Marijuana Edibles: Dosage, Effects, Gummies, & Everything You Need to Know

What Are Edibles?

Edibles are any food item that has been infused with cannabis, THC, CBD or cannabidiol. The potency, taste and marijuana infusion process will vary from edible to edible, so always read the labeling or ask the budtender for advice. 

Edible companies have their own process and unique recipes but the end result is always the same: a tasty treat and a delectable buzz.

Edibles are a natural extension of marijuana’s long-standing relationship with hunger and cravings. If you want to get high while eating a tasty treat (and obviously, you do,) what comes next is pretty straightforward. Simply sit back, relax, and enjoy this in-depth guide to the world of cannabis edibles, candies and more.

Where can you Buy the Best Edibles in Denver?

If you live in a place where cannabis is legal, you shouldn’t have any problems finding cannabis-infused foods at your local dispensary.

However, if you’re looking for edibles near by in the Denver area, you can choose from purchasing premade edibles at a dispensary or learn how to cook edibles from a train professional cannabis chef.

Join our executive cannabis Chef in the kitchens for a hands-on 3-hour edibles cooking class, teaching you how to make edibles through basic and advance cannabis culinary techniques.

For the best edibles in Denver, go check out these local dispensaries in the area:

1  – Karmaceutical

Mon-Sun 10AM-6PM
4 S Santa Fe Dr. Denver, CO 80223

2 – Del Mundo Weed Dispensary

Mon-Sun 8AM-9PM
2394 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80210

3 – Cookies Denver

Mon-Sun 9AM-10PM
2057 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80210

4 – Lit Cannabis Dispensary Denver

Mon-Sun 9AM-9:45PM
1630 Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80204
2001 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80210

If you’re not quite so lucky as to live in a place where cannabis is recreationally legal, you have two options.

One, go make your own weed brownies at home, or now that the 2018 Farm Bill has passed, most local head shops and smoke store supply CBD, Delta 8 and a range of hemp-infused edibles. Some of these edibles can be just as powerful as dispensaries, but be cautious as a lot of those edibles are not regulated and minimal testing is done.

Types of Edibles Products

The recipes and type of ingredient food products used will really determine type of edible is being created. With the continuous passing of cannabis legalization across America, the range of edible options are steadily growing. You can even get marijuana gourmet cuisine made by professional chefs in certain corners of the country.

But for most of us, that not an option. We’re just looking for dank treat to help us relax from a long day, destress and enjoy a fun-filled evening.

Here are just a few of the many different types of edibles available at dispensaries.

• Brownies
• Cookies
• Chocolate
• All Gummies
• Cannabutter
• Marshmallows
• Beef Jerky
• Candy, Suckers
• Truffles
• Beverages and so many more.

Now let’s take a deeper look at some of the most popular edible types for your consideration.

Edible Brownies

Edible brownies might easily be one of the most popular ways of getting THC into your system and satisfying the munchies at the same time. 

Weed or pot brownies have a long history in cannabis culture. They date back to 1954 when Alice B. Tolkas released her famous haschich fudge recipe, which is now the basis on the development of modern marijuana brownies.

Modern-day edible brownies are made from a number of cannabis companies across the United States and Canada. 

Here are some popular edible cannabis brownie names you might recognize; Space Brownies, 24 Karat, Kush Cakes, Goodship Fudge Brownie Bites, Buddha’s Best, Korova, Enjoyable and Blackout.

Cannabis Gummies

Edible cannabis gummies are a tasty way to open your mind while satisfying your sweet tooth. The nice thing about marijuana gummies is that you can imbibe with them just about any way that you want to.

You’ll find a number of edibles gummies available such as gummy worm, bears, sours, strips, fruit snacks and more. Basically, pretty much any gummy shape you can think of can has been infused with weed.

The three most popular edible gummies are the ones that isolate a specific cannabinoid and use their medicinal properties to help relieve particular ailments. 

Here are the popular types of cannabis-infused gummy candies we should discuss.

THC Gummies

These candies are the ones you get the dispensary because they are infused with THC. These are medical grade and will get you feeling euphoric, relaxed and out of this world.

THC gummy dosage typically ranges from 5mg to 10mg per single gummy. So if you eat the entire bag of these cannabis gummies you’ll consume anywhere from a total of 300mg to 500mg of THC, which if you don’t know is a lot.

CBD Gummies

Gummies infused with CBD serve many medicinal purposes as well, but with CBD being legal you can now go pick them up in a local store near you. However, there are two important distinctions between the type of CBD gummies that you can purchase.

They are gummies made with either full-spectrum CBD or broad-spectrum CBD.

Full-spectrum CBD Gummies:

Full-spectrum CBD gummies contain all the of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and fatty acids found in the hemp plant, even the THC. Because all the cannabinoids are present and working together, users experience more therapeutic benefits compared to other types of CBD products.

Broad-spectrum CBD Gummies:

Broad-spectrum CBD gummies are similar to full-spectrum gummies in the fact that they include all cannabinoids besides THC. These are the CBD gummies you see in most states that have not legalized marijuana. Because marijuana isn’t legalized in those states, the CBD gummies cannot contain any trace of THC higher than 0.03% in order to be sold in public storefronts.

Since full-spectrum still has a small amount of THC in it, broad-spectrum CBD was developed to fill this need. To learn more about the full benefits and differences between full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD, check our in-depth guide here →

Hemp Gummies

These gummies are very similar to the other CBD gummies mentioned above. You may see a variety of hemp gummies available at local stores. These gummies focus on CBD being the main component, however, some hemp gummies may the legal limit of THC present which is 0.03%.

These hemp gummies are still relatively new and unknown. These products tend to use lower quality CBD and you may not feel the effects that you expect. This is because real CBD brands will use either full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD in their products. Hemp CBD is very broad and you don’t know exactly what you are getting.

The best advice is to stick with reputable CBD gummy brands and look for full-spectrum or broad-spectrum on the label. There are a variety of gummies brands some popular ones include; Kushy Punch, Baked Bros, Flav, Chronic Boom and Paradise Edibles.

Marijuana Candy Edibles

As you would expect, the list of edibles continue to go on.

There are so many types of cannabis candies that it would take me an entire post to deep dive and showcase them all.

Below I’ve listed out the main two types of weed candies and a few examples of each.

• Hard candy: Mints, Tarts, Suckers, Lemon drops, Red hots, Butterscotch
• Soft candy: Tafty chews, Caramel, Fruit chews, Sensi Chews, Cheeba Chews

Cannabutter

Cannabutter is the exact same thing as regular butter, with one key distinction: it has cannabis oil and marijuana-infused in it. You aren’t going to eat a spoonful of cannabutter to get stoned (though if you’re feeling it, you’re feeling it). It’s really used for cooking other cannabis-infused foods or to spice up a nightly meal.

Cannabutter can be bought at a few local dispensaries from time to time. Availability always varies and it tends to be hard to come by, so if you see it on the shelf, pick it up and give it a try.

If you don’t have the chance to buy it, there are a number of recipes online that show you how to make this happy butter at home.

Cannabis Beverages & Drinks

Cannabis-infused beverages are extremely popular finds in dispensaries across America (and no, we aren’t talking about bongwater).

There are a wide range of marijuana coffees, cannabis sodas, terpene-infused wines and cannabis CBD teas to choose from. 

Once again, the sky’s the limit. If there is a drink you like, chances are someone has figured out a way to make it infused with cannabis. 

To learn more, we covered everything there is to know about marijuana drinks and beverages here.

Tinctures

A marijuana tincture is concentrated oil that has gone through a process of soaking hemp, buds and cannabis plant parts in alcohol for weeks to extract the active constituents and cannabinoids. This makes an extract that is extremely potent

Typically tinctures are supplied in small 1-ounce dropper bottles with a range of potency per bottle. Most tinctures have a potency around 100mg, however, you can find extra strength tinctures with a potency of 1000mg.

To get the benefits, dispense a few drops under your tongue and hold it for about 60 seconds. The tincture will dissolve straight into your bloodstream giving the powerful benefits almost immediately.

Pills and Capsules

Cannabis pills and capsules are not exactly the same thing as an edible, but you do ingest them.

Edibles pills and capsules are like vitamins but better, because they don’t only help you live longer, but they also get you nice and high.

They are a popular edible product and you’ll find a range of THC and CBD pills at your local dispensary. It makes for a great to enjoy marijuana discreetly.

How Much are Edibles?

Edibles range in a varied of prices dependent on the type of edible, potency, brand, ingredients and location. Prices have been relatively the same for the past 5 years. Here are the current average edible prices available at dispensaries across America in 2023.

Edible Prices: Gummies, Brownies, Bars, Candy

• 100mg – $10-$25
• 250mg – $25-$35
• 500mg- $35-$50

Cannabis Tincture Prices

• 100mg – $25-$30
• 250mg – $30-$45
• 500mg – $45-$70
• 1000mg – 100+

Cannabis Drink Prices

• 10mg – $7-$10
• 100mg – $18-$30

Edible Dosage

Getting the dosage right is important if you are going to enjoy your time with edibles. That in mind, let’s take a look at some important information on how to consume edibles.

What the Experts Say About Cannabis Dosage

Dustin Sulak, a Doctor of Osteopath and Founder of Integr8 Health, a cannabis holistic healing practice, works with patients and cannabis on the daily. In a recent interview questions were asked about cannabis dosage and how to find the right MG for each person.

Watch the full interview here:

Question: How do you determine a proper dosage recommendation?

Dr. Sulak’s Answer: There is really no real way for someone like me or any practitioner to meet a patient and learn what’s going on with them and say I know exactly what you need to do in terms of cannabis dosing. It just doesn’t exist because people have varied responses to each medicine.

There is a HUGE dosing range. Some people do very well with a low dosage and some do well with a very high dosage. Instead of figuring out what someone should do, I found what works best is to give someone a starting point and then give them a methodology program from that starting point to determine what works best for them based on their individual goals.

Question: What Kind of Range of Dosage Works? How Low or How High?

Dr. Sulak’s Answer: I’ve been really surprised by what I’ve found. Some people do great with just single milligrams, as low as 1mg-2mg per day total cannabinoids. That’s the very lowest I’ve seen, certainly below the psychoactive threshold, and the individuals claim it has helped them “feel better” and relieve pain. So that’s the low end.

The high end, for people that have aggressive cancers or severe diseases, go up to thousands of milligrams may up to 2,000mgs to see relief.

Question: What is the Proper Dosage for Chronic Users? 

Dr. Sulak’s Answer: I look at the biphasic effect refers to a dose-response curve. If we were to plot when we give someone a certain dose, what’s their response. We give them a higher dose, do they have a higher response? Yes. So then we give an even higher dose, to which they have an even higher response, but eventually, it gets to a point when we give them a higher dose, the response goes down and that continues. So no matter how much you increase the dosage, the response will go down or remain the same.

So then I ask the question, “How can I adjust my cannabis use to get more health benefits?” Most of the time the answer is to reduce consumption. The next step is to enact what I call a “6-day protocol”. This protocol entails abstaining from cannabis for 2 days and then the next four days doing small careful doses. What I found through this 6-day protocol is that patients usually reduce consumption by 50% and were able to feel more benefits.

Edible Dosage MG Chart

The right edible dosage will vary from person to person depending on if you’re a daily smoker, have a high tolerance or just a beginner.

However, there are some general rules of thumb that will help you to nail the art of edibles dosage.

Here are a few generalities you can expect to encounter when it comes to the general edible dosage calculator that will help you out if you’re wondering how many mg of edibles I should eat.

2.5 MG of THC

With 2.5 milligrams of THC you won’t be out of your mind stoned. You may experience an increase in calm, or relief from symptoms if you are using the pot medicinally.

3-15 MG of THC

Once you get to the 15 MG range, your drifting into the recreational territory. With this dosage, you will be able to enjoy an altered perception of reality (nerd talk for, you’ll get pretty stoned). You can use this dosage medically for relief from intense symptoms but it will be intoxicating enough to distract from everyday life.

16-30 MG

At 30 MG you’re in veteran smoker territory. With this amount of THC, we’re talking about a pretty dank brownie, though it will make an acceptable edible dosage for daily smokers.

31-50 MG

Even everyday smokers are going to get knocked down on their rear with a 50MG edible. Not recommended for beginners, or anyone that needs to be a respectable member of society shortly after consumption.

100 MG

If it’s a real 100 MG edible, be prepared because consuming this all at one time could send you to martian land. This will usually only be used medicinally by people suffering extreme conditions (like cancer). The most potent edible will probably be better for medical use than recreational use.

How many mg of edibles should I eat?

If you’re wondering how many mg of edibles should I eat or how much THC it takes to get high, that answer will ultimately depend on your experience level. The edible dosage for a daily smoker with high tolerance will be a lot different than the edible dosage for a beginner.

It’s important to note that body weight and genes are a factor in how your body processes the edible and its THC contents. There isn’t enough science behind edibles, body size and weight right now to give you an accurate description on how it factors in. But in the meantime, the edibles dosage chart below should help you to decide on the right option for your situation.

How to dose edibles is a fine art that you will want to be mindful of. When they get too potent, it ceases to be an enjoyable experience and becomes physically uncomfortable. Below we’ve outlined some additional questions asked about edible dosage.

Edible dosage for the first time

In general though, if you are a first time user you might be best served by the 2.5-15mg range.

Edible dosage for daily smokers with high tolerance

If you are a regular smoker or a high tolerance, you should probably start by eating around 24mg and increase from there. Note that 25mg is a lot of THC to consume at one time and we only recommend this if you actually have a high tolerance.

How strong is a 10mg edible?

This is the common dosage for a first time user. It’s not very strong if you’re consuming cannabis on a regular basis. A 10mg edible may cause a slight buzz, but most people won’t get “high” from it. Remember though, this all depends on how you personally react to THC and your experience level.

How much of a 100mg edible should I eat?

You shouldn’t eat more than 25mg or 1/4th of the 100mg edible at a time. It is recommended that you start small and slow. Start by eating 10mg and slowing increasing the amount you consume over time. Edibles can be overdone if you eat too much, too fast, so eat with care.

When should I eat edibles?

First things first, you are going to want to make sure that you don’t have anything important to do for a while. Edibles take a little while to kick in but once they do, they last for a good length of time.

Edibles on an Empty Stomach

Many people will try to eat edibles on an empty stomach so that the effects will be felt faster and more significantly. With only one type of food to process, the high should be more intense. While this effect may indeed be realized, in general, edibles on an empty stomach are not always a good idea.

Best case scenario, you’ll be comfortably couch-locked with your body stoned to the bone. Worst case scenario, you’ll get a little to high and lose half of your day to sleeping it off.

Edibles on a Full Stomach

There are currently three main theories about eating edibles on a full stomach. One theory is that you’ll get higher faster because you’re in full metabolizing mode and the THC will get into the body faster. The other theory is that it takes longer to get high because your body is processing all the other food along with the edible. The last theory is that it doesn’t matter at all because you’re going to get high either way. 

Choose the right edibles dosage, consume, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Edibles High & Side Effects

Let’s close things out by taking everything you need to know about the edibles high. Read on for some edible effects, and everything else you could ever need to know about this awesome way to get high.

Edibles side effects

It sounds awesome, but be mindful of the fact that there are side effects. It is much easier to “go overboard” with edibles compared to smoking marijuana.

Granted, you can’t overdose on marijuana, as you know, no one has ever died from marijuana before. But if you do over consume, don’t say we didn’t warn you, because you will feel like you’re dying as it can be very intense.

Are edibles bad for you?

Short answer to this is no. Marijuana edibles are just that, they have marijuana in them. You will get high off of them, but that doesn’t make them bad for you. However, if you consume gummy or sugary baked edibles all the time, those ingredients won’t be a great addition to your diet and that could be considered bad. 

Do edibles make your eyes red?

This is all dependent on how your body reacts to marijuana and cannabis. A good indication to tell if you’ll get red eyes is based on how your eyes change when you smoke. If you smoke weed and your eyes get red, you can bet that your eyes will be bloodshot red a couple hours after eating an edible.

Check out this video by the That High Couple where they compare the feelings of 100 mg vs 1000 mg edibles.

However, that doesn’t mean you want to be carefree with your edible consumption. If you take too much it can result in extreme disorientation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, an upset stomach, or extreme anxiety. Naturally, you don’t want that.

The solution is to be smart with your dosing and give edibles the respect they demand.

How long do edibles take to kick in?

Edibles are absorbed through your liver, and intestinal, digestive tract. It typically takes anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes for the edible to kick in. However, it’s important to note, the time it takes to kick in ranges on a number of things, including the potency, the food item, your weight, how much you’ve eaten that day, and the dosage taken.

At the fastest, edibles can be felt within thirty minutes and after two hours you should definitely be feeling the effects. Because of how long do edibles take to hit you it is dependent on those factors, make sure you remain in a controlled environment after taking an edible.

With that said, here is another warning. Don’t eat more if you’re not feeling the effect within an hour. For some people it can take a long time for the edible to kick in and the last thing you want to do is consume too much and go overboard.

If you’re wondering how to make edibles kick in faster, there are a couple of options. However, most of them aren’t advisable. Many enthusiasts swear by drinking orange or mango juice because the fruit molecules combine with the THC/CBD molecules providing an intensified longer lasting effect.

Or if you’re really up to it, you could just eat an edible with a higher dose but we warned you and don’t really recommend it.

What does an edible high feel like?

Edibles highs are different for every person based on your tolerance, cannabinoid intake and type of edible you consume. However, the feeling can be described as an intense body high with steady euphoric experiences. They are known for producing a couch potato, sedative effect, even on experienced users.

This is because marijuana edibles are metabolized by the liver allowing the THC go throughout your body compared to smoking and having the THC enter your bloodstream. 

If you’re looking for one of the stereotypical cinematic stoner experiences where you sit on your couch with slanted eyes and laugh at nothing in particular, edibles might be the way to go.

Watch this video of an older couple consuming an edible with 110 mg of THC. They seem to be having a good ole time. 🙂

After consuming one, it can even be difficult to figure out how to know if your high off edibles because it can take so long to kick in. For many people though, the experience of getting high with edibles happens very gradually over hours at a time.

Look for gradual changes in perception. If you find yourself staring out into space for extended periods of time, that’s a common sign that the edible is starting to kick in. Of course, before too long it will become pretty clear that the THC and CBD are working their magic.

What if I get too high from edibles?

It is important to mention that if you’re a first time user or if you’ve taken a large dosage, you may experience out of body or what may feel like near-death experiences. 

The first thing is to not freak out. Remember that this happens to the best of us, and know that the feeling will eventually go away.

If you’re too high off an edible, the best advice is to go to sleep and by morning, you may still be groggy or sluggish but most of the edible effects will have worn off.

How long do edibles last?

The effects you can expect to encounter with your edibles will depend on your tolerance, your body weight and dosage ingested. However, you can expect to enjoy your buzz for some time.

For most people, it will be somewhere between 5-10 hours, which is significantly longer than when marijuana is ingested through smoking. However, there have been reports for edible effects to last over 12-14 hours.

How long do edibles stay in your system?

Marijuana edibles will stay in your bloodstream for around 24 hours, in your urine for up to 7 days and in your hair for around a year. However, depending on the amount of cannabis you intake on a daily or weekly basis, marijuana edibles can stay in your system for a longer period of time.

Do edibles stay in your system longer than smoking?

Edibles typically to stay in the system longer compared to smoking. When you eat or digest marijuana, the THC molecules are broken down by the liver and processed over time, and the THC is directly stored in the body’s fat cells. Whereas, when you smoke, THC is consumed in one short burst and your body starts processing THC instantly. 

If you’re looking to get edibles or THC out of the system, you’ll need to know this dependent on your metabolic rate, body-fat content, diet, use of cannabis and exercise routine. The best advice to get THC out of your system is to increase your daily exercise time, sweat, reduce fatty-sugar foods and consume high amounts of cranberry juice and lemon water.

ARTICLE RECAP

What are edibles? Edibles are any food item that has been infused with cannabis, THC, CBD or cannabidiol.

Types of edibles: There is a large assortment of edibles on the market including brownies, cookies, chocolate, gummies, cannabutter, marshmallows, jerky, candy, suckers, truffles, beverages and so many more.

What are the prices of edibles? The price ranges depending on the strength and type of edible purchased. For low mg edibles, prices range from $15 to $30. The more potent edibles that range from 50mg to 100mg can reach up to $50+.

Edible dosage: The right edible dosage will vary from person to person depending on if you’re a daily smoker, have a high tolerance or just a beginner. Start small with a 10mg edible and work your way up.

Edible side effects: In short, an edible is digested and absorbed in the body creating a high that is more intense and can last longer than smoking cannabis.