Ever wonder why certain foods appear to affect you more severely than others? The main distinction between edibles and smoking or vaping is the amount of Delta-9-THC that enters the liver when consuming edibles, which is substantially higher.

When you consume edibles that contain 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), your liver transforms around 50% of activated THC into 11-hydroxy tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC or 11-hydroxy-THC). Even while the science behind it all is unknown, we know that if taken in excess, it can blow you off or mess you up.

The Difference Is Just a Matter of Metabolic Routes

Cannabis can be consumed in a wide range of unique and fascinating ways. However, edibles are regarded as one of the most effective strategies out of all of them. They are linked to highs that start much later, last much longer, and have a more significant psychoactive effect.

When it comes to some levels of predictability, edibles are also infamous. Compared to smoking, they take a lot longer to start working, which makes it much simpler to abuse them. Smoking and vaping are much simpler to control because users can take things slowly, one puff at a time.

The Effects of 11-Hydroxy-THC Can Be Very Strong.

The cannabis plant doesn’t contain 11-hydroxy-THC, and your cannabis edible doesn’t even contain it. Your body produces this strong therapeutic molecule as it breaks down THC.

THC is a potent and common cannabinoid that enters your body orally and eventually makes its way to the liver. It is broken down into smaller molecules known as metabolites. Additionally, several metabolic enzymes participate in this first-pass metabolism process. THC is broken down by first-pass metabolism into 11-OH-THC and 11-carboxy-THC (11-COOH-THC). The fact that edibles feel greater than other cannabis delivery techniques is likely because many researchers think that the psychoactive effects of 11-hydroxy-THC are four times stronger than those of THC.

The blood-brain barrier is particularly well-crossed by THC, an active metabolite, which causes a stronger high. Inhaled THC goes through a different metabolic process since it goes directly to the brain rather than traveling through the stomach and liver.

The human brain has more CB1 receptors than opioid receptors, which is a fun fact. This is one of the numerous elements that affect the potency of the “high” people experience.

What is Currently Known About 11-Hydroxy-THC?

We know the more potent effects of 11-hydroxy-THC thanks to a vast body of anecdotal evidence compiled over time. The benefits of edibles for medical purposes have been enjoyed by consumers for thousands of years, even though there hasn’t been nearly enough research on the precise medical effects of cannabis. Unfortunately, much of the earlier scientific study on 11-hydroxy-THC concentrates more on the substance’s bioavailability and ability to be detected in blood and urine samples than on its psychoactivity.

The Benefits of Edibles

Edibles have effects that last longer, for starters. They normally take 60 to 120 minutes (on average 90 minutes) to begin working, as opposed to 3 to 10 minutes with smoking, although they can last much longer (20-30 hours). The average high from cannabis edibles lasts six to eight hours, whereas the high from smoking only lasts one to four hours, depending on the user’s tolerance.

According to users, the effects of edible cannabis are said to be slightly more sedative than those of cannabis smoking. Due to this, edibles may be a fantastic treatment for ailments like sleeplessness. A dose is taken several hours before bedtime can help with a significant sense of tiredness. Additionally, the pulmonary irritation that some cannabis smokers perceive is not present when cannabis is eaten orally.

Before taking medication, make sure to eat.

You might not notice much of an effect from an edible in some situations. The liver carries out the first-pass metabolism of cannabis consumed in edible form. Here, a lot of cannabis sufferers and lovers occasionally run into issues.

The liver can be so adept at metabolizing foreign substances that it can break down the edible’s THC too quickly to have noticeable effects. The liver’s early metabolism, sometimes known as the “first-pass effect,” can prevent the effects of the food from taking effect. To fix this, try eating a meal beforehand, which can extend the effects of the cannabinoids by up to greatly and enhance their concentration. However, this will also lengthen the time it takes for the food to activate.

Have a word with KIF Doctors for more information.