The world of cannabis edibles has come a long way. Gone are the days of settling for a dry brownie. With a booming and legitimate weed culture, the world has opened its collective mouth to the many ways that we can use cannabis in the kitchen.

So what are the benefits of eating weed? Why bother eating it when you could just light up a spliff? Here we look into why you'd want to eat weed rather than smoke it.

What are cannabis edibles?

Cannabis edibles are items of food (or drink) that have been imbued with psychoactive properties from cannabis. In some instances, the flower or hash is cooked directly into the food, in others the cannabinoids are first extracted and then added to a new substance. A good example of the latter is cannabutter, which is then used to cook other recipes with.

Otherwise, a cannabis edible can pretty much be anything you can think up. Of course, by far the most famous are brownies and cookies.

What are the benefits of cannabis edibles?

There are several reasons why choosing to ingest your cannabis rather than smoking or vaping might be preferable to you. Whether you're health-conscious, or just want to get extremely high, there's good reason to eat your weed.

It's discrete

Smoking joints and bowls have one major give away—they tend to be pretty smelly! Now, we all love that smell ourselves, but a lot of people don't, and it might sometimes be preferable to operate a little more stealthily.

Edibles are scentless. Or at least, they don't smell like weed. And nobody is likely to come knocking because they smell the delicious aroma of brownies wafting over. Plus, you can pack edibles up and take them out places with you and eat them in plain sight; nobody will be any the wiser. That's not to say they won't notice when you get quite stoned, though!

Better for your lungs and throat

It's no secret that inhaling combusted materials comes with a huge amount of negative health consequences. Even if you remove tobacco from the occasion, cannabis still contains over 4000 different compounds when it's burned, and many of these are dangerous.

By eating it, you avoid all of this. Perhaps eating several brownies a day will come with its own health drawbacks, but there are plenty of healthy edible options out there too.

If you want to avoid inhaling any smoke or vapour, but you still want to enjoy the rich tapestry of feelings you get when cannabinoids dance around your body and brain, edibles can provide this.

Throw out that paraphanelia

On top of that, never again will you need your pockets and surfaces cluttered with half-packs of papers, dead lighters, damp and curled filter tips and that always impossible to find pack of gauzes.

With edibles, all you need is some cannabis and what you've likely already got in your kitchen.

Cheap to make

Edibles can be extremely cheap, depending on what you want to make. Of course, if you want to cook up some premiere dishes with marijuana jus swirling around the edges, you might find the price begins to increase. If, however, you're happy with a simple brownie or even toast and (canna)butter, it can be incredibly cheap.

The price point becomes more obvious when you consider the expenses that go on things like tobacco and a good quality bong. They may be affordable, but you're likely to notice the difference after a few months of staying away from these things. Though obviously, if you've already got a top-quality bong, it's a little late for this one.

They are delicious

It goes without saying that a cannabis edible can be a sensory delight. Of course, it depends on your cooking ability; it might be gross. However, you can rustle up something delicious with a bit of luck and effort. Sweet or savoury, take your pick. Why not have a savoury main and then a sweet dessert, just so you don't have to make a choice?

Lasts longer and is more potent

When delta-9-THC (the compound in weed that gets you high) is digested, it's converted into 11-hydroxy-THC. This version of THC is longer lasting and more potent, getting you more from your weed.

Whereas when you smoke a joint, you'll start to sober up within an hour or so, when you eat weed it can last for many hours. Sometimes you can even wake up high the next day, which can be good or bad.

But if a mighty session is what you're after, edibles can ensure this. Likewise, if you just want to take something in the day for one long high that you don't need to worry about topping up, edibles can also cater to this.

What are the drawbacks of cannabis edibles?

Edibles aren't outright better than smoking/vaping, though. Nothing's perfect. Naturally, some drawbacks to eating your weed may make other options more desirable. It's all about suiting your needs.

Time

Edibles can take some time to take effect. When you smoke weed, it hits almost instantaneously. When you eat it, it can take up to an hour or so to take effect. If you've got plenty of time, this is fine. But if you're after a quick high, maybe find another method.

Also, as effects can take a long time to kick in, some people may eat more, thinking nothing has happened. Unfortunately, they then find they're doubly high when it eventually does kick in. Due to the strength of edibles, this can be unpleasant.

It's harder to manage dosage

On top of that, knowing exactly how much you've taken can be difficult. With a perfectly made edible, say a brownie, you can't know how much THC is in each serving with a large degree of accuracy—unless you have a very fancy set-up.

There's a big likelihood you haven't taken the necessary steps to do this, though. Therefore, some edibles may be more potent than others, making dosing difficult.

Lasts longer and is more potent

You might recognise this one from the benefits list as well. Long and strong highs can be great, but they can also be quite unpleasant too. If you find you're not enjoying your high, it could go on for a long time and continue to get stronger for a while on top.

This is why it's important to start low and slow and judge where you're at before munching everything down. There's no going back with edibles, and it's a long journey out!

Recipe ideas for cannabis edibles

If you like the sound of edibles, here are a few ideas to whet your appetite:

• Brownies
• Cookies
• Cannabutter
• Weed lollipops
• Cannabis pizza
• THC gummies
• Weed milk

Edibles or smoking: what should you choose?

Really, the likelihood is that you'll do edibles sometimes and smoke other times. So deciding between the two is simply a matter of whatever you feel like at the time—which suits your needs best. There's really no need to stress over it.

Plus, one doesn't preclude the other. Why not dive into a cannabis pizza, wash it down with a glass of weed milk and follow that up with a spliff? Obviously, exercise caution before indulging in that much of the good stuff, but the point is that it's not a binary decision. They're all just great ways to enjoy our favourite herb.