Dosing edibles is not straightforward. Individual body chemistry and various factors contribute to how quickly and intensely an edible hits. For example, two people can have completely different reactions to the same dose of an edible due to factors like age, metabolism, liver enzymes, weight, and more. While one person might get extremely stoned from a 5mg weed gummy, another might feel nothing at all.
In this article, we explore everything you need to know about how edibles affect you and the factors that influence their onset and potency.
Why Edibles Take Longer to Feel the Effects Than Smoking
When you smoke or vaporize cannabis, the inhaled smoke enters the lungs and quickly reaches the bloodstream, producing effects within minutes. This method is one of the fastest ways to experience the effects of cannabis.
Consuming edibles, however, requires the weed to be absorbed and metabolized in your liver and stomach before you feel any effects. This process takes longer but leads to a stronger and more prolonged experience. Because of this delayed onset, it’s recommended to start with a low dose and go slow when consuming edibles. Wait at least 45-60 minutes before deciding to take more. If after an hour you desire stronger effects, you can gradually increase your dose.
Pro Tip: Be mindful of your intake and allow sufficient time between doses. Overconsumption can lead to unpleasant experiences, including anxiety and paranoia. For tips on handling overconsumption, check out our article: How To Sober Up From Being Too High.
If you’re new to cannabis or have a low tolerance, start with around 2.5 mg or less. You can always increase your dose if needed, but taking too much at once can lead to panic attacks. Remember, start low and go slow.
Factors That Impact How Fast Edibles Hit
- Type of Edible:
- Gummies, baked goods, drinks, and other traditional edibles go through the digestive system, usually taking around 45-60 minutes to feel any effects.
- Sublingual edibles like lozenges, mint strips, and lollipops are absorbed under the tongue, leading to quicker effects as the cannabinoids directly enter the bloodstream.
- Tolerance:
- Regular cannabis users with a high tolerance may not feel significant effects from a low dose like 5mg. Conversely, those with low tolerance may find 5mg quite strong.
- Dosage:
- Higher doses, such as 10mg, may hit you quicker and more intensely than lower doses due to the increased amount of THC.
- Metabolism and Body Weight:
- Individual factors such as body weight, metabolism, age, liver enzymes, genetics, and overall health influence how quickly and intensely edibles affect you.
How To Make Edibles Work Faster
If you love edibles but dislike the wait, here are a few ways to speed up the effects:
- Tolerance Break:
- Taking a break from regular cannabis use can make edibles kick in faster and feel more potent when you resume.
- Sublinguals:
- Opt for sublingual edibles and cannabis products for quicker effects, usually felt within minutes.
- Empty Stomach:
- Consuming edibles on an empty stomach can lead to faster and stronger effects. However, have some snacks ready for when the effects kick in.
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