Ingest vs Inhale

There are many reasons why edibles can cause a much stronger high than smoking, but it is simply because of the delivery of intake and the inability to regulate the rate of metabolism. When smoking you can control your intake by continuing to smoke until you reach your desired level of euphoria. On the other hand, with edibles your high is controlled by the dosing of them and can result in a overwhelming high if not dosed right. One question that many potheads have is, which one gets you higher? Well the high is definitely different but speaking for those that have ate edibles before I can say “ingestion of Cannabis gets you higher than smoking.”

Some of the differences of the high are the onset of action. Within minutes of smoking you will feel the high but it will only last around 2 hours. After eating an edible, it takes from 30-120 minutes to kick in and can last from 3-6 hours. The edible after being ingested goes to your stomach then the liver and then into your blood stream making for a stronger THC called 11-hydroxy-THC that gives you a long lasting body high.

Store bought edibles from dispensaries are more expensive than flower in general. However, making edibles at home is less expensive because of the quantity you get from a small amount of Cannabis. Availability of edibles in some states are still somewhat slim because of legality issues and popularity. The availability of flower is widespread throughout all legal states and countries and allows the user to create their own.

Emergency room visits have increased due to the availability and popularity of edibles. As intake has sky rocketed over the past few years, it has become apparent that some users don’t wait 1-2 hours to see if the dose is enough and they take another dose. Or, they don’t realize the delicious treats are infused. Smoking also has risks but it is clearly more important to be aware of an edible dose because it is harder to control the high.

Connor Jenkings / March 2020