With the growing popularity of marijuana edibles, there is a lot of confusion about how to safely consume them.

"The truth is, there are many unknowns about edibles," says Eric Alcera, M.D., psychiatrist and medical director for Hackensack Meridian Behavioral Health. "There is no way to know the potency of edibles, so I recommend extreme caution when considering ingesting them."

Dr. Alcera provides five things you need to know before considering marijuana edibles.

1. Edibles Are Not Federally Regulated  

Because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not currently regulate marijuana edibles, there are no federal requirements for manufacturers to provide ingredients, warnings or nutritional information. Instead, states must provide their own requirements.

In New Jersey, the Department of Health requires marijuana edible labels to include a list of ingredients, as well as the potency of the THC contained in the product. But it's important to note that the potency of edibles can vary greatly and is often much higher than what is found in traditional forms of cannabis.

"When consuming alcohol, FDA regulation requires that the alcohol content be labeled on the packaging, so you know how strong it is," Dr. Alcera says. "Federal legislation and regulation is needed for edibles and marijuana to know the same before consuming, including guidelines for labeling for consumer awareness."

2. Edibles Have a Delayed Effect 

Edibles of any kind are a potential problem because of the delayed effect they have. When edibles are ingested, the body takes time to break down and absorb the THC, the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana. When smoked, THC enters the bloodstream quickly through the lungs, leading to a quick onset of effects.

"Oftentimes, people consume multiple edibles and don't feel the effect until later," Dr. Alcera says. "By the time they feel the effect, they would have consumed too much."

3. Edibles Are Attractive to Preteens and Teens 

Like vaping, edibles—especially gummies—are attractive to kids because of their color, fun shapes and sweet smell similar to candy.

"Marketers of vaping products took advantage of the lack of regulation to create packaging and flavors designed to be attractive to kids," Dr. Alcera says. "Vaping was later found to be harmful and addictive, and we had to learn some very tough lessons."

4. Edibles Must Be Stored Securely 

Reports of young children getting sick from accidentally eating marijuana edibles are on the rise. A 2023 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows a 1,375 percent increase in calls to poison control centers about kids under age 6 consuming edibles containing THC from 2017 to 2021. Nearly all of the cases occurred at home.

"Safe and secure storage of edibles is incredibly important to protect both young kids and pets from accidentally ingesting them and getting sick," Dr. Alcera says.

5. Emergency Department Visits From Edibles Are on the Rise  

"Our emergency departments have seen increasing visits for marijuana-related conditions, and hospitals across the country are seeing the same thing," says Dr. Alcera.

Visits to the emergency department stemming from marijuana edibles are often a result of:

• Psychiatric symptoms including psychosis and panic attacks
• Cardiovascular issues like abnormal heart rhythms and heart attacks

"Until there is more science, regulation and education that does not exist today, edibles are something to be cautious with, because they can lead to addiction and other potentially harmful activity," Dr. Alcera says.

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Eric Alcera, M.D.
• To make an appointment with a behavioral health specialist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.