If you are new to the world of cannabis, you are likely getting familiar with a number of references and terminologies already. These can range from the different types of strains and the best dosages to the best consumption methods.
You have likely heard about edibles, too. Here, we are going to share with you the basics of edibles and how to consume them safely. You will find exactly how to use them, how long do edibles last, and how long it takes for them to take effect.
What Are Edibles?
Edibles are food products that contain cannabis. There are many different forms of edibles, ranging from candies, such as gummies, all the way to brownies. There are even some cannabis-infused beverages.
Edibles contain one or both of the active ingredients you find in marijuana. Those ingredients are CBD and THC.
Because there is an uptick in the legalization of marijuana, edibles have become a whole lot more popular. A lot of that popularity relates to what they can do for those who have health conditions, such as chronic pain and anxiety.
For people suffering from those conditions, edibles that contain only CBD are usually recommended. An added benefit of choosing to get your cannabis via edibles is that you do not run the risk of impacting your respiratory system in the same way you would if you smoked cannabis.
How Are Edibles Different?
Edibles are different than many other consumption methods. To start, the high you get from consuming edibles can be much more intense. In addition, you are likely going to have that effect last for a long longer than if you just smoked your cannabis.
Finally, the effect can take longer to kick in than if you smoked or vaped. With that said, there are plenty of variables that can impact the timing of the effect.
How Long Until You Feel the Effects of Edibles?
In general, it takes about 30 to 60 minutes for you to start to feel the effects of edibles. That onset, however, is impacted by a number of factors.
To start, the onset can change depending on the active ingredients in your product. For example, if you have a product that is high in THC, you should feel the effects much sooner.
CBD-only edibles do not have psychoactive properties at all, so you won’t ever get the high feeling you likely associate with cannabis. You will only get that effect from edibles that contain THC. Taking that into consideration, it can be harder to know exactly when CBD edibles take effect.
For both THC and CBD edibles, the time of onset depends on where the edibles are broken down in the body along with where they are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Faster-Acting Edibles
There are some edibles that start working really quickly. These are those products that are ingested but never actually swallowed.
Faster-acting edibles include things like lollipops, gums, and lozenges. The absorption of each of these takes place in the mouth, which means that they get absorbed much faster.
Longer-Onset Edibles
Other edibles take longer to kick in; you won’t feel the effects quite as quickly. These include anything that is chewable and needs to be absorbed in the digestive system.
These edibles include things like brownies, cookies, and gummies. They have to be absorbed through the digestive tract, which means the active ingredients then have to go to the bloodstream and the liver. Once they get to the liver, the active ingredients can be metabolized.
Other Factors
There are some other factors that can have an impact on an edible’s onset time. These include your metabolism, sex, diet, and weight. The onset time can also be impacted by your overall tolerance to cannabis.
What is important to keep in mind is that you do not want to rush to consume more just because the original edible hasn’t seemed to do anything yet. This can be tempting, but it can also lead you to consume too much. You want to wait a full 24 hours before you take another dose of your edible.
How Long Do Edibles Last?
Now that we know it can sometimes take a while for an edible to kick in and for you to feel the effects, you likely want to know how long do edibles last. In general, the effects you get from consuming an edible last much longer than if you smoked or used a vaporizer. The window typically ranges from six to eight hours.
For edibles that do contain THC, your blood levels should peak right around the three-hour mark. That is when you can expect to feel the most intense effects.
The length of time you will experience effects depends on several different factors, including the potency of the edible and the dose. For example, the effect from edibles that are chewed and then swallowed are likely to last longer than those which are absorbed in the mouth.
Other factors impact the duration of the effects, as well. These include things like metabolism, toleration, and weight and are similar to the factors that impact how long it takes for you to feel the effects.
Edibles: The Most Common Forms
There are more forms of edibles than we could ever mention here, but there are certainly some that are more common than others.
- Baked goods are quite common, with some really popular varieties being cookies, brownies, and waffles.
- Sweets and candies are also quite popular and can include anything ranging from chewing gum to hard candy to chocolate and gummies.
- Beverages are also quite popular and can include just about anything. You can have edibles that are tea and coffee as well as energy drinks and even beer or wine.
Final Thoughts
Edibles can be another unique way to consume cannabis with plenty of benefits. You do not run the risk of any of the health concerns associated with smoking, but you are still able to get your intended cannabis effects.
You also can enjoy the cannabis discreetly. Possibly the most important of all is that you can make your own edibles, so you know exactly what is included.
