Do Edibles Have Calories? Cannabis Calories Explained

For many people, the word “calories” is almost a taboo word. Many adults spend time counting calories and ensuring they eat enough to build muscle or don’t eat too much to help maintain a healthy weight.

Yes, edibles have calories — and depending on the product, the count can add up faster than you’d expect. Gummies, chocolates, baked goods, and beverages all carry different nutritional profiles. For a complete understanding of all edible types beyond just calories, our cannabis edibles guide covers everything from dosing to effects.

Though the word “calorie” is such a large part of our vocabulary, most people don’t really know what it means. And how can calories impact your cannabis edible use? Let’s take a look.

What Are Calories?

So, what exactly are calories? Simply put, they are a unit of energy.

What does energy have to do with nutrition? Think of it this way: The food and drinks we consume provide us with energy to perform physical activity and for our body to perform general functions. So, the number of calories is how much energy a specific food gives us.

Because every body is different, the number of calories every person needs differs. Some people have fast metabolisms, meaning they need more calories each day. Others may need to consume fewer calories, as their body burns the energy from calories slower.

Calories are found in all foods and beverages. And cannabis edibles are no exception.

Does Cannabis Flower Have Calories?

Before we dig into edibles, let’s clear up a question a lot of people have about the plant itself. To answer it in the simplest way: raw weed has very few calories — less than 2 per gram, coming mainly from small amounts of protein, fat, and carbs. That’s much less than what you’d get from sugar or oils, so the flower itself is effectively negligible.

If you smoke or vape cannabis, you’re not consuming any calories at all. The burning process during smoking or vaping destroys any calories that might have been there.

Cannabis edibles, however, are a different story. The calorie content in edibles like brownies or gummies depends on the ingredients used, such as butter and sugar — so if you’re keeping an eye on calories, it’s a good idea to check the nutritional labels on these products. Before we get to that, here’s how the other formats compare.

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How Many Calories Are in Other Forms of Cannabis?

If you consume cannabis as something other than flower or a baked treat, here’s how the calories shake out:

Oils

Cannabis oils can vary in calorie content depending on how they’re made and what they’re mixed with. Oils used for cooking or as carriers for cannabis extracts may add more calories, similar to typical cooking oils.

Concentrates

Cannabis concentrates such as wax, shatter, and resin, when vaporized or dabbed, contain no calories because they are not ingested and their potential caloric components are burned off in the process.

Vaping

Vaping cannabis involves inhaling vapor from heated oils or concentrates and does not add any calories because the substances are not digested.

That leaves edibles — the one format where calories genuinely add up. Let’s look at why, and how to count them.

A Look at Cannabis Edibles

Edibles are among the most popular ways for people to consume weed. And there are many different types of edibles on the market today. Some you can find to purchase online include:

• Baked goods like brownies and cookies
• Cannabis chocolate
• Cannabis and CBD gummies
• THC drinks and syrup

These are just a few of the many edibles on the market today. Whatever your preference, you can likely find what you want online.

As more people start to eat their cannabis (but not in a raw form, as that won’t get you high), some have started making their own edibles at home. Not only can bakers make homemade cannabis edibles, but cannabis can also be added to meals. Using decarboxylated buds or cannabis oil allows users to add their favourite strain to whatever dish they are making.

Edibles and cannabis-infused food allow people to monitor their cannabis dosage and find products and recipes that meet their dietary needs. So, if you are counting calories, you can find an edible that falls within your preferred calorie count or make a low-cal cannabis recipe at home. 

Cannabis Edibles Nutrition Facts

When you purchase a soda or buy a candy bar, the label will likely list how many calories it contains. Finding out how many calories you are eating in your edible takes a little more research—and some math.

First, you will need to look at the serving size of your product. Is a serving one gummy or two? One bite of chocolate or an entire bar? One cookie or half a cookie? Knowing the serving size is essential, as most labels will only show the number of calories per serving, and your container may hold more than one serving in it.

Some labels may only state how many servings are in a container, leaving it up to you to determine what exactly a serving is. If the label says there are 25 servings in a container that holds 50 gummies, that would mean the serving size is two gummies.

Once you know your serving sizes, look at the number of calories listed on the label. If it says something like 50 calories per serving on your container of 50 gummies that we discussed earlier, that means for every two gummies you eat, you are consuming 50 calories. If you eat four gummies, you have consumed 100 calories, and so on.

Remember that you need to keep an eye on the amount of cannabis in each serving as well as the calories. Just because your calorie count says you can eat an entire cannabis chocolate bar doesn’t mean your body can tolerate that much cannabis. As you watch your calories, watch your cannabis dosage so you don’t consume too much.

Other Label Information

In addition to finding the calorie information you need on a label, you can also find other helpful information. One of the most important things you should also look at is the ingredients list.

Here you can find what was used to make your edible. This is especially important if you have any food allergies. Reviewing the list before ingesting the product can help ensure you don’t eat anything you shouldn’t.

How Many Calories Are in Popular Edibles?

The number of calories edibles contain can vary widely. It depends on the ingredients used to make a given product. So, determining how many calories edibles contain on average is impossible.

But there are many options out there. Some online dispensaries may offer low-calorie or even fat-free options if those better suit your needs. You’ll need to check the labels of your edibles to find the information you need.

However, if you can’t find the nutrition information you need, don’t hesitate to ask your dispensary or contact the manufacturer.

Calories and Edibles

There are a lot of labels on cannabis products, including cannabis edibles. You’ll find everything from required notices and warnings to information on the amount of cannabis your edible contains.

You should also be able to find nutrition information, including calorie information. When reading the label information, you’ll want to check if the calories listed are calories per serving or container. If it’s per container, you’ll need to figure out the serving size and determine how many calories are in each serving. If it lists calories per serving, be sure to stay within the serving size or adjust your calorie counts based on how many servings you eat.

Because the number of calories each product contains can vary based on who makes the product, there is no set average you can expect to see when you purchase specific products. Instead, you’ll need to look at the label information and ingredients list to see what fits best within your dietary needs and preferences.

Calorie content varies significantly by format — gummies and hard candies are relatively low-calorie, while chocolates and baked goods carry more. To understand all the types of cannabis edibles available and their key differences beyond just calories, check out our format overview.

Related Questions About Cannabis Calories

We know you have more questions about this topic—and that’s why we’ve answered some of them:

What are strains that can boost your appetite?

Certain strains of cannabis are known for their ability to stimulate appetite, often referred to as giving the “munchies.” Strains rich in THC, such as Juicy Fruit, OG Kush, and Girl Scout Cookies, are particularly known for increasing appetite. This effect is due to THC’s interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which can trigger hunger signals.

Can weed help you lose weight?

Though cannabis can increase appetite, some studies suggest that regular users might have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) compared to non-users, potentially due to the effects of certain cannabinoids like THCV that may suppress appetite.

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Will it make you gain weight instead?

While cannabis itself doesn’t contain many calories and won’t directly cause weight gain, the increased appetite associated with certain strains might lead to consuming more calories than usual, which can contribute to weight gain.

Do different strains of cannabis have different calorie contents?

The calorie content of cannabis does not significantly vary between strains. The primary difference in strains is their cannabinoid and terpene profiles, not their macronutrient content, which is what would influence calorie counts.

How do processing methods affect the calorie content of cannabis products?

Processing methods can affect the caloric content of cannabis products. For example, the addition of fats or sugars during the creation of edibles or oils can increase calories, while simple drying and curing of cannabis flowers have minimal impact on caloric values.

Can the use of cannabis influence metabolism or energy expenditure?

Some studies suggest that certain cannabinoids may influence metabolism. For instance, THC has been shown to increase appetite, which could indirectly affect caloric intake and energy expenditure. However, cannabis itself does not directly alter metabolic rates significantly enough to impact calorie burning.

Are there any low-calorie cannabis consumption methods?

Yes, vaping and smoking are low-calorie methods of consuming cannabis, as they do not involve ingesting caloric content. Tinctures and transdermal patches also offer ways to use cannabis without adding calories.

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What should I look for on labels of cannabis products to understand their calorie content?

When checking labels on cannabis products, especially edibles and oils, look for information on serving size, total calories per serving, and ingredients. Ingredients like sugars and fats contribute to the total calorie count.

Does the calorie content of cannabis affect its potency or effects?

The calorie content of cannabis does not affect its potency or the effects it produces. Potency is determined by the concentration of cannabinoids, particularly THC and CBD, not by the caloric content.

If you want to read more from us, consider checking out our blog, where we’ve covered topics like ‘Why Can’t I Roll a Joint?’, ‘How to Open a Stuck Grinder‘, and more that you might enjoy.

If you have any questions about the product you are buying from an online weed dispensary, don’t hesitate to ask.