What is the right dosage for an edible?  — Indy Gestion

I wish I knew. Everyone is different. Body weight, personal tolerance levels, how much you’ve had to eat beforehand, all kinds of things factor into how an edible will make you feel. Anecdotal experience shows me that 10 mgs of THC per 100 pounds of person is a good rule of thumb. One way to get an idea of your ideal dosage without going too far is to get some of those “microdose” candies that are usually about 5 mgs of THC apiece, eat a few and keep track of how you feel. This should give you a good idea of what you can handle. Have fun.

I often get migraines the day after taking edibles. Is this unusual? — Brianne Payne

Not really unusual. You are most likely dehydrated. People don’t talk about it much, but it is possible to have a sort of “hangover” after ingesting a bunch of pot. Think about the cottonmouth you get after smoking a joint. Now think about how much more THC is in an edible. Boom. Problem solved. Drink way more water next time. If you still get headaches, lay off the edibles. Good talk.

High Ngaio, I have been smoking weed on the daily for a long time. I just don’t get as high as I used to get. What should I do? —Tommy Tolerance

You have two choices: Start smoking a bunch of hash, or just quit smoking weed for a while. Hash will get you hella high, but eventually, you will also develop a tolerance to hash as well, and hash gets expensive. Just take a “tolerance break”: Stop smoking for like a week or two. You may feel weird at first, but you will have vivid dreams and a little extra money. After two weeks, smoke a bowl and see if you don’t get higher than you’ve been in a while.

Where are edibles made? I’m asking specifically about chocolate bars, cookies, brownies, et al. that are sold at medical cannabis dispensaries. Are they made in commercially licensed kitchens? Do local health departments approve? What’s the law? What assurances do we have that medical cannabis food products are prepared with attention to food-safety standards?  — Alkali Hank

Good question. Back in the day, most commercially sold edibles were made in someone’s home. These days, commercial kitchens pump out most of what you find in the clubs. Fortunately, there have been no known instances of someone getting food poisoning from an edible bought at a dispensary, although I am sure some people have gotten uncomfortably high.

If you are asking me this question because you want to make cannabis-infused foods to sell, remember: You aren’t making a batch of cookies for friends. You’re making food for people with a variety of illnesses, and some people may have weakened immune systems, so you need to be as clean as you can possibly be. The biggest challenge is making sure the product is consistent. The guidelines from the San Francisco Department of Public Health are a good place to start.

Perhaps we should discuss the dangers of ingesting cannabis instead of smoking it. When you eat marijuana-infused foods, the THC is metabolized by the liver instead of the bloodstream, leading to stronger, longer-lasting effects. People need to be careful. Three years ago, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote about a bad adventure she had with some cannabis-infused chocolates. Turns out she ate a 16-dose piece of chocolate. No bueno. But here is the best part: She didn’t die. No one has died purely from eating too much marijuana, although they may feel like they might. Too much booze can kill you. Too much weed just makes you feel weird. So there’s that.

What we need to do is learn to be careful with the weed products.  Err on the side of caution, people. If you are unused to marijuana, perhaps you should start with a 5 or 10 mg candy before eating a 16-dose brownie. Likewise, the people that work at the recreational cannabis stores should work very hard to make sure the noobies know just how strong a particular edible is. Like Alyssa Rosenberg points out in a nice column for the Washington Post, it’s going to take a little bit of trial and error for us to get it dialed in. Enjoy your adventures.

Ngaio Bealum has been a cannabis advocate for more than 20 years. He is the former editor of West Coast Cannabis magazine. He also writes about cannabis for a variety of publications and also produces canna-centric events all over the country. In his spare time, he travels around the country telling jokes. He has opened for Dave Chappelle and Weird Al, and is a frequent guest on the Doug Benson podcasts. Mr. Bealum also prefers sun-grown cannabis to indoor marijuana. 

Originally published in Issue 28 of Cannabis Now. LEARN MORE

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5 of the Best Magic Mushroom Strains for Beginners; Psilocybin, a remarkable compound found in magic mushrooms, is responsible for the extraordinary psychedelic experience. It gives the user otherwordly visuals that are not commonly seen, a sense of being one with their surrounding, and an uplifting sensation. These experiences can be why many people seek magic mushrooms in Ontario or anywhere in Canada.

If you are interested in seeking the magical effects of shrooms as a beginner, you need to find one that will suit your experience, and you’ll have to read more about what you need to do as a first-time user. Using Psilocybe cubensis is safe, but you must know what dose and strain will best work.

 

Benefits

As mentioned earlier, the psychedelic experience is one of the reasons why people buy shrooms in Canada. However, a few users also take them because it offers an excellent way to alleviate mental health symptoms and behavioural disorders.

In a study, psilocybin is used to help patients suffering from depression and anxiety while facing terminal cancer. More than four years after getting the dose along with psychotherapy, cancer patients who were administered psilocybin reported decreases in anxiety, depression, hopelessness, demoralization, and death anxiety. However, it is not the only study that has shown the excellent effect of psilocybin in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Some studies exist on the relationship between psilocybin and its treatment with substance abuse like alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine. Furthermore, there are other ongoing research studies on how psilocybin can induce the growth of new neurons.

 

Five Strains you Must Try

All the promising benefits of psilocybin and the psychedelic effects it induces can be some reasons people would like to give shrooms a try. If you are one of them, here is a list of the best strains you can use as a beginner.

 

Golden Teacher

Of all the existing Psilocybe cubensis, Golden Teacher is the most popular for beginners. It rises to fame in the late 1980s. Although its origins are unclear, its moderate potency became ideal for novice and expert users. It’s one of the most widespread varieties on the market. You can easily find them at online dispensaries.

They are large with broad golden crowns that grow on their sturdy stem as it matures. The golden brown colour of its cap was the source of its name. However, when dried, they look different from how they were described. The dried form is the best option for storing your mushrooms.

The name “Teacher” is given to this mushroom because of the psychedelic effects it provides. Taking them results in a profound experience that can give the user a new outlook on life.

 

Cambodian Mushrooms

Beginners might consider the Psilocybe cubensis from Cambodia. John W. Allen initially discovered them in the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, hence the name.

It is less potent than well-known, powerful mushrooms like Liberty Cap. Hence, it makes it an ideal beginner’s strain. However, even regular users can use them to enjoy uplifting and increased energy. It is said not to produce strong visuals, which can be perfect for relaxation.

 

B+ Cubensis

Since the 1990s, B+ has been the best-selling P. cubensis in the market. It has a higher-than-average potency that you can experience, but beginners can enjoy them in a lower dose. It is supposed to be a very adaptable cubensis; if you set an intention, it will gladly follow and assist you in creating the ideal frame of mind.

B+ is believed to be genetically produced from the potent Flying Saucer mushroom and a Psilocybe cubensis.

 

Alacabenzi

When used in high doses, it is said to have potent physical and spatial effects followed by noticeable warping of balance. However, it can induce a pleasant psychedelic high in modest doses, although using this requires staying in.

Beginners can take them in small or lower doses since they won’t offer an extreme psychedelic experience. Instead, it has a calming effect on the body and mind.

 

Z Strain

A stimulating cubensis hybrid known as the Z Strain or Z Cube is likely to represent a genetic isolate of the Golden Teacher. This uplifting strain resonates with energy, clarity, attention, and creativity; indeed, you can feel concentrated and invigorated. It is ideal for enhancing the mind, body, and well-being.

Due to all these factors, it is one of the most popular and innovative magic mushroom hybrids available today. You can easily find them in online dispensaries to deliver to your doorstep.

You’ll get a stabilizing yet energizing boost and moderate to high potency that provides an all-encompassing physical sensation that makes them perfect for beginners and an excellent choice for microdosing. It can also be used by psychonauts looking for a refreshing experience.

There are different strains and potencies available in the market. It is always best to choose one with low to mild strength as a beginner. However, the essential consideration is the amount you ingest because even if the P. cubensis is considered to have moderate psilocybin content when taken in high dosage, it may produce intense visuals that can cause a beginner to be afraid of the experience. Therefore, remember to start low and slow when trying them.

 

Conclusion

Magic mushrooms can be taken safely in low to moderate dosages for beginners to get the hang of it. With the cubensis mentioned above, first-time users will enjoy a mellow and smooth psychedelic trip. They can be introduced into the psychedelic world without the overwhelming experience of potent strains.

Photo by Bluebird Provisions on Unsplash