THC Gummies in Marina Del Rey | 9 Tips for THC Edibles Dosing
THC Gummies Dosing Tips
So, you’re ready to try THC Gummies? Or maybe you’re trying THC edibles again after having a negative experience. Maybe you had some old school THC gummy bears or other pre-adult-use pot gummies that packed an unexpected punch and you’re feeling nervous to try again. Maybe you’ve heard all your friends say they sleep so much better ever since they started having gummies with THC before bed. Maybe you keep returning to the same Google searches of “THC edibles near me” or, “What are THC gummies” or “Best THC gummy for relaxation”, and you’re ready to finally act on these curious feelings.
Whatever the reason is that has led you here, we can assure you, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve consulted with our LA dispensary staff and have compiled a beginner’s guide to responsible THC edible dosing with 9 tips to know before trying THC gummies.
1. Start slow and be patient before you increase your THC edible dosage.
If there’s only ONE piece of information that you’re going to remember on the subject of edible dosing, let it be this, the golden rule: You can always eat more but you can’t eat less, so start low and go slow!
This is advice to live by when you’re first getting comfortable with edible gummy weed dosing. Far too many people have fallen victim to their own impatience when it comes to weed edibles gummies. It’s a familiar story that we’ve heard countless times, and it goes like this: You eat your THC gummy, a little time passes and you think to yourself, “Hmm, I don’t feel anything, I must’ve not eaten enough…”, so you decide to eat more, and then BOOM… THAT’S the moment your first edible THC dose starts to kick in, but it’s too late… you already ate more.
Maybe you’ve lived that story, or perhaps you’ve just heard the lore, but trust us, if you follow the golden rule, edibles THC dosing doesn’t have to be scary or confusing. In fact, it can be fun, easy, healing and restorative!
If you’re a delta-9 THC edibles beginner, it’s important to understand that when you eat gummies with THC and CBD, the cannabinoids first have to process through your digestive system before you’ll feel their effects, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. It’s this delayed onset of effects that tricks people into thinking they didn’t eat enough and thus, make the common mistake of over-consuming.
So, if that thought of “Hmmm, I don’t feel anything, I must’ve not eaten enough,” starts playing in your mind, make sure you’ve waited at least two full hours before acting on the impulse to eat any more cannabis gummy, and if you’re a particularly nervous consumer, we recommend you just wait until tomorrow and start fresh with a slightly larger starting dose of THC gummies.
2. Be intentional about how many milligrams of THC gummies you consume.
There are a lot of different variables that can influence the effects of gummies THC but the most important factor to consider when taking gummy edibles is the dose size. In California, the most common edible dosage for marijuana gummies is typically 5 or 10 milligrams of THC, but depending on who you ask, one consumer might consider that a really large dose of edible THC gummies, while the next might consider that a really small dose.
If you’re just beginning your gummy weed journey, we recommend starting with 2.5 – 5 mg of THC edibles, then gradually increasing your dose as needed. You may find that these doses are in fact too low for you to experience any effects, but according to one of our Highway Cannabis budtenders, Anthony, “A lot of people underestimate the power of 10 mg of THC gummies!” so it’s best to start low and go slow.
At Highway Cannabis, we’ve intentionally curated our menu to ensure we have the best edible gummies and edible brands available in a variety of milligram offerings across the spectrum of doses to fit every consumer’s needs. We have low THC edibles like Petra Mints by Kiva with 2.5 mg of THC, perfect for beginners. We also offer a wide selection of pure THC gummies like the Pineapple Habanero THC gummies from Camino which are a 5mg THC edible, and some of the best sativa gummies according to our budtenders.
Then, for those wanting to explore slightly higher doses, consumers can work their way up to our THC gummies in the 10 mg range, like these Marionberry THC Gummies by Wyld, which are some of our best indica gummies according to our budtenders.
From there, we cross into the high-dosage territory, which should be approached with caution. Gummies from Heavy Hitters like Lights Out and Lights On contain 20 mg of THC along with other cannabinoids. Then, we have high potency THC gummies that offer macro-doses like the Sour Watermelon 100 mg THC edible by Froot.
Remember, everyone’s tolerance is different—while one consumer might be able to handle an extremely potent 500 mg THC edible, most will likely never need doses even close to our highest potency THC gummies, and it’s very important for beginners to understand that the more THC you consume, the more likely you are to experience some of THC’s negative side-effects like paranoia and anxiety, so always be mindful and intentional about your edible THC dose.
Wyld Gummies, one of the most popular types of THC gummies, on display at Highway Cannabis in Marina Del Rey.
3. Only shop at licensed dispensaries to minimize your risk of accidentally over-consuming THC gummies.
When it comes to finding the THC edible dose that’s right for you, one of the most important things you can do for your safety as a consumer is only shop at licensed dispensaries. All products in the legal California cannabis market must pass rigorous testing and be issued a Certificate of Analysis, which includes a detailed analysis of the cannabinoid content in each product.
When you shop at licensed dispensaries, like Highway Cannabis, you can trust that the labeled dose size is in fact accurate because of these rigorous testing regulations we abide by. Shopping legal ensures you’re always consuming real THC gummies from the best edible brands in the state.
Likewise, there are still many dispensaries in LA that look legal and legitimate to the unknowing eye but are in fact illegal. These unlicensed dispensaries don’t abide by these testing laws, so a product that’s labeled as a 5 mg THC edible or 10 mg THC edible hasn’t actually had its cannabinoid content and potency analyzed to verify that label’s accuracy; therefore, you could unknowingly be consuming really jacked up edibles like a single 300 mg THC edible or 500 mg THC edibles or even 1000 mg THC edibles or 2500 mg THC gummies.
The point is, when you shop in unlicensed stores, you simply can’t trust what you’re reading on the THC edibles packaging. This can lead to accidental over-consumption and extremely unpleasant and unsafe experiences with edibles. This is just one of my many reasons why it is so important to shop only at legal cannabis retail dispensaries like our Marina Dispensary!
THC Edibles section in Highway Cannabis in Marina Del Rey.
4. Avoid mixing THC infused gummies with alcohol when you’re a beginning THC gummy consumer.
When you’re first beginning your edible gummies consumption and trying to determine your perfect THC edible dosing, we recommend you control as many variables during those early days of exploration as possible. That means avoiding any additional mind-altering substances, like alcohol, so you can get a clear picture as to how you’re affected by gummy edibles on their own.
This is simply best practice to ensure you have the best THC edibles experience possible, as mixing cannabis and alcohol can magnify the negative effects of intoxication, such as dizziness, impaired coordination, and impaired judgement, potentially leading to risky or dangerous situations.
Simply put, alcohol can make low doses of weed gummies feel like high THC edibles. Once you’ve experimented with weed gummies and learned what your tolerance levels are like, feel free to explore consuming however you choose, just be mindful that you might not need as large of an edible THC dosage if you’re mixing substances compared to when you’re consuming only delta 9 THC edibles.
5. CBD can lessen the side effects of THC edibles and provide added health benefits for medical use.
You might be wondering, what’s the difference between CBD and THC edibles? It’s an important question because there’s a big difference and understanding the distinction can potentially make or break your edible experience. In order to understand the difference, we need to first explain some of the science behind how medicated gummies are processed in the body.
Every human body contains a biological system called the Endocannabinoid System, which is a network of receptors that allows us to experience the effects of cannabis. When we consume a THC dosage in edibles, the THC molecules bind to, and activate the endocannabinoid receptors, and in turn, we experience the feeling of being high. CBD molecules however don’t fit into the endocannabinoid receptors in the same way and essentially block the THC from activating those receptors.
Think of it like this–If you eat edibles with THC and CBD, the CBD essentially acts like a security bouncer for those receptors, only letting some of the THC into the party. When there’s less THC activating the endocannabinoid receptors, the intensity of the THC is dimmed, creating a more balanced effect.
Additionally, CBD has a whole suite of its own medicinal benefits, most notably, its anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety qualities. On their own, THC edibles for inflammation are effective, but when you have gummies with both THC and CBD, that is the even better option. When it comes to selecting edible gummy brands, we always encourage our customers, especially new consumers, to explore products with CBD. Just look for products that contain a ratio of THC and CBD, like the Wyld Pomegranate 1:1 THC:CBD gummies, which are some of our best gummies with CBD, according to our budtenders.
6. Let your metabolism guide your THC edible dosage because your unique biology will affect the intensity, onset time and duration of your high.
We frequently hear customers detailing their edible experiences in completely contrasting ways. Some say they don’t feel edibles with THC at all, while others describe their THC gummy experiences as extremely intense. Some will say their edibles only take about 30 minutes to kick in, whereas others say they have to wait the full two hours to notice any effects. All these varying experiences can greatly be explained by each person’s unique biology.
If you’re someone who has a fast metabolism, you might notice that you feel the effects of cannabis gummies rather quickly, likewise, if you have a slower metabolism, it may take around two hours to notice any edible effects from THC infused gummies.
Even more interesting, when THC is metabolized, our liver enzymes interact with the THC molecules, converting them into a different chemical compound called 11-OH-THC. This 11-OH-THC can induce stronger psychoactive effects than the former THC. However, the activity of this specific liver enzyme varies from person to person, which can explain the wide spectrum of intensity that different consumers describe of their THC gummy experiences.
As you can see, every consumer’s THC gummy experiences can be as unique as their own personal biology, which again illustrates why it’s SO important to start low and go slow when you’re beginning your edible dosing journey.
7. Be aware that the intensity of your THC gummies can be impacted by the contents in your stomach.
There are many factors that affect your response to cannabis gummies, and the amount and type of food you’ve consumed prior to consumption can have a sizeable impact on your THC gummy experience. If you haven’t eaten a meal beforehand, you may notice that your weed gummies feel stronger and take effect faster than after you’ve eaten a large meal. Likewise, if you eat a meal of fatty foods, you may notice the effects of gummies are stronger than when you’ve eaten a low-fat meal.
This is because cannabinoids are most soluble in fats like butter and oil. When you consume gummies with a belly full of fatty foods, you can enhance the bioavailability and absorption of the edible gummies, meaning more of the ingested cannabinoids will enter your bloodstream. So, the more fat that’s present in your belly, the more potent weed gummies can feel.
When you’re first exploring THC edible dosing, it’s important to be mindful of what you’ve eaten prior to consumption. If you eat a THC gummy on a full belly the first night, but on an empty belly the next night, even if those two weed gummy doses are the same size, they might affect you in different ways. We recommend doing your initial few days of THC gummy exploration with a consistent amount of food in your belly to minimize the potential of the THC hitting you in unexpected ways moving forward.
8. Be intentional about controlling your set and setting when consuming THC gummies.
“Set and setting,” is a mantra made famous by American psychologist, Timothy Leary during the psychedelics-movement of the 1960s, and while the substance in question is certainly not the same, the sentiment still applies to weed gummies.
This simple phrase is a useful reminder that your own mindset, expectations, and emotional state when consuming edible gummies, as well as the environment in which you’re consuming cannabis gummies in, can have a powerful impact on your experience, for the better or worse.
If you’re feeling anxious and paranoid about trying a THC gummy, it’s important to recognize that the THC gummies ultimately could enhance those feelings of anxiety. If you are feeling that way, or are experiencing any other negative emotions, it’s totally okay to delay your cannabis gummies exploration until you’re in a better headspace. Likewise, if you’re feeling excited and confident about your THC gummies experience, that mindset will likely carry through as well.
Only you can define what the right environment is for you to consume edibles with THC. Some people prefer to consume alone, whereas others exclusively consume in social environments. Ultimately, as long as you are intentional about curating a space that serves your needs, there is no wrong answer to where and how to have your edible weed gummies. We will say though, an edible gummy always pairs well with fuzzy blankets, a killer playlist, your favorite snacks, and some close friends!
Friends enjoying THC Gummies in Marina Del Rey.
9. Manage your overconsumption of cannabis gummies by staying calm and hydrated.
We’d be remiss to end without providing you with an action plan to follow if you do manage to over-consume THC gummies or experience any feelings of anxiousness or paranoia throughout your gummy edible journey.
First and foremost, staying hydrated will help you achieve the best edible gummies experience. Then, after you drink a glass of water, drink another glass of water.
Okay, now that you’re well-hydrated, let’s refer back to number 6 on this list.
CBD can lessen the intensity of the THC in edibles, so if you’re particularly nervous about over-consuming, you can make sure you have a CBD product on-hand to consume as needed, just make sure there’s little to no THC in it as that would be counterproductive to your goal.
Finally, take some deep breaths and tune into your senses—out loud, name five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste. Practicing mindfulness techniques like this can help you come back into your mind and body and restore a sense of calm after a particularly intense edible gummy experience. This too shall pass.
In conclusion:
We can’t end without once again reiterating how important it is to start low and go slow. We’re going to keep shouting it from the rooftops because we want you to have the best THC gummies experience possible and above all else, that’s the number 1 tip we can give you to help you achieve that goal.
Last year we shared the Best THC Gummies 2022 had to offer, so stay tuned to see our THC gummies review on what we think are the Best THC Gummies 2023 has brought us. And if you keep these tips in mind, we’re confident you’ll soon form your own opinions on what you believe to be the top THC gummies and best edible brands you can find in our LA Dispensary.
If you’ve reached the end of this article and are feeling ready to give THC gummies a try, you can reserve your THC edibles online to pickup in-store at 13452 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292. If you’re more interested in shopping pre rolls, cannabis flower, THC carts, or other types of products, don’t worry, our Marina Dispensary has all of that too! If you’re craving more personalized attention, our educated LA dispensary staff is in store 7 days a week to answer all your remaining questions like, “What are the best tasting edibles?” and “What are the best edible flavors?” to help you pick out the best weed gummies for your personal needs. Happy dosing!
Find the best edibles in Santa Cruz at our sister store, KindPeoples. For more helpful tips on THC gummies dosing, check out this blog from KindPeoples.
