Cannabis edibles have a proven track record of providing pain relief. Edibles can ease pain from conditions such as:
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Neuropathic Pain
- Crohn’s disease
- Migraines
- Cancer
As a natural analgesic with anti-inflammatory properties, cannabis mitigates pain from virtually any condition.
How effective is cannabis at pain relief?
In a recent study, chronic pain patients who used medical cannabis had big improvements in their overall health. They had less pain, less anxiety, improved sleep, and a better quality of life.
Cannabis is so effective for pain management that 97% of patients were able to significantly reduce their use of opioids.
Edibles provide the most potent and longest-lasting relief of all cannabis consumption methods. This makes edibles especially well-suited for managing chronic pain.
Advantages of Edibles for Pain Relief
- Long lasting effects. The effects of an edible can last for up to 8 hours.
- Highly potent. A popular rule of thumb is to estimate edibles are 4 times more potent than the same quantity of smoked THC.
- Easy to use and discrete. Simply eat your properly dosed edible and enjoy!
- Precision doses. You will know exactly how much THC and CBD you are ingesting with each serving thanks to accurate laboratory testing and clear consumer labels.
Types of Edibles
Edible explorers are no longer stuck with inconsistent homemade brownies. Now you can stop by your favorite dispensary and find a wide variety of options to suit both your taste preferences and your dose requirements. You will find:
- gummies
- chocolate bars
- hard candies
- chewing gum
- beverages
- capsules
(and more!)
If you are new to edibles, look for products that are either low dose—2.5 or 5 mg of THC per serving—or are easy to cut down into smaller doses if necessary.
Dosing Edibles for Pain Management
There is a reason the saying, ‘start low and go slow’ has become an adage in the cannabis world. With edibles in particular, you need to proceed with caution.
Why? The onset of effects can take up to two hours. This timeframe can vary greatly based on individual metabolism, type of edible, body weight, and many other factors. In other words, timing is difficult to predict. This can make it easy to take too much and not realize it until it is too late.
A good place to start is with a 2.5 mg dose of THC. If after two hours, you don’t have the desired results you can increase your dose incrementally.
It takes patience, which can be challenging when you are seeking pain relief, but waiting at least two hours is important to ensure you don’t overmedicate.
Where your ideal edible dose will eventually land is highly individual. A popular edible dose for someone new to cannabis is 10 mg. Many people enjoy microdosing and take several small doses (less than 5 mg) throughout the day.
Find Your Perfect Edible for Pain Relief
With some experimentation and patience, you will find your perfect edible regimen for pain management. Remember to start low and go slow and enjoy your wellness journey!