Marijuana, Mary Jane, pot, ganja, weed, and cannabis: the list of names for this substance are endless. Marijuana is the first legalized controlled substance in some states. It can be smoked, used to cook with, and also for medical use. Among new college students and current students, marijuana is the most common and popular drug. Most students first experience a high via edibles, a cannabis- infused food. 

For years marijuana has been frowned upon, but since 2016 when Proposition 64 was introduced, the drug has been legalized for personal and medical use. Pot shops have been allowed in some cities with regulations. Here in Sonoma County there are more than 15 local dispensaries. There are also more underground dispensaries that don’t disclose they are dispensaries to avoid being taxed. These dispensaries carry anything from infused oils, pre rolled blunts and joints, edibles, lotions, wax, dabs, pastries, and of course weed itself. You can also pick up your very own plant and take it home to grow. 

Recent studies have shown that edibles are a more popular item on college campuses, as well as just smoking it. Weed is known to have a different potency when mixed with chocolate, according to studies. According to Newsweek, new studies have shown when chocolate is mixed with Cannabis the potency is skewed, not giving the correct potency results. Some ingredients in chocolate suppress the presence of THC in and edible making it harder to determine potency levels. The suppression in potency level is known as a “matrix effect”, meaning if there’s more chocolate in an edible, it leads to less THC being detected. If an edible has less chocolate, THC is much easier to detect. 

Researchers aren’t quite sure what ingredient in chocolate causes this, but they do have an idea. Some suspect it could be the fats in chocolate that are manipulating the potency results and THC might be fat soluble. According to Newsweek, Tristan Watkins, Chief Science Officer of marijuana company Lucidmoon, says, “some ingredients in edibles, like healthy fats, may help with the absorption process and produce stronger effects.”

When purchasing edibles from a dispensary, the THC dosage is labeled on the packaging, although the potency levels could be inaccurate if it contains chocolate.This can lead to some people feeling a stronger high than if they were to be smoking marijuana.

If someone prefers edibles, vaping or smoking can be a different high. Studies have shown that ingesting THC is going to give someone a much longer high that can last anywhere from six to eight hours. When vaping or smoking THC, the high will be can be short, lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, and oftentimes edibles can last even longer. Some college students have had negative experiences using edibles because of their potency level. 

Even though weed is known as a chill drug,, it could lead to a negative experience. Students who have ingested THC don’t feel the high right away leading to them wanting to ingest more. This usually results in the high hitting them later and much stronger which could possibly last for more than just a few hours. Weed can be a relaxing experience and can help with many ailments. Just make sure that all instructions are followed on the packaging to avoid any negative effects.