Edible

A food or drink product that’s infused with cannabis compounds—THC, CBD, or both. Edibles come in many forms, including baked goods (brownies, cookies), candies (gummies, chocolates), beverages (sodas, seltzers), capsules, and even savory snacks (to turn umami into the more philosophically inclined, “Um… am I?”).

These infused products are a popular alternative for people who want to avoid the respiratory health risks related to smoking and vaping, and they also offer a discreet way to consume cannabis. (Especially handy if, say, you love Thanksgiving dinner, but hate going for walks with your cousin).

In regulated markets, a single dose is often 5 or 10 milligrams of THC. (If you’re just getting started, keep this in mind as some beverages are marketed as multi-serving cans to get around state restrictions.)

How these products work (and how quickly), however, depends on their format.

When you drink a fast-acting beverage, the micronized THC particles are absorbed directly into your bloodstream from your mouth and stomach:

  • Onset is usually 5–30 minutes after drinking, though that varies depending on your metabolism, tolerance, and whether you consumed your drink on a full stomach​
  • Duration often lasts 2–2-½ hours


When you consume a food-based edible, however, the cannabinoids must be absorbed through your digestive system and metabolized by your liver, which then converts THC into 11-hydroxy-THC—a form that is often reported to produce a stronger, longer-lasting intoxication:

  • Onset is usually reported to be 30–120 minutes or more after eating
  • Duration can be 4–8 hours (sometimes even longer for high doses)​


It’s why you’ve surely heard that old cannabis proverb: “Inhale it to hightail it, ingest it to invest it."

Keep in mind that dosing with food-based edibles can be tricky. As the onset is delayed, you run the risk of eating more than you’d like under the impression that it’s not working. If you’re just dipping your toes in the water, it’s smart to start low and go slow, helping avoid an experience that overwhelms you. (Great advice for edibles and limbo; less so for skydiving.)

Rainbow-colored cannabis gummies poured from their packet, marked high strength, onto a pink table

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