How Long Do Edibles Last? The Duration and Effects of Edibles
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Marijuana edibles are favored for their flavor and the fact that they offer a more convenient and discreet option for consuming THC compared to alternative consumption methods, such as smoking marijuana.
Depending on the potency and the dosage consumed, marijuana edibles and their effects can affect you for some time.
At the same time, there are also other factors that impact the duration of “high” effects from weed edibles, including your metabolic rate, your body weight, and, of course, your individual tolerance to THC.
How long edibles stay in your system, what kind of effects you may experience, and how THC is metabolized in the body are just some of the many other questions answered in the sections that follow.
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What Are Edibles?
Before we get to different factors that affect the time edibles stay in your system, let’s cover the basics. In the simplest terms, edibles are delightful food products that are made with cannabis, and cannabis products of this kind come in different forms.
More specifically, you can consume cannabis-infused edibles in the form of brownies, cookies, chocolates, beverages, and flavorful gummies that contain a certain dose of THC.
Cannabis products with higher THC levels naturally induce more intense and longer-lasting “high” effects, and with these products, metabolites stay in your system for longer as the body needs more time to eliminate THC through the liver.
Cannabis edibles with THC may also contain amounts of CBD, and this is another form of cannabinoid from marijuana plants, but unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive, meaning it does not induce any psychoactive effects when consumed without THC.
THC you consume via edible cannabis is metabolized by the liver, which differs from THC smoking or vaping. With smoking, the main effects do not last as long as the effects of THC ingested via weed edibles, but more on this topic in later sections.
How Long Does It Take for Edibles to Kick In?
The effect onset time for the “high” effects of edible cannabis depends on a few important factors, and these include your individual metabolic rate, the cannabinoid profile in consumed cannabis edibles, how much THC you have consumed, and your body mass index.
Generally speaking, most people experience the psychoactive effect of THC ingested via cannabis edibles between thirty minutes to two hours following consumption. However, remember that this is a general estimate, and the actual time significantly differs from one person to another as everybody reacts to ingested and inhaled cannabis differently.
One of the main reasons behind different effect onset times with edible cannabis products is the fact that the process through which these types of THC products are metabolized differs from one person to another.
With vaping or inhaled cannabis, active ingredients, including THC, enter the bloodstream through the lungs, which means that inhaling cannabis is associated with a faster effect onset time.
With edibles, active compounds, including THC, do not reach the bloodstream before passing through the digestive system. When consumed, THC is transformed into a stronger form by the liver before it reaches the bloodstream.
While you experience “high” effects with vaping cannabis sooner, the edible metabolic pathway ensures the higher intensity of effects, while it may take a longer time to experience the desired effect.
What Is the Half-Life of Edibles?
The half-life of THC and CBD edibles refers to the time the body needs to metabolize and eliminate half of the active ingredient from cannabis baked goods, gummies, and other forms of edibles. The half-life of edibles significantly impacts the intensity and duration of “high” effects.
Those interested in taking edibles have a range of different products to choose from, including THC gummies, beverages, candies, and baked treats infused with THC and sometimes CBD.
The half-life of edibles depends on a few important factors, including the quantity consumed, the specific cannabinoid profile in the product you have consumed, and, of course, your individual metabolic rate.
Generally speaking, the half-life of THC from edible products is longer than the half-life of THC ingested via vaping or smoking products. This means that how long THC stays in your system also depends on the type of product consumed.
As mentioned in the previous sections, when THC is ingested orally via edibles, the liver processes THC metabolites to 11-hydroxy-THC, and this is a more potent form of THC that induces longer-lasting “high” effects.
According to research, the half-life of THC consumed via edibles usually ranges from 20 to 30 hours, but this once again differs from one person to another based on different factors [1].
When it comes to the half-life of CBD that is also present in some edible products, its half-life usually ranges from two to five days, meaning that the effects of CBD usually persist longer than the “high” effects you experience from THC [2].
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Duration of Effects
This leads us to another interesting topic, and that is how long edibles stay in your system and how long you experience pleasant effects from consuming THC and CBD in different edible products.
Before we get there, it is important to note that all standard drug tests can detect the presence of THC in your body, and these include standard saliva tests, urine tests, blood tests, hair follicle tests, and other forms of drug tests.
Therefore, if you are scheduled to take a drug test of any kind, consuming edibles of any kind may not be the best idea if you get a positive drug test, which can get you into trouble of some sort.
When it comes to drug testing for THC, a standard urine test can detect THC for up to thirty days after use, while a saliva drug test can detect THC for up to twenty-four hours following consumption.
A hair follicles test has the longest THC detection window. More specifically, a hair test can detect the presence of THC in your system up to ninety days after the last use, while a standard blood test can detect THC for a few hours after use.
Average Duration for Different Types of Edibles
As you probably already know, the duration of “high” and other effects from consumed edibles varies significantly, but the effects tend to last longer compared to the duration of effects from cannabis consumed via smoking or vaping.
Generally speaking, people experience effects from edibles for about four to twelve hours, and the first effects are usually felt within thirty minutes to two hours after consumption.
However, different factors play a role, including the type of edible product consumed.
Candies and gummies fall into the category of the most popular edibles and with these products, the effect onset time is usually within thirty minutes to one hour, while the effects may last from four to eight hours.
Edibles such as brownies and cookies, and similar treats are known for a slightly delayed effect onset time for their high fat content. The effects of consumed edibles of this kind typically last between four and 10 hours.
Drinks infused with cannabis usually have a faster effect onset time, and the duration of effect is typically between four and eight hours, but it really depends on the dosage, as discussed below.
Influence of Dosage on Duration
As mentioned, for how long edibles affect you or stay in your system depends on the dosage consumed. The dosage consumed also plays a role in the intensity of effects you experience.
Needless to say, THC ingested in higher doses via edibles usually means enjoying more intense and prolonged “high” effects.
While it may be tempting to start with a higher dose, newbies to THC should consume minimal doses at the beginning for their bodies to have enough time and space to adjust to the newly introduced substance.
Starting at a low dose at the beginning is the best practice as, once again, THC ingested in large doses leads to more intense and longer-lasting effects, and this is not always preferable.
The bottom line is how much cannabis via edible products you consume significantly impacts your overall experience. With THC having an impact on your physical and mental health, responsible marijuana use is crucial to ensure the safest experience.
Once again, newbies to THC should stick to consuming between 2.5 to 5mg of THC in a single dose and gradually increase later on, if necessary, to experience the desired effects.
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The Science Behind Edible Duration
The food science behind the duration of effects you experience when consuming THC and CBD edibles is associated with the process that goes on in your body when you consume these cannabinoids.
Understanding what happens when you ingest THC is important to truly understand the differences in effect onset time, intensity, and, finally, the duration of effects with edibles compared to other consumption methods, such as smoking and vaping.
How is THC Metabolized in the Body?
When you ingest THC orally through gummies or other forms of edibles, the main ingredient undergoes a unique pathway that differs from its pathway when THC is vaped or inhaled.
Upon oral consumption of THC, THC is entirely absorbed by the digestive tract before it is transformed to 11-hydroxy-THC by the liver, and this is a more potent form of THC that leads to experience more intense and longer-lasting effects as it crosses the blood-brain barrier more efficiently.
In other words, this specific THC metabolite is responsible for the longer-lasting and more intense THC effects you experience with edibles.
The overall process of THC being metabolized by the liver and converted to 11-hydroxy-THC takes anywhere between thirty minutes to two hours.
How long this process takes depends on different factors, including your individual metabolic rate, the cannabinoid profile of the product you have consumed, the dosage consumed, and the presence of food in your stomach, alongside other factors.
Differences Between Smoking and Eating Cannabis
When cannabis is consumed via vaping or smoking, THC travels directly to the bloodstream via the respiratory system, and it bypasses the liver process initially.
This is a more direct pathway, which results in experiencing the first effects sooner, usually within a few minutes. In other words, with smoking or vaping, the peak effects of THC and other cannabinoids present in edible products tend to peak sooner, but they also diminish sooner.
More specifically, the effects of vaped or inhaled THC usually last between two and three hours, while the effect onset time is quicker.
At the same time, the effects of orally consumed THC are usually felt for much longer, usually a couple of hours following consumption, while the effect onset time is longer as THC has to be processed by the liver before it reaches the bloodstream and crosses the blood-brain barrier.
One of the main differences between eating and smoking cannabis is that inhaled THC is not transformed to 11-hydroxy-THC right away in major amounts, which leads to experiencing a different range of effects compared to the effects you experience with orally ingested THC.
There are other differences between these consumption methods, including the control over dosage and predictability.
With smoking, you have greater control over dosage. In other words, you can adjust the dose easily by adjusting the number of puffs you take depending on the immediate effects you experience.
With edibles, this is not as straightforward since the effects tend to come on later. This can lead to going overboard while chasing the desired effect.
Managing and Predicting Edible Duration
Managing and predicting edible duration is rather important when it comes to ensuring the safest experience and some ultimate THC fun.
This is especially important for newbie users, and this is why we included a couple of tips for calculating your ideal dosage and valuable information on what you can expect from the overall experience.
Tips for First-Time Users
Those who are new to THC in any form should always start with the smallest dose and make sure to go slow. In other words, if you are new to THC, start with a minimal dose and keep in mind that the effects of edibles take a longer period to kick in, usually up to two hours.
It is also equally important to genuinely understand the product you are about to consume.
This means that it is crucial to examine the product’s packaging for valuable information on the product’s cannabinoid profile, the content of THC per serving, and other potential ingredients and other substances.
Knowing this information is crucial to manage your consumption the right way and avoid going overboard. With edibles, it is also important to stay hydrated.
We recommend that you drink plenty of water before taking an edible, during, and after, as staying hydrated will be crucial when it comes to reducing the risk of experiencing side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, and dry mouth.
It is equally important that you consume edibles in a safe and comfortable setting, especially if this is your first venture into the world of edibles.
Having a trusted friend around is also a good idea in case things go south for some reason.
Calculating Your Ideal Dosage
When it comes to calculating your ideal dosage, there is no one-size-fits-all dose that will work for everyone.
The ideal dosages vary depending on different factors, including your tolerance level, your body mass index, metabolic rate, and your personal needs and preferences. What may work for someone perfectly may not work ideally for you.
Heavy users can ingest THC in higher doses without any issues, but newbies to THC should stick to consuming between 2.5 and 5mg of THC.
Whichever edible product infused with THC you choose, make sure you wait for a while before you even consider taking another serving.
Remember that the effect onset time with edibles is delayed, so make sure your body has enough time to deal with the first wave of effects before you consider consuming another dose.
We highly recommend waiting at least twenty-four hours between two doses if you are new to THC to reduce the risk of overconsumption, which usually means a higher risk of experiencing side effects, the same when you inhale cannabis.
What to Expect: The High and Come Down
When it comes to highs you may experience with THC, the onset of “high” effects differs from one person to another based on the dose consumed, the type of product consumed, your individual tolerance, and your metabolic rate.
However, you can expect to notice the first effects of THC in edibles within thirty minutes to two hours after consumption.
Keep in mind that THC highs from edibles usually feel more intense and last for longer than the highs you experience with vaping or smoking. Generally speaking, the “high” phase can last between six and eight hours, while the effects peak around two to four hours after consumption.
The come-down stage is when the effects of THC start to wear off, and this is when you will experience a gradual decrease in the intensity of the effect.
During this time, some people experience a sense of body and mind relaxation coupled with sleepiness, while others feel dehydrated and a bit groggy. To ensure the smoothest come-down period, stay hydrated.
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Factors That Can Extend or Shorten the Duration
This leads us to different factors that can both shorten and extend the duration of effects you experience with THC.
These include the type of consumption method, your individual tolerance, the dose consumed, your individual body metabolism, your environment, and your interaction with beverages and food.
Interaction with Food and Beverages
If there is food in your stomach at the time of consuming edible products, this can significantly impact how effectively and quickly your body metabolizes THC or how fast you experience the first effects.
When you consume edibles on a full stomach, the effect onset time is usually prolonged but the intensity of effects may be higher and the effects may also last longer.
At the same time, when you consume edibles on an empty stomach, you will probably experience the first effects sooner, but their duration will be shorter.
Beverages, especially those with caffeine and alcohol, also impact the metabolism and absorption of THC, usually altering the intensity and duration of effects.
Impact of Activity Level and Environment
What also plays a role in the intensity and duration of THC effects stemming from consuming edibles is the environment at the time of consumption and your activity level.
Physical activity, including exercising and walking, typically increases your metabolic rate which can shorten a bit the duration of THC effects.
At the same time, when you consume edibles in a pleasant and welcoming environment, you are more likely to feel the effects for a longer time.
Consumption Methods
The consumption method also plays a role in how intense THC effects get. As we discussed in one of the previous sections, the effects of THC ingested via edibles usually come on later, but they remain more intense.
When marijuana is consumed in alternative ways, the effects tend to come on sooner, but they diminish quickly.
With vaping and smoking, the THC effects come on almost instantly, but they do not last as long as the effects of THC you experience after consuming edibles.
Individual Tolerance
Needless to say, your individual tolerance is also crucial when it comes to the duration and intensity of THC effects you experience.
In newbie THC consumers, the effects tend to last for longer and appear more intense, while in more regular consumers with a higher tolerance, the effects of THC are not as intense and do not last for a prolonged time.
Dosage
The content of THC in products you consume also impacts the duration and intensity of THC effects. As expected, consuming products with a bigger dose of THC usually means experiencing more intense and longer-lasting effects.
Conversely, consuming products with a smaller dose of THC means having a shorter THC experience with less intense effects. Still, starting at the smallest dose is the only right way for newbies to edibles.
Body Metabolism
Finally, the duration and intensity of THC effects are also impacted by your metabolic rate. Individuals with a faster metabolism usually process THC and other cannabinoids more quickly, which means they experience the effects for a shorter period.
At the same time, the effects of THC tend to last for longer in people with slower metabolisms, but other factors also play a role in how long edibles stay in your system, as discussed in the sections above.
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Safety and Legal Considerations
As the popularity of edible products increases, there are more safety and legal considerations to take into account to ensure the safest experience.
Understanding Potency and Labeling
The potency of a product is measured in milligrams per serving. As you know, THC is responsible for giving you that “high” feeling, while its close cousin CBD is non-psychoactive.
With edibles, the effect onset time is longer, meaning you will typically experience the first effects within thirty minutes to two hours after consumption.
Due to the delayed effect onset time, there is always the risk of overconsumption of edibles, and this is why it is very important to read the label carefully of the product you are about to consume.
Labels on premium products provide detailed information on the product’s cannabinoid profile, number of servings in a package, and more. There is also a warning about the delayed effect onset time.
All in all, understanding potency and carefully examining labeling will help you make the best decision and ensure the safest THC experience.
Legal Status and Regulations
Before you add edibles to your routine, it is equally important to examine local laws and regulations in your area.
While weed gummies products that contain less than 0.30% of Delta 9 THC by dry weight are federally legal in the USA, state laws and regulations differ. Regulatory frameworks also differ, including age restrictions, labeling and packaging requirements, manufacturing standards, and sales standards.
Companies that adhere to the strictest laws and regulations are those that usually promise the best-quality products.
Consumers must familiarize themselves with the legal status of these products and purchase from reputable vendors who take all the necessary steps to ensure the best quality of their products.
Final Words
How long edibles stay in your system, THC detection times via different types of drug testing, differences between THC consumed via smoking and edibles, and much more have been discussed in detail in the sections above.
The main goal was to shed light on how edibles impact different people differently and how this consumption method usually leads to experiencing more intense effects while at the same time delivering delayed effects, while other factors, such as your tolerance and body weight also play a role.
Whether you are new to edibles or a veteran consumer looking forward to learning more, we hope this article has been helpful in different ways.
Lastly, we encourage you to approach edibles with caution. Please remain responsible, and the adventure that ensues will most likely be as delightful as you anticipate.
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References:
Sharma P, Murthy P, Bharath MM. Chemistry, metabolism, and toxicology of cannabis: clinical implications. Iran J Psychiatry. 2012 Fall;7(4):149-56. PMID: 23408483; PMCID: PMC3570572.
Millar SA, Stone NL, Yates AS, O’Sullivan SE. A Systematic Review on the Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol in Humans. Front Pharmacol. 2018 Nov 26;9:1365. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01365. PMID: 30534073; PMCID: PMC6275223.
The information regarding cannabis, cannabis-related, THC and CBD products is for informational and educational purposes only, not substituting professional medical advice or treatment. We do not promote or endorse the use, sale, or distribution of cannabis where it's not legally permitted. The legality of cannabis varies by state and jurisdiction, and we urge users to comply with all federal, state, and local laws concerning its use and sale. We encourage users to consult with healthcare professionals. We might earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of the links. McClatchy's Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content.
