Regardless of the type, edibles come with psychoactive elements. When used over a longer period of time, they can become addictive and affect your body, brain, and mental health. The safety of weed has been contested for years. But this doesn’t prevent it from being hazardous, even for medical purposes. Due to its widespread legalization, marijuana is more accessible than ever, making it easy to fall into the wrong hands.
Here, we discuss the dangers of edibles and decode the question, “How to recover from edibles?”
What Are Edibles?
Any food product infused with marijuana is known as an edible. These could be in the form of chocolates, lozenges, brownies, or cookies. Sometimes, cannabis edibles can also come in the form of gummies. Regulated edibles are usually created and distributed by authorized companies in states with legal cannabis or baked or cooked at home by individuals.
Can Edibles Cause Weed Hangover?
The most common short-term side effect of edibles is a weed hangover, which occurs when you consume more weed than your individual limit. The severity of your weed hangover depends directly on the amount of THC (or Tetrahydrocannabinol) you have consumed.
An International Journal of Drug Policy research reveals that edibles cause more THC overconsumption when compared to cigarettes. So, compared to a weed joint, ingesting edibles increases the chances of your hangover. Edibles metabolize slowly and can remain effective even after you wake up. The symptoms of a weed hangover include:
- A dull, constant headache
- Brain fog and a lack of focus
- Dry and itchy eyes
- Hypersensitivity to noise and bright lights
- Jitteriness and exhaustion
- A feeling that you’ve been high for a long time
- A mild dryness of the mouth
How to Recover from Edibles
Coping with a weed hangover can seem challenging. You may feel tempted to stay in bed throughout the day. But to get rid of excessive marijuana intake, it’s important to move your body as much as you can. A well-rounded recuperation process often includes ample hydration, constant movement, healthy eating, relaxation, and (if you’re inclined) even meditation.
- Take a walk: Start by taking a quick stroll to get some fresh air. Take deep breaths as you walk to ensure the oxygen replenishes your brain and lungs. Deep breaths are also important to shake off brain fog and attain mental clarity. Make sure you walk for 20 minutes to an hour.
- Stretch: Next, unroll a yoga mat and perform a few basic stretches. Make sure you breathe deeply throughout the process. Stretches like backbends help expand the chest and open your body to more oxygen. You can even add a 5-minute meditation session to boost your energy.
- Eat a good meal: Once you check your exercise box, whip up a healthy breakfast. You can either go for a fruity bowl of oatmeal or make an omelet for yourself. Make sure the breakfast you eat is made of nutrient-dense ingredients.
- Drink plenty of water: Pay special attention to your hydration needs throughout the day. A little bit of caffeine infusion – in the form of tea or coffee – can stimulate your mind while giving you an energy boost. If your headache is persistent, you can go for an over-the-counter painkiller.
- Rest: Relax by taking a cool bath and getting as much rest as you can.
Long-Term Dangers of Edibles
Cannabis contains the psychoactive component THC which causes a high when you consume the drug. Once THC enters the bloodstream, it attaches to the brain’s cannabinoid receptors. The result is a change in mood, behavior, and perception.
But what makes edibles more harmful than a joint? The answer lies in the potency of edibles. When you smoke weed, you can control the quantity of marijuana entering your system by counting the number of puffs you take. The same is not the case with edibles; you end up biting more than you can chew.
Those who consume edibles with higher milligrams of THC can often ingest too much by accident. This can result in side effects that may be life-threatening. Here’s why edibles can be dangerous, especially for teens:
- Edibles can push individuals to other dangerous and more addictive drugs in the future.
- They can impair cognitive brain development and cause irreparable brain damage.
- The effects of edibles take a lot of time to appear. This causes people to ingest too much marijuana and fills the body with dangerous toxins.
- The body’s cravings for edibles increase over time, and this can lead to severe addictions.
- The body’s marijuana tolerance also increases, causing people to use more edibles for the same result. This can then lead to an overdose.
Aside from developing other more severe addictions, edibles can trigger conditions like anxiety, trauma, and depression. When it comes to long-term usage of edibles, the answer to “how to recover from edibles” lies solely in seeking professional help.
Contact Launch Centers
There are numerous risks associated with THC edibles that teens fail to recognize. At Launch Centers, our mission is to help young individuals overcome drug addiction, get their lives back in control, and reach their full potential.
Cusped near the California coast, our recovery center unfolds the perfect environment for people coping with drug addiction. If you or someone you know is dangerously ingesting cannabis, the time to seek help is now. Contact us to help kickstart your teen’s recovery.
