Gummies are the New Magic Brownies: A Guide to Using Marijuana Edibles in Virginia

Medical Marijuana Edibles Can be Intimidating to Use For the First Time. Virginia Marijuana Card Has You Covered.

Medical marijuana edibles are legal to buy at Virginia cannabis dispensaries, and they are more precisely-dosed than the magic brownies you may have tried a decade or so ago. They also may be more potent.

Find out what you need to know about getting started, in this guide to THC-infused medical-grade edibles. We're here to help you understand how to buy edibles in Virginia, and how to use them to manage symptoms like pain, anxiety, nausea and more.

In this short guide, we are going to take a quick look at the variety and dosing of edibles available at Virginia dispensaries. Then we will dive right into how to get started and what to expect. By the time we are finished, you will be ready to start your adventure with THC infused edibles—and you might never look back!

How to Legally Purchase Edibles and Other Marijuana Products in Virginia

The first thing to know about getting marijuana edibles and other THC products in Virginia, is that you still need a medical marijuana card in order to make legal purchases in the state. Even though it's legal to possess restricted amounts of marijuana in Virginia as of July 1, 2021, licensed Virginia cannabis dispensaries cannot sell adult-use (or recreational) marijuana until 2024.

Fortunately, getting your marijuana card in Virginia is simple. You simply need to have a condition that a doctor believes would improve with the use of medical cannabis. Make an appointment to talk to a Virginia medical marijuana doctor online, get your certification, and register with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to take control of your treatment plan today!

Once you have your medical marijuana card, you can shop for a variety of products at Virginia dispensaries, including edibles, vapes, tinctures, topicals, extracts, flower and more. And don't worry if the drive to your nearest dispensary is too far for your liking. Most Virginia residents can order online to get medical marijuana gummies and more delivered to their home, from one of the three dispensaries offering cannabis delivery in Virginia.

What Kinds of Edibles Can You Buy in Virginia?

New medical marijuana products are regularly getting approved for sale in Virginia, and inventory can vary by supply and demand. Lately, cultivators and processors have been preparing for the rollout of marijuana flower, but a wider variety of edibles may soon appear on dispensary shelves. Be on the lookout for medical marijuana chocolates and baked goods in the future!

The edibles at Virginia dispensaries come in the medicated chew (gummy) format, and they are labeled differently depending on the processor. Besides the name, there isn't much of a difference between a medicated chew and a gummy.

The majority of chews currently being sold in Virginia contain between 8 and 10mg of THC, and around 5mg of CBD each.

As of late October, 2021, these are the edibles you can buy legally at Virginia dispensaries:

Beyond/Hello - Manassas

• Gleaf's Strawberry VI Medicated Chews

• Tasteology's 1:1 (CBD:THC) Peach Balance Gummies

• Tasteology's Blueberry Calm II Gummies

Gleaf - Richmond

• Gleaf's Strawberry VI Medicated Chews

• Gleaf's Tangerine Medicated Chews

• Gleaf's Wild Cherry III Medicated Chews

Columbia Care - Portsmouth

• Columbia Care's Watermelon Soft Chews

• Dharma Pharmaceuticals' Lemon Gummies

• Tasteology's 1:1 (CBD:THC) Peach Balance Gummies

Rise - Abingdon and Salem

• Dharma Pharmaceuticals' Lemon Gummies

• Dharma Pharmaceuticals' Raspberry Gummies

• Dharma Pharmaceuticals' Fruit Punch Gummies

• Gleaf's Mango IV Medicated Chews

• Gleaf's Strawberry VI Medicated Chews

• Gleaf's Wild Cherry III Medicated Chews

Why Are People Afraid to Use THC-Infused Edibles?

While the availability of cannabis edibles is exciting, even some of the most experienced cannabis consumers are a little hesitant to give them a try. That’s because over the last several years, they have gotten a reputation for making people feel overwhelmed. News stories about users ending up at the hospital when they’ve had too much have the effect of frightening people off.

However, with a little bit of foresight and some understanding of how they work, gummies and other kinds of edibles could become one of your favorite ways to consume medical marijuana.

Why You Should Consider Using Medical Marijuana Edibles

The nice thing about the edibles is that they are straightforward. Instead of being labeled as having a certain percentage of THC that makes precise dosing nearly impossible, their specific milligram measured dose is noted on the packaging.

Additionally, there are not any differences between strains. You don’t have to worry about paying attention to terpenes and how they may alter the effects. You simply choose between indica, sativa, and hybrid, and you've got a pretty dependable effect every time. If your edibles have been formulated for a specific result, it will be noted on the package.

Medical marijuana edibles enter your bloodstream through your digestive system, so they take longer to take effect. But they also last longer than medical marijuana products that are inhaled. This is one of the most popular reasons people prefer edibles over vaping or smoking marijuana, but it is also one of the reasons they are more challenging to learn how to use.

Marijuana Vape Pens Vs. Edibles

Inhaled products like vape pens enter your bloodstream immediately through your lungs. They generally take effect quickly, within a few minutes. It’s easier to control how “high” you get when you inhale your cannabis, because you know almost right away how it is going to make you feel and you can stop any time. Their effects do not last very long, and getting too high is easy enough to remedy because it ends quickly.

Edibles are more of a challenge to dose when you first start using them, because they can take up to two hours before you feel anything. The active components enter your bloodstream after being processed through your liver.

It can take a while for them to kick in; and they may last an unexpectedly long time based on your digestive system, your metabolism, and what you ate before your session.

Most people who use edibles say that they are felt in the body more than inhaled products, which is great for people who struggle with chronic pain, muscle spasms, nausea, and other physical conditions that may benefit from a stronger “body buzz.”

How to Get Started Using Cannabis Edibles

The best way to have a good first time experience with edibles is to understand how they work and start out SLOWLY. Even if you have a lot of experience with marijuana, you don’t want to just pop a whole 10mg gummy into your mouth on your first run.

You also want to allow ample time for the first dosing to take effect. Edibles take longer to kick in, and you are going to want to wait it out before you take more.

Taking the First Dose of Marijuana Edibles

You’re going to want to make sure your calendar for the rest of the day is clear when you take edibles for the first time. They may last longer than you expected, and you don’t want to be stuck having to cancel your plans because you got too high.

We recommend starting with around 2-3mg of THC. This may seem a little extra cautious, but it will help ease you into what marijuana gummies feel like. Wait at least one hour before taking more, but preferably two hours.

If you eat an edible but don't feel anything after an hour or two, take 2mg more. Give that dose an hour or so before taking another, and continue in this manner until you’ve hit the right spot. If you end up taking a lot of THC combined in your first session, we still recommend starting less the next time around. You can work your way up to taking more once you are confident with how they will affect you.

Make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and eat at least a small meal before you take your edibles, and again during your session. This helps prevent nausea, anxiety, and headaches associated with dehydration and hunger.

In order to prepare for your next session with gummies, try keeping a cannabis journal. Using one will help you remember how you felt the last time you took edibles, how much THC you ingested, and things you did that either helped or hindered your experience.

And remember: If you don’t feel anything, you can always take more. If you get too high, however, you can’t untake your edibles. So far, no one seems to have been able to figure out how to get edibles out of your system once you ingest them and they start taking effect.

Check out this advice for how to manage if you get higher than you want to be, and enjoy your journey!

Get a Virginia Marijuana Card to Start a New Adventure With Edibles!

In order to legally buy medical marijuana edibles online or at the dispensary, you’re going to need a Virginia marijuana card. Our compassionate doctors are here to help you, and they can give you the information you need to create a treatment plan that works for you. Schedule an appointment with a medical marijuana doctor online today, to start getting the natural relief you deserve!

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Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.

At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.

Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!

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