For those who are new to trying cannabis products or who want a more discrete (and often more potent) alternative to smoking, THC edibles are a great choice with plenty of variety to suit your own taste. But should you buy your edibles from a dispensary or make them yourself at home?
Homemade edibles are especially difficult to dose accurately, and it’s easy to consume too much at one time. That said, they can be less expensive and more customizable than dispensary-bought ones.
Read on to learn more about THC edibles and the pros and cons of making your own versus buying them from a dispensary.
Common Types of THC Edibles
Edibles — that is, food or beverage products that have been infused with cannabis — can come in many different types. Basically, if it contains cannabis (THC, CBD, or both) and you can eat or drink it, it’s an edible.
Some of the most common types of THC edibles include:
- Gummies
- Baked goods
- Chocolates
- Hard candies
- Mints
- Beverages
All that variety means you can get a wide range of potency depending on not only the type of edible but also how it’s made. While it tends to take longer for the effects of THC edibles to set in than it does for smoking, edibles’ effects also tend to feel stronger and last longer.
Homemade THC Edibles
Since THC edibles can be just about any food or drink item, it is both possible and potentially more cost effective to make your own instead of buying from a dispensary. You can also customize homemade edibles according to your own tastes — if you can make it, you can likely add cannabis to it.
However, the dosage for edibles is very difficult to calculate, especially if you’re making a large-batch recipe. Not only do you need to determine the overall amount of cannabis to include, but you also need to consider the THC content of each individual serving of the finished product.
If you do choose to experiment with making your own THC edibles, it will likely take some trial and error to get the dosage, taste, and consistency you desire. Have fun adding cannabis to your favorite recipes, but remember to take it slow and avoid overdosing and ruining the experience for yourself.
Dispensary THC Edibles
Because edibles are not approved or regulated by the FDA, it’s up to individual states to set regulations for labeling edible products with ingredients, THC amounts, and recommended dosage. In New Mexico, for example, non-medical users may purchase up to 800 mg of edibles at one time.
Buying your THC edibles from a dispensary may be more expensive than making your own, but the tradeoff is greater confidence that you’re getting not only an appropriate dosage in compliance with your state’s laws but also a consistent level of quality.
Instead of trying to calculate and perfect just the right dosage on your own, buying from a dispensary allows you to ask questions about things like ingredients and recommended serving sizes (if they aren’t already on the label). And when you find an edible you really like, you don’t have to worry about trying to replicate the recipe.
The Right Quality & Consistency of THC Edibles
Whether you get them at a dispensary or make them yourself, THC edibles come in a wide variety of flavors, sizes, and types of food or beverages. While it’s often less expensive to make your own, it’s also more difficult to get a safe, consistent dosage.
When you buy from a trusted dispensary, however, you can be confident that you’re getting edibles with the right dosage and of the highest quality.
Shop our selection of high-quality THC edibles and other cannabis products.