The effects of marijuana edibles last for a few hours, but traces of the drug can remain in the body for much longer, depending on variables like dose, frequency of use, and the type of drug test.

This guide explores the varying length of detection times for marijuana edibles and addresses concerns like “Do edibles stay in your system longer than smoking?” You will also learn how to get compassionate, effective treatment for any addiction.

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What Are Edibles?

Edibles are food or drink products that have been infused with cannabis. This means they contain the active ingredient found in marijuana [1] called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). People consume edibles to experience the effects of marijuana without smoking it.

Edibles come in many forms, from brownies and gummies to chocolates and beverages. They are popular because they are easy to use and can be more discreet than smoking marijuana.

When you eat an edible, it takes longer to feel the effects than when smoking the substance. This is because the THC has to be digested and processed by your liver before it enters your bloodstream. The effects can be strong and long-lasting, so be careful with the amount you consume.

Types of Edibles

Here are some of the most common types of edibles:

• Baked goods: These include brownies, cookies, and cakes. They are some of the most well-known edibles.

• Gummies: These are chewy candies infused with marijuana that come in various flavors and shapes.

• Chocolates: Cannabis-infused chocolate bars and truffles are a tasty option for those looking to avoid smoking.

• Beverages: Drinks like teas, coffees, and juices can be infused with cannabis.

• Hard candies: These are like regular candies but contain THC.

• Snacks: Items like chips or popcorn can also be saturated with cannabis.

Each type of edible has its own unique taste and way of delivering THC to your body.

How Edibles Work

If you eat an edible, your body processes THC differently [2] than if you smoke marijuana. Here’s how it works:

• Eating: First, you eat the edible. It travels down your esophagus and into your stomach.

• Digestion: In your stomach, the edible gets broken down by acids and enzymes.

• Liver processing: The THC from the edible is absorbed into your bloodstream through the walls of your stomach and intestines. It then travels to your liver.

• Conversion: In the liver, THC is converted into a stronger compound (11-hydroxy-THC)[3]. This form of THC is more potent and lasts longer.

• Circulation: The converted THC enters your bloodstream and travels to your brain and other parts of your body, creating the effects associated with the marijuana high.

Because edibles have to go through your digestive system, it takes longer to feel the effects than smoking marijuana. The high from edibles can also last much longer, so start with a small amount and wait to see how it affects you.

How Long Do Edibles Stay in Your System?

Edible detection times depend on several factors, including:

• Amount used
• Individual biology
• & frequency of use

However, edibles typically leave your system in the following timelines:

• Blood: 24 hrs-several days
• Urine: 3-30+days
• Saliva: 1-3+ days
• Hair: Up to 90 days

Blood tests

• Duration: THC can be detected in your blood for 1 to 2 days after consuming edibles.

• Usage frequency: If you use edibles regularly, THC might be detectable for up to a week.

Blood tests are not commonly used for regular drug testing because THC leaves the blood relatively quickly.

Urine tests

• Occasional use: If you eat edibles occasionally, THC can be detected in your urine for up to 3 days.

• Regular use: With regular use, THC can be detected for 7 to 21 days.

• Heavy use: If you consume edibles daily, THC might be detectable in your urine for up to 30 days or more.

Urine tests are the most common method for detecting THC because they are easy to administer and can detect THC for longer periods.

Saliva tests

• Duration: THC can be detected in your saliva for 1 to 3 days after consuming edibles.

• Usage frequency: This test is best for detecting recent use, typically within the last few days.

Saliva tests are not as common for THC detection but can be used to find recent use.

Hair tests

• Duration: THC can be detected in your hair for up to 90 days or even longer.

• Detection: Hair tests can show long-term use because THC stays in hair follicles for a long time.

Hair tests are useful for showing patterns of use over several months.

Several factors can affect how long THC from edibles stays in your system and is detectable by these tests:

• Metabolism: People with faster metabolisms process and eliminate THC more quickly.

• Body fat: THC accumulates in fat cells [4], so people with higher body fat percentages often retain THC longer.

• Frequency of use: Those who use marijuana frequently will have more THC built up in their system, making it detectable for longer periods.
• Dosage: Higher doses of THC take longer to be processed and eliminated by the body.

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How Your Body Processes THC

When you consume THC, whether by smoking or eating edibles, your body goes through several steps to process it. Here’s how your body handles THC:

1. Absorption: If you smoke marijuana, THC quickly enters your lungs and then your bloodstream. When you eat edibles, THC is absorbed more slowly through your stomach and intestines.
2. Traveling through the blood: Once THC is in your bloodstream, it travels throughout your body. It moves to your brain and other organs, triggering the marijuana high.
3. Liver processing: The liver is a key player in processing THC. When THC reaches the liver, it gets broken down into different compounds, one of which is more potent than regular THC.
4. Effects on the brain: THC affects the brain by binding to specific receptors. These receptors are part of the endocannabinoid system [4], which helps control things like mood, memory, and pain.
5. Elimination: Finally, your body gets rid of THC through urine and feces. This process can take a while, which is why THC can stay in your system for days or even weeks.

Understanding how your body processes THC can help you use marijuana more safely and be aware of how long its effects might last. How long does edibles stay in your system, then?

Onset and Duration of Edibles

When you eat an edible, it takes some time to feel its effects. This is because the THC in edibles has to go through your digestive system first. Here’s what happens:

The effects of edibles can start to be felt anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours after consumption. This delay can cause some people to consume more, thinking it isn’t working, which can lead to an uncomfortably intense high known as a greenout. The high from edibles can last much longer than smoking, too – often from 4 to 12 hours, and sometimes even longer, depending on the dose and your body’s metabolism.

Onset and Duration of Edibles vs. Inhaled Cannabis

How you consume marijuana can make a big difference in how quickly and how long you feel its effects. Here’s a comparison between edibles and inhaled cannabis:

Edibles:

• Onset time: Edibles take longer to kick in. You might start to feel the effects anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 or 2 hours after eating them. This is because the THC has to go through your digestive system and be processed by your liver before entering your bloodstream.

• Duration: The effects delivered by edibles last much longer than inhaled cannabis. You might feel the effects for 4 to 12 hours, and sometimes even longer. This is because the THC is released slowly over time as your body digests the edible.

Inhaled cannabis:

• Onset time: Inhaled cannabis works much faster. When you vape or smoke cannabis, the THC goes straight into your lungs and then into your bloodstream. You can start to feel the effects within seconds to a few minutes.

• Duration: The effects of inhaled cannabis wear off more quickly. Typically, the high lasts for 1 to 3 hours, but this can vary depending on how much you consume and your body’s metabolism.

How to Reduce the Duration of THC Staying in Your System

If you need to get THC out of your system faster, here are some tips that might help:

• Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated can help your body flush out THC. Drinking lots of water increases your urine output, which can help eliminate THC metabolites from your system. This will only have a negligible effect, though.

• Exercise regularly: THC is stored in fat cells, so exercising can help burn fat and release THC into your bloodstream, where it can be processed and eliminated. Activities like running, swimming, or biking are great options.

• Eat healthy foods: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can boost your metabolism and help your body detoxify more quickly. Foods high in fiber can also help speed up digestion.

• Avoid more THC: If you’re trying to get THC out of your system, avoid consuming more cannabis. This will give your body a chance to eliminate the existing THC.

How Long Do Edibles Stay in Your System? | FAQs

How Long Do Edibles Last in Bloodstream?

When you consume edibles, THC enters your bloodstream through your digestive system. This process takes longer than smoking, but the effects last longer, too. Once in the bloodstream, THC is carried to your brain and other organs, producing the marijuana high [5].

• Initial effects: You might start feeling the effects within 30 minutes to 2 hours.

• Peak effects: The peak effects are usually felt between 2 to 4 hours after consumption.

• Duration: The effects can last from 4 to 12 hours, but some residual effects can be felt for up to 24 hours.

For those who use marijuana occasionally, THC from edibles can be detected in the blood for 1 to 2 days. It might be detectable in the blood for a week or more in those who use the drug regularly. 

How Long Do Edibles Stay in Your Hair?

Hair tests are used to detect long-term drug use. When you consume THC, small amounts are deposited in your hair follicles through your bloodstream. These deposits can show up in a hair test long after the effects have worn off.

• Detection time: THC can be detected in hair for up to 90 days or even longer. This is because hair grows slowly, and the THC remains in the hair shaft.

• Test procedure: During a hair test, a small sample of hair, usually from the scalp, is taken and tested for THC and other drug metabolites.

Hair tests are not normally used to detect recent drug use. They are more useful for showing patterns of use over time.

How Long Do Edibles Stay in Your Urine?

Urine tests are one of the most common methods for detecting THC. When you consume edibles, THC is broken down in your liver into metabolites [6]. These metabolites are then excreted through your urine.

• Detection time for occasional use: For someone who consumes edibles occasionally, THC can be detected in urine for up to 3 days.

• Detection time for regular use: For those who consume edibles regularly, THC can be detected for 7 to 21 days.

• Detection time for heavy use: For people who use marijuana heavily and consume edibles daily, THC can be detected in urine for up to 30 days or even longer.

The detection times can vary based on factors including the amount of THC consumed, your metabolism, and how frequently you use cannabis.

How Long Do THC Gummies Stay in Your System?

THC gummies are a popular edible form. When you eat a THC gummy, the process is similar to other edibles:

• Eating the gummy: The gummy is chewed and swallowed, entering your stomach.

• Digestion: Your stomach acids break down the gummy.

• Absorption and liver processing: THC is absorbed through your intestines and processed by your liver into 11-hydroxy-THC.

How long do gummies stay in your system can vary. For someone who eats a single gummy, the THC might stay in the system for a few days. For those who use marijuana regularly, it can linger for weeks.

• Occasional use: 1 to 3 days

• Regular use: 7 to 10 days

• Heavy use: 30 days or more

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When you begin your recovery from drug addiction with our supervised detox program, you can access 24/7 clinical care and medications to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. After detoxing from marijuana for about one week, you can move into treatment at one of our rehabs by the beach.

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• Holistic treatment
• Aftercare

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Sources

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563174/

[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5260817/

[3] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/11-Hydroxytetrahydrocannabinol

[4]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26743138_Reintoxication_The_release_of_fat-stored_D_9-_tetrahydrocannabinol_THC_into_blood_is_enhanced_by_food_deprivation_or_ACTH_exposure

[5] https://cannabis.colorado.gov/health-effects/immediate-health-effects

[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570572/