These “slips” remind me of those Listerine strips that were so popular years ago, that allowed you to use mouth wash on the go by just dissolving the strip in your mouth. In a similar fashion, Kin Slips allow you to discretely pop a strip into your mouth and let it dissolve.
The slips come in three formulas – uplifting with sativa type effects (Cloud Buster), relaxing with indica effects (Nice Dream) and a CBD-rich mixture (Park Life) formula. We appreciate that they indicate the effects they are formulated to produce, as so many edibles give no indication.
While the strips are certainly convenient and discreet, they are possibly the worst tasting edible we have ever had. Despite the attempt at flavoring, as these dissolve there is a tiny hint of flavoring but it is overpowered by an unpleasant chalky, medicinal taste. Even the flavoring tastes artificial. Even with drinking something to mask the taste, when using these before bed it is not unusual to still have the nasty aftertaste in your mouth the next morning.
We find them quite strong, part of which is likely related to taking them under the tongue. For using the Nice Dream to help fall asleep and stay asleep, often half of one is enough to feel the effects. Nice Dream is on our short list when we need help with sleep.
Photo Courtesy KinSlips
KinSlips have a good strength, are convenient, discreet and specially formulated to produce specific effects, all of which which are big pluses. The taste is a big drawback for us, since there are so many other better tasting cannabis edibles available
Level ProTab Sativa tablets are strain-specific cannabis in pill form. Each of the different Level products is formulated for specific effects. Because they are strain-specific, you can have a good idea of what types of effects you are likely to experience. Level’s seven products and the six strains behind them are:
Sativa:
SPARK is Jack Herer CONNECT is Sour Diesel
Hybrid: ELEVATE is Blue Dream
Indica: FLOAT is Sour Red Hindu Kush in the cartridge and UK Cheese in the Pod DISSOLVE is a proprietary blend of terpenes
CBD: REMEDY 1:1 is Sour Dream REMEDY 3:1 is Blue Dream
Dosing
Approach these Level ProTabs with caution, these are for experienced users only because they are so strong.
Instead of the usual 10mg per piece with edibles, Level ProTab pills each have 25mg of thc. The tablets are scored to make it easier to cut them in half. Even then you would have a 12.5mg dose, which is quite high for some people. A person who does not have much experience with edibles who took one of these pills would likely not have a good experience.
I am a very experienced user and 10 mg is my usual dose. I never try a new cannabis edible or drinkable at my full dose. I always try a 5mg portion and wait two hours, to gauge the effects. I have a pill cutter so I was able to cut the Protabs in half, to start with a 6.25mg dose, the closest I could come with these pills to my usual test dose. I experienced some mild effects, similar to what I would expect from a 5mg dose of a mild edible.
The effects from the test dose were some increased focus without much increase in energy. I noticed my senses were slightly heightened. I didn’t notice much in the way of physical effects, apart from a slight tensing of the jaw and neck that I often experience as part of the effect of some Sativa edibles, similar to other stimulants like a caffeine buzz. The effects wore off after about 4 hours. From the test dose I had some idea of the effects to expect and I was comfortable with increasing the dose the next time.
For the next test I did one half of the Protab, so approximately a 12.5mg dose. I headed out for a walk on the beach with the dog. I had some caffeine and took water with me to stay hydrated. It took longer than most edibles I’ve tried for the effects to kick in, even though I was active, close to the 2 hour mark. Be aware that these tablets make take longer for you to feel the impact, so wait a full two hours before taking more.
I didn’t feel the energy boost or the uplift in mood I enjoy with other Sativa edibles. I felt the focus and the alertness pretty strongly. It was the opposite of groggy. At one point I was able to concentrate hard enough that I could see through time. Or so it seemed.
One enjoyable effect of the larger dose was the super-senses. The colors were amazing and watching the ocean waves sparkle in the sunlight was very beautiful. Tastes and smells were also heightened, so the smell of the ocean and the the taste of water were even sweeter than usual.
The effects lasted almost a full 6 hours, although they did fade a bit after I ate lunch.
If you need to concentrate for an extended period or have trouble focusing, this might be a good choice for you. I love the impact these have on the senses and I missed the emotional uplift and more euphoric-type feelings I get from other edibles.
I’ve had mixed experience with tablets. I don’t know if it is the processing or the formulation, but they effect me differently than cannabis infused food or beverages. Be aware that cannabis has the ability to produce opposite (or bidirectional) effects in different people, with different strains, and at different dosages, so always start slow.
Another perspective:
I was super excited to try Level ProTab Sativa tablets. I usually take a larger dose of THC (between 40-50 mgs) so pills that have 25 mg per dose are perfect for me.
I took 50 mgs and waited to experience the effects. After an hour an fifteen minutes I started to feel a tingly, body high. My anxiety dropped slightly and I felt calm with a small buzz. I waited for the high to heighten. But, the tingly feeling was it. I didn’t get ‘stoned’ merely a body high and a sense of relaxation. Which is great, but surprising for a Sativa strain product. After two hours the body high disappeared without notice. However, I was calm and relaxed the rest of the evening.
I love that Level ProTab Sativa tablets are higher dosages of THC. But, it was strange for a Sativa strain to be calming. (Makes me wonder if their Indica is super relaxing or is going to get me moving quickly.)
I give Level ProTab Sativa tablets a mixed review. It’s more like an Indica in its calming effects. I haven’t taken 50 mg of a Sativa edible and felt anxieties lessen. More often Sativa hypes me up. The dosage is great. But, I was expecting more than the slight body high.
If you are looking for a very strong, medical level thc product, these high dose pills are worth a try.
GummiCares makes a line of gummies that are Sativa, Indica or CBD specfic. I love that they provide specific types of products, as so many THC and CBD gummies are generic “hybrid” formulas and you don’t know what effect to expect.
GummiCares gummies single-dose pack of 10mg THC Sativa gummies has a single square gummy that is scored into four pieces, making it easy to have a microdose of 2.5mg THC. Most gumies come in 5mg or 10mg dose sizes that you have to guess to split up into smaller doses, so this is a great option if a microdose of 2.5mg is what you want. It’s also easy to take the whole thing if 10mg is your usual dose.
Consistency & Flavor
Unlike other gummies that are soft and supple, I found these gummies to be tough and pretty solid. The texture was like jello with too much gelatin in it – hard and chewy with a rubbery consistency.
Back Cherry is not my favorite flavor and so I did not find the taste very pleasant. The cherry flavor is strong and mostly covers up the cannabis oil flavor, which is a plus if you don’t like the flavor of cannabis oil. I found the black cherry flavor artificial and it lingered in my mouth for a long time as an aftertaste, so I needed to drink something with a strong flavor to get rid of that taste.
The GummiCares ingredients are sugar, corn syrup, water, gelatin, citric acid, canola oil, ascorbic acid, cannabis extract, natural and artificial flavoring, as well as food colorings red 40 and blue 1. So this is not a vegetarian or vegan friendly product and it is not free from artificial flavors and colors.
Effects
As usual when trying a new gummy, always go with half of your normal dose and wait two hours to judge the effects before taking more. After taking a 5mg dose – half of my usual dose of 10mg – and having only mild effects, I knew I could try a whole dose.
I did my standard trial, which is to take the gummy on an empty stomach, then have some caffeine – usually a mocha or coffee – plus something with some fat in it for the cannabis to bind with. This way, if the effects are too strong I know I can take some CBD or eat something to reduce the effects.
I found the effects to be a stoned feeling with some energy and creativity. I didn’t experience the uplift in mood or the happy feeling I get with some Sativa edibles. This did feel like a high quality effect, not muddy or middle of the road like some lower quality edibles can be. There was a mild euphoria mixed in, with something of a spacey head effect. No Indica effects, like couch lock or feeling sleepy. I was able to enjoy getting some things done while listening to music.
The effects lasted about 3 hours and when I ate lunch that definitely had an impact, reducing the effects almost immediately. Within an hour they had worn off and I felt mildly sleepy. I was able to rally and go for a walk.
Overall this is a good mild Sativa edible that delivers the energetic and creative feelings you would expect. I have a tolerance for THC and edibles so I found these GummiCares mild, but someone with a low tolerance or who is new to edibles might find them strong. So as always, start low and go slow. I didn’t enjoy the flavor or the texture, so while I might not get these again, they are worth a try if you are looking for a Sativa edible.
Kanha cannabis infused watermelon CBD gummies contain a 20:1 ration of CBD to THC. Each piece has 9.5mg CBD and 0.5mg THC. There are 10 pieces making the package total 5mg THC and 95mg CBD.
These gummies are made with gelatin, so not vegetarian or vegan friendly, but they are gluten-free. They contain no food allergens like dairy, nuts or soy. Each piece has 23 calories so the whole bag only sets you back 230 calories.
Taste & Effects
The smell from the package is a very sour, citric acid smell that is so strong I struggled to find the watermelon smell. Each gummy is covered in a fine sugar coating that provides an initial sweet taste. Once that disappears, there is a medicinal and artificial taste I can’t put my finger on mixed in with the cannabis oil taste. That taste lasts for quite a while, transitioning to more of a fake cherry taste than a watermelon taste, I found. Not the most pleasant tasting cbd gummy I have had, but not the worst by a long shot.
The gummy was robust, taking a good five minutes to dissolve in the mouth. Normally that would be a good thing, but with the odd sour citric acid plus the cherry taste, it is not as delicious as I would like it to be. I am willing to overlook a less-than-wonderful taste when the edible delivers the effects I like and this is a good example.I took this one evening after coming home with some minor aches and pains to see how one does would impact my muscle soreness. I have had good results with CBD in the past for muscle aches, and I found these to be nicely effective.
With only 0.5mg of THC, I did not experience any of the effects from taking edibles that are higher in THC. Even when I take an edible with 5mg of THC, which is half my usual dose, I usually get some of the psychoactive THC effects. I found the Kanha gummies to have none of those effects. THC does work together with CBD, so I like that this cbd gummy product has a small amount of THC because it helps activate the CBD. I find these work better than products that only contain CBD. If you are looking for a cbd gummy edible with a good dose of CBD and and a small amount of THC to boost the CBD effects, this edible is a good choice.
I felt pain relief within an hour, my muscle soreness retreating into the background and making me much more comfortable. This is the kind of pain relief I look for in a CBD gummy product. Many products contain only CBD and no THC, which I find much less effective. Another time after a few hours of hard work in the yard my back and legs were aching, so I tried taking one gummy. The pain was more pronounced than other times and one gummy wasn’t enough to make a dent. After 90 minutes with no impact, I took half of a second gummy. After another hour, there was a noticeable effect, reducing my pain and letting me relax in comfort.
The package suggests taking between 1 and 3 doses. Since even 3 doses would have only 1.5mg of THC, you would have to be very sensitive to THC to feel any psychoactive effects. I can’t tell any difference between 2mg and 4mg of THC and rarely feel anything until I’m in the 5-7mg range, depending on the strength of the product, but everyone is different.
Wrap Up
For a healthy dose of pain relief that includes a little THC to boost the effects, Kanha CBD gummies are a good choice. I don’t like the flavor very much, so I think there is room for improvement there, but overall a good choice if you are looking for the anti-inflammatory and other effects of a CBD gummy edible.
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.
More Than Buds 