How Long Does An Edible High Last?

Edibles are one of the easiest ways to consume cannabis. For this reason, they’re also often quite appealing to people just wanting to give cannabis a try or those who are looking for an extra hit.

However, edibles can also be one of the most unpredictable ways to consume cannabis. After all, if you’ve made a tasty dish, how can you say no to consuming it all? Impulse control is a skill you’ll need if you’re looking to cook a large amount of edibles, as over-consumption can have some side effects.

So, here’s what you need to know to ensure your edible experience is safe and enjoyable…

 

What are edibles?

Edibles are cannabis-infused foods or drinks. They can take the form of just about anything you could imagine – brownies, oils, butter, and even bacon! We discuss some of the best cannabis edible recipes here.

Unlike traditional smoking methods, edibles deliver cannabinoids to your system through the digestive system. They’re a fantastic alternative for those who want to avoid smoking or vaping cannabis. See the difference between smoking and edibles.

They will create a similar high or euphoria providing they include enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

However, there are some differences to be aware of when consuming edibles.

 

How long does the high last?

First, you’ll need to know that the high you get from edibles is a little different from what you would experience with smoking. This is mostly because of the time that it will take to process.

Edibles need time to get through your digestive system, but once they do – the high that comes after is worth it!

In fact, edibles can take up to an hour (sometimes even longer) to kick in, but once they do kick in, they can last for upwards of 6 hours.

Conversely, when you smoke cannabis, the effects tend to last between 1-4 hours. So, you’re getting more bang for your buck with edibles – if you can afford to wait it out.

An important thing to think about before consuming your edibles is whether you’ll be doing so on a full or empty stomach. On an empty stomach, you’ll find that the high will take much longer to kick in and the effect is significantly weakened.

This is probably the reason that the most common edibles come in the form of dessert.

We advise that when first trying an edible, beginners consume no more than 10mg at a time and make sure to wait at least 2 hours for the high to hit. Trust us, you don’t want to over-consume before you’re certain it’s not working. Nothing ruins your high quicker! So, try to resist overindulging.

 

What affects an edible high?

There are a few things to keep in mind when making your edibles – all of which will ultimately affect the high you’ll have. Of course, when making edibles the homemade way, things can be a little unpredictable.

But here’s some of the things to keep in mind.

 

Edible Type

There’s a lot of creativity to be had when making edibles. The professional bakers and chefs out there could have a field day. So, naturally, there’s a lot of variation in the high that you can have with these different types of edibles. Control can be difficult in these cases – so just make sure you’re aware of what you’re making.

Baked goods are easy enough to make and provide a tasty and potent high. Similarly, candies such as gummy bears and chocolates can pack a punch! It’s important to ingest responsibly with these sweet treats.

Drinks also fall under the edible banner – and they can get you just as high! The amount you consume is often key here – don’t down your beer, coffee, or soda too quickly!

And, of course, even traditional meals can be infused with cannabis. Whether it’s from the oil or butter, there’s a lot you can add to a meal with weed.

 

THC Content

Knowing the THC content of your edible can help you estimate how long the high will last. It also helps you control the potency of the high. As you may imagine, there’s only so much you can do to ensure specific measures of THC, but it’s a definite starting point!

Most edibles range from 5mg to 100mg – though some people like to push the limit a little. So, depending on your experience, that should provide a rough guide on what you should be looking at.

But THC isn’t exactly predictable in telling how long an edible will last, or how strong the high will be. It simply gives an indication.

 

Metabolism

Everyone’s metabolism is different, which means your reaction to the edible may not mirror your friends. Because edibles are consumables, they rely on your personal metabolism, which other methods don’t. So, this is something you need to consider while trying edibles. You’ll be able to figure out how your body reacts after some exposure to it – but it’s not an exact science.

If you’ve got a slow metabolism, chances are you’ll receive your high a lot later than an individual with a high metabolism. On the plus side, that high will also last much longer.

 

Tolerance and experience

It may not come as a surprise that someone with a history of cannabis consumption will have a higher THC tolerance than a beginner. In this case, it means the individual with the higher tolerance may sober up more quickly.

 

Be aware of how much you’re consuming…

As mentioned, over-consumption of cannabis can have some side effects – in general, there’s very low risk of a dangerous overdose, but you’d rather avoid some of the nausea, dizziness etc. you’d get from consuming too much of it.

Remember, edibles take much longer to kick in than smoking your cannabis, so how much you need to consume can be quite deceiving.

If you’re looking to give edibles a try, we recommend that you start slow with low THC content. Figure out what works best for you and then go from there.