What are edibles?
Edibles refers to food products infused with marijuana. Though smoking marijuana is the most prevalent method of consumption, eating marijuana is quickly becoming a popular way to consume the drug.
Brownies are among the most common food products infused with marijuana, however, almost any food product may be infused with marijuana and eaten.
In addition to placing marijuana directly in food, marijuana-infused cooking oil can be used when frying or searing food, and marijuana-infused butter can be spread directly on prepared food.
These marijuana edibles are more common in states that have legalized marijuana and also states that permit medical marijuana use.
Are marijuana edibles frequently used?
In recent years, vaping and edible use has increased among U.S. students while marijuana smoking has decreased, according to data from the Monitoring the Future study.
Is eating marijuana more dangerous than smoking marijuana?
YES! There is high potential for overdose from marijuana edibles.
- The effects from smoking marijuana only takes minutes. Edibles, however, take between 1-3 hours because food is absorbed into the bloodstream through the liver. Because it takes longer, the user may end up consuming longer amounts of the drug while thinking the drug isn’t working.
- The amount of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is very difficult to measure and is often unknown in these food products.
- If the user has other medications in his or her system, their body may metabolize different amounts of THC, causing THC levels in the bloodstream to dangerously increase five-fold.
- Overdose symptoms from eating marijuana are often more severe than symptoms of an overdose from smoking marijuana.
How Long Do Edibles Stay In Your System?
How long edibles stay in your system is determined by many factors including your weight and the amount consumed. Edibles are usually detectable in bodily fluids for 1 to 30 days after last use. As with other drugs, it may be detectable in hair for several months. The higher the amount of edibles consumed and more frequent use are associated with longer detection times.
For daily users, edibles may be detectable for several months after last use. The longest-reported detection times are more than 90 days.
Do edibles show up on drug test?
Edibles are generally metabolized like other weed containing products. Drug tests measure weed and its by-products, or metabolites. These metabolites remain in your system long after the marijuana edibles effects have worn off.
Urine testing: According to Mayo Clinic Proceedings, weed is detectable in urine for the following amounts of time after last use:
- Occasional users (up to three times a week): 3 days
- Moderate users (four times a week): 5 to 7 days
- Chronic users (daily): 10 to 15 days
- Chronic heavy users (multiple times a day): more than 30 days
Marijuana metabolites are fat-soluble, which means they bind to fat molecules in your body. As a result, it can take some time for them to leave your system. Urine testing is the most common testing method.
Blood testing: According to an article in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, marijuana is typically detectable in the blood for 1 to 2 days. However, in some cases, it’s been detected after 25 days. Chronic heavy use increases the length of time that it can be detected. The marijuana in edibles is detectable in the bloodstream within seconds of inhalation. It’s distributed to the tissues. Some of it is reabsorbed in the blood and broken down. Its metabolites may remain in the bloodstream for days. Blood testing may be used in laboratory settings or to indicate recent use of marijuana edibles.
Saliva testing: According to a 2014 review on cannabinoids in oral fluid, marijuana is detectable in saliva for the following amounts of time after last use:
- Occasional users: 1 to 3 days
- Chronic users: 1 to 29 days
Marijuana can enter the saliva through eating edibles. However, its metabolites are only present in saliva when edibles has been ingested. In jurisdictions where weed is legal, oral fluid may be used for roadside testing.
Hair testing: Hair follicle tests assess drug use for up to 90 days. After the use of edibles, marijuana reaches the hair follicles via small blood vessels. Trace amounts may remain in the hair. Since hair grows approximately 0.5 inches per month, a 1.5-inch hair segment taken close to the scalp can provide a window of marijuana edibles use for the past three months.
What are the negative effects of marijuana edibles?
- Psychotic episodes
- Hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Panic attacks
- Impaired motor ability.
