When it comes to types of edibles, there really is no shortage of options.

From candies and gummies to brownies and cookies and even cannabis drinks and tinctures, it seems that these days the market is absolutely saturated with so many types of edibles that it can be hard to even keep track of all of the different brands, flavors and infusions that go into modern types of edibles today. 

And plus, I’m sure that many of you out there reading this today all have at least one or two harrowing stories of having an edible and getting completely blasted. 

When it comes to edibles, not a lot of people take into consideration what types of edibles are really right for them.

Sure, keeping it basic with cookies and brownies are easy, but bite off more than you can chew and you’ll be in for a hell of a time. 

Now, you might be thinking “do the types of edibles I eat really have an effect on the high?” You might be surprised to hear that the answer is a resounding yes. But to truly understand why we have to first understand how edibles work in the first place.

 

How Do Edibles Work? 

As you might already know, smoking weed and ingesting weed yields 2 very different results on the body.

When weed is smoked, the THC in the flower enters the lungs and is absorbed into the bloodstream and then circulated throughout the body. However, when an edible is ingested the THC enters in through the stomach and  gets metabolized by the liver. 

This metabolization actually morphs the THC compound into a completely different one known as 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or 11-OH-THC for short.

What’s so special about 11-OH-THC? Well for starters, it’s able to more easily bypass the blood-brain barrier to produce more psychoactive effects. 

Some studies have hypothesized that this changed compound could be 3 to 7 times more potent that the actual THC compound itself! 

For many tokers, it’s this boost in potency that drives them to consume edibles in lieu of smoking cannabis flower by itself. 

However, the types of edibles you eat and the way they’re actually processed will actually play a large role in how your body reacts to the effects of 11-OH-THC. 

 

Types of Edibles – What’s Right For You?

To find out what types of edibles are best for you, we’re going to have to dive deep into the specific pros and cons of each variety. 

Let’s dive right in

 

Candies and Chocolate

If you’re a casual cannabis consumer, then the first types of edibles that’ll spring to mind when you hear the word “edibles” will most likely be candies and chocolates. 

These types of edibles have been around for ages, and for good reason. They’re inexpensive, tasty and just fun to eat. 

Most traditional baked cannabis goods and confectionaries, including chocolates and cookies will, in some way or another, utilize cannabis butter inside. Cannabis butter is exactly what it sounds like – butter that has been infused with cannabis. It’s strong tasting, but cheap to produce which makes these types of edibles the perfect budget option.

However, this does have a downside. 

Aside from the strong taste, these types of edibles tend to be harder to dose. Their size, and sometimes non-uniform mixing can mean that you might accidentally bite off more than you can chew if the cannabis butter is not mixed throughout. 

One small bite might actually have most of the cannabis butter within, potentially leading you to a greenout, which might explain why so many first-time users have had bad first experiences with edibles.

Another downside is that these tasty treats have a variety of sugars, sweeteners and shelf-stabilizers to keep them tasty and tasty for a while. While these are, by and large, relatively harmless, it’s still important to know what you’re putting into your body – especially if you’re a medical patient or user of marijauna.

For those health conscious tokers amongst us, Sugar Jack’s edibles presents a viable alternative to artificially sweetened, sugar dense treats. Made with only natural flavors and sweetened with cane sugar and Manuka Honey from New Zealand, Sugar Jack’s edibles are perhaps the healthiest and best tasting edibles available on the market today (at least, according to my own personal experience!)

They’re also infused with premium THC distillate instead of strong tasting cannabis butter and and oil like other edibles.

Available in a variety of flavors including root beer and watermelon, these gummies will have you coming back for more and more! 

 

Cannabis Beverages

Beverages are a relatively new entry into the codex of types of cannabis edibles, but they’re a welcome one nonetheless.

 As the weather starts heating up, what’s more refreshing than a cannabis infused cocktail? Or how about a hot mug of cannabis hot chocolate to warm the body and elevate the mind during a cold winter’s day?

 

Cannabis beverages, although new, are definitely gaining popularity as one of the most popular types of edibles. Coming in teas, juices, and even per-mixed shots of THC, these types of edibles are perfect for accurate dosing without any of the aforementioned cannabis butter problems!

However, since these are drinks and tend to be infused with either distillate, tinctures or sometimes even an oil, they tend to hit faster but also fade faster. Depending on the variety you get, they might also have a strong, bitter taste that rivals that of chocolates and candies. 

They’re also hard to keep for long periods of time – especially if they come pre-mixed.

Despite some of these negatives, you won’t ever run the risk of accidentally knocking yourself out by eating more than you can handle. Simply shake well before serving and you’ll know exactly how much THC you’ll be consuming in each cup. 

 

Capsules

These types of edibles are as close to pharmaceutical-grade as you’re going to get. 

While more in line with pharmaceuticals rather than edibles, these types of edibles remain as a popular category and choice for no-nonsense cannabis users who only want THC, CBD and/or a combination of the 2 without any of the fillers.

Capsules are a great alternative to sugary candies and chocolates. With capsules made with either a gelatin or plant-based formula, the only ingredients inside of these potent cannabis pills are either THC/CBD oil or THC/CBD distillate. Sometimes, you might see these oils and distillates being combined with a carrier oil such as coconut oil to improve the capsules’ bioavailability.

These capsules will be processed the same way as conventional edibles (through the liver) so you can expect the same amount of intense potency as sweet treats  – without any of the additional calories or additives. 

Additionally, each capsule is accurately dosed and measured so you’ll know exactly how much THC and/or CBD you’ll be getting in each pill.

For medical patients and users, there really isn’t a better alternative to capsules.

 

Distillates

Distillates have been around for a while, but it seems like only recently that people have started to come around to the idea of looking at them as types of edibles.

You might recognize distillates as part of the cartridges that you smoke through a vape pen or dab rig. If you did, then you’re not wrong – they’re actually the same type of distillate. 

As a super-concentrated cannabis extract containing upwards of 80 to 95% THC, distillates are the creme de la creme when it comes to cannabis concentrates. Manufacturers will take out of all the undesirable compounds from the cannabis plant such as its terpenes, fats and lipids and leave only the cannabinoids behind, making for an extremely potent product.

Today, distillate is not just available in mobile, ready-to-vape cartridges (pictured above)\, they’re also available in easy-to-dose syringe form. 

Distillate can be eaten raw, as is or if you’re feeling adventurous, incorporated into a wide variety of food and recipes. 

Yes, you can cook with distillate, and it isn’t as difficult as you might think.

Distillate is flavourless, odourless and extremely easy to work with. All you’ll have to do is dispense however much you want into your food and mix it up to have your own infused, medicated dish. 

Mix it into tea, coffee, bolognese sauce and even soups if you’re up for the challenge! Some trailblazers have even used distillate to make their own edibles at home – bypassing some of the negatives of using cannabis oil and/or butter in their baked goods. 

 

Sublingual Tinctures

The last types of edibles on our list, tinctures are a popular cannabis extract that takes advantage of our body’s sublingual pathways to allow for rapid and immediate dosing. 

 

Tinctures use solvent properties of alcohol to extract the cannabinoids and other useful compounds from the cannabis plant before it’s refined into a final, pure solution. 

These types of edibles are recommended for people who have busy schedules and just simply want a quick THC or CBD fix without waiting too long. Since it’s applied sublingually, they’re fast acting and many users feel the effects within minutes if not sooner. 

However, they do come with their own set of downsides. 

The strong alcohol and bitter taste can be a turn off for many users as it might be hard to stomach. Tinctures are also alcohol-based, so those who’re sensitive to alcohol might experience difficulties ingesting them. 

 

Types of Edibles – Which One is Right For you?

Now that we’ve walked through 5 different types of edibles along with their pros and cons, which one do you think is right for you? 

 

Gummies, candies and chocolates are fun, tasty and cheap but harder to dose than other types of edibles, unless you’re going with a distillate based edibles such as Sugar Jack’s Edibles. They also tend to be sugar and calorie dense so they’re not the best choice if you’re a medical user.

 

Cannabis beverages act fast but fade fast. They’re great for parties, on-the-go dosing and relaxing at home or a similarly cozy environment. Their shelf life isn’t as long as other types of edibles and they might taste strongly of cannabis but they’re extremely effective and doing what they’re designed to do. They’re easy to dose and even easier to eat. 

 

For medical patients, capsules really are your best choice. You’ll know exactly how much THC/CBD will be within each capsule and they’re also easy to eat and swallow. Usually made with 3 ingredients or less, they’re also a healthy option for those who want to avoid the excess sugar and calories from other conventional types of edibles.

 

Distillates are great to cook with and even easier to dose and eat as is. It’s easy to infuse any meal or beverage with a bit of distillate to take it to the next level, but if you’re planning on eating something to medicate with, then you’ll be better off with capsules or tinctures.

 

Tinctures can be dosed fast and work fast. They’re administered under the tongue so they bypass the conventional pathways that our bodies take to process THC. Since they’re an alcohol-based solution, they tend to be bitter and a bit harder to take than most other types of edibles, but their rate of activation is arguably the fastest out of all the types of edibles available today.

 

Don’t let one bad experience with edibles turn you away from all these different types of edibles. Sure, candies and gummies are great to eat but one wrong bite (literally) can bring you a host of problems and a potential green out. 

 

However, that’s not to say that all edibles are bad (Sugar Jack’s are great and accurately dosed!), we’re just saying that you have to know how to pick out the good from the bad. 

 

Still, reeling from the experience of your last edible green out? Try some capsules or a drink instead. You’ll be able to more accurately measure your dose and lower the chance of a potential green out. 

 

Another tip of advice: start low and go slow. Don’t bite off more than you can chew (if you can help it). Don’t be eating anything above 5mg of THC for your first time. If you’re especially sensitive to the effects of THC, you might even want to go with 2.5mg of THC. 

 

No matter your choice, it’s imperative that you purchase all of your edibles from a reputable site such as WeedList.

 

Happy trails, and remember to dose safely! 

 

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