.png)
Edibles are available at every dispensary in the Natural State, and Arkansas marijuana patients can find themselves wondering how much they should take, when they should take them, and how they should take them. Arkansas Marijuana Card is your go-to resource for cannabis news and information in Arkansas, and in this article we’ll cover taking edibles on an empty stomach.
Edibles on An Empty Stomach
Introducing a new substance to your body on an empty stomach can have varying effects. This is true not just for intoxicating substances, but vitamins and medications, too. Some medications even require an empty stomach to work efficiently, while some need food to boost their absorption.
So, what about cannabis edibles? Is it okay to take them on an empty stomach?
In order to purchase edibles from dispensaries, patients must first become an Arkansas marijuana patient. Our team of doctors at Arkansas Marijuana Card are here to help -- give us a call at 844-249-8714 to get your questions answered today!
How Do Arkansas Edibles Work?
You can safely consume edibles whether your stomach is empty or full. However, your body will react differently, and possibly dramatically, depending on whether or not you’ve eaten recently.
THC acts very differently when it is taken as an edible. The edible isn’t processed in your stomach, it’s actually absorbed through the small intestine. When you consume cannabis as an edible, the cannabinoids in the plant travel from your stomach into your small intestine, and your liver starts to convert the new molecules into metabolites. This process introduces new metabolites that are created when you take edibles.
One of the metabolites that get produced is a very strong psychoactive compound known as 11-OH-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC, also called 11-hydroxy-THC).
11-OH-THC is regarded as being more potent than THC, but how much more potent is debated, as well as whether or not it is the metabolite by itself, or in the combination of 11-OH-THC and THC that produce the greater strength.
Whether or not 11-OH-THC is solely responsible for the much stronger effect of edibles is up to suggestion. What is universally accepted, is that edibles are more potent and longer lasting than other consumption methods.
The potency and longevity of edibles make them incredibly valuable for times when you need prolonged relief. However, it can be very uncomfortable if you accidentally consume too much THC.
The Effect of Arkansas Edibles With and Without Food
When you take edibles on an empty stomach, they get to your small intestine faster. When you take edibles on a full stomach, your gallbladder produces helpful bile acids that promote solubilization of molecules like THC, causing them to be processed faster.
So which way is better?
When you take an edible on a full stomach, you will likely have a slightly longer activation time. Depending on what foods you ate previously, they can either inhibit or expedite THC activation. You could even see a noticeable difference in potency, eating a meal before taking an edible can decrease the overall potency. If your meal happens to be full of terpenes, Omega-3 fatty acids, or certain antioxidants, you might even find the effects to be more potent.
When you take an edible on an empty stomach, you will likely have a slightly faster activation time. This can be preferable if you want a quicker onset of effects, however newer patients can sometimes find this more unpleasant than a gradual onset. Because the effects of taking edibles can be much more potent than other consumption methods and each patient’s experience can vary wildly, those with lower tolerance or familiarity are not recommended to take edibles on an empty stomach.
Edibles are safe whether taken on a full or empty stomach, however the effects can be noticeably different. When you consume edibles without eating beforehand, you might experience stronger, faster effects. On a full stomach the effects can take longer to kick in and they might last a little longer.
If you’re new to edibles, avoid trying them on an empty stomach. But if you are familiar with how edibles affect you, it is okay to eat an edible without food. Be sure to decrease the dose slightly to avoid an uncomfortable high.
Check out these top five edibles from Arkansas dispensaries and send us your review on them at @arkansas_mmj on Twitter!
Get Your Arkansas Marijuana Card
Arkansas marijuana patients have a good number of edibles to choose from, and how you take them will affect every patient differently.
Perhaps you’re about to go to sleep and want to take an edible on an empty stomach for a faster, more peaceful rest. Or maybe you don’t want the effects to come on as strong and need a smaller dose with a full stomach.
Everyone is different, and being an Arkansas marijuana patient allows you the freedom to take your medication the right way for you.
The Arkansas Medical Marijuana program is available for anyone with a qualifying condition, and getting your card is fast and easy with Arkansas Marijuana Card.
We’re dedicated to helping patients every step of the way, feel free to give us a call at 844-249-8714, and we can answer your questions about getting medical marijuana in Arkansas.
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
Helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at 844-249-8714, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Arkansas Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Arkansas.
Comments