Advantage of Buying Weed Edibles Online
This is the first study to delve deeper into the adverse health effects of weed edibles based on "exposure pathways," or how drugs are consumed.
Cannabis is usually smoked but can be given in other ways, such as eating.
The effect of the drug on the body, absorption (the time it takes to feel the effect), and duration are all affected by the route of administration.
There was a big difference in the symptoms of patients in the emergency room depending on whether they ate or smoked cannabis. Food was likely to cause acute psychiatric events such as anxiety and panic attacks.
The most common reason to smoke cannabis and take users to the emergency room is cannabis hypersensitivity syndrome, which causes repetitive or periodic vomiting that is difficult to treat.
The authors of the study state that while smoked cannabis takes more people to the emergency room as a whole, it is clear that edible cannabis products are likely to have a negative impact on health.
"Milligrams per milligram of THC has more side effects when it comes in edible form than inhaled cannabis," Monte said. "If 1,000 people smoke weeds with edible products and 1,000 people smoke the same dose, more people will get more side effects from edible cannabis."
The question of why edible is an imbalance in the number of these results is not clear from the report.
It is not uncommon to hear that users take too high a dose or accidentally take too many doses at one time.
"This may be because people affected by the toxicity of edible products are naive users who have never experienced it before," Mr. Behrer said.
When eaten, cannabis takes much longer to kick in, and highs last longer. When you smoke marijuana, the effects are felt almost immediately, with peak blood levels usually occurring within an hour. Highs can last for hours.
Cannabis edible foods can take an hour or more to be noticeable. The highs are fairly long and last up to 12 hours. The edible delay effect of cannabis can cause users to eat more than they need to.
Paul Armentano, deputy director of the national organization for marijuana law reform, told Healthline that eating THC products has a broader impact on people than smoking and e-cigarettes.
He said the effects of the drug could also last longer and were more likely to be unpleasant when consumed in edible form.
"This is because the body metabolizes THC in a radically different way, after oral administration and after inhalation," he said.
Understand the potential dangers Understand
This study is the latest to investigate the harmful effects of edible cannabis products.
Last month, the Canadian Journal of Cardiology published a case report of a 70-year-old man who had a heart attack after taking cannabis lollipops.
Cannabis affects the cardiovascular system and can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Previous studies have confirmed an increased risk of a heart attack after using cannabis.
Monte's work is an important step in understanding and recognizing that cannabis consumed in different forms can have different but serious adverse health effects.
What is clear is that we need to better inform the general public about the benefits and efficacy of edible cannabis.
"There is a need for greater awareness among both consumers and sellers that the route of administration plays an important role in the duration and extent of the drug's effect," Armentano said.
"The landscape has changed dramatically," said Behrer, who said cannabis is much more powerful than it was in the past.
He also pointed out that the liberalization of marijuana law has reduced awareness of harm.
Despite the discoveries of his research, Monte does not want his work to be sensational.
"Visits to these emergency rooms should not be exaggerated. Our emergency department is not overwhelmed by these visits. Our emergency department sees about 300 cases per day. However, in reality, only one visit is considered to be "caused by cannabis." So this is a very small percentage of the people we see. Many people use cannabis safely without the adverse events of narcotics. "
Cannabis is safely used by many, but monitoring its adverse health effects is an important step for public health functions.