Can Eating Weed Get You High?

Marijuana leaf on a plate

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that stoners love to ingest weed any way they can. Whether it’s smoking it, vaping it, putting it in food, beverages, and probably other places we don’t want to know about, stoners will always find a way.

So, it doesn’t surprise us that you’ve found your way here after searching the internet for the answer to one of the most burning questions to have ever been asked by the stoner community: does eating weed get you high?

In all seriousness, it’s not a stupid question at all. It’s actually a very good question. Since edibles make up a massive part of the cannabis market, it’s only natural to wonder what would happen if you ate raw weed.

Because we love stoners (and because we also love cannabis education), we’re here to answer that question and settle it for good. Can you eat weed and get high?

Looking for an unforgettable edible? Delta Munchies has you covered.

Out of stock
From: $14.99
Sale!
$29.99
Sale!
Out of stock
Sale!
Out of stock
Sale!
From: $39.99
Out of stock

Live Resin • THC-P • Delta 8 Vape

Blueberry Faygo Slushy Juice 4G THC-P Vape

$49.99
Sale!

 

Can you eat raw weed?

Before we answer what happens if you eat marijuana, we need to know: can you eat marijuana? The answer is yes, you can! It’s totally safe, and according to a growing number of people, is even considered to have a variety of potential health benefits.

Human beings have been utilizing parts of the cannabis plant for thousands of years. Cannabis use has been dated back to the ancient civilizations of China, Egypt, India, and was popularly used among Native Americans from both the North American and South American continents. 

So, if you came here because someone told you an old wives tale one time about how eating raw weed could make you really sick or kill you (because we swear almost every stoner in the world has heard that tall tale at least once before), we’re here to tell you, that’s not the case. In fact, it’s actually quite the opposite.

What happens if you eat raw weed?

Now that we know whether you can eat raw weed, we need to know the answer to the next question: what happens if you eat weed?

Eating raw weed can be considered similar to eating other leafy green vegetables and will be metabolized and digested by the human body as such. When you consume the cannabis plant raw, there are not any immediate physical or psychological effects like there are when you smoke it or vape it. There is, however, growing research behind the potential health benefits of eating raw weed. While it may not affect the body like other traditional methods of consuming cannabis, eating raw weed still facilitates a lot of positive interactions within the human body.

Raw cannabis contains two chemical compounds called THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) and CBDA (cannabidiolic acid). These are basically the ‘raw forms’ of THC and CBD. Though they are the chemical compounds from which THC and CBD are created, they don’t interact with the body in quite the same way.

Can you get high from eating weed?

Now on to the question that brought you here: can eating weed get you high? The answer, unfortunately, (and somewhat surprisingly) is no; eating raw weed does not get you high.

Interestingly, raw cannabis doesn’t actually contain THC. It contains a cannabinoid called tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCA, which is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. THCA turns into THC once it’s exposed to heat through a process called decarboxylation, which is why smoking it or cooking with it activates the chemical reaction. (This is also the same for CBDA, or cannabidiolic acid; once it undergoes the process of decarboxylation, it turns into CBD.)

The psychoactive experience is entirely dependent on THC interacting with the human body’s endocannabinoid system. Human beings have cannabinoid receptors throughout their nervous systems and immune systems, and when we ingest THC, it interacts with those cannabinoid receptors to create the physical and mental effects that we’ve come to know as ‘getting high.’

And since raw weed’s primary cannabinoid THCA doesn’t produce THC until reaching a certain level of combustion, there is no high to be had by eating raw weed. But just because it doesn’t get you high doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some other potential benefits to consider.

What are the benefits of eating raw weed?

There are some surprising benefits of eating cannabis. A growing number of people have been studying and conducting research on the potential health benefits that eating the cannabis plant raw can have on the human body. (Some even recommend juicing it!)

Some potential benefits of eating raw weed include:

  • It provides the user with some of the beneficial effects of cannabis without the psychoactive experience that comes with consuming THC. This is great for people who are using cannabis medicinally but don’t enjoy the high that comes with potent cannabinoids like THC or delta-8.

  • It’s a healthier alternative than smoking cannabis which can cause lung irritation with frequent and long-term use. (This goes for buds of any cannabinoid for that matter, whether it’s THC, delta-8, or CBD.) 

  • THCA, the specific cannabinoid found in raw weed, has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been said to help with pain relief. It’s also been said to help with things like nausea and upset stomach.

  • There are studies that have suggested THCA is also potentially beneficial for brain health and can help to stimulate overall cell growth.

  • On the other hand, there are studies that have suggested THCA helps to slow the growth of cancerous cells, making it useful for preventative health.

  • Raw marijuana leaves are rich in certain vitamins and minerals. Raw cannabis leaves are excellent sources of fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate.

  • Raw cannabis is also rich in antioxidants, which help to fight free radicals that cause tissue damage and rapid aging.

With research in the cannabis industry progressing at an almost dizzying rate, it won’t be long before we know more about the effects of eating raw weed and how it may be beneficial for the human body.

Leave a Reply