Davanh Xaypanya has always looked to the kitchen as her love language. When the Covid-19 pandemic left her jobless, her partner encouraged her to take up a new hobby: making cannabis-infused foods. She soon found herself specializing in baked goods, like her popular s’mores bars and savory mac and cheese.

Edibles have been a big part of the burgeoning legal elevated edibles industry. They have become increasingly popular, in part because people feel they’re more discreet than smoking. In addition, they can offer a more consistent dose and avoid the lung-irritation that can come from inhaling smoke.

Elevated Edibles: Taking Your Cannabis Culinary Experience to New Heights

The cannabinoids in an edible must pass through the digestive system to enter the bloodstream, a process that takes time. This means that the effects of an edible can take up to a few hours to kick in. Then they can last for up to eight hours. But that’s only if the person is eating the right amount. If the person isn’t, they can experience a delayed effect or, more dangerously, overdose.

The good news is that chemistry and nutrition science are giving manufacturers clues into how edible dosing should work, and what factors might influence it. For example, since cannabinoids need to bind with fat in order to be processed by the body, many manufacturers use dairy products like milk and butter. Someone who has lactose intolerance could have a reaction to an edible that uses these ingredients. This is why it’s so important to choose a safe and familiar space when trying an edible for the first time.