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How Long Do Edibles Take to Kick in – Weed lovers out there know that there is not just one way to smoke weed and experience the euphoric effects of marijuana. Apart from smoking a joint, bongs, vaping machines, there is one other great way to consume weed- Cannabis Edibles.
Cannabis Edibles are those food items that have marijuana in them. They can be a great snack at a fun party or an alternative to smoking methods.
Those who do not prefer smoking yet want to experience a strong high opt for edibles. Many people do not prefer rolling and smoking a joint and inhaling smoke and for them, edibles prove to be a great option. Cannabis Connoisseurs also love edibles because its strong psychometric effects and a stronger high.
These cannabis-based food products come in varieties like chocolates, gummy bears, candies, brownies, cookies and so on. These marijuana edibles contain THC which induces the high after reaching your brain and CNS.
Hence, the edibles work the same as smoking weed but with the difference that consuming edibles do not bring in any risks for the respiratory system, unlike smoking.
And now that marijuana edibles have been legalized, the demand and popularity of cannabis edibles is increasing. These edibles can produce the same effect but with more intensity. Edibles that have only CBD can be helpful for treating chronic pain, anxiety, etc.
Now that you know that the effects of smoking weed and consuming edibles are the same, let me tell you the major difference. Consuming edibles will take some time before the high kicks in.
This is the most important thing one that edibles require some time before they kick in and the weed starts its effects. If you want to know more on this, then keep reading further.
How Long Do Edibles Take to Kick in?
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Edibles can take 30 minutes to 1 hour to kick in. But there are various factors that might affect this onset time. The major one of them is the THC level of the ingredients. If the weed in the edible has a higher level of THC, then the effects can be seen faster.
But if you are consuming edibles that are only-CBD and do not have THC, then you will not experience the ‘high’ in this case. The time taken for edibles to kick in depends on other crucial factors where the edibles are being broken down and absorbed in the body.
However, when we compare edibles with Smoking a joint or using vaping machine or bongs, the time taken by edibles to more than the rest of the ways. But, at the same time, edibles have more psychoactive effect than the other methods. So basically, it is worth the wait.
But if someone has been smoking or inhaling weed, and then shifted to consuming edibles, they might think that the edible is having less or no effect as it takes time to kick in. And hence this can lead to serious over dose if the user is not aware of the fact that edibles need some time to show their effects.
As one consumes the edibles, the food is passed through the digestive system. And hence, your weed to passes through the digestive system where it is broken down. This is when the weed or the THC is absorbed in your body and passes through the blood stream.
Because edibles make the THC pass through the bloodstream directly, this creates a stronger high than smoking weed.
Edibles That Kick in Faster
There are a few edibles that can act faster than most of the edibles. Such edibles can be – chewing gums, lollipops or lozenges. Such cannabis edible items are not swallowed inside but only chewed.
Hence, here the THC is absorbed through the mucus membranes of the mouth and not the stomach. Such sublingual absorption can make the weed effect show faster than the edibles.
So, if you want to get a strong high but at the same time do not want to smoke or inhale and do not want to keep waiting for long, then such faster acting edibles can be a great choice.
Factors That Affect Onset Time of Edibles
Some more factors that affect the time taken by edibles to act upon its effects are as below –
- Weight
- Metabolism
- Sex
- Tolerance level
- Diet
- Make sure to give it the time
As said before, since edibles pass in to your blood through the digestive system, they need some time to give their effects. Once you consume the edible, it passes as food in the digestive system and then is absorbed in the process.
The THC absorbed then passes through the blood stream to reach your brain and CNS and that is when you start feeling the high.
Now since the entire process till THC reaches the Brain and CNS takes a while, you will have to give the cannabis edible some time to hit you. If you do not give it the time and then continue consuming the edibles, you will have taken more then needed dose which at times might also lead to overdosing.
How Long Do Edibles Last?
Yet another reason why edibles are preferred by many weed connoisseurs is that the effects of edible high last longer than smoking weed or vaping oils. You can get a high as long as six to eight hours. After consuming the THC, you will feel the high at its peak in 3 hours.
This was the general situation but the time for how long edibles last depends on other factors too like the potency of the weed consumed and the amount of dose taken. To this, further factors like weight, metabolism, tolerance level, etc. too make an impact on the time for which the effects last.
How Much Edibles Should I Take?
You need to know the amount of THC and CBD present in each serving of the cannabis edibles. Generally, one gummy could contain 10 mg of THC. You will mostly find the amount of THC or CBD in the label of the food item. Such quantity calculation can get difficult in case of foods like cookies and brownies.
So, the best way to keep a track of your cannabis edibles consumption is to give the edibles some time to know the effect its causing on you and then decide further on.
