What Happens When I Smoke Cannabis VS Eat Cannabis?
February 4, 2025
Cannabis-infused cooking has been huge in gaining popularity, growing from a niche hobby to an experience in the mainstream culinary ring. You’ve probably noticed there are more and more cannabis cookbooks, cooking shows, and social media around making great edibles at home.
Canna cooking isn’t like tossing a few herbs into your favorite pasta dish. When you ingest cannabis, it affects your body in a way that is very different than when you smoke it. For those new to the process, you may be surprised at just how strong the effects of cannabis can be when eaten.
The two most common mistakes that can occur in cannabis cooking are as follows:
These errors can make cooking maddening. Now, let’s go through the basics of cooking with cannabis so you can create safe and enjoyable edibles that deliver the experience you’re looking for.
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the major psychoactive compound responsible for the high. When it connects with your brain’s receptors, it can cause a variety of effects, including:
How you consume your cannabis is going to change your experience entirely.
When you smoke cannabis:
When you ingest cannabis:
Your body absorbs ingested cannabis differently than smoked cannabis. When you eat it, your liver converts THC into a stronger compound, 11-hydroxy-THC, which will be more potent and longer-lasting.
Infused cooking has grown from a niche activity to full-on mainstream culinary. Most likely, you’ve noticed the surge in cannabis cookbooks, cooking shows, and social media postings centered around making good edibles at home.
Cooking with cannabis isn’t that easy, though: a few sprinkles of herbs mixed into your favorite recipes can create ingestive effects of cannabis radically different from those one would experience by smoking—unless you know how to—the effects could make things a bit too intense.
Two of the most frequent errors that happen in cannabis cooking include:
These common mistakes can make cooking a miserable experience. Now, let’s look at what you need to know to prepare great edibles, safe to eat and producing just the experience for which you are looking.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the stuff that gets you high. Binding to your brain’s receptors can make a few things happen to THC, such as:
The method you choose for consuming cannabis has a significant impact on your experience.
Begin your cannabis cooking journey with small amounts. Start with 1/4 teaspoon of cannabis-infused oil or butter per serving and wait 24 hours before adjusting your recipe quantities. Take notes on your reactions to different amounts, and don’t forget to label all cannabis-infused ingredients.
Keep a log of your cannabis cooking experiments to better understand what works for you. Note the strain and amount used, infusion method and time, total recipe yield, serving size, effects and onset time, and your own notes on flavor and strength.
Accurate dosing is very important in relation to obtaining desired effects. A digital scale measuring in grams, measuring spoons, and droppers for oils are important. Storage containers with marked measurements should also be had. The cooking journal of experiences lived through the cooking adventure with cannabis is a nice aid in becoming refined at creating enjoyable experiences connoisseuring cannabis use tailor-made according to your tastes.
For a kinder, gentler way of cannabis-infused cooking, seek out CBD. Unlike THC, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis with several therapeutic benefits and no effects on your mental state.
Explore our premium CBD product collection, which includes:
Adding CBD to your kitchen creations provides numerous benefits:
You can use CBD in your favorite recipes just like THC. Add it to smoothies, baked goods, or savory dishes without the worry of decarboxylation or psychoactive effects.
CBD cooking is a way to enjoy the medicinal properties of cannabis without the loss of clarity in your mental state. In CBD cooking, start with small doses, say 5-10 mg CBD per serving, to test your body’s sensitivity and proceed from there. Keep all your CBD creations in airtight containers and away from direct sunlight to preserve the potency.
Cooking with cannabis opens the doors to many exciting possibilities in the culinary world. Still, thoughtful preparation and mindful consumption are very important. We hope these tips will help you avoid some common mistakes and create delicious, safe cannabis-infused dishes.
Ready to begin your cannabis cooking journey? Share experiences, ask questions, or just hang out with fellow like-minded cannabis cooking enthusiasts. Remember, responsible consumption starts with quality ingredients and proper preparation.
Our team at High Forest ReLeaf is here to support you. We offer premium CBD products and expert advice to help you reach your wellness goals. Contact us at (931) 253-1991, visit our store, or browse our online selection.