How Long Does an Edible Last?

Edibles are a popular method for consuming cannabis besides smoking and vaping.

Edibles produce a psychoactive effect without requiring the user to inhale smoke or vape into the lungs, which can make them feel safer.

If you are thinking about trying edibles for the first time you may be wondering How Long Do Edibles Take to Kick In? How long do edibles last?

Additionally, Knowing how long the THC stays in your body can help you utilize your marijuana edibles to the fullest and keep you out of trouble with the law.

Fortunately, This guide will explore all aspects of edibles, including how long they last, how they work, factors affecting, detection times, risks, etc. So, let's get started.

What are Cannabis Edibles?

Edibles are food products that have cannabis cooked or infused into them. They usually contain either one or both of marijuana's active ingredients: THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

Edibles deliver the same effects as smoking or vaporizing cannabis without the harsh effects on the lungs. This has made them a popular alternative.

People consume edibles primarily for medicinal or recreational purposes. Medicinally, edibles can relieve chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia. Recreationally, they offer a discreet and often longer-lasting way to get you high.

Different Types of Marijuana Edibles

Cannabis edibles come in a variety of forms, each offering a unique experience and method of consumption.

Popular choices include gummies and candies, which are favored for their convenience, portability, and variety of flavors.

They offer a discreet and easy way to consume cannabis, making them ideal for beginners or those who prefer not to smoke. Candies and gummies typically have a longer shelf life compared to other edibles.

On the other hand, baked goods like cookies, brownies, and cakes are classic cannabis edibles that offer a familiar and enjoyable way to consume cannabis. However, they tend to have a shorter shelf life due to their perishable ingredients.

Other options include cannabis-infused chocolates, refreshing beverages like teas, coffees, and sodas, and versatile tinctures, cannabutter, and oils.

Each type of edible offers a unique experience, so it's worth trying a few different types to find the one that suits you best.

How Does the Body Process Edibles?

When a person ingests an edible, it interacts with our digestive system. When the edible is digested, the cannabis goes to our liver.

In our liver, the delta-9 THC is converted to 11-hydroxy THC. When this conversion occurs, the effect experienced is more psychoactive than smoked THC.

It is important to remember that the THC in edibles takes a longer time to kick in as compared to vaping or smoking THC.

This is because compared to smoking, where cannabis is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and distributed rapidlyTrusted Source in the brain, edibles first need to enter the digestive system.

How Long Do Edibles Take to Kick In?

Because THC edibles need to be broken down by your digestive system before they can interact with your endocannabinoid system, their bioavailability is reduced and it can take a while for you to feel their effects.

Normally, it takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours for you to feel the effects of Edibles, and peaks after 3 hours.

Exactly how long depends on factors like the potency of the product and how much of it you consume — as well as your body weight, individual metabolism, and what you've eaten that day.

A faster metabolism or an empty stomach can lead to quicker absorption. In contrast, a full stomach or a higher-fat edible may slow the process.

The delivery method is a key factor here, too. Sublingual products like lozenges, and cannabis drinks are absorbed through the mouth's mucous membranes, making for a quicker onset time.

On the flip side, edibles like gummies and baked goods take more time to metabolize and enter the bloodstream, so the onset time will be a bit longer.

How long do the effects of edibles last?

The effects of edibles, which contain THC, typically last between 4 to 8 hours, but this can vary based on factors like dosage, individual metabolism, and tolerance.

For some people, it can take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours for the effects of a THC edibles to fully pass. This might happen when someone has less tolerance toward cannabis.

Edibles have lasting effects compared to when we smoke cannabis because it takes our kidneys and liver longer to fully absorb them – which means it lasts much longer than traditional smoking.

Seven Factors That Influence How Long do Edibles Last?

There are several factors influence how long edibles stay in your system.

1. Dosage

The amount of THC in your edible will have a direct effect on how long the edible stays in your system.

Higher doses mean your body will take a longer time to metabolize the cannabis.

2. Tolerance

If you use cannabis regularly, you may have developed a tolerance to THC.

Those with higher tolerance levels tend to metabolize THC faster, reducing the time it stays in their system.

3. Metabolism

Individuals have different metabolic rates. Those with faster metabolisms can eliminate THC faster than those with slower metabolisms.

In most cases, women have a slower metabolism than men. This means men are likely to process edibles more quickly than women.

Generally speaking, older people metabolize food more slowly than younger people.

Many pre-existing medical conditions, including chronic diseases, obesity, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes, and more, can lead to a slower metabolism.

4. Body Mass Index

THC is fat-soluble, which means it is stored in body fat.

Individuals with higher body fat percentages may retain THC in their bodies longer than those with lower body fat percentages.

In other words, it will take longer for those with more body fat to break down the THC in their bodies.

5. Other foods in Stomach

Eating edibles is not just about what you eat, but also what's already in your stomach.

Knock back a THC gummy on an empty stomach and you might feel like you're on a fast and intense ride.

However, if you've just had a big meal of something rich and fatty, your edible might have a slower onset and longer-lasting impact.

6. Frequency of Use

If you continue to ingest cannabinoids repeatedly, your body won't have a chance to eliminate the THC. This means there will be traces of THC in your body for longer periods.

7. Activity Level

If you are physically active after eating an edible, the THC will be distributed throughout your body more quickly.

So, if you want to prolong the effects, it's best to stay stationary after consuming an edible.

How Long do THC Edibles stay in your system?

THC getting flushed out through fecal matter and passing urine. Within about an hour, up to half of the THC in the gummy fully metabolizes. However, the cannabinoid does remain in your system for a while.

As with all substances, the length of time they stay in the human body depends on the drug's half-life.

As the half-life of THC varies depending on the strain and purity of the substance, the half-life can vary between three and 12 days.

However, It's still not easy to estimate the duration of the effects of edibles in our system because a few other factors influence that, including the amount of THC concentration in the product, The number of edibles consumed by a person, etc.

Do cannabis edibles show up on drug tests?

Different types of drug tests can detect THC from edibles for varying lengths of time.

In fact, Since edibles take longer to process and remain in the body longer than marijuana smoke, edibles generally have a longer detection window.

1. Urine Tests

Urine tests are the most common drug tests.

For infrequent or first-time users, THC can be detected in urine for 3-30 days after edible use.

However, if you eat edibles more frequently, detection may extend.

2. Blood Tests

After you consume an edible, THC can be detected in your bloodstream for roughly 3 to 4 days.

Of course, factors like your metabolism, weight, and body fat will affect the results.

3. Saliva Tests

To detect recent cannabis use, saliva tests are commonly used.

THC can take up to 1-3 days for THC to leave your system, depending on your metabolism and the dosage you took.

4. Hair Tests

Hair follicle tests are less commonly used as they can sometimes give false positives.

However, after consuming an edible, THC can be detected in your hair for roughly 90 days or more.

The Benefits of THC Edibles

A big reason so many people prefer THC edibles to other THC products is the long duration of their effects.

The effects of edibles can vary depending on the type, dosage, and individual factors. Some common effects include:

Relaxation: Many users experience a sense of relaxation and stress relief after consuming edibles.

Euphoria: Higher doses of THC can result in euphoria or a “high” sensation.

Pain relief: Some users find that edibles can help alleviate chronic pain and inflammation.

Sleepiness: Some edibles, especially those containing indica strains or higher amounts of CBD, can induce drowsiness and may be helpful for those with insomnia.

The Risks and Side Effects of THC Edibles

Although edibles can be a great way to consume cannabis, they do come with some side effects that you should be aware of.

Many people experience dry mouth, red eyes, dizziness, and fatigue when consuming marijuana edibles in higher doses.

Edibles can take longer for their effects to be felt, This gap can lead people to take more than originally intended.

As a result, the person may experience an overdose, also known as acute marijuana intoxication or “greening out.”

This can lead to a variety of serious negative side effects, including: Drowsiness, Disorientation, Nausea and vomiting, Anxiety and panic attacks, Agitation, Psychosis, Hallucinations, Paranoia, Impaired motor ability, Respiratory depression, Irregular heartbeat, Heart attack, etc.

Anyone having severe symptoms such as panic attacks, a rapid heart rate, or difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

How Much Edibles Should You Take?

Dosing edibles can be a little tricky because so many factors determine the end effects.

In general, THC edibles come in dosages ranging from 0.5mg to 20mg of THC.

Most people consider a dosage between 2.5 and 5mg to be a good starting dose if you have never tried edibles.

The average dose for someone not new to THC would be closer to 10 to 15mg, whereas a high dose would be 20mg.

Doses at 20mg are not usually recommended as this can enhance the risks of undesirable side effects.

Do Edibles Expire?

Edibles, like any other food product, have a shelf life and will eventually expire. For the most part, edibles have the same shelf life as their non-cannabis-infused counterparts.

The exact expiration date can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of product, the ingredients used, storage conditions, and more.

Because they are primarily composed of sugar, edibles like THC/CBD gummies and sweets have a longer shelf life than other types of edibles (e.g., brownies). Baked goods, such as cookies, on the other hand, have a shorter lifespan due to their components.

The number of ingredients in your weed edible also plays a role in how long it lasts. For example, milk and cheese-based edibles can go bad quickly, usually within a week.

Edibles stay fresh for about 5 to 7 days if stored at room temperature in an airtight container. Refrigeration can extend their shelf life to a few weeks, and freezing can preserve them for months.

Conclusion

With THC edibles being hugely popular nowadays, it's important to have an understanding of how these product types actually work, and most importantly, how long their effects will last.

The effects of an edible lasts vary drastically depending on a series of factors, including Dosage, Metabolism, Type of edible and more.

With a bit of safe experimentation and patience, you can find the right dose and method for you. For example, You can shorten or lengthen your THC experience by changing your edible dosage.

In addition, they aren't free of risk. Always approach edible and other cannabis products with caution and a high understanding of their potential side effects.

With edibles, it is easier to take an excessively high dose and feel negative side effects than it is with smoking.

When trying out a new edible, it is important to start with a low dose to see how the body responds.

Lastly, it's important to only purchase from licensed, reputable dispensaries that sell products tested for purity and potency.