Its fine to eat. I used to chew on stems after packing a bowl. Its supposed to get you higher, but I think thats you just tricking yourself into thinking it.
The best is making Happyness (my over-the-phone term) into brownies. So good!
I don't remember what comedian said it, but it was true. It takes about 20 minutes to feel anything from brownies so...sometimes your tempted to eat a whole lot of em. Bad idea. You'll get so ridiculously stoned you wont be able to move. (IMO: When you make brownies, it feels like a less...clean(if that makes any sense?) high.