Edibles are cannabis-infused foods or drinks. They deliver cannabinoids to the body through the mouth and digestive system and are generally an alternative to smoking or vaping cannabis.
Edibles containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will cause a similar high or euphoric feeling as smoking cannabis. In some ways, edibles are a more potent way to deliver these cannabinoids. ResearchTrusted Source shows that the effects from an edible take up to about 1 hour to kick in but can last for 6 or more hours. In contrast, the effects of smoking or vaping THC tend to last 1–4 hours.
Edibles also do not carry some of the risks of smoking cannabis, such as chronic cough and phlegm production. However, knowing what amount to take can be tricky, as each person will respond to a different dose.
When trying out a new edible, it is important to start with a low dose to see how the body responds. With edibles, it is easier to take an excessively high dose and feel negative side effects than it is with smoking.
Keep reading to learn more about edibles, including how long they last, how they work, dosage, and risks.
When do they kick in?
In general, the effects of an edible start to kick in somewhere between 30 and 90 minutes. However, this will vary depending on the type of edible, as well as a person’s age, gender, metabolism, and food intake.
For some edibles, such as hard candies or suckers, absorption may begin while the person sucks on them, and, therefore, the effects may appear faster. One study notes that hard candies may kick in within 15–45 minutes, whereas other edibles can take 60–180 minutes.
In comparison with smoking or vaping cannabis products, edibles are slow to produce effects. It takes some time to notice the effects of an edible, whereas the effects of smoking or vaping THC products are almost instant.
Eating an edible means that the active ingredients, such as THC, have to go through the digestive system to reach the bloodstream, rather than the lungs. This process takes time.
People with faster metabolisms may feel the effects quicker, as the body can digest and process the edible faster. Eating an edible on an empty stomach may also lead to faster acting effects, as opposed to eating an edible with other foods or just after eating a meal.
Some people may experience a delayed effect from eating an edible. They may not notice the effects of the edible at all at first, and then the effects can come on fast and strong.
That said, anyone who has eaten an edible and does not feel the effects should wait for at least 2–3 hours before deciding to eat more or use other cannabis products. Everyone is different, and the effects may simply take longer to manifest in some people.
Waiting helps reduce the risk of uncomfortable side effects due to very high doses or an overdose of THC.
How long do they last?
While edibles take a long time to kick in compared with smoking or vaping, they also tend to last much longer. The average dose from an edible can last 6 or more hours, with the strongest effects occurring about 3 hoursTrusted Source after ingestion.
Again, this will vary depending on a few factors, such as dosage, metabolism, and tolerance levels. Taking a very large dose or a dose with very potent THC levels may cause a stronger, longer high, as the body takes time to process the THC out of the system.
Individual tolerance levels will also play a large part here. People who are not used to cannabis products may feel the effects more strongly and for much longer than a person who regularly uses cannabis products, if they take the same dose. Tolerance levels will also fluctuate depending on how much cannabis a person has smoked or ingested within a period.
Again, metabolism may also play a role, and a person with a very fast metabolism may not feel the effects for as long as someone with a slower metabolism.
In general, it is likely that the high from an edible will last for a few hours. The authors of a review article note that the effects from edibles last about 6–8 hours. However, it is not uncommon for the high to last up to 8–12 hours if the person is sensitive but only about 4 hours if the person has a higher tolerance.
Dosage
It is difficult to pin down the dosage of edibles, as numerous manufacturers make a different range of products. Additionally, the potency of the edibles will vary not only on the type of strain and THC content but also on factors such as cooking temperature and time.
Edibles can come in doses as low 0.5 milligrams (mg) THC. However, many consider 2.5–5 mg of THC to be the lowest effective dose and will recommend starting with this dose if the person has never tried edibles.
The average edible will contain 10–15 mg of THC. These doses are generally effective for a person who is used to cannabis and wants to feel the effects of the edible for a few hours.
A very high dose begins at about 20 mg of THC. Doses this high are generally not a good idea, as they may increase the risk of some unwanted effects from taking in too much THC at once. However, some heavy smokers or people who are used to taking very high amounts of THC may use a very high dose edible to experience stronger or longer lasting effects.
Effects
Edibles containing THC cause a similar high and feelings of relaxation and euphoria as smoking the compound. The high will vary based on the type of cannabinoids in the edible and the overall potency.
Some people choose edibles rather than smoking to avoid harm to their lungs, whereas others actually prefer the high that an edible brings.
We have tried a few times, my wife and I and NEVER liked the result. It took a long time to work. If you had taken too much, there was no way to “get out” and if you’d taken too little, NOTHING happened. Could it have to do with our age? I’m 81 and my wife is 78. Back to the odd shared spiff now, like when were university students in the 60s. There are 26 Marijuana stores within a half-hour walk from our home in Toronto. Plenty of choices.