Ask a Vail, Colorado Budtender: The Rules of Cannabis Edibles Consumption

Your top cannabis edibles questions answered.

It’s understandable; edibles are an increasingly popular consumption method that appeals to consumers of all ages and backgrounds, but they’re rife with mystery and stories of unpleasant experiences.

(New York Times writer Maureen Dowd famously expressed her failed edibles experience after a trip to Colorado in 2014. You can read her amusing story here.) 

So we put together this handy cannabis edibles consumption guide. 

Edibles Guide

• What is an edible?
• Types of edibles
• Where to consume edibles in Vail
• How many edibles to eat
• How many mg of THC are in edibles?
• How long does it take for edibles to kick in?
• How long does an edible high last?
• What does an edible high feel like?
• Do edibles have side effects?
• How does the body process edibles?
• What to do if you overused edibles?
• Can you microdose cannabis edibles?
• What are the best edibles for sleep?
• THC Edibles Rules of Thumb

What is an edible?

To put it simply, an edible is any cannabis-infused food, drink, or other consumable. THC edibles have psychoactive effects, while CBD-only edibles are relaxing, calming, and subtle, with no psychoactivity (assuming it’s not combined with THC).

Fortunately, things have changed thanks to improved processes and extraction technologies.

Today’s edibles are predictable, often offer faster onset times, and are socially consumable (for consumers trying to avoid couch-lock).

Here are some of our favorite types of cannabis edibles:

Chocolates

Cannabis-infused chocolates are a delicious twist on the classic candy. Cannabis chocolates come in many flavors, from dark chocolate to milk and cookies.

Gummies

Gummies are the most common cannabis edibles you’ll find on dispensary shelves, and they’re available in every flavor under the sun. For example, try a multi-flavor pack of rosin gummies or peach-flavored gummies.

Baked Goods

Any baked good can be turned into a cannabis edible. Cookies remain a popular choice, although this stroopwafel caramel brownie is a great alternative.

Drinks

Edibles and alcohol can be risky (we don’t recommend mixing vices), but if you like to sip instead of nibble, opt for a THC-infused soda.

Capsules / Tablets

THC capsules and tablets are often paired with other herbal ingredients to amplify your happiness or focus. 

Hard Candy

Great for delivering a gradual edible dose as the candy dissolves slowly, edible cannabis in hard candy form can come as classic lozenges or in a playful lollipop.

Dissolvables

Flavorless dissolvables deliver an easy-to-consume, targeted dose of high-quality cannabis. Here’s the best part: you can add them to any food or drink for an instant edible.

If you’re visiting, check with the property owner of your vacation rental to ensure they’re ok with consumption.

What happens if you get caught with edibles on public property? The same rules apply to all forms of public cannabis possession, with a fine of $100 applied for public displays of use of 2oz of cannabis or less.

We recommend that consumers follow the “start low and go slow” principle when determining edible dosage.

Eat only the recommended serving indicated on the package and give yourself enough time for the dose to kick in before you re-up.

An average edible has between 5 and 10 milligrams of THC, while others are significantly more potent. 

Dosage depends on many factors, so we encourage you to ask your High Country Healing budtender for more info. Or, at the very least, you should consult a cannabis edibles dosing chart. 

Still, you’ll have nothing to worry about if you start low and go slow.

So how long do edibles take to work? It takes between half an hour and two hours to feel the full effects.

However, brands offer faster onset products capable of producing effects within 5 to 15 minutes. So, talk to your budtender! They’ll help you find the best products for your goals.

Like, cannabis flower, it depends mainly on the style of strain you select.

Sativa edibles tend to offer energetic experiences, while indica edibles are sedating. Still, the conversation is nuanced, and much more goes into your experience than a three-strain box (indica, sativa, hybrid).

Terpenes, minor cannabinoids, the entourage effect – all of these additional factors can impact your overall experience. That’s why it’s always a good idea to talk to a budtender about your goals.

But our budtenders say don’t stress! Start low and go slow; if you happen to overconsume, don’t panic. Instead, take a nap, hydrate, and you’ll be fine.

For example, the cannabinoids within an edible often travel through your digestive tract to the liver, where the THC binds to receptors so you can feel its effects.

That’s why the experience is distinct compared to inhalable cannabis consumption styles.

Simply create a relaxing environment for yourself where you can ride out your edible experience with a little nap.

Drink plenty of water, and lie down somewhere peaceful and dark, with relaxing music. Let yourself drift away—you’ll feel much better when you wake up.

• Pick your preferred style (chocolates, gummies, tablets, tinctures, drinkables, etc.)
• Determine your dosage
• Start low and go slow 
• Ensure you understand where it’s legal to consume
• Don’t combine alcohol with cannabis
• Consider microdosing if you’re a new consumer
• Purchase your cannabis edibles only from reputable legal dispensaries (like High Country Healing)
• Consume an indica-heavy strain (perhaps with CBN) before bed if you need help getting restful sleep
• Talk to our budtenders if you have questions
• Have fun

Ready to place an online order with High Country Healing? Click here.