They both get you high, but consuming pot-laced foods is a completely different beast than smoking weed. Leafly compiles these 5 critical differences between the two, good to know for rookies and veterans alike.
5 Critical Differences Between Edibles and Smoking
By The Stoner's Cookbook
We all know there's a difference between consuming edibles and smoking pot. But did you know these 5 facts? Leafly shares the key differences between the two.
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THC is Absorbed Differently
By The Stoner's Cookbook
Why are edibles so much stronger than smoked or vaporized cannabis? When you consume edibles, THC is metabolized by the liver, converting it to 11-hydroxy-THC, which gives a more intense high.
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Effects and Duration
By The Stoner's Cookbook
Edibles can take anywhere from 30 min to 2 hrs to kick in & the effects can last several hours. Compared to inhaled cannabis, they deliver a smaller concentration of cannabinoids to the bloodstream.
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Edibles Are More Difficult to Dose
By The Stoner's Cookbook
Even pro's can have difficulty capturing the right dose due to the delay between ingestion & onset of effects. Inhaled cannabis, with its instantaneous effects, allows the consumer to gradually dose.
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Disparities in Advertised Potency
By The Stoner's Cookbook
Your distributor may have batches of edibles that vary in potency so be sure to keep it slow, or you may find out the hard way that the batch is a lot stronger than you thought.
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Edibles as a Healthier Alternative to Smoking
By The Stoner's Cookbook
Many people are interested in edibles because they don't enjoy smoking or are worried about the health concerns. [Vaporization](http://www.leafly.com/news/products/conduction-vs-convection-the-vaping-basics) is another alternative, but edibles provide longer lasting pain relief.
