Like the other Sensi Chew products, this edible is a chocolate caramel confection that does a good job of hiding the THC taste. If you are not a fan of the taste of cannabis oil, this is good product for you to try, as the taste is on the mild side. There is an “Insomnia Plus” product that has no THC, just CBD and it has almost no cannabis taste. This edible is usually described as having a “tootsie-roll” type flavor and Sensi Chews have a similar consistency as those treats.
I like that Sensi Chew has a short ingredient list and that the ingredients are something your grandmother might use in making treats (except maybe the cannabis extract, depending on your grandmother). They are not full of chemicals and fillers. They do contain dairy so they are not an option for those who avoid dairy, be it for allergy, by choice, because of being a vegan and cruelty-free or any other reason.
Effects & Dosing
Usually within 30-45 minutes of taking one of these I begin to feel sleepy. I am sensitive to melatonin and each dose has 2mg of it per dose along with either 10mg of THC or CBD. Once the effects begin to set in, I am able to get ready for bed and I last about another 30 minutes before my eyes are too heavy to keep open. I would not take more than my usual does of one 10mg THC piece as I find the effects are strong enough.
Sometimes I do experience something of a groggy feeling in the morning, which I don’t like. I experience that with several other types of sleep aids, so I think it is the melatonin. I prefer to wake up refreshed and not groggy. I am fortunate that insomnia is only an occasional issue so I don’t usual use a sleep aid. Folks who are more tolerant of melatonin, might not have the grogginess. I don’t have it every time, but close to half the time when I use products like this.
Wrap Up
If you have problems getting to sleep or staying asleep, I would recommend giving Sensi Chew Insomnia or Insomnia Plus formulas a try. these might not be your best choice if you are sensitive to melatonin. If you find you experience the grogginess, experiment with half or a quarter of a 10mg dose, to see if that reduces the impact.
Whether you are beginning to try edible or topical forms of cannabis, or are just interested in knowing more, we share are some good basics to know from our considerable experience. We share about effects, selecting, dosing, consuming – and what to do in case you consume more than feels good.
Effects
If you have not smoked Cannabis before and are unfamiliar with the effects that smoking it creates, understand that you will likely be experiencing new sensations. Well known side effects of smoking Cannabis flowers include euphoria, relaxation, heightened senses, pain relief, dry mouth and “the munchies”. These effects come from various chemicals in cannabis including CBD and THC.
If you have smoked pot, know that it is different than the almost immediate effects experienced when you smoke. The effects can sometimes take two hours or more to be felt fully. We usually feel effects from edibles within 45 minutes to an hour, but the effects can sometimes continue to increase up to 3 hours later. Every time is s little different. When compared with smoking flowers, it takes longer to feel it and much longer for the effect to fade. We have turned to edibles more as we want to smoke less. When we smoke, the effect can last an hour or so, sometimes two, but with edibles the effects keep giving!
Everyone is impacted differently, so make sure you have the free time to experience the effects – which may last up to 6 hours and for transdermal patches or large doses up to 12 hours. Ideally you are in a comfortable, familiar environment, preferably with someone nearby or in close touch who is supportive and experienced.
Eating or applying the compounds to your skin can have quite different effects. Some effects that we experience from smoking, like heightened senses or the munchies, do happen with edibles. Effects of edibles can include focus, energy and creativity with Sativa strains, pain or anxiety relief with Indica strains and anti-inflammatory effects with CBD rich strains.
Sativa, Indica & Hybrids
Indica, Sativa and Hybrid options. flickr: extensivlyreviewed
Cannabis comes in two main types – Indica and Sativa. Indica primarily effects the body – relaxing, anti-tension, and sometimes “couch lock” for stronger strains. Sativa primarily effects the head, increasing focus, creativity, energy and sense perception. There are many hybrids that are dominated by one set of traits or the other and some hybrids that try to balance the effects of both.
Wikipedia: On average, Cannabis indica has higher levels of THC compared to CBD, whereas Cannabis sativa has lower levels of THC to CBD.[5] However, huge variability exists within either species.
In the case of CBDs anti-inflammatory and pain relief are the usual effects Taking CBD with THC is reported to reduce the power of THC or at least it helps limit how high you get. Some suggest taking CBD to combat taking too much.
Within the types – Sativa, Indica, Hybrid – there are many specific strains. Some strain names have become well known and we prefer edibles where the strain name appears, so we can look up the effects if it is an unfamiliar strain. Also, If I want energy and uplift in the morning, I might not want to take an Indica dominant strain like Grandaddy Purple or Gorilla Glue or Chem Dawg that will relax me. I want a Sativa dominant strain like Sour Diesel or Jack Herer or Blue Dream. Some of the CBD strains are AC/DC, Harlequin and Ringo’s Gift. Sites like Leafly and others have reviews that provide details and reviews of strains.
Selecting
With the effects in mind, select what you want thoughtfully. Get something that either comes in small doses or something you can easily cut up into the portion size you want. Brownies, cakes, chocolate treats and similar edibles are often easy to cut into portion sizes. Hard candies and suckers are not easy to cut up, so consider that when making your selection.
To find edibles that are a good fit for you, look for items in flavors and types that appeal to both your taste buds and the effects you desire from your experience. There is a wide variety of cookies, brownies, cakes, chocolates, hard candies and other portable edibles available, so look around at different dispensaries to find the ones that are best for you.
Some dispensaries offer small diary’s or logs for you to keep track of what works for you and what doesn’t. It is a great idea to keep some notes on what you like and don’t so you can refine your choices and see what is best for you.
Always start with a low dose, like 2 or 2.5 mgs (milligrams). Do not to use edibles that are not clearly labeled with the total amount of THC either in the whole thing or per item (like with gummies). You cannot tell potency by the size of the edible. A normal size brownie could contain 5mg or 500mg, you just don’t know.
While a typical dose is usually 10mg, if you are totally new to edibles you may want to start at 2-3mg. While sometimes the effects can take up to 2 hours to be felt completely, usually after 60-90 minutes you should feel something. With a new edible, always wait 2 hours to see what you experience. If you feel nothing or almost nothing, possibly add another 2-3mg and wait 2 hours again, or next time try 5mg if the lower dose was not too strong for you.
On The Rise Edibles Medical Cannabis Gingerbread
Do your math and plan ahead when cutting up edibles. The On the Rise Sativa dominant edible pictured has 210mg of THC and it says it is six (6) doses. That means each dose will have 35mg of THC each – way too much for most people. If you want 10mg pieces, how will you cut it into 21 sections? One way is to cut it in half then cut those pieces in half, then cut those pieces in half, but that means you end up with an even number of pieces. In this case you end up with 20 pieces of 10.5 mg each which is close enough to the target dose.
This was an old style edible, before adult use became legal in California in 2018. Most edibles now – and in most states where it is legal – have the standard required dosing of 5mg or 10mg per dose, with some having higher limits for medical use, like 25mg per dose.
Consumption
How much food is in your stomach impacts the effects of edibles, and so does what you eat with it. We notice a definite difference if we take the same dose of an edible with very little on our stomach or if we take it soon after a meal. We get a much more pronounced and often quicker effect when our stomach is near empty. If our stomachs are full, the effect is usually weaker overall and can take more time to develop.
What you take the edible with can boost its effects we have found. From what we understand, the THC binds with fats to be distributed into the body, so it helps to take the edible with food that has some healthy fats in it like an avocado, some nuts or some seeds like sunflower, sesame and chia seeds. Too much food, however, and you will loose the benefits of a little fat, so having a big meal with a lot of fat in it isn’t a good choice if you want to feel the full impact.
Caffeine and spices that increase blood flow (like cinnamon, ginger or cayenne) can also help to boost the effects of edibles. If we are looking for an energetic experience, we usually take our edibles with some form of caffeine, be it coffee, tea, mate or cocoa. While Ruth is a black coffee lover, Alton prefers a modified cafe mocha made by stirring cocoa powder into coffee with milk. Since he loves spicy foods, he will often mix cayenne and cinnamon into the cocoa powder and add that to coffee for a spicy mocha. We find caffeine and these spices boosts the effects of most edibles I’ve tried. A favorite edible, the On The Rise brownies, come in both chocolate and gingerbread formula. We find that with the gingerbread we get a slightly stronger effect than we do with the chocolate brownie.
Flickr photo: JurrasicBlueberries Cookies 2017
Hydration
Staying hydrated is always important and I find it more so with edibles. I usually need more water than usual when I use edibles as I often experience dehydration and dry mouth. I usually go through four or five 16oz glasses. It’s fine to drink other liquids, being aware that sugary drinks could reduce the impact of the cannabis you are using. If you drink alcohol or caffeine or soda or all three, they do dehydrate you, so void them, limit them or pair them with regular intake of water – your body will thank you.
Overdose
It happens to most people at some point. With edibles it is possible to overdo it and feel like you have had too much. Sometimes this feels like you are ill but you cannot pinpoint what is wrong. Some folks get a feeling as if they are “dying” because they feel really bad, but don’t know what is wrong. We’ve experienced this as an all over feeling of being very uncomfortable, feeling nauseous in a way but not sick to the stomach. If we are inside, we can feel like we need to go outside for fresh air, and sometimes that helps. You are not actually sick, it just feels like it.
The easy antidote for too much THC edibles is to eat and drink. Sugar, protein and carbs are especially good at mitigating the effects of too much THC. Try having some form of protein, some cereal or some ice cream, even a sandwich. You may be feeling strange and it may feel strange to be eating, but do your best to finish what you are eating until you feel better. When we have the right dose, the taste of food is amazing, but if we’ve had too much eating is what has always worked to bring us down from an overdose of THC.
We have also heard advice to use products high in CBD’s to offset the effects, such as taking a high CBD tincture so it will bring down the THC effects. We do notice that we never seem as high with an edible that has a 1:1 THC to CBD ratio than one without. We have not tried taking CBD to combat taking too much THC it makes sense – as long as it doesn’t add more THC to the mix.
Experiment
Everyone is impacted differently, so first try each new edible by itself and when you have the time to enjoy the effects, not when you have to be somewhere or do something soon. Trying different types of edibles over time and at different doses will help you to find out what produces the desired effects for you.
This is the most wonderful time of the year! I love the holidays! Now that pot is legal in my state, I’ve created a new, cannabis tradition for the elves on my nice list who partake in enjoying marijuana that live here in the Rocky Mountains- stockings stuffed with edibles from my favorite Colorado companies.
At the bottom of the stocking I’ve put a container of Love’s Oven S’more Brownies. The perfect treat with hot cocoa! These bite size cannabis edibles provide an upbeat, energetic high.
This year I discovered Zoots products. I love them and highly recommend them. So, I am putting as many of their items in everybody’s stocking as possible. Zoots Rocks, in the hard to find caramel flavor, is a crowd favorite. These suckers are the best out there for a happy high filled with energy. My local dispensary is now offering Zootbites Snickerdoodle Cookies. They have 5mg per cookie and come in packs of two. I haven’t tried these yet, but I know that everyone will love them. I splurged and also picked up ZootsDrops High Energy Blend Yipee Ki-Yay Mandarin Lime Drops. These wonderful drops provide liquid doses of THC into the beverage of your choice. They would be delicious in hot, spiced, apple cider.
Finally, I am THRILLED to purchase Pot-Rox for this year’s stockings. Pot-Rox are Pop Rocks with THC. They come in 10mg pouches in Tropical Twist and Berry Blast flavors. After a year reviewing so many gummy edibles, it’s exciting to see fun, different edibles!
The stockings are ready and filled with yummy products. They are all set to give out. And I know that everyone will be psyched to get their treats.
I hope your holiday is filled with joy and some new edibles too!
May the new year be a happy, healthy year for all!
Big Pete’s Cannabis-infused mini cookies are billed as “Cookies That Treat You Right”. They come in CBD, Indica & Sativa types. For some reason the Indica comes with ten (10) cookies, each with 10mg of THC and the Sativa comes with six (6) cookies, each with 10mg of THC.
Taste
For this review, I tried the Peanut Butter flavor of the Sativa and the Cinnamon & Sugar flavor of the Indica.
The Peanut Butter smells and tastes like a typical peanut butter cookie – chewy yet dry – that is packed with cannabis. Same goes for the Indica Cinnamon Sugar mini cookie, a great cookie taste with the cannabis butter taste alongside it. While you can get away with eating these cookies without liquid, some coffee, almond milk, or tea to go with them is a welcome addition.
Taking a whiff from the bag smells like someone put peanut butter cookies into a quarter ounce bag of primo weed. Or that you have a piece of cinnamon toast in your stash, so it can both give you and cure your munchies.
You know these are well infused when the cannabis smell is this pronounced. I think they smell great. I found the thc taste from the cannabis butter was pronounced as well. They are not trying to cover up the taste but let it blend with the flavors of the cookies.
I think Big Pete’s achieves a very good balance between the cannabis and the other flavors, as I don’t mind the subtle, slightly grassy taste of cannabis butter.
Ingredients & Packaging
They do contain butter and eggs so they are not vegan and the nuts are an issue for folks with allergies. I like that most of the ingredients are ones that I use in cooking myself, not a lot of extra chemicals or preservatives. Big Pete’s says they use a slow-cook method to make their cannabutter which gives a full spectrum effect.
Packaging is mercifully easy to open, with a tear strip that exposes a two-hand resealable closure similar to many child-safe pouches. There are helpful graphics on the package to help users get the bag open.
Effects
The effects seem to run true to the type, so I couldn’t be happier. Trying a Sativa cookie after breakfast gave me the focus, uplift and energy to run around and get a lot accomplished by noon. This is just what I want and expect from a Sativa cannabis edible. During my errands there may have been an extra stop to buy a few unnecessary but very pretty things, but those happen even when being elevated isn’t involved.
I had some caffeine at lunch and didn’t eat a lot – although I did have the munchies – so the effects continued even after lunch, a total of about 5 hours worth of effects, although they did start to fade after about 4 hours.
With the Indica, I tried them in the evening since I am pretty sensitive to Indica effects . Within an hour I found them nicely relaxing but not to the point of couch-lock. I flirted with groggy but was able to maintain a relaxed alertness. After 2 hours, my eyelids did start to feel heavier. Being active became less and less attractive. I could see taking these on a winter weekend afternoon for binge watching TV curled up on the couch. I eventually headed off to dreamland nicely chilled out.
I think Big Pete’s makes some great cannabis edibles. I appreciate that they are Sativa/Indica type specific. I would love it if they would share which strain or strains they use. This is a very good tasting cannabis mini cookie that provides consistent, predictable results. Definitely worth the calories and a wonderful way to elevate.
The first time I tested Big Pete’s Cannabis Infused Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies, the complete body high was so amazing I didn’t feel like writing any review notes. It was a strong, intense buzz that very few edibles can compete with. I loved it. Happily, I tried these cookies again with the serious intention to write a glowing product review.
Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies are Indica strain cannabis infused edibles. Each cookie has 10mg of THC. The cookie itself is approximately a 2 inch circle.I took my regular dose of 40mg or four 10mg cookies. But I warn you, these Indica cookies will get you VERY high. So the first time you try Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Cookies, I encourage you to take a smaller dose than usual. If you are a beginner, be conservative and try half a cookie.
The Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies have the perfect combination of spices. Big Pete’s got the texture right, crunchy in the outside and slightly chewy on the inside. (I hate dry, crumbly cannabis edibles.) There was a faint medicinal taste, but it doesn’t take away from the traditional flavors of the cookies.
After an hour and fifteen minutes, the buzz started ramping up and got very strong. I became very relaxed and settled down to feel the complete body high. I was keening aware of my heartbeat in my ears. At some points, it was difficult to get my eyes to focus. I spent 95% of the time chilling in my chair, just hanging out, which is normal for an Indica edible.The buzz lasted for 2 hours. Then slowly decreased little by little until I became clearheaded and sober.
I highly recommend Big Pete’s Cinnamon and Sugar Mini Cookies. I love their strength. You should buy them right away! These are definitely my favorite THC cookies on the market.
Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops cannabis-infused beverages are hop-flavored sparkling water infused with cannabis. Hops is best known for its use in flavoring beer and in herbal medicine. This “drinkable” comes in two formulas, one is infused with 10mg of THC, the other has 5mg of THC and 5mg of CBD in the 12 oz. can. Zero alcohol, zero calories, zero carbs and vegan as far as I can tell.
Lagunitas in Northern California is one of the first beer companies exploring the cannabis edibles / drinkables market, with their partner Absolute Extracts. Absolute Extracts, well known for their strain-specific cartridges, provides the THC and CBD used.
Packaging
Hi-Fi Hops comes in a standard sized aluminum beverage can with a child-proof opening mechanism. The can is resealable, which is great for just trying a little or if you find half or a quarter of a can provides your desired effects. You “pop” open one side, then you slide the plastic lid over to reveal an opening. The lid locks open so it can stay open, or you can slide it back and re-lock it to reseal it.
Dosing & Taste
I first tried the 10mg THC product in the purple can. With new edibles or drinkables I always start with half of my usual dose, which for me is 5mg. The first time I tried Hi-Fi Hops I drank half the can then waited to see what effects I experienced taking 5mg. I drank it on a half-full stomach in the afternoon and I could start to feel the effects within an hour. Effects lasted four hours and indicated a full dose would be appropriate to try.
As soon as you open the can, you get a wonderful citrusy + THC smell. It almost smells like some the flower strains that have the aroma and taste of citrus, such as Clementine, Tangie, Lemon Haze and others.
At first it does taste like a very hoppy lite beer. It’s similar to a watered-down version of beer, like Budweiser or Schlitz or one of the mass produced American beers, but without the alcohol. It’s funny how the taste of one beer ingredient – hops – can fool your taste buds into thinking it is beer. I definitely noticed the absence of the alcohol taste after a few swigs.
From the citrus smell, I was expecting the taste to be more like a lemon lime seltzer. It tastes a little like that, but the hops/beer flavor definitely is stronger. I’m not a big fan of beer so the hops taste, while inoffensive, is not something I love. I do love citrus flavors, so I wish the flavor profile was stronger on the other citrus and not so hops forward.
Effects
As with many edibles, this product is not labeled Indica or Sativa, so I was not sure what to expect from the effects. I did some research on hops.
Hops can have an effect similar to Indica and Valerian. According to Wikipedia “Hops may be used in herbal medicine in a way similar to valerian, as a treatment for anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. A pillow filled with hops is a popular folk remedy for sleeplessness, and animal research has shown a sedative effect.”
Knowing this, it’s a good assumption that this will have an effect similar to an Indica edible. Expect to feel relaxed, there might be couch-lock involved, depending on how you react. I wouldn’t expect to be too focused or productive. This isn’t like strong coffee or an energy drink you would take to perk up. If anything this might perk you down.
After my initial test dose indicated that the effects of the drink were mild for me, I tried a full dose, 10mg or one can. Initial effects for me were relaxation and Indica-type effects of a heavy head. I was concerned the effects would be the same as a depressant like alcohol at first. Then the heavy head went away and the relaxation stayed.
I experienced a good solid body effect, like I would expect from a strain that is good for relaxing the body without drowsiness. The head was not spacey or spaced out, I was able to make dinner without a problem. I was no more clumsy or forgetful than usual. I did under-cook the pasta a bit, but nothing more catastrophic. I did not experience a strong increase in my senses as I have with some edibles. A slight uplift in mood was a pleasant addition to the effects.
Just as some folks like a beer after work to relax, this would be appropriate for that time of day or whenever you want to relax and unwind. I found it perfect for dinner and a movie without the couch lock or passing out.
Kiva is one of the most widely available, well known brands of cannabis edibles with a long history and more than a few awards. Kiva Bars come in eight different flavors, either dark chocolate or milk chocolate. The dark chocolate flavors are vegetarian and vegan friendly as they contain no dairy or other animal products. They may contain traces of milk or nuts from manufacturing, but all are gluten-free. Most of the flavors have only THC in them, two flavors have both THC and CBD.
As regular readers know, I greatly prefer edibles that are made either from similar types of cannabis (Indica, Sativa or Hybrid) and my preference is for edibles that are strain-specific (Blue Dream, Sour Diesel, Gorilla Glue, etc.) and labeled as such. Many edible makers like Kiva, use a mixture of types of cannabis, so while they can be considered “Hybrid”, there is no way to know what strains were used, so the effects are more of a muddle.
Dosing
As always, if it is your first time trying this brand start with a small dose, wait two hours and then judge the effects to determine if you want to increase your dosage.
The bar I tried has 100mg total in the bar and it is scored to make it easy to break off 5mg pieces I am an experienced user of cannabis edibles and I know my usual dose is 10mg of THC, so I began by having a 5mg piece and waited to judge the effects. Within an hour I felt a little bit of an effect. After two hours the effects were mild, so I felt comfortable taking another 5mg dose to bring me up to my usual preferred strength.
Taste
For this review I tried the Blackberry Dark Chocolate flavor. This flavor won the 2013 Best Edible at the San Francisco & Los Angeles High Times Cannabis Cups.
I like that Kiva uses natural flavors and as soon as you open the package you get a distinctive blackberry and chocolate smell. The flavor is a good strong dark chocolate flavor with a nice natural blackberry flavor. The combination does a good job of covering up the THC taste, which is hardly noticeable in the background. I can usually taste THC and there is a hint of it in the aftertaste, but generally it is well masked by the flavors.
They have a smooth, chocolatey taste that is not too sweet and melts well. Keep these bars out of your pocket, a hot car or other warm place unless you want a melted mess. Not as gourmet as some edibles like Coda, but definitely a step up from the taste of a Hershey bar.
Effects
My friend June and her partner use a small dose to help with sleep support, so I thought I would try this flavor to see if it had a similar effect.
The initial effects were mild and more on the Indica side, feeling relaxed and a little tired. Since Kiva uses both Sativa and Indica, for me the effects are a bit schizophrenic. I feel relaxed, then tired, then a bit of uplift, then unmotivated, then creative, then tired again. For me personally this is not the kind of effect I enjoy the most. I don’t like feeling creative but too relaxed to do anything about it. I don’t like it when my head wants to be productive and my body wants to take a nap.
The first time I tried it was during the day and even at half a does I could feel the Indica effects more than I wanted, so I didn’t even take the other half of a dose for fear of sleeping the day away. For folks who enjoy Indica type effects in the daytime, as it helps them focus or calm anxiety, these effects could be perfect, they just are not what I enjoy.
This Kiva edible is much better as an evening treat or to help with sleep support for someone like me. I tried them in the early evening and I did feel relaxed yet able to stay awake. When I did go to bed I had no problem falling asleep. I would limit my use of these for the late afternoon or evening and everyone experiences different impacts with cannabis edibles.
Kiva Blackberry Dark Chocolate Cannabis Infused Bars have a great taste with natural ingredients and the effects are decently strong. My experience is that they are best for folks who desire Indica-type effects and not good if you are looking for an energetic, uplifted, happy effect. If you are looking for help with anxiety, relaxing or sleep support, this could be a great cannabis edible choice for you.
The bar I tried has 100mg total in the bar and it is scored to make it easy to break off 5mg pieces I am an experienced user of cannabis edibles and I know my usual dose is 10mg of THC, so I began by having a 5mg piece and waited to judge the effects. Within an hour I felt a little bit of an effect. After two hours the effects were mild, so I felt comfortable taking another 5mg dose to bring me up to my usual preferred strength.
The initial effects were mild and more on the Indica side, feeling relaxed and a little tired. Since Kiva uses both Sativa and Indica, for me the effects are a bit schizophrenic. I feel relaxed, then tired, then a bit of uplift, then unmotivated, then creative, then tired again. For me personally this is not the kind of effect I enjoy the most. I don’t like feeling creative but too relaxed to do anything about it. I don’t like it when my head wants to be productive and my body wants to take a nap.
More Than Buds 