Health
What Do Edibles Do? A Scientific Breakdown

There’s a reason why the demand for cannabis is only expected to increase in the coming years. More people than ever before are discovering the joys and wellness that come with taking cannabis products.
And, perhaps the most popular type of cannabis product is edibles. But, what do edibles do when you consume them? Regardless of whether you’re enjoying CBD, THC, or the many other types of cannabinoid-based edibles, our bodies break them down in the same way.
In this article, we’ll explore the process and teach you valuable information on incorporating edibles into your life. Let’s get started!
What Are Edibles?
Edibles are any product that contains amounts of cannabinoids. Popular cannabinoids include the psychoactive THC agent or the non-psychoactive CBD.
However, they also include less popular cannabinoids like CBC, CBG, and Delta 8 THC. You can make these edibles in a variety of different ways.
However, the most popular method uses extracted oils or butter to carry the cannabinoids. From there, you can make a variety of foods to enjoy.
A recent breakthrough has led to the discovery of water-soluble cannabinoids. This has opened up the market for cannabinoid beverages Some of the popular ones include:
- Gummies
- Baked goods
- Chocolate
- Sodas
- Coffee
- Pizza
- Ice cream
- Energy drinks
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Any dish that uses oil and butter can quickly become an edible if it’s infused with cannabinoids.
Read Also: What Are CBD Crystals?
What Do Edibles Do When You Take Them?
Typically, to get the effects of cannabis the product is smoked. The cannabinoids are then absorbed through the blood vessels found in the lungs.
This means that you almost instantly feel the effects. However, the same isn’t true for edible. To feel the effect of the cannabinoids the product first needs to be consumed, then digested, and finally, metabolized.
When you consume an edible, first it goes into your stomach. Then, it travels along your intestine. It’s not until the edible reaches your liver that it’s metabolized. This means that it can take between one to two hours for the effects of an edible to take place.
This can vary depending on the speed of your metabolism and the amount of food already present in your system.
During this time, the cannabis product also loses a lot of its potency while traveling through your system. As such, manufacturers often up the dosage to make up for this loss.
What Factors Influence the Strength and Duration of an Edible?
The most important factor for determining the strength of an edible is the dosage. The higher the dosage, the longer and more intense you can expect the experience to be.
If you need a starting place, we recommend around 10 mg. From there, you can increase or decrease the amount as you see fit. However, the dosage is far from the only factor that determines the strength and duration of an edible. Another factor is your tolerance.
The more you use cannabis products, the less you will feel the effects. As such, if you have a high tolerance you may need to up your dosage. Your metabolism is another factor. If you have a fast metabolism, then you will quickly feel the effects.
If you have a slow one, then you can expect it to take a lot longer. Gender also plays a role in the process. Women typically need less THC to feel the same effects as men.
As such, you should adjust your dosage accordingly. Finally, your hunger levels can factor in too. Eating an edible on an empty stomach when you’re dehydrated will cause you to feel the effects quickly and more intensely.
We recommend against this though. It can often be uncomfortable and cause stomach aches.
What Should You Do If You Take Too Much?
If you’ve taken too much of an edible that contains Delta 8 or Delta 9 THC, then you might feel uncomfortable. Try and keep in mind that the effects are only temporary.
We recommend lying down and closing your eyes. Focus on your breathing and try to stay calm. If you have a loved one nearby, tell them that you took too much.
They can keep an eye on you until you feel alright again. You can also try taking some CBD, which will help cancel out the negative parts of THC.
What Are Some Other Ways You Can Consume Cannabis Products?
There are a lot of reasons why an edible product might not be right for you. One of the most common ones is the amount of time it takes to feel the effects.
Since it can take a long time before you feel anything with an edible this leads many people to take too much. On top of that, you aren’t getting all of your money’s worth in terms of efficiency.
So, what are the other options? One popular method is a vape pen. Like smoking, the effects of this product are nearly instantaneous. And, you can find a variety of different kinds, from a CBC pen to a Delta 8 one.
However, if you don’t want to smoke cannabinoids, then consider tinctures. These oil-based products can be consumed by placing a few drops underneath your tongue.
From there, the blood vessels in your mouth absorb the cannabinoids. Or, you can try topical solutions.
These lotions are applied to the skin, which then absorbs them. As you can see, there are no shortages of ways to consume cannabis products.
Want More Content? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you answer the question, What do edibles do? As you can see, edibles aren’t the most efficient way of getting cannabinoids into your system.
However, they are by far the most convenient. So, get out there and start experimenting with them today.
That way, you can decide whether or not they’re the right type of cannabis product for you.
Did you enjoy this article? If the answer is yes, then you’re in the right place. Keep exploring to find more topics that you’re sure to love.