Two of the most popular ways of consuming marijuana is through edibles and raw cannabis flower.
Recently, the Louisiana House approved of adding flower to the dispensary menus. This bill is now headed to the Senate for approval!
Since flower is hopefully in the near future for Louisiana residents with a medical marijuana card, we wanted to bring together a blog with everything you need to know about flower, edibles and which is best for you and your medical condition.
There are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to how cannabis affects you. You have to keep in mind the terpene profile, the specific strain, and the levels of THC and CBD. While thinking about all of these factors, you also want to pay attention to the format in which you buy your medical marijuana. This is one factor that is often overlooked.
The format of marijuana is key because the consumption method is one of the most important factors in determining the effects medical marijuana will have on the body. This ultimately will impact how you treat your condition, the effects you will feel and how long you will feel them.
Flower versus edible will offer you two different experiences and effects. The qualifying condition that you are looking to treat will determine which one to use and when!
In today’s article, we will be giving you all the information on the difference between inhaling flower versus ingesting edibles, how they are different, what the effects of each are and how to decide which is best for you!
Flower Versus Edibles
Flower:
Smoking marijuana is the most common way of consuming marijuana, whether it is medical or not. Although you cannot purchase flower now at Louisiana dispensaries, this blog will prepare you for everything you need to know when it becomes available!
When you inhale flower, the chemical compounds are activated and breathed into the lungs. It is absorbed through your bloodstream right away and travels to your brain.
When the compounds, THC and CBD, make it to your brain, they bind with the CB1 and the CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system. This binding is what makes you feel the effects of cannabis!
The time from when you inhale flower to when it reaches the brain is short so this consumption method is great if you are looking for a fast onset of effects for conditions such as chronic pain or cancer.
Once flower is available in the state, all you need to do is purchase some flower at your local dispensary, also known as just pharmacies in Louisiana, pick your delivery method such as a joint, vape or pipe and you’re good to go for inhaling medical marijuana!
Edibles:
When you consume edibles versus smoke flower, the effects are much different and can produce a more intense psychoactive effect.
Edibles pass through the digestive tract and are absorbed through the stomach where the THC and CBD are metabolized by the liver. The liver then converts the THC into a new compound called 11-hydroxy-THC which is more potent and lasts for a longer period of time than THC.
Since the chemical compounds in edibles go through the digestive system and liver, it takes more time for them to get to the brain. Once it reaches the brain however the effects last for a long time and come on stronger than smoking flower.
Gummies are the most popular edible type in Louisiana that you can buy at your dispensary. You can even make your own at home using tinctures so you can control the dosage and ratio of CBD to THC!
The Difference Between Edibles and Flower
Flower and edibles both have very different ways of moving through your body which makes them have different effects than each other. Let’s get into a little more detail on how these two consumption methods are different!
When you eat edibles, metabolizing THC takes a much longer time compared to how quick smoking flower acts. Edibles can take anywhere from 45 minutes to three hours to kick in! But because the THC is converted into 11-hydroxy-THC in the liver, you're going to feel much stronger psychoactive effects that last a longer time than smoking flower.
Inhaling cannabis flower goes straight to the brain and works almost immediately so you don’t have that long wait time like you do with edibles. Flower gives you the chance to have rapid absorption that can provide you with immediate relief but the effects don’t last as long as they do with edibles.
With inhaling flower the effects typically can last you one to two hours but with edibles, you can have up to 8 hours of relief with just one dose! This is why edibles are great for treating conditions like insomnia or anxiety since the duration of effects is much longer than flower.
Although edibles seem to have it all, there is a bit of a risk with them if you are not fully mindful. Sometimes with edibles people can over consume marijuana because the wait time is so long.
People often take a dose of an edible, think it is not working since they don’t feel the effects right away and then they take more. When the body metabolizes the edible, it ends up being way too much and an uncomfortable high can be experienced.
This may seem off putting to some but can be easily avoided by remembering to start low and slow. This tip goes for all formats and consumption methods of medical marijuana as well!
Picking Which Format is Best for You
When it comes to figuring out which format of medical marijuana is right for you, remember that everyone is different. What might work for someone else’s medical condition, may not work for yours and vice versa. There is a product out there for everyone! But this requires you to take your time and try different formats as well as consumption methods to find the best fit for you!
With this article, you have all the tools you need to to determine if edibles or flower is right for you. If you’re not sure, try both when flower is available in Louisiana!
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
At Louisiana Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (833) 253-2943, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Louisiana Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Louisiana!
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