How Long Does It Take For Edibles To Kick In? - Medical News Today

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SubscribeEdibles: How long does it take for them to kick in?Medically reviewed by Jeffrey Chen, MD, MBA — Written by Louisa Richards — Updated on January 19, 2024

• How long they take to kick in
• How long they last
• Other cannabis consumption
• Risks
• Summary

It may take around 30–90 minutes for the effects of edibles to kick in. A person should wait at least 24 hours before taking another dose.

Edibles are foods or drinks containing cannabis extract. They come in many forms, including baked goods, gummies, and hard candies, while some people may also prepare them at home.

This article discusses how long edibles take to kick in and how long the high lasts. It also looks at risks and side effects, and other ways of using cannabis.

How long do they take to kick in? 

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Cannabis contains compounds such as cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is the compound responsible for the “high” that people associate with the drug.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board define a THC serving as 10 milligrams (mg), while products are limited to 100 mg of this substance in total.

According to research, edibles are slower to kick in but last longer compared to inhalation. This is because compared to smoking, where cannabis is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and distributed rapidly in the brain, edibles first need to enter the digestive system.

One study indicates that oral ingestion of THC requires 30–90 minutes for effects to begin. These effects reach their peak after 2–3 hours.

Some factors affect how soon someone can feel the effects of edibles. These include:

• the edible’s non-cannabis ingredients
• body weight
• metabolism
• gender
• when a person last ate

Consumption under the tongue, also known as sublingual absorption, is theoretically faster since it bypasses the digestive system and absorbs straight into the bloodstream.

Therefore, items, such as lollipops or tinctures held under the tongue, may have quicker effects.

How long they last

According to one study, the effects of edibles last 4–12 hours, depending on the dose and a person’s characteristics, such as tolerance and metabolism.

A 2017 study analyzed 5,000 tweets about edibles and found 12% described the intense or long-lasting effects following use.

Other ways of consuming cannabis 

People can also smoke the cannabis plant or vape cannabis oil. THC inhalation typically triggers effects within seconds or minutes. These effects plateau after 15–30 minutes and begin to taper off within 2–3 hours.

Some people prefer ingesting edibles to smoking cannabis because of the potential health risks associated with smoking. A 40-year cohort study of males in Sweden suggests that smoking cannabis might increase the risk of lung cancer.

However, not all the research is in agreement. A recent review of epidemiological cannabis and cancer studies concludes there is no evidence linking smoking cannabis with lung cancer.

Risks and side effects

As edibles take longer to take effect, a person may consume more than they intend, subsequently experiencing a more intense and longer-lasting high.

According to research, people may take extra doses, believing cannabis is not affecting them until the delayed effects commence.

A 2017 review suggests that even daily users may consume a higher dose than expected, while people tend to eat an entire edible rather than a piece or serving.

Research indicates that the effects of cannabis overdose may include anxiety and panic attacks, heart rate increases, and changes in blood pressure.

According to a study of emergency department admissions in Colorado, acute psychiatric events and cardiovascular symptoms from cannabis are more common with edibles than inhalation products.

An article in The American Journal of Psychiatry reports on five people in Colorado who went to the hospital with edible cannabis-induced temporary psychosis. According to the report, the patients were daily cannabis smokers using more than ten times the recommended THC dose of 10 mg.

In addition, children may accidentally eat edibles thinking they are regular foods or candies. A 2019 study reports that following legalization in Colorado, there was an increase in the number of children admitted to the hospital for consuming cannabis, with ingestion of an edible accounting for a majority of the cases.

Summary

Edibles take longer to exert their effects, while the “high” lasts longer. This can pose a risk for a person who may take more than intended, consequently experiencing adverse effects.

It is vital to keep edibles away from infants and children, who may think they look and taste similar to regular candies or cakes.

Smoking or vaping cannabis has a faster effect, and people may better manage how high they become. However, smoking has several potential health risks, so edibles may be an option to avoid them.

 

• Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
• Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
• Marijuana / Cannabis / CBD

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Borodovsky, J. T., et al. (2017). Smoking, vaping, eating: Is legalization impacting the way people use cannabis?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5010515/
• Callaghan, R. C., et al. (2013). Marijuana use and risk of lung cancer: A 40-year cohort study [Abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23846283/
• Cavazos-Rehg, P. A., et al. (2017). "No high like a brownie high": A content analysis of edible marijuana tweets [Abstract].https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0890117116686574
• Grotenhermen, F. (2003). Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids [Abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12648025/
• Hancock-Allen, J. B., et al. (2015). Death following ingestion of an edible marijuana product — Colorado, March 2014.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4584864/
• Hazekamp, A., et al. (2013). The medicinal use of cannabis and cannabinoids—An international cross-sectional survey on administration forms.https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arno_Hazekamp/publication/258212395_The_Medicinal_Use_of_Cannabis_and_Cannabinoids-An_International_Cross-Sectional_Survey_on_Administration_Forms/links/543929210cf24a6ddb95d3cd/The-Medicinal-Use-of-Cannabis-and-Cannabinoids-An-International-Cross-Sectional-Survey-on-Administration-Forms.pdf
• Hudak, M., et al. (2015). Edible cannabis-induced psychosis: Intoxication and beyond.https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/epub/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15030358
• Liquor Control Board issues initial draft recreational marijuana rules for public comment. (2013).https://lcb.wa.gov/pressreleases/liquor-control-board-issues-initial-draft-recreational-marijuana-rules-public-comment
• Monte, A. A., et al. (2019). Acute illness associated with cannabis use, by route of exposure.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6788289/
• Ohlsson, A., et al. (1980). Plasma delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations and clinical effects after oral and intravenous administration and smoking [Abstract]. https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1038/clpt.1980.181
• Roberts, B. A. (2019). Legalized cannabis in Colorado emergency departments: A cautionary review of negative health and safety effects.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6625695/

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Medically reviewed by Jeffrey Chen, MD, MBA — Written by Louisa Richards — Updated on January 19, 2024

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