Edibles vs. Smoking: How Consumption Methods Can Affect Your Experience

There are many different factors that come into play when determining what kind of experience you have with cannabis. Different strains, terpene profiles, CBD to THC ratios all have an impact! With that being said, our 13th Floor Cannabis Connoisseurs agree that one of the biggest elements that impact your cannabis experience is how you consume cannabis.

So how exactly does smoking cannabis and eating an edible differ, and what’s the effect of each consumption method, you ask? Keep reading this blog post to find out!

Smoking

When you inhale cannabis smoke into your lungs, the active compounds are almost immediately absorbed into the bloodstream, and on their way to the brain. Once the THC hits the brain, it binds to receptors in the endocannabinoid system, which produces the feeling typically associated with getting high. Because the time between inhalation and THC reaching the brain is so short, smoking as a consumption method has a rapid onset. You’ll feel the effects of smoking weed almost instantly!

Edibles

Edibles will get you just as high as smoking weed. However, when you ingest cannabis in the form of edibles, the process is a bit different. When you eat an edible, it passes through the digestive tract where it’s absorbed by the stomach and then metabolized in the liver. Because an edible must go through more of the body before being absorbed into the bloodstream, it takes significantly longer for the THC to hit your brain. Once it does, it’s stronger and has a longer half-life. 13th Floor Cannabis now has quick onset edibles available, which only take approximately 20 minutes to feel the effects. Try out these edible products in gummies, powder and beverages. Our Connoisseurs recommend coming in store to learn more about the Wana Quick and Ripple powders!

How Your Consumption Method Affects Your High

As mentioned above, the process of metabolizing THC is significantly longer when you ingest an edible. The delayed process of absorbing and metabolizing THC means it takes longer to feel the effects. When you smoke weed, on the other hand, the THC almost immediately travels to the brain – meaning you will feel high almost immediately.

While the intensity and length of your high depend on a variety of factors, like quality, dosage, and potency, a high from smoking weed typically last one-to-two hours whereas an edibles experience can last four-to-six hours or more. When consuming cannabis edibles, it is important to be careful not to over-consume. When cannabis is digested, the effects are delayed in comparison to when consumed through a vaporizer or smoked. Some reports say that it can take up to 4 hours for the full effects of edibles to be felt.

Shop for Cannabis Edibles in Calgary and Airdrie

Wondering where to buy legal cannabis in Calgary? 13th Floor of course! We carry a wide range of tasty weed edibles. Whether you like gummies, chocolate, or cannabis beverages, we have the perfect product in store for you. We encourage you to check out the growing assortment of amazing products coming from our local craft cannabis industry at the best cannabis shop in Calgary and Airdrie. Shop online or visit one of our two locations today to learn more.