An edible is any product that mixes THC with some type of food or beverage. These can be THC gummies, cookies, or even soft drinks. These products range from having far less THC than smokable cannabis to a much more concentrated dose. Legal cannabis retailers offer a wide menu of THC edibles.
So, how long do edibles stay in your system?
How Long do Edibles Stay in Your System?
There’s two things we need to talk about here: the high and metabolizing THC. Let’s start with how long the effects of an edible can last.
It typically takes somewhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours for an edible to “kick in.” Edibles typically have their effects peak around 4 hours later. Primary effects of the high can last for up to 12 hours depending on the dose and your biology. Secondary effects can last for as long as 24 hours.
Now let’s look at how long the detectable THC stays in our bodies.
How Our Bodies Metabolize Edibles Differently Than Smokable THC
THC has a way of “sticking” with certain parts of the body. This is how drug tests can detect trace amounts of cannabis in our systems. Here’s a quick breakdown of different types of drug tests and how long they can detect THC from edibles.
- Blood – Typically no more than 4 hours
- Saliva – 1 to 3 days
- Urine – Anywhere from 3 to 30 days
- Hair – Up to 90 days
Considering Cannabis Edibles by the Dosage
THC edibles are a popular choice as they dodge some of the health impacts of smoking. Many cannabis retailers have even started THC delivery services that can bring these products right at your door.
How long THC stays in your system can depend on how much you ingest. Here’s one type of THC dosing that leaves the smallest amount of cannabis in your system.
Microdosing is a popular way to enjoy edibles. Microdoses range from 1mg to 5mg. This is a great choice for beginners or for people looking to have some light improvement for anxiety, pain relief, and even a mild creative boost.
Advice for Drug Tests
Drink lots of water. That’s the best advice for someone who has an upcoming drug test and who might also have THC in their system. You can also purchase a detox kit, but those have mixed results.
