What are the effects of mixing CBD and THC?
Adding CBD to THC can enhance the medical benefits of cannabis edibles and addressing ailments, while also decreasing the intensity of intoxication and the accompanying adverse effects, such as impairment and elevated heart rate..
Because of its unique interaction with our endocannabinoid receptors, CBD partially blocks the intoxicating effects of THC, giving consumers medical benefits of cannabis without as much impairment. It’s important for consumers to know the contents of each of these components and the ratio of CBD to THC before ingestion.
Balanced edibles, or those with a CBD:THC ratio of 1:1, will be therapeutic and produce less impairment than edibles with just THC.
For example, a person who feels moderately high or impaired after taking 5 mg of THC will likely feel less or no impairment when taking 5 mg of THC with 20 mg of CBD.
Many brands available in dispensaries have expanded their ratios, and offer edibles with both higher and lower ratios of CBD:THC. As the amount of CBD in an edible increases, the likelihood of unwanted intoxicating effects goes down. Edibles can come in CBD:THC ratios of 2:1, 5:1, 10:1, 20:1, and more..
Some may also incorporate other non-intoxicating cannabinoids, like CBG, or semi-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBN. .
Always keep in mind that consuming excessive amounts of edibles with THC, no matter how much CBD, can still produce unpleasant effects. Always check the labels for accurate dosing, and consult a budtender or medical professional familiar with cannabis’ effects.
What if I don't feel any effects from taking an edible?
If you don’t feel any effects from an edible after one hour, try eating a snack, like fresh fruit, to stimulate digestion and help absorption in your gut. When consuming cannabis in any form, and especially edibles, we reiterate that you “start low and go slow.”
Even if you consider yourself a heavy smoker, you’ll likely have a low tolerance if you don’t regularly consume edibles, and may want to start with 2.5 mg, a half dose. Wait at least 60 minutes after eating to gauge the effects. If you want more effects, take another 2.5 mg, or even less.
Some people who are new to cannabis require 2-3 doses before they feel anything at all, so it’s often best to try the same low dose three times with 8 to 24 hours between trials before increasing the dose.
You may find that you aren’t experiencing the same effects as your friends, and that is okay. Everybody reacts to THC differently, and some individuals are more receptive than others.
