How to Pick Your First Edible

The CEO and co-founder of Los Angeles-based Ember Valley, Vinayak Shastry operates the leading indoor cannabis producer in the state. In late 2020, Vinayak Shastry began selling a cannabis-infused beer. There are multiple factors to consider when buying your first edible.

Before buying any products, it's important to know how to consume an edible. A dose of 10 milligrams of THC, at most, is ideal for a novice. However, your proper dosage will depend on your weight, how much you’ve eaten, the fat content in your body, and so on.

You can purchase both solid and liquid edibles. The body absorbs THC, the chemical that produces a high, more quickly when infused into a liquid edible than in a solid one, like a baked good. The first time you consume your chosen edible, consume an amount containing less than the maximum recommended dose, and wait a half hour to feel the effects. If you do not achieve your desired effect, try again the next day with a slightly higher dose, and repeat this process until you achieve the experience you want.

Types of Cannabis Products

The co-founder and CEO of Ember Valley, Vinayak Shastry has built the company into the leading premium indoor cannabis brand in California. Through Ember Valley, Vinayak Shastry provides cannabis in multiple forms, including flower and pre-rolled. Cannabis products come in different types, products with varying onset and effect durations.

Depending on how you consume cannabis, you will experience its effects after different periods of time, and will feel those effects for a different length of time. When you ingest an edible, a food or drink containing cannabis, for example, it will take longer to activate, because the THC and CBD, the chemicals which induce a high, are absorbed by the digestive tract. However, the high will also last longer, as more of the cannabis is absorbed. Though edibles contain measured doses of cannabis, it may take several tries with different dosages before you know how much to take to create the desired experience.

In contrast to edibles, smoking or vaping cannabis results in a shorter onset time, with more varied effect duration. This is because you inhale the smoke or vapors containing THC and CBD, which enters the lungs and passes into the bloodstream. Because the amount of THC and CBD you inhale is dependent on your breathing, you cannot precisely control how much you inhale, so you may over-consume more easily than when you consume an edible.

Anatomy of the Cannabis Plant

Based in Los Angeles, Vinayak Shastry is the co-founder and CEO of Ember Valley, a cannabis cultivator and provider. Vinayak Shastry and his team oversee the production of flowers, concentrates, and pre-rolls.

The cannabis plant is made up of several components. First, the leaves, which help determine whether the plant is of the Indica variety, with broader, darker leaves, or the Sativa family, with long, thin, lighter leaves. Next, the cola, which refers to a cluster of blossoming buds, and is only found on the female plant. Each plant contains cannabinoids. The two major types are THC and CBD, which affect users by interacting with the nervous system.

The flower is the most versatile and thus most consumed part of the cannabis plant - it can be smoked using a pipe or bowl, rolled and smoked, and used as an ingredient in the kitchen. Female plants produce these flowers in the “bloom” stage. The crystals on top of the flowers are called trichomes, and are a source of THC and indicate the plant’s potency.

Watermelon Gelato from Ember Valley

As the co-founder and CEO of Ember Valley, Vinayak Shastry leads the strategic development and daily operations for this leading California independent cannabis brand. Under Vinayak Shastry’s oversight, Ember Valley is offering its Watermelon Gelato hybrid as a featured product.

A cross between Watermelon Zkittles and Gelato #45 and engineered by Lit Farms, Watermelon Gelato contains just over 32 percent THC and 0.6 percent CBD. This cannabis strain has a deep green color with highlights of purple. Ember Valley characterizes the smoke of Watermelon Gelato as smooth with earthy and fruity undertones.

The phenotype of Watermelon Gelato favors its Gelato #45 parent. A forest green strain with traces of dark blue, Gelato #45 features an earthy pine scent and both TCH and CBD percentages that are slightly higher than average.

Watermelon Gelato’s other parent, Watermelon Zkittlez, is a cross between two other popular strains: Watermelon and Zkittlez. An Indica-dominant hybrid, Watermelon Zkittlez contributes strong notes of fruit to Watermelon Gelato’s aroma and flavor profile.