Legal recreational cannabis, using edibles, for this Older Man
I am over 40yrs old. I never tried cannabis, edibles or smoking, before one month ago.
This month, March, I purchased edible cannabis, to try it.
Before trying it, I researched and asked around. Read articles on Leafly, or via web searches. How much was a "normal dose", how long it would take before it took effect, how long the sensations would last.
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My first ever edible cannabis were edible mints. Each mint contained 5mg of THC. I read to start slow, and only consume a small amount.
When I consume a 5mg mint, there is a delay before I feel anything at all. For my body, an Older Guy, who weighs about 200 pounds, it is about 90min. Every time I have consumed a THC mint, it was been with some food. Never on an empty stomach.
When I consume a serving of alcohol (a beer, or shot of liquor), I feel a bit physically relaxed. It starts in about 10min to 15min, and lasts maybe an hour.
When I consume a 5mg THC mint with food. Nothing happens for about 90min, then I feel it start to kick in. It gives two sensations. One sensation is about the same as what alcohol does: a feeling of physical relaxation, just a bit, like one beer, or one shot of liquor. The second sensation is what I would describe as a mild anti-depressant, a lightening of mood, a feeling of having a slight smile.
Unlike booze, the 5mg edible THC gives the effect for 2hrs to 3hrs for me.
I have tried my legal recreational edible 5mg THC mints, probably about five or six times this month. Usually on Fridays and the weekend, when I know I will be home, and not going anywhere.
The pattern is consistent for my body, and it's very much like "taking a medicine." I consume a mint, with some food, always. 90min later it kicks in, and I feel relaxed/mood-lifted for about 2hrs to 3hrs, then it fades away.
When I have alcohol, say two beers, or two shots if liquor, I notice it makes me need to urinate, more than usual, more quantity than usual as compared to not drinking.
Edible cannabis also makes me urinate, as if I had had a few beers. I recommend drinking water, half-mouthfuls or more, every half of an hour, during a cannabis session, to prevent getting dehydrated. I'd also not do cannabis on a hot day, or where there is no access to plenty of water to drink.
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Now, something I did not read about, but has also been part of my experience, is a negative sensation side-effect: As the sensations fade away, I get a mild stomach ache. Not a feeling of hunger, or the munchies, like I saw in the Cheech&Chong movies I grew up with. I get a stomach ache that feels like mild cramping. Slight nausea some times, too.
I have probably had between six and ten edible cannabis sessions this month, before this Entry. Some sessions were just consuming one mint, 5mg of THC. Some sessions I wanted to see what it would feel like to be "mildly high," so I would have two mints, or 10mg of THC for a session.
The stomach cramping, slight/negligible sometimes, to mild uncomfortable, has been a consistent thing with each session. It cannot be coincidence. I had the same foods I always have, etc.
So, because of the side-effect of the stomach cramping, it has made me discouraged, so I am quitting my Experiment on being a legal recreational cannabis consumer.
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So, one: hey! I've finally tried, and experienced for myself what it is like, versus the Cheech&Chong movies, and hype. And two: I did like the sensations, but the side-effect of stomach discomfort ruins it for me, so am not likely to have it any more.
EDIT 2018-03-22
It seems that edible cannabis causing stomach ache is not just me. An article mentions symptoms like mine, but more severe than mine, associated to heavy cannibis users. Perhaps, sadly, my body is sensitive to THC, so I am experiencing things right away, before I can ever become a chronic user.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_hyperemesis_syndrome
EDIT 2018-03-23
Just on a lark, I tried taking half of a mint, or 2.5mg of THC, last night. I used our prescription pills pill cutter to cut my mint in half, kinda precisely. Having half a mint with food, 90min later a mild set of the two good senations, and waiting to see if my stomach would react. ...No stomach ache! *huzzah!*
Now, the thing is, 2.5mg feels like "half of a beer." No one goes to a bar and parties on half of a beer! So my original goal: zero booze and convert to edible cannabis, failed.
Also now, since a small dose gives two good sensations, but just a bit: I can keep thinking of edible cannabis's small-dose use as like taking a medicine. "Use when not going anywhere, to adjust from stressful to more relaxed and mood-lifted."