Since spooky season is upon us, it won’t be long before everyone is indulging themselves in their favorite sweet treats. And for many of us, those treats could contain cannabis. It is the time of year when candy is all about, waiting for all sizes of hands to reach in and start snacking. But the last thing you want is for a mix up. Here are tips to avoid mixing up Halloween candy with edibles.
As many canna-consumers know, there is a wide variety of products on the market capable of satisfying a sweet tooth while delivering a buzz. Currently gummies are the most popular form of edible. Cannabis data firm BDSA shared 49% of consumers across adult-use and medical states claimed to have consumed a gummy edible in the past six months . The challenge is if treats can be easily accessed by the unsuspecting. Fortunately, there are numerous ways consumers can keep it from happening.
Open and Empty Them Into a Tightly Sealed Container
One of the aspects of edibles that attracts the attention of children is the fact that they often look like the treats that they’re used to. Additionally, as effective as child proof seals can be on packages, every now and again there are kids who are smart enough to get into them anyway. That’s why one of the most effective ways of keeping them out of their hands is by removing them from the packaging altogether and keeping them in a tightly sealed jar or container. Doing that allows consumers to keep their goodies fresh, without catching the attention of children.
Keep Them Out of Sight
Storing edibles in a separate container, out of the sight of children solves numerous problems for consumers. Among the biggest are dealing with kids who accidentally eat them thinking they’re regular treats they’re used to, along with conversations about why they aren’t allowed to have them.
By having a designated location for them, the only time they come out is when you’re ready to enjoy them. That eliminates a lot of the worry that comes with consuming edibles while children are present. The key to storing edibles out of plain sight is not forgetting where they are, so they don’t go bad.
Dispose of Them Correctly
As great as edibles are, they can pack quite the punch. With that in mind, it’s easy to feel the effects of an edible set in quicker than you might have anticipated. When that happens, and consumers prefer to dispose of edibles that they can’t eat, it’s important to get rid of them safely.
In many cases, leftover edibles can be conserved with foil and safe storage as mentioned earlier. On the other hand, there are cases when consumers prefer not to save their leftovers, so if that’s the case it’s best for consumers to finely break up any remnants of an edible and blend it with the rest of the waste in the garbage can.
One of the great things about consuming marijuana nowadays is the fact that consumers aren’t restricted to smoking; people can enjoy their cannabis in numerous forms like brownies, cupcakes and gummies.
Everyone wants to enjoy their edibles safely, so when there are kids or pets in the household, it starts with keeping them out of their reach. Marijuana edibles can have detrimental health effects when taken unintentionally. The good news is, no one would mix up candy corn with an edible!
After a chaotic and, some would say, failed rollout of legal marijuana, the lead official is stepping down
The failed legal marijuana rollout in New York cost taxpaying jobs, state revenues and crushed dreams. It was another painful blow to the weed industry and it made the Governor look foolish as she flailed to find a solution. Finally, New York get cannabis leadership change, but will it be able to fix the issue is anyone’s guess.
Chris Alexander, the executive director of New York State Office of Cannabis (OCM) Management, is stepping down in June. Earlier this month, the governor. announced the OCM will be restructured. The decision came after an investigation found inefficiencies and mismanagement bungled the transition, costing the state millions.
The state has a strong plan for the transition from medical to recreational market and had worked closed with existing medical dispensaries. Weeks before the change, the OCM scrapped the entire plan and bumbled through a system where the state now has less than 100 legal retailers and over 1,500 illicit dispensaries in NYC alone. BDSA, a leading analyst firm which covers marijuana, estimated last year’s legal and illicit market would have been close to $2 Billion. As it was, the licensed market brought in $175 million.
The change comes at time where thing are moving forward federally with rescheduling, yet the state is struggling. Adding to the pain, the state is grappling with a variety of lawsuits over the chaos. Another issue the office has seen it self as more of advocacy organization, focused on messaging rather than being a state department in charge of licenses of a billion plus dollar segment. Players who wanted to follow the rules so they can build a long term business future feel stymied. Some were shocked to find illicit players sometimes got to jump the line to open licensed stores at the same time they are running ones with no license.
The change is positive news for the the legal industry and players since New York’s OCM has operated in a persistently opaque and inefficient manner, contributing to the slow growth. For years the office has released conflicting information about its own rules and licensing processes, and hasn’t responded to applicants and licensees in a timely manner.
Time will tell if New York is able to solve the current mess or if this will be another opportunity to cost taxpayers more money.
It is a historic move for a country which had prohibition, but consumers are using their wallets to show they support it,
Culture wars have been an American tradition – from the battle over TicTok to the alcohol prohibition in the 1920s. It was said the only thing to come out of the anti-liquor period was it taught good citizens how to break the law. But in general, if the public wants it, the public will have it, legal or not. The perfect is example is the Pornhub ban in Utah and Texas, which has sent VPN sign ups sky high. And consumer spending validates marijuana rescheduling in a major way.
Some politicians and leaders believe in the nanny state option. Those include a few governors lead by Ron DeSantis, Mitch McConnell, and a few other special interest groups. But the Biden’s administration’s decision to reschedule cannabis lines up with public opinion. Over 85% believe it should legal in some form, and more importantly, they are putting their money toward what they want. Leading analyst firm, BDSA, shared the public’s spending habit’s match their thoughts on rescheduling.
Following the tradition, cannabis sales moved higher again this year. Sales on 20 April 2024 sales were $167M, a 33% increase over the previous year. Trends like California sober are going strong and Gen Z continues to move away from alcohol and move toward marijuana vapes and gummies. Lifestyle habits are starting to adjust slightly away from alcohol and more low alcohol drinks, mocktails, and cannabis eat away at the traditional market. Alcohol is much rougher on the body, so many are opting for a semi-healthier option.
It is a benefit for fully recreational states as even Missouri makes significant tax income on cannabis. Most governors are on board with rescheduling at it is not only the public’s will, but it helps the state’s coffers and actually helps in other areas. Even New York State, with over 1,500 non tax paying illicit stores making money, made some income. They have less than 100 licensed dispensaries generating over $175 million.
Edibles have become very popular – finding the right one for you is key!
With over 50% of the country’s population having access to recreational cannabis, it has gone mainstream. Over 85% of the population believe it should be legal in some form and now there is a whole movement around California sober. As access to legal marijuana gains, beer sales have flattened and people are curious. According to BDSA, almost 50% of those who have used cannabis, have used an edible – primarily a gummy.
Marijuana not only helps you to chill, relax or go on a fun journey, it also has clear medical benefits. Edibles are healthier for you body and lungs than vaping and smoking while capable of producing the same results. While smoking cannabis is a little healthier than tobacco, it is still not a great frequent habit. Additionally, edibles are likely to provide more pain relief and a stronger response from your mind and body.
Edibles are portable and discreet, allowing you to consume at a party, family event, or on the bus. No fuss, no muss and you can pop one in your mouth. According to BDSA, gummies represent at last 85% of the edible market.
Edible makers infuse their foods with marijuana through a variety of ways, primarily with cannabutter and extracts. Cannabutter is the product that results once butter or oil is infused with cannabis. This mixture is then used to make brownies, chocolates, etc.. Cannabutter includes the benefits and limitations of the whole cannabis flower, providing you with the full spectrum of cannabinoids. This means that there’s THC, CBD, and more in these types of edibles but also that they’re more unpredictable.
Gummies and a few other products are usually made with extracts. Producers isolate THC or CBD in a lab and later add them to their products, making something that is more reliable and consistent. Edibles prepared with extracts are a good option for people who are looking for a specific effect.
When it comes to dosage, if you are new – consider starting with 2.5-5 mg and see how it goes. One benefit of professional edibles is there is a generally a good dosing guide so you can manage your high. Where you want to chill at a concert of microdose to focus, you should be able to easily manage your high with a gummy. Traditionally baked edibles can crumble and might not travel as well.
Remember it usually takes between 45 minutes to an hour for an edible to kick in. Wana Brands started a trend by releasing a new edible called Calm which hits in 5-15 minutes. Being the first, you may have to wait for it to be in your area.
Dispensary purchased edibles also tend to have less of a “weed” flavor. Companies have employed chocolatiers and master candy makers to ensure the right taste along with the journey. Flavors go from cookies and cream to watermelon, so you should find the right flavor.