Eating cannabis: Effects, myths and how to do it right

Eat cannabis? Sounds strange at first - but it has a completely different effect to smoking it. Anyone who thinks a biscuit is just a harmless snack could be in for quite a surprise. In this blog, we take a look at what really happens in the body when you eat cannabis, why you shouldn't just chew it raw, why the effects are often underestimated - and how to do it right. There are also practical tips, creative ideas without an oven and even a brief look at the cannabis clubs in Essen. Ready for the pleasure side of Bubatz? Then let's go.

Eating cannabis - what's the story behind it

So let's be honest: if you only ever think of wisps of smoke, Bob Marley and papes when you think of cannabis, you're missing out on a whole world of culinary possibilities. Eating weed? Yes, that's possible. And no - we're not talking about accidentally chewing on your mate's crunchy brownie, but about consciously and deliciously prepared cannabis treats.

More and more people are interested in cannabis as an ingredient, not just as an intoxicant. The trend has long since made the leap from the living room to the internet - with countless recipes for "edibles", i.e. edible THC products, ranging from classic space brownies to sophisticated chocolates. And hey, just between you and me: if you do it right, it can be a really pleasant alternative to smoking 🍫🌿

But why eat instead of smoking at all?

Good question. There are a few reasons that come up again and again:

• Whoever smokes also inhales tar and other combustion residues. You have to like it... or not.
• The effect of eating is often much longer and more intense - a good dose can be totally pleasant, but an overdose can also be a bit "outer space, here we come" 🪐
• And: you can enjoy it super discreetly. No plume of smoke, no red eyes - simply relaxed.

In short, for many people, eating cannabis is a bit like the difference between an espresso and a slow, cosy, warm chai tea. Both have their raison d'être - but it feels completely different.

Of course, there's much more to this topic than just a few good reasons. There are a few stumbling blocks, misconceptions and things you really need to know before you indulge in your first bite. Let's delve deeper into this - with the question that almost everyone has asked themselves at some point:

👉 Can you eat weed just like that - or is that complete rubbish?

When you're ready, grab a cup of tea (or a biscuit 😉) - we'll clear this up thoroughly in the next section.

Can you just eat grass like that?

Sounds logical at first, doesn't it? If you build a joint and it works - then a spoonful of the green stuff in yoghurt should be enough for an afternoon high. Spoiler: It doesn't. At least not if you're hoping for the psychoactive kick.

Why is that? Because THC, the substance responsible for the high, is not just "actively" floating around in raw weed. In its natural form, it is present as so-called THCA - the "precursor" of the actual active ingredient. And THCA doesn't get you high. Not a bit. Nada. 🥱

What you need: heat & time

To turn THCA into the desired THC, you need heat. This normally happens automatically when smoking or vaporising - keyword: lighter on, effect comes.
When eating, however, you have to ensure this transformation yourself. The technical term for this is decarboxylation. Sounds fancy, but in principle it's just the gentle heating of cannabis at around 100-115°C for 30-40 minutes.

Without this step, your edible is about as effective as a herbal tea without hot water. So healthy maybe, but no high in sight.

And what about "eating pure"?

The idea that you can simply chew a piece of bud and off you go is always floating around. Sometimes this is even sold as "healthier". Well... Unfortunately, it doesn't really work.
Terms such as "eat cannabis raw", "eat cannabis flowers" or "suck pure hash" are also regularly bandied about - but if no heating is involved, the whole thing is more a case of placebo or "missed opportunity".

So if you're serious about this topic, there's no way around it: you have to prepare your weed before you throw it into the cake batter or sauce. Sounds time-consuming at first, but don't worry - it's worth the effort.

In the next section, we'll take a closer look at how cannabis actually works with food - and why many people get it wrong...

Eating cannabis effects - what happens in the body

Many people think: "Oh, I'll just eat a little brownie, what's going to happen?" - and then lie on the sofa two hours later and are convinced they have reinvented thinking. Or the carpet. Or both.

The point is: when you eat cannabis, your body runs a completely different film than when you smoke it. Not better, not worse - just different. And you should really be aware of these differences before you lean in.

What happens when you eat?

Here's a compact overview of what happens when you eat cannabis - and why it has such a special effect:

• Delayed onset of effect
  When smoking, it starts within seconds to minutes. When eating, it often takes 30 to 90 minutes (depending on stomach, meal & metabolism) before you notice anything at all.
• Metabolisation via the liver
  The THC active ingredient is absorbed in the digestive tract and converted by the liver into 11-hydroxy-THC - and this stuff is more potent than "normal" THC. Hence the often physically more intense, almost dreamy high
.
• Longer duration of effect
  Eating cannabis often gives you 4 to 8 hours - sometimes even longer. That's great if you want to come down comfortably... less great if you've overindulged.
• Stronger intensity
  Inexperienced users in particular massively underestimate the effect. A small cookie can pack more of a punch than three joints - simply because the body handles it differently.

Why this is important

If you know these differences, you can take a much more relaxed approach - and above all: dose better. Because with edibles in particular, the following applies: Following up is the most common mistake.
If "nothing has happened" after 45 minutes, many people think: "Oh come on, one more piece can't hurt". Well. But it can. The second biscuit often hits at the same time as the first - and then it's all over.

So: better slow down, with respect and patience. A bit like a glass of good whiskey. It's also more fun if you don't down it straight away 🥃🌿

"I feel nothing" - Why eating cannabis sometimes doesn't work

It's a classic: you're in the kitchen, you've made an effort, maybe even decarboxylated the weed, cooked a recipe from the internet - and then? Nothing. Not a spark of effect. Nada. Instead, you sit there and wonder whether you're now immune or have just been taken for a ride.

But don't panic - you're not alone. And you're not "resistant" either. In most cases, there are simple, fairly mundane reasons for the lack of effect. Here are a few of the most common:

1. Cannabis was not properly activated

If the weed has not been properly decarboxylated (i.e. too little heat or too short), the THC remains in its dormant form - as THCA. And that does absolutely nothing for your stomach. It's like making coffee with cold water: theoretically the right ingredient, practically no effect.

2. Too low a dose

Some people are so careful the first time that just a hint of THC ends up in the whole biscuit. Safety first, of course - but if you stay below 1-2 mg THC per portion, you may simply not notice anything. That would be more of a placebo biscuit.

3. Not well bound - THC is fat-soluble

THC likes fat. Without butter, oil or other carriers, it has a hard time getting into the body. So if you try to simply mix weed into the dough without first making a THC-containing oil, it won't work. It just needs a kind of "taxi" to get through the digestive tract 🚕

4. Wrong timing / empty stomach

If you take edibles on an empty stomach, the effect can unfold more quickly and unpredictably - or even fail to materialise. With a little fat in your stomach (e.g. a snack beforehand), it is often absorbed more reliably

.

5. Impatience = topping up = escalation

It's a vicious circle: you wait 30 minutes, nothing happens, you eat more - and bam, suddenly it all works at once. Not cool. But the opposite can also happen: You eat too little, wait too short, give up - even though it might have only taken 10 minutes more.

What helps?
The best thing is to start with a low dose the first time (e.g. 5 mg THC), decarboxylate properly, make sure you have a fatty carrier medium and wait at least 1-2 hours.
And then observe. No stress. No topping up. Just let it work.

As with good food, the same applies here: Quality before quantity. And sometimes less is not just more - it's just right.

Eating cannabis without baking - is that possible?

Oh yes, it is possible. And amazingly well. You don't necessarily have to knead dough or wash trays to make a delicious edible. In fact, many cannabis dishes can be prepared without any heat at all - provided the THC has already been activated (keyword: decarboxylation - we've already mentioned that).

So if you already have decarboxylated cannabis or, for example, a homemade cannabis oil, you can do a lot with it - even when you're travelling or lazing around.

Here is an overview of simple ways in which you can enjoy cannabis without an oven:

Preparation	What you need	Speciality
Cannabis honey	Honey + decarboxylated weed or oil	Ideal for tea or straight from the spoon 🍯
Grass smoothie	Fruit smoothie + 1 tsp cannabis oil	Fruity, fresh, but with effect - no fast food
Canna butter bread	Butter + decarboxylated grass or oil on bread	It could hardly be simpler - a classic!
Pesto with a kick	Basil, oil, nuts, parmesan, cannabis oil	Perfect for pasta or as a spread
Energy Balls	Oat flakes, dates, nuts, cannabis oil	Healthy snack bombs - also for on the go
Cannabis coffee	Hot coffee + 1 tsp cannabis coconut oil or milk	Not quite "without heat", but oven-safe ☕

You see: Baking is nice, but not a must. It is much more important that the THC has been activated beforehand - i.e. through decarboxylation or by using ready-made products such as canna oil or canna butter directly.

A bonus of these variants: They are super easy to dose. It's better to start with half a teaspoon than a whole biscuit that you don't know what's in it.

Is cannabis more dangerous as an edible intoxicant?

The short answer: Not necessarily - but it can be damn unpleasant if you go about it the wrong way.
The difference is not in the cannabis itself, but in the way our body processes it. And in how much respect (or even arrogance) we show towards it.

Why edibles can be tricky

When you smoke, you can stop after two puffs when you realise: "Okay, that's enough for me". The effect comes quickly and the level can be assessed reasonably well. With food, on the other hand, the effect is delayed - and once it's there, there's no going back. No "take a deep breath" or "come down a bit". You're in it. For hours.

This makes edibles potentially riskier - especially for beginners. Here are a few typical pitfalls:

• Overdosing due to impatience:
  Classic. You wait 45 minutes, nothing happens - so another piece of brownie follows. Half an hour later, both pop in at the same time and suddenly your couch feels like a spaceship.
• False self-assessment:
  Many people underestimate the intensity. What was a pleasant high when smoking can quickly lead to inner restlessness, confusion or even feelings of panic when eating - especially with high doses.
• Long duration of effect = long trip:
  Once consumed, the effect often lasts 6 to 8 hours - this is not a quick evening rush, but more like a day trip into the self. If you are not prepared, you will quickly become overwhelmed.

But is it "dangerous" in the classic sense?

Well - a THC overdose is not physically life-threatening. There is no lethal dose as with alcohol or certain drugs. But psychologically? That's a different story. If you overdo it, you can feel very unwell: Heart palpitations, confusion, anxiety. And for hours on end. Not nice.

That's why many experienced users say:
Eating cannabis demands more respect than smoking it. Not because it's worse in itself - but because the effects are slower, stronger and harder to control.

Conclusion:

If you take it easy, pay attention to dosage and know what you're doing, cannabis as an edible is not more dangerous, but simply a different experience. More profound. More physical. And definitely not something you just "take" on the side at a party.

Cannabis clubs in Essen - where can you (perhaps soon) snack together?

The idea sounds almost too good to be true: a small community, relaxed in the countryside or in the back room of a club pub, exchanging strains, recipes and experiences - without any fear of the law, but with respect, transparency and responsibility. This is exactly what the so-called Cannabis Social Clubs should make possible in future.

In Essen, too, the first groups and initiatives are already taking a stand. Many of them are still loosely organised or in the planning phase, as the new cannabis law is in place - but what exactly is permitted is only just being brought to life. Who is allowed to grow? How much? And above all: when will it finally be legal to consume together?

One thing is clear: anyone who becomes a member of such a club should be able to legally obtain cannabis in future - not via the street, but via communal, non-commercial cultivation. No shady deals, no stretched goods. But rules, documentation, quality. Sounds almost too sensible for a plant with so much history, doesn't it?

The first interest groups are currently forming in Essen. Some come from the activist scene, others from the corner of health prevention or former hemp speciality shops. Many focus on education, responsible behaviour and community spirit - in other words, exactly what is so important when it comes to cannabis edibles: knowledge, exchange and a healthy dose of down-to-earthness.

Will there soon be the first Cannabis Club in Essen, where people can perhaps cook together, make infused oils or share experiences with edibles? Could be good. And if you're interested yourself: Keep your eyes open. The scene is growing - slowly but surely.