Does Eating Weed Make You High?

There are so many ways to consume weed, but does eating it work? Not exactly, because you’re missing one specific step, but there are a few benefits, which we’re going to look at here. 

So does eating work?

No, it won’t. Sorry to say, if you decide to eat too much on some marijuana leaves, it will not make you suddenly stoned. That’s because you have to “activate this through decarbing, which is basically a process that works to help get you high.  

Decarbing: what it is

Decarbing is a fancy word for heating up weed, but why do you do it? Let’s look first at the form that cannabis naturally has in the wild. There are tons of cannabinoids within this plant, over 150 different ones, with CBD and THC being the stars of the show. Cannabinoids are a big part of the activity that cannabis offers, and when you let this interact with your endocannabinoid system, it offers some effects.

But the thing is, THC and CBD do not naturally occur in the wild.  Instead, they have an acid attached to it, making them CBDA and THCA respectively. They are unstable when heat shows up, so if light and heat is there, it’s going to create both CBD and THC. Basically, when they get “activated” and then ingested, they do work, so your CB1 and your CB2 receptors that are within the brain will be influenced as well.

The “high” sensation that you get from having cannabis and ingesting it does come from the binding of this directly to your CB1 receptors within your brain.

When not “activated” you won't get a high, so eating cannabis raw is not going to make it work, but it’s not a harmful thing to do, so if you like to munch on it, it’s okay to consume it. 

The benefits and Drawbacks 

The biggest drawback is you’re not going to get a high from this, since none of the goodies are activated. But along with this, the therapeutic benefits are much less if you consume it raw than having it cooked. But if you want to have this, it’s not the end of the world and there are certain strains that are worth consuming. 

Decarboxylation, however, is the best way to get the most out of your cannabis, and it’s great for relying on your entourage effect too. However, there are tons of benefits from consuming marijuana raw. First, it’s great for insomnia.  This actually does improve sleep in those with insomnia, and those strains that are activated too can help. Cannabinoids also are great even as acids, and they do bind to the receptors within the body, especially when it comes to gene regulation. It can help with the brain and muscle connectivity and prevent the neurological conditions from getting worse.

It’s also great for inflammation, as it can help with creating less inflammatory response and inflammation.

It also can help with nausea feelings, and there is some research that’s been found that THCA in particular is good for that.

Finally, THCA is also great for reducing growth and possibly limiting the spreads of some cancers. 

And not just that, it’s full of vitamin C, calcium, Vitamin K, and folate along with iron. These are all vital nutrients that are great for the overall health of the body.

With that said, if you want to consume raw cannabis, that's fine, and there is nothing really harmful about eating weed. But remember that the benefits are much less than if you consume it decarboxylated too.