As the marijuana industry has expanded, edibles have become very in vogue with marijuana enthusiasts across the nation. Accordingly, the options for edibles now go far beyond the humble brownie, incorporating dozens of options for the more discerning culinary and pot enthusiasts. But the question is, are edibles better for you than smoking cannabis? The article below dissects the pros and cons so you can make an educated decision about how you want to experiment with weed.

An Alternative to Smoking

Edibles are food products that have been infused with marijuana. While brownies & THC gummies tend to be the best-known examples of this type of weed product, in actuality, almost any food can be infused with marijuana and turned into a delivery system for the drug.

Any typical food that contains fat – such as olive oil, butter, even peanut butter, can be mixed with cannabis strains to create weed edibles. There are even cannabis cookbooks out there with 1000’s of different recipes to get the most out of cooking with cannabis.

Typically, the effects of edibles are more intense than smoking marijuana. This is because the THC is metabolized by the liver and converts it into a stronger version of THC that delivers a stronger high. However, it also means you must wait longer for the effect, so the risk can be that novices will consume too much while waiting for the high to kick in. It’s important that if you are trying edibles for the first time, you consume them very slowly and wait a couple of hours before you try increasing your dose. Otherwise, you might experience a bad high. Additionally, the high from an edible can last for up to eight hours, so you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of time for the high to wear off before you have to go anywhere.

Are Edibles the Healthier Option?

The short answer is that yes, edibles are healthier than smoking marijuana. Smoking is never good for your lungs and it can cause complications. Although it doesn’t contain the same chemicals as a cigarette, the smoke you inhale when you smoke weed does contain carcinogens. In addition, those smoking weed tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer which means the smoke spends more time in their lungs. This causes irritation to the respiratory system and the lungs. Regardless of how you stay active, athletes don’t want to do anything that can compromise their lungs, and that might prompt them to avoid smoking. Edibles give those who want to experiment with marijuana an option to try it without exposing their lungs to damage.

Of course, vaping has become very popular in recent years and could be considered an alternative to smoking marijuana. However, it’s important to note that vaping regularly or to excess has led to an unpredictable respiratory condition that medical professionals are at a loss to treat or explain fully. Vaping long term seems to have an unexpected effect on the lungs that athletes (and others) might want to avoid. Cannabis drinks are another form of consumption that has recently entered the market, but how receptive the market will be to this idea is still up in the air.

Try them out for yourself

Marijuana is being legalized all over the place and more people are taking the opportunity to try the substance. But smoking isn’t the right option for everyone. If you’re looking for a healthy way to experience marijuana, weed gummies and other edibles are the great option for those looking for the cannabis high while reducing the harmful smoke and other properties that come with smoking marijuana.