Edibles and their Highs: Guide to THC Gummies, THC Chocolates, THC Drinks & More

Did you know that people around the world have enjoyed some form of cannabis edible for more than 3,000 years?

That’s right. People in India have enjoyed a cannabis-infused drink called Bhang, going back to 1,000 BC. Bhang is made using cannabis leaves and seeds. What’s interesting about the use of these cannabis drinks in India, like bhang lassi and bhang thandai, is that they’re often consumed during sacred religious holidays and festivals, like Holi and the Spring Festival of Maha Shivaratri - which honors the deity, Shiva.

In addition to playing important roles in ancient religious traditions in India, cannabis infused drinks have also been used as medicine for quite some time by those seeking relief from: fever, inflammation, dysentery, sunstroke, congestion, digestion problems, loss of appetite, and more.

Cannabis edibles have certainly come a long way since then. Today we have a wide selection of THC edibles available to us that include candies, drinks, gummies, chews, and more. That’s why we wanted to take a moment to go over the different types of edibles and their highs.

THC Edibles

When someone mentions the term cannabis edible, pot brownies or cannabis cookies might come to mind. But when it comes to THC edibles, the options go far beyond baked goods, including:

• Candies with THC
• THC Gummies
• Chocolate Edibles
• THC Chocolate Bars
• THC Drinks

Edibles with THC

Before we move on, it’s important to clarify a couple of things. First, it’s that the edibles we’re talking about are THC infused edibles. In other words, weed or cannabis edibles. Although there are edibles available with just CBD, the ones we’re going to address here contain THC.

Second, is that when it comes to THC edibles, it’s important to understand that it can take longer to feel their effects, compared to smoking or vaping. It’s not unusual for it to take anywhere from 45 minutes to three hours to feel their effects.

A common mistake with THC edibles is to take one dose, get impatient, and take another dose. Although you might feel good when the first dose kicks in - once that second dose kicks in, it can be too much for some.

That’s why those new to consuming edibles should start with a dose that’s no larger than 5-10 mg. It’s also recommended to wait 2 - 3 hours after your initial dose before deciding if you should take another.

Failure to follow this advice could lead to unpleasant effects that can last a while. If you are new to THC edibles we highly recommend reading our past blog post with some helpful tips about proper THC edibles dosing.

Learn more:

Edibles and Dosing

Store Your Edibles In a Safe Place

One final word of caution: since cannabis-infused edibles can look similar to regular candies and sweet treats - they can look attractive to children. That’s why it’s important to store your THC edibles somewhere children or pets can’t access them. With that said, let’s talk about candies with THC.

Candies with THC

Remember back in the day, when grandma would pull out a small tin from her purse and offer you a hard candy or maybe a lozenge?

Well, today, those same types of candies are available infused with one of our favorite cannabinoids, THC. Now you can carry your own tin filled with sweet treats that allow you to medicate or recreate discreetly.

It is important to note the effects of hard candies can be felt quicker than most other edibles. Generally, their effects can be felt about 15 - 45 minutes after consumption.

Since hard candies dissolve in your mouth, they’re absorbed through the lining under your tongue. As a result, the THC can enter your bloodstream quicker. Different types of candies with THC include lollipops, caramels, and lozenges with THC. One of the most popular kinds of THC candies are THC gummies.

THC Gummies

If you medicate with cannabis, it’s hard to think of a tastier way to consume your medicine than in the form of a gummy candy infused with THC. Available in all types of flavors, THC infused gummies are one of the most popular forms of cannabis edibles.

What Is THC Gummies Good For?

Sometimes, to help you get answers to your cannabis-related questions, we’ll list those questions the way some of you search for them. For example, the question listed above, “What Is THC Gummies Good for?”

We know this is grammatically incorrect, but it’s the way many people search for the answer to this question. With that said, here are a few benefits of THC gummies compared to smoking or vaping:

• Tastier and more discreet
• Effects tend to last longer
• Great for portion control
• Provide flexibility in how you ingest your cannabis
• Easier on your lungs and airways

Besides weed gummies, other cannabis edibles that are tasty and popular, are chocolate THC edibles.

Chocolate Edibles

Cannabinoids are lipophilic, meaning they dissolve in fats, oils, or lipids. Without fats, they won’t fully dissolve and will likely just pass through your body without you fully enjoying the benefits of your THC.

That’s why enjoying edibles that include fats, like nuts or chocolate, can help to enhance the effects of THC.

THC Chocolate Bar

Enjoying a THC infused chocolate bar can be a good way to enhance the effects of your cannabis edibles. Since THC is lipophilic and dissolves in fats, oils, or lipids - the dairy fats in chocolate help your body maximize the amount of THC your body can process. If your THC chocolate bar includes nuts, that can be an added bonus - since nuts also contain fats.

Are Chocolate Edibles Stronger Than Gummies?

Yes, chocolate edibles infused with THC can provide stronger effects for some when compared to other types of edibles. We just talked about one reason. Because the fats in chocolate can help your body better absorb the THC goodness in your edibles.

Another reason chocolate THC edibles can have a stronger effect is that chocolate contains anandamide. Anandamide is an endocannabinoid that’s naturally produced within our bodies. That’s right, we all have endocannabinoids within us whether or not we consume cannabis.

Learn more:

The Endocannabinoid System and You

Anandamide - The “Bliss Molecule”

The endocannabinoid known as Anandamide was first isolated in 1992. It was named after the Sanskrit word, “Ananda,” which means bliss or joy. Anandamide has been referred to as the Bliss Molecule due to its calming and mood enhancing effects.

It was recently discovered that anandamide may be responsible for the euphoric feeling, known as “runners high,” that some people experience during, or immediately after, a run or workout. It had previously been thought that runner’s high was caused by an increased production of endorphins.1

Double Your Pleasure

The anandamide that occurs naturally in chocolate binds to the same cannabinoid receptors in our bodies that THC binds to. So, when you consume chocolate and cannabis together, that extra boost of anandamide can enhance your high as well as the pain-relieving effects of your weed.2

Learn more:

Foods that Can Enhance Your High

Edibles Warning - THC Is Metabolized by the Liver

Another reason THC edibles can deliver more potent effects compared to smoking and vaping comes down to science. When you smoke or vape your cannabis, the THC is quickly absorbed by your lungs. That’s why you tend to feel the effects of smoking or vaping within a few minutes.

With edibles, it can take much longer since the THC in your cannabis must first be processed by your liver before it can enter your bloodstream. Depending on the type of edible, its potency, your metabolism, and your tolerance – it can take anywhere from twenty minutes to a few hours to feel the full effects.

During this time, THC enters your liver and is converted into 11-hydroxy-THC which can have stronger effects and last longer than THC (Delta 9 THC). This is another reason THC edibles can have stronger effects compared to smoking or vaping your cannabis.

Learn more:

Exploring Edibles: A Beginner’s Guide

THC Drinks

A THC drink is a beverage that’s been infused with cannabis.

Some benefits of enjoying a THC drink - instead of an alcoholic beverage - include a reduction in harmful behaviors associated with excessive alcohol consumption, including impaired driving, aggression, and potential liver damage.

Laid Back Vibes without the Hangover

With that said, we do believe cannabis infused drinks can be a healthier alternative than those that contain alcohol.

Are THC Drinks Good for You?

Cannabis could have potential therapeutic benefits including helping to reduce anxiety, promoting relaxation, and alleviating pain. By replacing alcohol drinks with cannabis drinks, it is possible to enjoy a refreshing beverage that could help you feel better - instead of hungover the next day.

Learn more:

Does Cannabis Help with a Hangover?

Do THC-infused Drinks Get You High?

Yes, a drink that’s been infused with THC can make you feel high. That’s why you should never drive or operate heavy machinery after consuming a THC infused beverage. You should also avoid mixing THC-infused drinks with alcohol.

Pick one or the other and make sure to pace yourself.

Many weed drinks contain 10 mg of THC per serving. If you’re new to THC-infused drinks, we recommend starting with one serving of about 5 - 10 mg. Give yourself plenty of time, before deciding if you should have another. Learn more about how cannabis drinks compare to edibles.

DIY Canna Drink Recipes

The nice thing about cannabis drinks is that you only need a few simple ingredients to be able to enjoy a relaxing beverage at home that won’t leave you feeling hungover the next day.

Nano THC

Once people get comfortable with THC edibles, many look for ways to boost the enjoyment they get from their edibles. One way they’re trying to do so is with nano-emulsified THC edibles.

What Is Nano THC?

Nano-emulsified THC edibles go through a process that breaks down the THC particles into tiny (nano) droplets. Because of this nanotechnology, THC is evenly distributed throughout your edible.

In addition to more reliable dosing, nano-emulsified THC edibles also help to increase the bioavailability of THC. This is just a fancy way to say our bodies are better able to absorb the THC in nano THC edibles, compared to traditional THC edibles.

Due to the THC being broken down into nano particles - those particles are able to enter our bloodstream quicker. This means you’ll tend to feel the effects of nano THC edibles quicker than traditional cannabis edibles.

That’s why, if it’s your first time trying nano THC edibles, it’s important to start with a low dose and slowly increase your dosage until you find the dose that’s right for you.

THC Edibles in Maryland

If you are reading this from Maryland after July 1, 2023 - we have some great news! The state has legalized the consumption of recreational cannabis for those 21 years of age and older. That means our dispensary in Germantown, Maryland can now serve both medical marijuana patients and adult recreational cannabis customers.

So, if you’re over the age of 21 and are looking for premium quality THC edibles, our budtenders stand ready to help you find the ones that are best for you.

• Bloom Germantown

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THC Edibles Ohio

Bloom invites registered medical marijuana patients and adult-use customers 21+ to explore our wide selection of THC edibles and cannabis products at seven Ohio dispensaries.

• Bloom Akron
• Bloom Athens
• Bloom Massillon
• Bloom Painesville
• Bloom Seven Mile
• Bloom South Columbus
• Bloom West Columbus

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1. New Brain Effects behind “Runner’s High” - Scientific American
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2430692/