Can You Eat Weed Raw?

Even though there seems to be more attention on weed nowadays, people have used marijuana for millennia. Humans have used cannabis for thousands of years for a ton of different reasons. For some, cannabis makes them feel great, for others, it’s for the health benefits. Many people use cannabis for both, and there are quite a few ways people can use it. Some people opt to smoke, vape, dab, and apply creams. However, one of the most popular methods of using weed is eating it, that is in edible form. So if you’ve ever wondered if you can eat weed, the answer is yes but not raw if you want to get high! In this post, we’ll tell you why you can get high from edibles but not from eating weed raw, and the surprising benefits of eating weed raw.

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What Happens If You Eat Weed?

What happens to you when you eat weed depends on:

• Your body
• What the edible is made of
• How much weed you eat
• Whether or not you need an edible or eat weed raw

Everyone experiences cannabis differently. For some people, THC makes them paranoid while others are relaxed. At the same time, some people may feel the effects of eating weed longer than others or faster than others. That depends on their metabolism. 

In addition to that, there are various types of edibles and they have varying effects based on the cannabinoid present. For example, if you eat cannabidiol (CBD) edibles, then you won’t get high. However, you may find that you have lower levels of anxiety. If you eat an edible made with delta 8 THC, you will get high and possibly experience lower levels of anxiety as well. Edibles made with delta 9 THC would get you high and potentially help with pain relief. 

Depending on the number of edibles you eat and what is in them, you may have adverse effects. For example, if you eat an edible with a lot of THC, especially if you’re not used to it, you may not feel so good. Newbies who scarf down too many edibles because they’re not feeling the effects, sometimes end up in the hospital.

While many people opt for a delicious edible, it’s entirely possible to eat weed raw. Eating raw weed may possibly provide some health benefits without a high. 

Can You Get High From Eating Raw Weed?

The simple answer is no. Eating weed raw won’t get you high because of the cannabinoids present. According to Healthline, raw weed contains, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). THCA needs to become THC makes you feel high. THCA becomes THC through decarboxylation. Decarboxylation removes the carboxyl group from the THC. Decarboxylation occurs when weed is heated. That’s why smoking weed and eating it in the form of an edible is more likely to result in a high as long as enough THC is present. 

Benefits of Eating Raw Weed

There isn’t a ton of research about eating raw weed. However, there are some promising studies out there. The studies mostly focuses on THCA, a cannabinoid found in raw weed.

According to an article in the British Journal of Pharmacology, THCA appears to shows potent neuroprotective activity. That means it could potentially help with conditions such as Huntington’s disease. The study says that THCA may also be helpful for other neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases.

Another benefit of eating raw weed is that it inhibits the tumor necrosis factor(TNF) alpha levels. TNF-alpha suppress the body’s natural response to tumor necrosis factor. Tumor necrosis factor are proteins that help the body fight off infection as well as kill tumor cells. If someone has a tumor, THCA reducing the TNF alpha levels is a good thing. 

Finally, eating weed may make you less nauseous. According to a study done on rats, THCA was better able at prevent nausea and vomiting compared to THC. The study says, “…. data suggest that THCA may be a more potent alternative to THC in the treatment of nausea and vomiting”.

Downsides to Eating Raw Weed 

As mentioned, there isn’t a lot of information out there on using raw weed, probably because it’s not all that common. However, the main downside clearly is that it won’t make you high. In addition to that, there isn’t a lot of research on consuming raw weed so we can’t be fully sure of the benefits. 

If you want to get high or reap more proven benefits, you’ll need to heat up the raw weed or try alternatives. The good news is there are lots of great ways to consume weed. You can make cannabutter, brownies, gummies and so much more. 

Conclusion 

Yes, you can eat weed. Weed may be consumed raw or infused in food and drink. If you’re looking for the greatest benefits, you may want to opt for an edible over just snacking on raw weed. There isn’t a lot of research done on eating raw weed and THCA but we’re hopeful that that will change eventually. How weed affects you when eaten depends on several factors. It’s up to you to know how weed affects your body and what dose is optimal for you.