As more people become canna-curious, they’re wondering about the differences between delivery systems. And there are more than a handful.

For our purposes for this post, we’ll keep things more general and look at the difference between ingesting and inhaling.

From there, you can decide for yourself whether or not to ingest cannabis.

1. Edibles Are Stronger

That’s because THC is metabolized by the body in a different way when you ingest cannabis versus inhaling it.

In general, edibles seem much stronger than smoked or vaporized cannabis. That’s because when you ingest cannabis, the liver converts the THC into a metabolite that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier.

That means an intense high that’s slower to come on and slower to leave.

Meanwhile, inhaled cannabis passes through the stomach before moving to the liver and then directly to the brain. This results in a less intense high that comes on fast, but diminishes quickly.

2. Start Small with Edibles

Because of what we just explained in #1 above, wisdom dictates that you go small and be patient with edibles.

When we say it takes a while for them to kick in, we’re talking anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. And when we say the effect sticks around, that could also mean several hours.

So if you decide to try an edible, eat the smallest amount possible. Then WAIT. Give it time to kick in. The biggest mistake newbies make is they don’t feel anything within 30 minutes and then double up the dose.

Of course, if you’re going for an intense psychedelic head high and aren’t prone to anxiety, then you may be okay with doing that. But if you’re looking for milder and more comfortable effects, then a small dose is the way to go.

Speaking of dosing…

3. Dosing Edibles Is More Complex

Inhaled cannabis delivers 50-60% of THC and other cannabinoids to the blood plasma. Ingesting introduce only 10-20%.

This accounts for the differences in how one experiences the high.

That said, determining the THC content of a homemade batch of edibles is pretty complicated.

In fact, in unregulated markets, even professionals aren’t able to quite nail the advertised dose in their products. If you live in a state whose market doesn’t include meticulous testing, your regular distributor may have a batch next week that will vary from what you consume this week.

This is not much of consideration for inhaling cannabis though. It gives a more instantaneous effect that allows for the inhaler to gradually dose. ‘Another toke’ll do ya,’ sorta thing.

If you’re considering trying an edible, 10mg is considered a standard dose for mild but pleasant effects. So if you’ve got a 50mg gummy bear from your local dispensary, start by eating 1/5 and wait a while. Then wait some more.

50mg is considered moderate and 100mg is pretty potent. So know what potency edible you have, and then handle with care.

4. Ingesting Is Healthier Than Inhaling

It’s hard to deny that smoking poses potential long-term health threats. Even though smoking marijuana doesn’t include all the harmful chemicals that a regular cigarette does, it’s still hard on the lungs.

Some people just don’t care for the harsh feeling of the smoke hitting their lungs. That’s why vaping has become so popular.

Of course, without rehashing the dark days of VapeGate 2019, vaping certainly has its own hazards.

You might be thinking, healthier? I mean, how healthy are brownies, cookies, and gummy bears?

You’d be right.

But there are a ton of other options for cannabis-infused edibles now.

From quinoa salad and granola, to using infused butter on kale chips or whatever else rocks your world.

Is It Time for You to Ingest Cannabis?

Inhaling is a simple way to get immediate effects. But if you choose to ingest cannabis, you’ll have a longer experience. And as long as it’s not too intense, it could give you more prolonged relief from symptoms.

It really depends on what you want from your marijuana. We encourage you to (mindfully) experiment for yourself.

And for more stories from the cannabis realm, keep checking back with our blog!

The post To Ingest Cannabis or Not to Ingest Cannabis? appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.

One of the biggest shifts has been in the marketing of edibles.

In terms of how products are marketed, what was once kosher is now taboo. And dispensaries are routinely pulling products from their shelves in order to pass licensing.

As you can imagine, scaling a cannabis business takes a lot of work. And pulling products isn’t exactly good for that business.

What Are the Rules for Marketing of Edibles?

The Michigan Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation (BMMR) is working together with The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to essentially double up on the bureaucracy.

This is evidenced by a nearly constant and, by some accounts, rather entertaining litany of advisory bulletins.

But the guiding principle behind all of this regulating starts with this:

Edibles Cannot Be Marketed to Minors

And this is where it gets tricky. Because nobody, at this point, has been able to close in a definition of what is considered acceptable in terms of marketing to minors.

It’s safe to assume that the folks behind setting these regulations aren’t highly trained designers who know what good marketing to minors looks like.

Still, you don’t need a four-year degree to decipher what are some very obvious design and marketing elements geared toward minors.

So here are some very basic restrictions set out by LARA every dispensary should be aware of before stocking their shelves:

• If it looks like something a child would want to eat, it’s not acceptable. This includes things like Rice Krispy treats, cotton candy, cake pops and pixie sticks – regardless of that fact that plenty of adults like taking these down too. Chocolate is okay though. And so are gummies – as long as they’re some boring shape that no one would confuse for a bear.
• If it’s a drink that looks like Kool-Aid, it’s out. In fact, any beverage with a color is out. Unless that bright green cannabis infused happy drink is in an opaque container. Then it seems to be okay. However, no Michigan producers have been able to get their process for creating such beverages approved yet.
• If it requires heating or cooling, it will not pass licensing. That means no ice cream or hummus. And forget all about cannabis Hot Pockets. They’re just a pipe dream.
• It it looks like an already well-known candy brand or other snack food, kiss it goodbye.
• If there’s a child’s cartoon on the packaging, it’s a no-go. This includes any product that resembles a copyrighted character like a gummy bear or a unicorn. Animations and graphics of a more adult nature get a pass though. So Disney is out while maybe R. Crumb is in.

So you can see why it’s all so confusing.

Things Will Get Easier

It’s tough for the rule enforcers at both BMMR and LARA too. But they’re slowly piecing together the ins and outs of the marketing of edibles. And it seems that they’re getting more relaxed as they’re settling into this new pre-licensing process.

So there’s that. And who knows? There might even be candy corn at the dispensaries again by next Halloween.

If you have a cannabis business and are having trouble keeping up with all of the regulations AND trying to market your business, reach out to the experts in cannabis marketing. We’re passionate about the industry and helping those in it.

The post Abiding by the Tricky Rules for the Marketing of Edibles appeared first on GROW Cannabis Marketing.