Edibles, or food and drinks that incorporate marijuana, have actually been around for much of history. In this case, marijuana refers to any of the component of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plants.
Marijuana-infused food and drinks have been consumed throughout history as medicine in ancient China and India.
Bhang is a beverage made from a mixture of the leaves and flowers of the marijuana plants; it has been consumed during religious festivals, such as Holi, a Hindu festival of love and color.
Marijuana edibles were introduced to Western medicine in the early 19th century as tinctures to treat chronic pain, anxiety, and digestive disorders. Recreational use of edible marijuana products became popular during the 1960s, as gummies, candies, chocolates, capsules, teas, and oils.
Edibles are made by infusing butter or oil with marijuana and mixing it into baked goods and other recipes. Raw marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), compounds that must be exposed to heat, such as in smoking or baking, to turn into the active forms, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), through a process known as decarboxylation.
The main issue with edible marijuana products is that it can be very difficult to determine an appropriate dosage. –Concentrations of THC may vary widely, based upon the brand. Edible marijuana products have a long latency period and can last for many hours, depending on how much was ingested, body weight, metabolism, gender, and other factors. However, it’s not just the THC concentration that is significant; there are almost 400 active compounds and terpenes in marijuana.
Once you discover the edible that works for you and the dose, stick to that brand.