Beginners Guide to Edibles, Extracts, and Other High Potency THC Products
At Nova, we provide our patients with a carefully selected menu of quality tested cannabis products along with education on how they can best meet your needs. The materials and links in this article provide education on the consumption of High Dose THC products for maximum safety, overall effectiveness, and the most positive experience.
What are High Dose THC Products?
Nova offers many High Dose Edible, Extract, and Cartridge Products. Our high potency edibles are available in strengths up to 2,000 mgs per package, and our THC extracts can test in the range of 70-85% THC content. “Edibles” include baked goods, candies, gummies, chocolates, and liquid tinctures intended to be ingested. “Extracts” include concentrates such as wax, shatter, resin, rosin, crumble, and badder intended for consumption by way of inhalation, and also Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) which is a potent concentrate generally consumed orally. Cartridges also provide high THC concentrates that are consumed via vaporizer, otherwise known as “vaping.” Because edible and concentrate dosing requires an in-depth understanding of these products, the following education will focus on those methods of consumption.
The high THC products found in these categories achieve their high potency levels because cannabinoids are extracted from the plant matter which creates very concentrated amounts of THC. That highly concentrated product is then consumed by either smoking, dabbing, vaporizer or, in the case of edibles, adding the concentrated THC to the edible recipe to be ingested like any other food product.
What Can I Learn from the Product Label?
Each High Dose THC product carried by Nova will display key information on the product label, and reviewing this information is the first step to ensure safe consumption. For edibles, the product information contains the manufacturer of the product, the type of product (ie baked good, candy, chocolate, chew, etc.), the total THC in milligrams contained in the entire package, as well as a breakdown of how many doses are contained in the package and the amount of THC contained in each dose. For extracts, the product description identifies the manufacturer of the product, a description of the type of product (ie wax, shatter, resin, rosin, crumble, badder, etc), the percentage of THC contained in the product, and the weight of the product.
Article: HOW TO READ TEST RESULTS / CANNABIS PACKAGING | LEAFLY1
Here you will find information on reading package labels and understanding the difference between THCA and THC.
How do I Begin?
It is always advisable for a patient to start with lower THC products and slowly increase the THC levels based on tolerance. This “start low and go slow” method is most advisable for patient safety as high THC products impact each person differently.
Article: THC DOSAGE: HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT THC MG FOR YOU | WEEDMAPS2
This is an easy guide and quick article to help guide patients in dosing various cannabis products. There is some information of how long it takes to experience effects from each consumption method described.
How do I Consume Concentrates, Wax, and Shatter?
Learning to use concentrates can be an intimidating step for many cannabis consumers due to their high potency and fast onset. When done properly, “dabbing” is more similar to vaporizing than smoking. Low temperatures are always better when consuming concentrates, and a small amount goes a long way! The videos below will help you learn more about the different types of concentrates and the best ways to consume them.
Article: A 101 GUIDE TO CANNABIS CONCENTRATES AND EXTRACTS3
This article offers information on high potency cannabis concentrates and extracts. There is detailed information on many types of concentrates and how each can be consumed. The effect of cannabis extracts and concentrates is explained along with the cautions of using these high potency products.
Video: WEED EXTRACTS 101 – BEGINNERS GUIDE TO CANNABIS CONCENTRATES (20:13)4
This is certainly the most detailed video in the concentrate education section, providing a wealth of information regarding different consistencies of concentrates, storing your dabs, as well as various ways to consume concentrates including using a timer as well as a infrared thermometer like the DabRite carried at Nova.
Video: COLD START DABBING (6:10)5
This video explains the process of taking a cold start dab, which is when you place the concentrate into a cold banger and then slowly heat until vapors begin to form.
Who is Rick Simpson and What is This Oil?
Rick Simpson is coined as one of the pioneers of cannabis extracts after he created RSO and successfully used it to treat his basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. RSO is a thick concentrated oil, that is quite sticky and can sometimes seem almost tar-like in consistency. This full extract cannabis oil usually comes in a syringe and is meant to be taken orally, topically, or rectally. Typically, a syringe of RSO contains around 600 – 850 mg of THC. The test results available with the product will help you determine the strength of each RSO brand. To learn more about RSO and how to use it safely, we have provided educational videos and articles below.
Video: LEARN MORE: RSO (RICK SIMPSON OIL) (4:38)6
This video explains Rick Simpson Oil, with details about dosing, packaging, and possible conditions for use.
Video: CANNABIS OIL DOSING 101 WITH DARREN MILLER (2:02)7
This video is of a patient showing how to dose RSO using capsules.
Article: DOSAGE INFORMATION | PHOENIX TEARS | RICK SIMPSON8
This article by Rick Simpson details how to dose RSO and outlines the various ways to use the oil.
How Do I Use High Dose Edibles?
High dosage edible products include a variety of Nova’s tinctures, capsules, baked goods, and gummies. In order to properly dose, read the package to determine the strength of the edible and the portion required for your desired dose.
Some edibles use a nanoemulsion process, which refers to a method that is used to make oil-based products easier for the body to process. Edibles made using nanoemulsion method deliver medication to the bloodstream faster, more efficiently, and more effectively than other high dose options. Nanoemulsion products are water-compatible making products like tinctures a perfect addition to a beverage.
Video: EDIBLES – A MOMS GUIDE TO CANNABIS EP 6 (2:21)9
This video reviews what to expect when ingesting medication in edible form.
Article: EDIBLES DOSAGE CHART – HOW STRONG IS YOUR CANNABIS INFUSED EDIBLE? 10
Detailed article with an in-depth guide on how to dose edible products based on strength.
Article: MARIJUANA SIDE EFFECTS: COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF THC AND CBD | CANNIGMA11
This article discusses some common side effects of cannabis consumption and how to mitigate them.
If you have questions or want to learn more about dosing and the use of high dose edibles, ask our knowledgeable patient advisors – we are always happy to help!
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Citations:
What Can I Learn From the Product Label?
1Jikomes, N. How to Measure THC & CBD Content In Weed. Leafly. March 22, 2017. https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/how-to-assess-thc-cbd-levels-in-cannabis-strains-products
How Do I Begin?
2Weedmaps. THC Dosage: Find The Right mg Dose For You. February 7, 2022. https://weedmaps.com/learn/products-and-how-to-consume/decide-how-much-to-take
How do I Consume Concentrates, Wax, and Shatter?
3Oliver, J. Cannabis Concentrates & Extracts: A 101 Guide To Cannabis Concentrates and Extracts From BHO and Beyond. CNBS. https://www.cnbs.org/concentrates-extracts/
4Budsbie. Weed Extracts 101: Beginner’s Guide to Cannabis Concentrates (Presented by DabRite). YouTube video. December 28, 2021. Weed Extracts 101: Beginner’s Guide to Cannabis Concentrates (Presented by DabRite) – YouTube
5Budsbie. Cold Star Dabbing 101: What is a Cold Start Dab & How to Take One? YouTube video. October 2, 2021. Cold Star Dabbing 101: What is a Cold Start Dab & How To Take One? – YouTube
Who is Rick Simpson and What is This Oil?
6Item 9 Labs. Learn More: RSO (Rick Simpson Oil). YouTube video. June 8, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6MdM9AE3Rc
7Miller, A. Cannabis Oil Dosing 101- with Darren Miller. YouTube video. October 3, 2016. Cannabis Oil Dosing 101- With Darren Miller – YouTube
8Rick Simpson Oil. Dosage Instructions. Phoenix Tears. http://phoenixtears.ca/dosage-information/
How Do I Use High Dose Edibles?
9Winn Lee, A., Edibles- A Mom’s Guide to Cannabis Ep 6. YouTube video. July 11, 2018. Edibles- A Mom’s Guide to Cannabis Ep 6 – YouTube
10Leafly. Edibles Dosing: How Strong is Your Weed Edible? Edibles Dosage Chart by mg of THC | Leafly
11Lassalle, J. Cannabis Side Effects: How Weed Affects Your Mind and Body. The Cannigma. November 15, 2021. https://cannigma.com/treatment/how-to-mitigate-the-side-effects-of-cannabis/