Mini Edibles are the Future of Pot

Edible marijuana has a bit of a bad reputation. Take too little and expect to ask yourself “is anything happening?” about a thousand times for the next several hours, but take too much and well….you’ll be high as a kite. Relax, you likely won’t die; however, increased heart rate, paranoia, and  nausea are all possible side effects of “greening out.”

Hoping to help end some of the stigma surrounding baked goods like “pot brownies,” edible producers have begun to take the guess work out of  marijuana edibles with microdosing.

Microdosing aims to get people high–but not too high–by lowering the dose of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, to small amounts typically ranging between 5 and 10 milligrams. The practice doesn’t just apply to baked goods. Aside from brownie bites, these marijuana-infused products also include chocolates, bottled water, and even barbecue sauce.

Seattle edibles producer Spot is one of the companies taking advantage of the trend in hopes of carving out a chunk of the $5.4 billion legal industry. Co-founder Tim Moxey claims his company’s five milligram indica brownie bites are the “right level to be at,” and  aren’t “going to make you lose control.”

“No one is going to get weirded out at five milligrams,” Moxey explained. “That’s why these products are selling so quickly.”

What often sets these microdosed products apart, is the clear labeling. In fact, only 17 percent of marijuana products have been found to be labeled properly. This can be especially problematic when, say, a marijuana-infused candy bar is meant to be split into 16 pieces instead of munched on, as Maureen Dowd famously found out.

Microdosing isn’t for everyone. The subtle “mood enhancing” dose is geared more toward novice pot users, or consumers looking for a more casual experience.

“It’s that person looking for a glass of wine or beer in the evening [type] experience,” said Kristi Knoblich, chief operating officer and cofounder of pot-infused chocolates company Kiva Confections.. “We’re looking for that person who isn’t looking to get blasted.”

As states continue to pass recreational and medical marijuana measures, more Americans will find themselves exposed to this growing marijuana market. If retailers continue to ensure edible users’ experiences go a little smoother, then these mini edibles very well may just be the future.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.