How to Know When Edibles Are Kicking In & How Long They Last

How long does it take for an edible to hit?

It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours. For some people, the body can break down and process edibles in 30 minutes to 2 hours. For others, tangible symptoms of a high won’t pop up for around 4 hours after the fact. Since edibles are processed and metabolized via your digestive system, the onset time really depends on the individual. Inhaling weed (like through a joint, vape, vaporizer, etc.) causes the THC (the compound in cannabis that makes you high) to go directly to your brain, which allows you to feel high right away. Consuming weed, on the other hand, causes the THC to go through the digestive tract, so it takes longer to experience the effects. To get a better idea of how and when edibles impact you, start a stopwatch (either on your phone or a free website) and time how long it takes for you to feel symptoms. Keep this time in mind whenever you take edibles in the future. Many factors influence how long an edible takes to kick in, like your sex, metabolism, weight, and how recently you've eaten. Your high may kick in more intensely if you take an edible on an empty stomach. Some people find that fattier edibles (like a cookie or brownie) hit a little harder than other edibles, due to the way the cannabis is processed in the body. Others report that dissolvable edibles (like lollipops) tend to hit more quickly than gummies and baked goods.

13 Signs Your Edible Has Kicked In

Relaxed feelings You may start feeling a lot more relaxed and blissful once the edible starts kicking into your system.

Euphoria You might start feeling an intensified state of happiness (known as euphoria), which is often associated with the general experience of being high.

More extreme senses When you start feeling high, you might feel really tuned into your senses, whether that’s your sight, hearing, smell, taste, or a combination.

Faster pulse If your heart starts beating significantly faster than it usually does, it could mean that your edible is starting to kick in. Try measuring your resting heart rate to get a sense of what it normally is. Then, measure it again when you suspect that you’re getting high.

Poor reaction time and coordination You probably won’t feel super nimble on your feet after an edible starts to hit. If anything, your reaction time will likely be a lot slower as your body embraces the effects of the high.

Dry mouth Better known as “cotton mouth” within the weed community, edibles (along with other types of cannabis) are infamous for making your mouth feel dry (or like it’s full of cotton). Sipping on a drink, chewing gum, and rinsing with alcohol-free mouthwash can all help if you’re struggling with a bad case of cotton mouth.

Strong appetite Also known as the “munchies,” cannabis in general tends to boost your appetite. If you find yourself reaching for your favorite snack all of a sudden, it could mean that your edible has kicked in.

Bloodshot eyes From a biological perspective, THC tends to reduce the blood pressure in your body overall; this, in turn, makes your blood vessels a little more prominent and noticeable. This phenomenon is commonly observed in the eyes, which can look red after you get high.

Anxiety While some people take cannabis products as a means to help with their anxiety, cannabis can unfortunately have the opposite effect and create more anxiety in the process.

Poor memory When you consume cannabis in any form (inhaled or ingested), the THC eventually reaches and interacts with certain components of your brain. As a result, you may have trouble creating new memories. You might find yourself losing your train of thought in the middle of a standard conversation.

Paranoia People who take edibles are sometimes known to feel a bit paranoid and suspicious after the fact. In extreme cases, these experiences might turn into paranoid and unrealistic thoughts.

Sleepiness Research points to cannabis products helping promote sleep. In one study, over 70% of people struggling with their sleep found that cannabis helped boost their sleep.

Vomiting If you use marijuana (and edibles) really frequently, you might experience Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CMS), a condition that causes people to intensely throw up several times in a row.

How long does an edible high last?

The effects of an edible can last anywhere from 4 to 24 hours. You guessed it—there isn’t a concrete estimate for how long an edible high can last, since it depends on the individual body processing it. With that being said, don’t be alarmed if your high peaks after 4 hours, or if you’re still feeling the effects after 12 (or if some leftover symptoms even last a full day). The core symptoms should be gone after around 12 hours, but you might not feel 100% for up to a day after the fact. Make sure you don’t have any major obligations in the hours after you take an edible, like needing to drive somewhere.

Best Practices for Taking Edibles

Start out with a really small dose, like 2.5 mg. Officially, 10 mg of THC is the recommended amount for people to take at one time. However, this amount could be way too potent for a first-time edible user, so it’s best to start off with a smaller dose, like 2.5 mg.

Check the label for serving recommendations and the THC content. Make sure you know how much weed is in your edibles, and what the total THC percentage is—this gives you a better idea of how strong the edibles are and how long you can expect them to kick in. Double-check the serving size, too, before enjoying multiple edibles at once. If you’re making homemade weed edibles, calculate the dosage manually. Always aim to eat edibles that were purchased from an established dispensary or were made with weed purchased from an established dispensary.

Snack on something before you take your edible. When there’s a little food already in the tank, it can help prevent the cannabis from hitting you like a truck. Instead, you might find that your symptoms are a bit more manageable as you get high.

Give the edible time to work its magic. After an hour or 2 of waiting, it can be tempting to munch on another edible to speed the process along. This isn’t a good idea, though, since edibles can hit you very severely. Instead, be patient and wait for the initial dose of the edible to kick in.

Skip any alcoholic beverages. Drinking alcohol while being high (also known as getting “cross-faded”) can lead to some pretty nasty side effects, like dizziness, nausea, and throwing up.

Take your edible in a place where you feel really safe and comfortable. While getting high from marijuana can be enjoyable, the effects of an edible high can definitely be disorienting at first. Make sure that you’re in a really comfortable, private place where you can get stoned safely. If possible, ask a trusted friend or loved one to spend time with you while you get high.

Stay aware of how much you’ve taken. Edibles can take a while to wear off, so it’s important to be aware of how much you’ve ingested already (and about how long you have to wait for any side effects to disappear). If you plan on taking another edible, note what type it was, how potent it was, and when you took it.

Stash your edibles in a safe place when you’re done taking them. While edibles can be a tasty treat for young adults, they can be really dangerous in the hands (or mouths) of pets and young children. Once you’re done portioning out an edible for yourself, seal the rest away and store it in a place where no one else can get them. You might get a small safe in your room to store your edibles so no one else can access them.