Mistake 1: Reading the package total as one serving
Check THC and other cannabinoids per serving, the number of servings, total package content, ingredients and warnings. A package total is not a single-serving recommendation. Match a certificate of analysis to the product and batch number. For example, 100mg divided among ten equal labeled servings means 10mg per serving; this arithmetic is not a recommendation to consume that amount.
Mistake 2: Taking more on a timer
Edible effects can be delayed. CDC describes an onset of 30 minutes to 2 hours, while New York requires a package warning that effects may be delayed 4 or more hours. These are not instructions to take another serving at a fixed time. Taking more before the full effects are known increases the risk of poisoning.
Mistake 3: Treating familiar food as familiar potency
A gummy, chocolate or drink can resemble ordinary food while containing THC. Read the label every time, even when the brand or flavor is familiar. Do not use taste, piece size or someone else’s response to judge potency.
Mistake 4: Mixing substances or planning to drive
Do not combine cannabis with alcohol or other intoxicating substances. Ask a healthcare professional about medications. Arrange transportation before consuming and do not drive after use.
Mistake 5: Leaving products unsecured
Keep cannabis in its original labeled, child-resistant package, locked away from children and pets and separate from ordinary food. Child-resistant packaging is not childproof. Ask a veterinarian for advice after a pet exposure.
Mistake 6: Ignoring an adverse reaction
If cannabis causes an adverse reaction or there is accidental exposure, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for an emergency. Stop consuming, do not drive and avoid other substances. Ask a trusted person to stay with you. Do not rely on CBD, pepper or other home remedies instead of medical advice.
