third most commonly searched food according to the Google 2018 annual search data report; losing out to unicorn cake and romaine lettuce.

Fast-forward to the present: the market for these products includes various types such as:

• Gummy bears
• Desserts
• Protein powder
• Coffee
• Tea
• Energy drinks
• Cocktails
• CBD-infused meals

CBD dominant edibles are made with CBD extracted from either hemp or marijuana. Technically, hemp and marijuana are both members of the cannabis family, but they do have some major differences; the most notable difference being how much THC they contain.

CBD is a natural chemical compound that has demonstrated its power as a sleep aid and its ability to reduce anxiety, pain, and inflammation throughout the body—without inducing feelings of intoxication. Since CBD edibles are made with CBD extracted from hemp that contains less than 0.3% THC, they are legal in all 50 states.

It is important to keep in mind that edibles made from marijuana will likely contain more than 0.3% THC, so they have the potential to produce a high. This means that they are not legal in all 50 states.

It’s important to make sure that you are consuming edibles made from hemp that contain less than 0.3% THC if you want to avoid getting high or worrying about testing positive for a drug test.

Quality CBD products should start with quality hemp plants. The hemp should be grown organically without the use of pesticides or herbicides to produce a product that is free from any harmful additives.

When buying edibles you should always check to see if the company you are buying from practices ethical growing, cultivation, extraction, and harvesting methods.

At Intrinsic Hemp, our CBD is extracted from quality hemp plants that are grown in Kentucky and Colorado, without the use of pesticides or herbicides. We back that up with third party lab testing that is displayed on all of our product pages.

CBD edibles are made from one of three types of CBD:

1. Full spectrum CBD is made with the complete chemical profile of the plant, which includes all cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.

2. Broad spectrum CBD contains all of the same compounds as full spectrum products do, except the THC is removed. This is also known as ND THC.

3. CBD isolate products are stripped of all cannabinoids, terpenes, and other molecular compounds except for CBD.

CBD oil is typically extracted from the hemp plant using one of three popular extraction processes. The CO2 extraction method is said to produce the highest quality CBD oil, although some of the other cannabinoids and terpenes can be stripped out in the process.

After the oil is extracted, it is blended with other ingredients to create edibles, such as lollipops and gummy bears. Some people prefer to buy CBD oil and make their own.

What Are THC Edibles?

As we mentioned earlier, THC in the form of edibles has been around for centuries. However, Spoon University explains how it wasn’t until the 1960’s counterculture that pot brownies and marijuana edibles became favored and regularly consumed in the United States, thanks to Alice B. Toklas.

Like CBD edibles, THC edibles come in virtually any type of food and drink that you can think of. But unlike CBD, THC edibles will get you high; so much so that it is imperative to start any dosing very low and increase slowly over time.

Smoking delivers THC directly into the bloodstream, whereas edibles need to be processed by the digestive tract and liver—which means the high you experience between the two will be vastly different.

Today, THC edibles are made using cannabutter, hash oil, wax, live resin, distillate, shatter, and leftover kief. THC edibles made with cannabutter are typically less potent than edibles made using concentrates like wax or shatter, but edibles made using distillate are much stronger than any other edible you can find. This is because distillates test at about 99% THC and other concentrates test anywhere between 40-80% THC.

To consume THC edibles, you must live in a state where medicinal or recreational marijuana is legal. The potency of edible you can purchase will directly depend on whether you’re a recreational or medicinal user.

In the state of Colorado, for example, adults over the age of 21 can legally buy edibles that contain up to 100 mg of THC, and medicinal users can purchase these products containing up to 800 mg.

Side Effects of CBD Edibles

CBD may have mild side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness, and sleepiness. However, these are not severe. If you are taking medications for organ transplants, do not take CBD without consulting with your doctor. Cannabis in general has been shown to reduce the effects of medication aimed to prevent organ rejection.

Most people do not build a tolerance to CBD edibles, and no cases of fatal CBD overdoses have ever been reported. They are not proven to be addictive or habit-forming either. In fact, they may actually help end addiction for people who are trying to stop their cravings for other substances like nicotine, THC, and opiates.

Side Effects of THC Edibles

THC edibles are a viable option for people who don’t want to or don’t do well with smoking. Where people get into trouble with THC edibles is taking too much too soon, and not eating enough beforehand.

The effects of THC edibles aren’t felt until about an hour or two after consumption, and having food in your stomach will keep your high from getting too intense— as it does with alcohol.

Overdoing it in the THC edibles department can trigger some undesirable side effects that you’ll want to avoid, including a marijuana hangover (headache and grogginess), dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, psychosis, confusion, loss of coordination, paranoia, and panic attacks.

Finally, THC edibles will show up on a drug test, and in many instances, testing positive for THC can hinder transplant recipients’ eligibility to receive an organ for the same reasons we mentioned above. Please always discuss this with a doctor if that is your situation.

Take Advantage of CBD Edibles

CBD has been known to help relieve and even possibly treat a variety of ailments such as nausea, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, chronic pain, and epilepsy. CBD edibles are simple, easy, and tasty alternatives to pharmaceuticals. 

They are also a fantastic solution for those looking for relief but do not care for the taste of CBD oil on its own. They are helpful for people who simply want to achieve and maintain optimal health. Try our tasty hemp-derived CBD edibles today and see what CBD products can do for you.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Due to FDA Regulations, we recommend that you do your own research on CBD products. We also suggest that you read the reviews on our website, where our customers record their real-world results of using our products.