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Cannabis edibles (Edibles) are any food products (either homemade or produced commercially) which contain cannabis extract. Edibles are a very popular way to consume cannabis with around 30% of cannabis users reported having consumed edibles before. Edibles are popular because they are convenient, discrete, and are perceived as more healthy than smoking cannabis. In addition, cannabis edibles affect people for a longer period of time than smoked cannabis.

Cannabis edibles are used medically in order to treat muscle pain and spasticity, epilepsy, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and nausea. Of these, the use of cannabis edibles for muscle pain and spasticity has the strongest quality of evidence. People also use cannabis edibles recreationally in order to "feel better" or "get high" which may mean anything from alleviating pain to temporarily remedying psychiatric problems such as anxiety.

The main characteristic of cannabis edibles is that they take longer to affect users compared to smoked cannabis. People often do not feel the effects right away and proceed to eat more edibles which causes the user to feel the effects more than they originally intended. However, there has never been a death reported as a result of over-intoxication from cannabis.

History (Abraham)
The earliest mention of cannabis-infused food was as far back as 2000 B.C. in India. Known as one of the oldest cannabis traditions, Bhang - a cannabis infused drink made with yogurt, nuts, spices, rose water - is an official drink of Holi, highly celebrated and revered festivals celebrated by the people of Hindu community in India revering Shiva or Kali. Parts of India even used Bhang to treat fevers and heat strokes, and even aid in digestion.

Majoun (cannabis jam) is another early type of edible first created by the nomadic Berber tribes of North Africa sometime around the 11th century. The traditional Majoun recipe calls for cannabis extract, datura seeds, honey, nuts, kif (a mixture of kief), and sometimes dates and figs. Majoun is said to have inspired the modern "pot brownie".

The first mention of edibles in Europe appeared in a cookbook titled De Honesta Voluptate et Valetudine, which translates to “On Honorable Pleasure and Health” written by Bartolomeo Platina in 1465. The recipe calls for cannabis flower to be grounded for a healthy cannabis nectar drink.

The first cannabis edible recipe appeared in the United States in the early 1960s in a cookbook called The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook written by Alice B. Toklas. The recipe is called “Hashish Fudge” and was actually contributed by Alice’s good friend, Brion Gysin. The hashish fudge recipe actually came out in second edition of the cookbook because Alice opted to omit the recipe when originally published in the United States in 1954.

Chemistry (Victor)
While THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis, THCA is found naturally in raw and live cannabis and is non-intoxicating. Over time, THCA slowly converts to THC through a process of decarboxylation, but can be sped up with exposure to high temperatures. When heated under conditions of 110°C, decarboxylation generally occurs in 30-45 minutes. When consumed orally, the liver breaks down and metabolizes THC into the more potent 11-hydroxy-THC.

Effects (Abraham)
The effects of ingesting cannabis lasts longer and can be more intense than inhaling cannabis. THC from edibles travels through the digestive system then makes its way to the liver where it undergoes a process which makes the overall effect of the THC more psychoactive than when it is typically inhaled. However, THC takes longer to affect a person when ingested than it does when inhaled because it cannot reach the bloodstream as fast. The long digestion process causes a delay in the effects of the edibles as well taking up to 2 hours for the intoxicating effect to kick in; the peak high can last from about 2 to 5 hours after ingestion; the come down can take up 7 to 12 hours after ingestion. It is important to note that everyone reacts to THC differently at various dosages and the times it takes to feel anything can vary.

Health benefits
Cannabis edibles contain both delta 9 THC, which is responsible for the psychotropic properties of feeling relaxed and euphoric, and CBD, which may produce therapeutic effects without the psychoactive effects. Such therapeutic effects include analgesia, decreased inflammation, decreased spasticity, and anti-seizure effects. Cannabis edibles with CBD can decrease symptoms of psychosis and anxiety. CBD has also been reported to treat seizures, some forms of resistant epilepsy, and other neurological conditions, including Tourette syndrome. Edible oils, tinctures, pills, and gummies have been prescribed to cancer patients to treat poor appetite, pain, and weight loss. In a study of the clinical effect of medical cannabis, edibles were found to be effective for muscle spasms and improvement in different types of pain.

Side effects
Some users of cannabis have reported adverse effects such as confusion, hallucinations, panic attacks, paranoia, and intense psychotic effects. Medical cannabis can even cause short-term impairments in cognition, memory, alertness, coordination, and balance which can increase risk of falls, especially in older people, and make driving a car dangerous.

Long-term recreational marijuana use can cause cognitive impairments and also lead to cannabis use disorder (CUD). Symptoms of CUD include lack of motivation, decreased concentration, and loss of interest in other activities, tolerance, and dependence.

Food
The important base to all food edibles is that it has fat that has been infused with THC. In other words, any food that contains butter, oil, milk, or any fatty substance can be turned into an edible. Examples of cannabis-infused foods include baked goods, candy, potato chips, and more.

Drink
A cannabis-infused drink is a drink infused with THC and can be as potent as a cannabis-infused food. These include drinks like coffee, tea, soda, and alcohol.

Tincture
Tinctures are potent, alcohol-based cannabis extracts. They are considered edibles as they are meant to be absorbed through the mouth and tongue. Tinctures are generally placed under the tongue using a dropper to allow it to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Tinctures can be added to any food or drink and provides more control over the cannabis dosage compared to cannabis-infused foods or drinks.

Dissolvable cannabinoid powder
Dissolvable cannabinoid powder is tasteless and odorless but still provides the medicinal benefits of cannabis. They are water soluble and can be mixed into foods and drinks.

Unlike traditional edibles which can take 90 minutes to take effect, cannabinoid powder can take effect in 20 minutes due to the powder's solubility, allowing the mouth, intestines, and liver to absorb the THC faster.

CBD edibles
Cannabidiol (CBD) edibles are non-psychoactive and non-intoxicating and contain 0.03% THC. These type of edibles provide the medicinal benefits of cannabis without the psychoactive effects of THC.

Capsules
Cannabis capsules are considered edibles as they are also metabolized in the gut. Capsules can contain either THC or CBD and are an easier, more convenient way of administering medications.

=== Ingredients ===

Oil
Cannabis oil, or canna-oil. is a product that blends cannabis with any type of cooking oil. Cannabis oil can be used for baking but is more commonly blended to make sauces or dressings or cooked with food. Coconut oil is a popular choice of cooking oil, but other common options are olive, avocado, and walnut oil.

Butter
Cannabis butter, or cannabutter, is unsalted butter blended with cannabis and water. Cannabutter can be added to any baking recipe.

Medicinal
In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medicinal cannabis use. By 2016, cannabis use has become legalized in 24 states. Because cannabis is seen as an effective chronic pain reducer, it has been proposed as an alternative to opioids. Studies have shown that legalization of medical cannabis is associated with less opioid overdose deaths; however, further studies are needed to determine the nature of this relationship.

In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act classified marijuana as a Schedule I substance meaning that it is not currently accepted for medicinal use, has high potential for abuse, and has lack of accepted safety for use of the drug. Usually, this would mean cannabis cannot be dispensed or prescribed; however, state laws allow for cannabis use despite these regulations.

Recreational
By 2021, the following states in the U.S. have legalized recreational marijuana: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington. Most states require some sort of labeling of the potential harmful effects of cannabis use and the nutrition facts of edible products.

On October 17, 2018, Canada became the first G7 nation to legalize recreational/adult-use cannabis with the Cannabis Act (the Act). That same day cannabis was remove from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The Act regulates retail cannabis, medical cannabis, and industrial hemp in Canada.

Physical
Regular long-term cannabis use is associated with worsened brain development, and psychiatric and heart health. On the other hand, cannabis edibles do not appear to affect pulmonary function nor increase risk for cancer which is one reason people choose cannabis edibles over smoking cannabis. Scientific testing has shown that over-consuming cannabis is not lethal; to date, there has never been a death related to the actual toxicity of cannabis. However, there has been one death associated with cannabis edibles.

A safety concern with regards to cannabis edibles is overconsumption which is usually caused by the delayed effects of ingested cannabis. Because users do not feel the effects of cannabis edibles right away, users often eat more to compensate and end up consuming too much THC. As a result, cannabis edibles have caused the most healthcare visits as compared to other forms of cannabis consumption. Additionally, the amount of cannabis in any individual product can be highly variable which is another contributing factor to overconsumption. In addition, people can have very different responses to the same amount of THC with 2.5 mg being enough for some people to begin to feel effects while, for others, 50 mg is required.

Psychological
High concentrations of THC have been shown to cause hallucinations, delusions, and anxiety in some people; for most, these symptoms only last as long as that person is intoxicated, but some people can be affected for several days. Cannabis use has been connected with increased use of other drugs, although this connection has never been shown to be causal.

Children
Many edible cannabis products are packaged in a way which appeals to children. Cannabis edibles have been the main cause of health care visits relating to accidental cannabis consumption by children.