You’d be forgiven for assuming that just as soon as cannabis edibles go on sale legally where you live, it would be plain sailing. After all, how can you possibly go wrong as far as legal cannabis is concerned? In truth however, it’s not until you find yourself presented with literally thousands of different products from an endless array of providers that you realise it can be something of a minefield. Not only this, but as those who have already sampled various offerings from different producers will know, all cannabis edibles are by no means up to the same high quality standards.

As is the case with all things in a retail sense, it’s hard not to be swayed quite drastically by marketing spiel and the hard-sell. Pretty packaging, catchy slogans and all those incredibly tempting special offers can indeed be difficult to resist. What you have to remember is that when you shop for cannabis edibles, you are not simply shopping for something that gives you an instant hit of flavour and nothing else. Instead, you’re shopping for the total package of value for money by way of awesome flavour and the subsequent hit you can expect from the good stuff.

Of course, we’re not trying to say that endless choice in terms of cannabis edibles is a bad thing. Far from it, in fact, as living in a world where cliché cannabis brownies are not the be all and end all of things is pretty epic to say the least. From soft drinks to gummy bears to barbecue sauce to breakfast cereals, there isn’t just something out there to suit every taste – there are loads of things. So for those new to the world of edibles, along with the ones simply trying to get the very most from their purchases, here’s a quick rundown of just a few tips when it comes to choosing from the endless options available:

Balance THC Content with Portion Size

First of all, it’s important to be mindful when it comes to striking the right balance between THC content and portion size. Think of it this way – if you are buying cannabis edibles to help you sleep or for pain relief purposes, it’s really not going to work in your favour if you buy the kind of low-THC ice cream that means you need to eat three gallons of the stuff every day. Likewise, if you are looking to satisfy a serious craving for sweets and get yourself just nicely high in the process, you probably aren’t going to have much luck with a box of pralines containing 200mg of THC in each one. While some will always opt for the highest possible THC content or the best value for money in terms of portion size, it is important to consider them both in relation to one another. Think about both the primary purpose of the edibles you’re buying and exactly how big your appetite is.

Look for Reliable THC Content Disclosure

You may be aware of the fact that you cannot always trust cannabis edibles packaging. When it comes to THC content in particular, there are certain brands that are not exactly consistent when it comes to how accurate their printed values are. Which is why it is a good idea to stick with more reputable brands if you are new to cannabis edibles, in order to ensure a more reliable indication of what’s in there. In all instances, it is also a good idea that along with a disclosure of the THC content in the products, there should be some kind of indication that this has been verified under third-party laboratories conditions. This should back up exactly how much CBD and THC are in there in milligrams, in order to at least have a reasonably accurate idea of what you are buying.

Never Buy Edibles Missing Potency Information

Right at the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find the comparatively short list of products that still to this day do not feature any kind of potency information whatsoever. More often than not, these tend to be the kinds of homemade bits and pieces cooked up by smaller shops and businesses, which for obvious reasons do not go to the trouble of having their products tested and verified. Instead, they simply stick as much THC in there as they think is necessary, slap on the label and sell it to their customers. Which in most instances doesn’t necessarily represent a danger and there’s every chance these kinds of products can be great. But at the same time, there are also likely to be massive consistency issues and you really never know what you are buying from one product to the next.

Simple Professionalism

It’s also possible to learn a lot about both the cannabis edible itself and the manufacturer behind it, simply by taking into account the overall professionalism of the packaging and labelling. For example, there’s a big and important difference between a cannabis cookie with nothing but a price sticker on it and a second cookie sheet that features nutritional information, dosage advice, allergy information and the contact details of the company that manufactured it. It should also be made relatively clear exactly what kind of weed was used to create the edible in question, along with whether it was made using cannabis oil, butter or by way of a solvent-based extraction method.

Obvious Labelling

If you are planning to buy cannabis edibles to be consumed or shared at a later date, it is absolutely imperative that you ensure you buy those that make it blatantly obvious that they contain cannabis. The reason being that it is your responsibility to ensure that edible products containing cannabis do not accidentally fall into the wrong hands, after being purchased. It could be a family member, a neighbour, a babysitter, a child or absolutely anyone else who may decide to raid the fridge at an unexpected moment and chow down on your personal stash. For obvious reasons, it also makes sense to ensure that all cannabis edibles are kept safely out of sight and out of reach, ideally under lock and key at all times. Be particularly cautious when it comes to cannabis edibles that are packaged in a manner which will undoubtedly appeal to children.

Consider Your Needs

Think carefully about exactly what you expect to get from your cannabis edibles, before heading out and hitting your local stockist. For example, if you are looking simply to get as high as possible without having to overdo it by way of calories, high-THC gummy bears or simple capsules will do the trick. By contrast, if you are looking to add a little extra buzz to a dinner party without necessarily blowing your guests’ heads off, think about investing in a few hunks of low-THC cheesecake. And if you’d simply like to have something delicious and convenient on-hand at all times to be used as and when the mood takes you, why not stop up on cannabis infused to salad dressings, sauces and dips?

Be Strain Savvy

Contrary to popular belief, the specific strain that has been used to create any given cannabis edible will indeed have an effect on the way it affects you. While it is of course the potency of the THC in the edible that will have the most significant impact, you also need to be mindful when it comes to deciding between Indica and Sativa strains. Just as is the case when smoking cannabis, these two primary strain types have very different effects when it comes to edibles. If you are looking to seriously relax yourself and sleep better, Indica is the way to go. By contrast, when it comes to daytime pain relief and a more uplifting high, Sativa edibles make better choices.

Ask for Advice

If you find yourself well and truly overwhelmed by the incredible bounty before you, remember there’s no shame whatsoever in asking the budtender for a little advice. You have to remember that as these guys live and breathe bud on a 24/7 basis, it is inevitable that they will know a hell of a lot more than you when it comes to the thousands of edibles on offer. Which means that even if you consider yourself to be something of a guru, there’s a lot to be said for swallowing your pride and asking for a few pointers from the professionals.

Check Ratings and Recommendations

Last but not least, it’s pretty safe to say these days that if you were to google absolutely any cannabis edible whatsoever, you would find plenty of reviews and ratings from previous customers. As such, while personal tastes will always vary a lot to say the least, it’s still worth checking ratings and recommendations online, in order to see which edibles are making waves in committed cannabis circles.