How Long Do Edibles Last?

1. THC Dose

The dosage and potency of the edible play a significant role in determining how long the high will last.

A higher dose or more THC content consumed in a single dose will almost ALWAYS result in a longer-lasting high.

Why is that?

Consuming larger quantities of THC will lead to higher THC levels in your bloodstream, and more THC in your bloodstream allows for more opportunities for the THC molecules to interact and bind with your CB1 receptors.

FYI, there are millions of CB1 receptors in your body.

“Some people have reported peak effect at 90 minutes and others will feel peak effect at three or more hours. The dose can play a role in the onset and intensity of the peak effect,” says Eloise Theisen.

2. THC Tolerance

Everyone is different, so individual tolerance also comes into play when determining how long an edible high lasts. Those who have never consumed cannabis before may be much more sensitive to its effects than those who use it regularly.

Avid cannabis consumers build up a tolerance over time and require higher doses to achieve the same effect.

3. Gender

Research has shown that THC highs vary depending on your sex (male or female).

1. Hormonal Differences: Estrogen, a hormone more prevalent in women, is believed to enhance the effects of THC. As estrogen levels fluctuate throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, it’s possible that the effects of THC might be more potent during times when estrogen levels are high, which might potentially affect the duration of a high.

2. Body Fat: THC is fat-soluble and can be stored in body fat, which can impact the duration of a high. On average, women tend to have a higher percentage of body fat than men, which could potentially influence how long THC and its effects last.

3. Metabolism: Metabolic rates can differ between men and women, which might influence how quickly THC is metabolized and excreted from the body.

4. Tolerance: Some research suggests that women might develop a tolerance to THC more quickly than men, which could potentially influence the duration and intensity of a high over time.

4. Age

One study found that older people aren’t as affected by THC as younger adults. Basically, young adults can have a harder time learning and thinking quickly when they use weed.

Another study suggested that teenagers using weed might have more trouble making decisions and controlling their actions than adults.

5. Metabolism & Body Fat

Metabolism affects how quickly THC is absorbed into your bloodstream, and your body fat impacts how long THC stays in your system.

Body fat can affect the duration of a high from THC due to the lipophilic nature of THC (attracted to/can be stored in fat cells).

This THC storage in fat cells can lead to a prolonged release of THC into the bloodstream, potentially extending the duration of the high.

6. Health Conditions

1. Digestive System Health: For edibles, the health of a person’s digestive system can impact how quickly and efficiently THC is absorbed. Conditions that affect digestion, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), could potentially affect the duration of a high from edibles.

2. Liver Health: The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing THC, converting it into various metabolites, including 11-hydroxy-THC, which is particularly potent. People with liver conditions might metabolize THC differently, which could affect the duration and intensity of a high.

3. Mental Health: While not a direct influence on the duration of a high, mental health conditions can affect a person’s perception of time and their subjective experience of a high. For example, individuals with anxiety may feel that the high lasts longer due to increased anxiety or paranoia when using cannabis.

7. Prescription Medications

1. Medications that Affect Metabolism: The liver metabolizes THC, and this process involves specific enzymes, particularly from the cytochrome P450 family. Medications that inhibit or induce these enzymes could slow down or speed up the metabolism of THC, respectively, which could prolong or shorten the duration of a high.

2. Sedatives and CNS Depressants: Medications that depress the central nervous system (like benzodiazepines, some types of painkillers, and certain sleep aids) could potentially enhance the sedative effects of THC. This might not change the duration of the THC high, but it could intensify the overall experience.

3. Antidepressants: Some research suggests that certain antidepressants might interact with the endocannabinoid system, the same system that THC acts on. This could potentially influence the effects and duration of a THC-induced high, although more research is needed in this area.

4. Other Psychoactive Medications: Other medications that act on the brain, like antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, or stimulants, might also interact with THC in complex ways that could influence the duration or quality of a high.

8. Unique Ingredients

The way in which fats and cannabinoids bond so well together is also why an edible high can feel much more potent than the effects of smoking. While the common misconception regarding THC edibles is that people want them in the form of sweets (because they’re stoners with munchies), there’s actually solid evidence about why sugary treats are chosen.

The reason is that fats, such as those found in baked goods and sugary snacks, are the ideal vessel to bind with and carry THC across cell barriers and membranes that line the walls of our stomach and intestines.

9. Type of Edible

The type of edible definitely impacts the effects of the edible. Here are the three basic types and how each could impact the duration of how long your edible high will last:

1. Leave In-Mouth Hard Candy: This type of edible is often meant to be absorbed through the lining of the mouth, a process called sublingual absorption. Sublingual absorption can lead to faster onset of effects because the THC is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. However, the duration of the high might be shorter compared to other edibles because of this faster absorption.

2. THC-Infused Beverages: Like hard candies, THC-infused beverages can be absorbed both sublingually and in the stomach. The onset of effects might be slightly quicker than food edibles but probably slower than hard candy. The duration of the high is likely to be similar to other types of edibles that are digested.

3. Food Edibles: Food edibles (like brownies, cookies, or gummies) are typically processed by the digestive system. This means it can take longer (usually 30 minutes to 2 hours) for the effects to kick in, as the THC has to be absorbed through the stomach and then metabolized in the liver. However, once the effects do start, they can last longer (often several hours) compared to other types of edibles.

10. Eating Edibles Vs. Drinking

The method used to consume an edible can also affect how long the high lasts. Eating edibles versus drinking edibles tends to produce longer-lasting highs because they take longer for digestion and absorption into the bloodstream.

Liquid edibles are usually hydrophilic (attracted to water), while food edibles are hydrophobic (don’t like water).

When cannabis is ingested orally, it must first travel through the digestive system before being metabolized by the liver into a more potent metabolic of THC.

However, drinking cannabis-infused beverages like tinctures or teas typically has a faster onset time compared with eating edibles since they can bypass digestion and are absorbed more readily into the bloodstream through mucous membranes in your mouth before you even swallow them.

Manufacturers are now using nanoemulsion water-soluble technology to break down the THC molecules into smaller particles and wrap them in molecules, allowing for faster absorption.