It’s no doubt that smoking marijuana is perhaps the most popular delivery method, however, weed edibles are becoming highly sought after. This is an innovative cannabis product that provides relaxation, relief from anxiety, pain relief and others. Some of the most popular forms in which edibles are available include baked goods like brownies and biscuits, candies and gummies, lollipops — you name it, and it’s out there!
But, while cannabis edibles are becoming popular, those who are new to the world of cannabis and looking to try another delivery method might be wondering about a few things, including how long edibles take to work? In this article, we take a brief dive.
How Long Does It Take For Edibles To Kick In?
Without any beating about the bush, let us jump straight to the question — how long does it take before cannabis-based edibles produce the popularly known high sensation marijuana consumers know and love? While we give a standard duration, there are multiple factors at play when it comes to consuming cannabis edibles.
A person’s diet, how quickly his or her body can metabolize the ingested food, biological sex, weight, and overall tolerance to CBD or THC are crucial factors that determine how long it will be before a THC edible produces the effects that cannabis lovers seek. But, what Is THC? Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is known by its chemical name, THC. It’s a cannabinoid present in cannabis that’s traditionally been thought to be the main psychoactive ingredient—the one that gets people high.
It is believed that 30-60 minutes is enough time for edibles to do their magic. Again, we must reiterate that this time can vary from person to person, depending upon the factors that we discussed in the previous section. In addition to those factors, the nature of the active ingredient used in a cannabis edible can affect this time positively or negatively. Instead of confusing you with complex numbers and science jargon, simply put — more THC means faster absorption, which means a quicker high.
On the other hand, if it is the CBD-infused edibles that you are consuming, please note that CBD is not psychoactive and will cause a different experience, unlike THC. Therefore, the question of being high is ruled out altogether.
It Varies From Edible To Edible
Let us take the example of lozenges and lollipops that produce the desired results quite quickly. The reason behind this is that THC is absorbed in the mouth via your capillaries in this case — often termed sublingual absorption. The same holds for gums that contain THC and other similar products. On the other hand, edibles you have to chew will take a little longer to produce a high as absorption takes place in the digestive tract. The active ingredient THC must first pass the liver to be metabolized and then the bloodstream, and then finally the brain, producing a high sensation in the body.
Given all of this, this route is likely to take more time as compared to the sublingual route of absorption. Hence, eating THC gummies, cookies and brownies will mean a longer kick in duration. But don’t let that deter you from experiencing the goodness of psychoactive baked goods!
How Long Does Their Effect Last?
While smoking is the most common way consumers enjoy their cannabis, in terms of duration, the high that edibles produce trumps the high produced by smoking — and by some margin too! It is believed that this high can last for as long as six to eight hours. Of course, as we mentioned earlier as well, this time can vary from person to person. Also, the amount of CBD or THC you are ingesting (i.e. the dose) plays an important role in determining the ultimate time for which these effects can last. Researchers are still trying to figure out the exact time for which these effects can last. Unfortunately, very little success has been made on that front.
How Much of Edibles Is OK To Consume?
Let us do some quick math to give you a comparative idea about smoking and eating cannabis. Consuming 1 mg of THC in edible form is equivalent to smoking 5.71 mg of THC. Shocking, isn’t it? These numbers lead to only one conclusion. You have to be super careful with edible THC dosing.
Any more than 20 mg is plain flirting with the risk of serious side effects. As for CBD, well, even though it doesn’t produce the high associated with the marijuana plant, it is best to start with low doses. See how your body reacts to the low amount first. You can always increase the dose slowly later in case there are no side effects or risks posed to your body by either CBD or THC edibles.
Always Read The Label
Just a little point about the importance of reading the product labels, it is crucial that you must be aware of all the ingredients found in your cannabis-based edible. There might be an added ingredient that you are allergic to. There might be a dosage problem that can pose serious health risks, etc. So, despite the little unpredictability that is associated with cannabis-based edibles, reading labels is a must when you buy weed edibles online in Canada.
Final Thoughts
As we’ve learned, CBD or THC in the form of a cannabis-based edible is a great delivery method for a number of reasons. Consumers are able to get an effective, long-lasting high with little risk. Nonetheless, before purchasing your first or next cannabis edible, it is important to look for quality sourced products that have been third-party tested and carry a COA for full transparency and a safe, tasty cannabis experience! You can find a long list of the best marijuana dispensaries from websites such as BC Weed Delivery, Cannabis Ontario, and Weed List.
We should say, though, it is critical to consult your doctor in case you are already taking pills and tablets regularly. There is a high chance that the CBD or THC in your cannabis edible will interfere with your medication, thereby doing more harm than good. A doctor’s opinion can certainly help you a lot in this regard.
Interesting Reads
How Long Does Edibles Last?, What are Cannabinoids?, Marijuana Edibles: How to Dose and Ingest Properly
