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Lifestyle

Ask a Budtender: What Are Some Tips for Taking Edibles at a Festival?

Haley Hansen

by Haley Hansen

June 2, 2022 08:00 am ET Estimated Read Time: 6 Minutes
Ask a Budtender: What Are Some Tips for Taking Edibles at a Festival?

Question: How can I avoid a headache from taking edibles? I want to take edibles at a festival, but the last time I did, I woke up with a headache. Ā Iā€™ve gotten the hang of taking edibles a few hours before I want them to actually kick in.Ā  That part is going fine, but the problem is the next morningā€¦I almost always wake up with a headache the next day.

The last time I took edibles, I woke up with a dull headache in the back of my head and behind my eyes, and I just felt a bit slower overall the next day at the festival. Any tips for me?Ā  I wanna take an edible at another festival soon, but if Iā€™m going to always have a headache the next day, I might have to give up on edibles.

Cannabis Coach Haley’s Answer: I love that you asked this question, and Iā€™d be glad to offer some pointers.Ā  Iā€™m also glad you brought this up now, at the start of summer, because many people try edibles for the first time in the summer when theyā€™re on vacation or get a few days off from work.

Once you get the hang of it, edibles can be such a great summer alternative to drinking alcohol, and many people like the sociable aspect of showing up to a barbecue or summer party with a cannabis-infused snack or beverage. Ā But we definitely donā€™t want you to be waking up with a headache, especially if youā€™re at a music festival!Ā  Iā€™ve got some ideas for you:

Learn From the Past

When weā€™re talking about ā€œediblesā€, itā€™s important to remember that this term covers a wide variety of products.Ā  For many people, the word ā€œedibleā€ will evoke an image of classic edibles, like a cannabis-infused cookie or brownie. But now in 2022, the options for an ā€œedibleā€ can be far-reaching ā€“ anything from a bag of cannabis-infused chips to a THC iced latte can be considered an edible!Ā  You might be surprised at all the options youā€™ll find at the dispensary.

Any time I hear of a client having a bad experience with cannabis, it can be helpful to get into the nitty-gritty details of the experience, and then make an adjustment for next time.Ā  Think back to the last festival where you woke up with a headache:

  • What kind of edible did you take?
  • How many milligrams of THC were in it?
  • What time of evening did you take it?
  • Do you remember if you had anything to eat that evening?Ā  Anything to drink?
  • Did you consume any alcoholic beverages alongside the edible?

Personally, I like to keep a quick record of this in my phoneā€™s Notes section or in a cannabis journal.Ā  It can really help to jot down quick notes like this as youā€™re getting started in your cannabis journey.

By writing down some quick notes, you can discover patterns over time and hopefully create a better experience for next time.Ā  In many cases, a sign of a headache the next day is simply a sign of over-doing it, and you may have better success with a lower dose of THC next time.

Pre-game With Water

This is a secret tip that really works wonders for me: if you know youā€™re going to consume an edible, drink lots of water beforehand ā€“ especially if youā€™re taking edibles on a hot summer day. Make sure youā€™ve had at least one real glass of water before taking an edible (and no, an iced latte doesnā€™t count in this scenario).Ā Ā 

When people report getting a headache with edibles, in many cases itā€™s a sign of slight dehydration.Ā  When you think about it, taking an edible is like taking a very concentrated form of cannabis, and in order for it to kick in and work properly, your body needs to be properly hydrated.

When clients report a headache the next day after taking edibles, itā€™s often because they didnā€™t have much water with their edibles and/or they were outside in the hot summer sunā€”all of this adds up into a big headache the next morning.Ā  HydrateĀ before and after taking edibles! Ā I also recommend skipping the alcohol if you’re going to be taking edibles, especially if you’re taking edibles in a new and busy environment like a music festival.

PRO TIP:Ā  Consider drinking an electrolyte-rich drink like Gatorade or Liquid IV alongside your edibles instead.Ā  When I take edibles and I know Iā€™m going to be outside in the summer heat, I treat it like Iā€™m running a race. Ā I always add in some beverage with electrolytes, which help our cells maintain proper water balance. Coconut water is also a great option.

Bring Snacks

One last thing to consider, especially if youā€™re going to a festival, is to come prepared with regular, non-medicated snacks to eat alongside your edible. Thereā€™s nothing worse than being at a festival and the only food in your tent or backpack is a bag of cannabis-infused gummies! Ā Make sure you pack lots of protein-rich snacks, and if you can include a snack with omega-3 fatty acids, thatā€™s even better.Ā 

THC binds to fat, and personally, I find that when I eat a snack with healthy fats alongside my edible, the whole edible experience feels gentler, lasts longer, and the next day I can get up comfortably with no headache.

PRO TIP: my go-to snack to pair with edibles? always a handful of almonds.Ā  Itā€™s substantial enough that I can have a quick burst of protein and fat. Itā€™s shelf-stable, wonā€™t melt in my backpack, and it doesnā€™t upset my stomach if Iā€™m walking around in the heat all day. You really can’t go wrong with almonds and protein bars.Ā 

Hope these tips help to give you a happy edibles experience!Ā  Enjoy your festival and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Post Your Comments

  • Patricia Jarus says:

    June 3, 2022 at 11:49 am

    What type of edible is good for getting in a party mood. I find the edibles Iā€™m taking now to be relaxing but I want to laugh and be social. I donā€™t drink alcohol but I still would enjoy a buzz

    Reply
  • Matthew Merten says:

    June 3, 2022 at 3:33 pm

    Haley,

    Thank you for this article. The hydration tips are spot-on. Coming off of 3 surgeries this year, I kept a journal and noted how much water I drank, the quantity of THC and CBD, and the consistent timing of my dosage, it was the water consumption before and after that made headaches evaporate. I also slept better if I drank a cup of water just before bed.

    Rock on Haley.

    Reply
  • Eartha says:

    June 3, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    This is great! Very helpful. Thank you šŸ’Ÿ

    Reply
  • Kim says:

    June 6, 2022 at 8:44 pm

    Great article! Thanks.

    Reply

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