Are THC Edibles Dangerous?

Edibles are known to have a later onset or effect than smoked marijuana. This delayed onset is believed to be causing people to consume more of the edibles in the hopes that they feel the effects sooner. As with any kind of substance, there is always the alarming thought of a possible overdose when too much THC edible is consumed, although a fatal overdose is believed to be quite unlikely.

It is believed that the cannabinoid content of edibles tends to stay in the body longer, as it becomes water-soluble when metabolized. Any substance that stays in the body longer than it should will have profound and prolonged effects. In substances that affect the most basic of senses, this could pose a problem, as it could take a while before the person begins to perceive things normally.

The liver breaks down substances in the body so that they could be processed or disposed of easier. In the case of edibles, the liver breaks down THC into a number of byproducts, including 11-hydroxy-THC, which is a metabolite of THC. This metabolite is known to have a comparable psychoactive effect to THC, but with a faster onset. This means that although the THC content itself has been metabolized already and should no longer affect the person, the metabolic process still produced a byproduct that will still have an effect on the body.

As the market for edibles is now considerable, there are also numerous vendors from where these substances could be purchased. The product of these vendors, however, do not necessarily come with a consistent dosage or quantity of cannabinoids in them. Some might have lower quantities of cannabinoids in them, while others could have considerably higher dosages in the edible. This uncertain dosage is a sure way to get more than the tolerable amount of THC in the body.

As edibles are mostly made to look very similar to regular food items or drinks, they could be mistaken as such and consumed by those who do not indulge in cannabinoids. This could raise a number of issues as children should not be given any dose of THC unless given by a physician. The substance could also have an adverse effect on pets that accidentally consume the edibles.

In March of 2014, Levy Thamba, a 19-year-old student at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, died from multiple injuries sustained from a fall after jumping from a hotel balcony. The coroner listed “marijuana intoxication” from cannabis-infused cookies as a significant condition contributing to Thamba’s death.

The coroner’s autopsy report indicated that Thamba’s blood toxicology had 7.2 nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood. For context, state law sets a standard of 5 nanograms per milliliter at which juries in impaired driving cases can presume impairment. Thamba is believed to have suffered from serious mental impairment resulting from eating a cookie laced with 65mg of THC. This is an example of how lethal the effects of cannabinoids could be, even if people don’t die as a result of a direct overdose.

The following year, 23-year-old Colorado native Luke Goodman fatally shot himself after ingesting five times the recommended dose of edibles. Goodman apparently consumed the large quantity because he did not immediately feel the effects after initially consuming a smaller quantity. Goodman’s mother said that the 23-year-old was well-adjusted and did not suffer from depression, pointing to the overconsumption of edibles as the primary reason for Goodman’s suicide.

Other than a warped sense of reality which could lead to self-harm, people could also become a danger to others when they suffer from mental impairment due to THC altering their perceptions. This is particularly true for people who might be more susceptible to the mind-altering effects of THC than others.

There are many cases where people who are not normally violent or don’t have a history of violence suddenly becoming belligerent or abusive when under the influence of substances such as alcohol or prescription medications. This effect is also a possibility with edibles, as the THC content could affect the person’s personality and perception of the environment.

It is not uncommon for people who indulge in substances to take them with other things, such as alcohol. This mix could not only amplify the effects of the substance on the body, but it could also worsen the potential damage arising from the substance itself. Depending upon the effect on the person using it, THC could increase the effect of alcohol or other substances it is taken with, particularly those with perception-altering properties.

Even for those who do not become violent or suffer from the outward effects of mixing substances, there is always the possibility of increased organ damage resulting from the combination. It bears noting that even when metabolized, THC produces metabolites that remain in the body and still have an effect after some time. These remnants could interact with other substances taken when the person mistakenly thinks that the THC is already out of the body.