Comparing Safety: Edibles vs. Smoking Cannabis

Weddings are now featuring cannabis-infused chocolate fountains. “Budtenders” are preparing cannabis cocktails. As edibles sales rise, cannabis brands are emphasizing the idea that their products are a healthier alternative to bongs and blunts.

Kiva, a company that makes cannabis chocolate bars and fruit-flavored gummies, states on their website that “edibles allow you to enjoy cannabis without the negative side effects of smoking.”

Consumers are increasingly asking if this is the case, but the answer is complicated. There has been little research comparing the health effects of edibles versus smoking. What we know so far is primarily based on limited data, anecdotes, and inferences from researchers and clinicians. Before beginning to use any kind of marijuana product, we always recommend that you speak with a medical marijuana doctor. Your physician will advise you on the best cannabis product to use in treating your particular medical condition.

According to Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins Medicine who specializes in cannabis research, “there’s tons of nuance there.” “You can’t say in black and white that vaping is worse than smoking or that edibles are safer than smoking because there are different risks associated with each method.”

Edibles are harder to dose

When someone smokes a joint, the high begins almost immediately and fades after a few hours. However, cannabinoids in edibles travel slowly through the gastrointestinal tract. According to Daniel Barrus, a pharmacologist at the nonprofit research organization RTI International, users can feel the effects in anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. Even experienced cannabis users can experience variations in timing because the contents of their stomachs influence how quickly an edible takes effect, according to Dr. Collin Reiff is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University.

As a result, consumers may take an extra bite of a pot brownie or eat another gummy to get a stronger effect—and end up far too high when the drug finally kicks in, causing paranoia, delusions, and panic attacks. These effects usually subside within hours, but some people experience rapid, racing heart rates, prompting them to seek medical attention.

Dr. Reiff stated, “I see far more negative outcomes in people who use edibles.”

A study of marijuana-related emergency department visits at a large Colorado hospital discovered that people who consumed edibles were more likely to end up in the ER. According to state cannabis sales data, smokers had a higher total admission rate, most likely because far more people smoked than used edibles. People who consumed edibles were also more likely to develop cardiovascular or acute psychiatric symptoms than smokers.

Lead author of the study Dr. Andrew Monte, an emergency medicine and medical toxicology professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, pointed out that a lot more people safely use edibles on a daily basis than wind up in hospitals.

Edibles – a potential path to stronger highs

According to James MacKillop, director of McMaster University’s Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research, edibles can sometimes produce a more intense, intoxicating high than smoking due to how the body metabolizes T.H.C., the main compound in cannabis.

Edibles have the power to affect even seasoned users. That high can be pleasant for some people, but it can also cause fear and anxiety in others.

According to Dr. MacKillop, edibles may have a lower addictive potential because, in general, the faster a person feels the effects of a drug, the more likely the user will become dependent. According to a study published last year, approximately one-fifth of those who use cannabis develop a cannabis use disorder.

The respiratory dangers of smoking cannabis

Smoking any substance can harm your lungs.

Cannabis smoke contains many of the same toxic chemicals and carcinogens as cigarette smoke, and when smoked, the drug can cause lung tissue and blood vessel damage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s also crucial to consider the method: smoking a blunt or joint exposes users to cannabis-derived particulates that can damage their lungs, as well as particulates from rolling papers or wrappers.

Vapes heat cannabis in a different way than joints, bongs, and pipes, allowing consumers to avoid harmful compounds such as carbon monoxide and tar, according to Mr. Barrus. However, vapes continue to expose the lungs to irritants, and some evidence suggests that they produce dangerous emissions. For a long time, medical professionals have been worried about illnesses and injuries associated with vaping that are brought on by toxins in vapes.

People who smoke cannabis appear to be more likely to develop bronchitis, and it is clear that smoke can irritate the lungs, according to Mr. Barrus. However, studies have not definitively proven that smoking cannabis, like smoking tobacco, causes lung cancer.

If you’re considering adding cannabis to your medical regimen, you should get a medical marijuana card, which will allow you to legally access the drug in your state and spare you from any legal repercussions. From the comfort of your home, you can easily apply for a medical card online.

The shared risks

Cannabis, regardless of how it is consumed, poses both long-term and short-term risks.

Cannabis use has been linked to elevated blood pressure and heart rate. Daily use is associated with an increased risk of heart failure. The drug has a negative impact on cognition. It slows your reaction time, which is why driving high is so dangerous, and users may have difficulty concentrating and remembering even after the high wears off.

“Dose and frequency really drive health risks,” Dr. Vandrey said, as they do with any drug. “With cannabis, and for really anything else.”