Figuring out dosing for edibles can be tricky. Due to many factors, everyone will have a different edible experience. If two people are consuming edibles of 5mg, you may be surprised to find one person completely stoned and the other barely at all. It is in everyone’s best interest to understand the factors that contribute to how cannabis edibles affect individuals, and how long they take to kick in.
Why does the high from edibles kick in slower than smoking?
When you smoke weed, the inhaled smoke or vapors go straight into the lungs and then into the bloodstream. This method lets the consumer feel the effects of cannabis within minutes. On the other hand, when you consume edibles, the cannabis needs to be digested and metabolized in your stomach and liver before you feel any effects. While this method takes longer, it also leads to a more potent experience.
When consuming edibles, it is recommended to take the “start low and go slow” approach. This method suggests taking a low dose and waiting until the edibles kick in, approximately 45-60 minutes, before consuming more. If you are new to consuming cannabis or have low tolerance, this method is best to avoid potentially greening out.
Factors that affect how long it takes edibles to kick in
Type of Edible
Edibles like brownies, gummies, and drinks are all digested in the stomach and liver and usually take around 45-60 minutes for the effects to kick in. Other edibles, such as lozenges and lollipops are absorbed sublingually, or under the tongue, and the effects will be felt within minutes as the THC is being absorbed into the bloodstream.
Dosage
Fairly straightforward, but edibles with a high dosage may kick in more quickly than ones with a low dose.
Body Mass and Metabolism
Everyone's body is unique and processes or metabolizes food, and edibles, differently. This will affect how long the high takes to kick in, how long the high lasts, and how strong the high will be.
How to get high from edibles faster
If you enjoy consuming cannabis in edible form but want them to kick in faster, here are a few tips that may help you out:
1) Try Sublinguals – as mentioned earlier, sublinguals are edibles that are absorbed under the tongue. These include tinctures, lozenges, lollipops, and more. THC is absorbed quickly under the tongue and effects can appear in minutes.
2) Have Edibles on an Empty Stomach – the contents in your stomach can affect how quickly edibles take to kick in. Consuming edibles on an empty stomach can lead to the edible being digested faster, leading to faster effects.
3) Have a Tolerance Break – taking a short break from consuming cannabis can make the effects of your next cannabis high kick in faster and feel stronger.