Dear Stoner: Can Edibles Help You Sleep?

Dear Stoner: Are edibles good for helping you sleep? A bunch of my friends say they’re using pot to sleep. What would you recommend?
Menopause Minnie

Dear Minnie: Eat an edible and you could be off to dreamland — as long as you pay attention to both dosages and strains. According to Jesse Burns of edibles manufacturer Sweet Grass Kitchen, some strains won’t always provide their expected effects through ingestion. “Since THC in marijuana edibles is metabolized through the liver instead of entering the bloodstream directly through the lungs, specific strains tend not to have as much of their traditional associated effects,” says Burns. “On the recreational side, one serving is 10 mg or less of active THC, and the effects of a specific strain are more detectable.”
Bottom line: Stick to heavy indicas for sleep help, regardless of your consumption methods. As the cannabis industry grows, so do your choices: The entire lineup from Julie’s Natural Edibles is made with strain-specific pot butter, and Cheeba Chews produces sativa, indica and hybrid candies for daytime and nighttime use.

Dear Stoner: My parents have started a dispensary and cultivation center, but I’m only eighteen. If I acquired my medical card, could I legally work in the dispensary or in any part of the business?
Zac

Dear Zac: Good things come to those who wait. According to the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, you’ll have to sit tight until you’re 21 in order to work for any legal cannabis business — medical or recreational. MED applications to work in or own a marijuana business in Colorado include this question: “Are you under 21 years of age at the time of this application?” And at the bottom, there’s this: “STOP! If you answered YES to any of the above questions, by Colorado law you cannot obtain or hold a Medical Marijuana License.”

And not only do you have to wait to get into the family business, but you’ll need to stay out of trouble for the next three years, too. The MED rejects applicants who have been convicted of a felony for possession, distribution or use of a controlled substance (including anyone with a pre-Amendment 64 pot felony), as well as anyone who’s served time in jail or been on parole or probation in the past five years. Deadbeats are also under scrutiny: While not guaranteed to earn you a rejection, there are questions in the background check about tax delinquency, child support and paying back government-issued student loans.