Iftikhar Alam
Author
Reviewed by Cannabis Experts
Published on: March 17, 2022 | Updated on: September 10, 2024
In all honesty, is there a tastier way of enjoying your weed than edibles? Probably not. While that is not inherently a bad thing, there is also the chance of those dastardly delicious weed snacks being so good, that you find yourself taking a few more than you should.
But, there is no reason to panic (though the edibles will make you do that if you are not careful): recovering from edibles can be a quick and relatively easy process, so long as you do it naturally and at your own pace.
How Long Do Edibles ‘Last’?
In general and without too many variables, an edible will last anywhere from 6-12 hours. This is also assuming that your edible does not have more than 10 or 11 milligrams of THC.
Obviously, the effects last longer as you take an edible with very high amounts of THC, but maybe you recover faster than expected if you have an otherwise active and healthy lifestyle.
In the more literal sense (how long the actual edible itself lasts), an edible can stay in the fridge for up to one week but up to 6 months in the freezer. Hopefully, this will remind you to stick to recovering since you are not in a rush to finish them off.
Do Some Edibles Last Longer? Or Shorter?
Yes, absolutely: As do most other strains depending on potency (meaning some might have more weed, others have stronger weed). Edibles are the same way since they can be made from any strain or concentrate you can think of, so it might take a little longer for the strong edibles to work their way out of your system.
But just like normal weed staying in your system for different periods of time, your age, metabolism and general tolerance towards weed are all determining factors of whether or not the next edible you take will be out sooner or stay longer.
How to Recover From Edibles
Thankfully, if you have ever had to recover from a hangover, recovering from edibles is not nearly as painful (no headaches or dehydration here). At the same time, a lot of what you may have tried to get rid of a hangover from a bender will actually work here when trying to recover from edibles.
Loading up on fluids, resting, and exercising all help you recover from edibles safely, as well as taking special pills for marijuana detox. You can try more than one recovery effort at once so long as you are not taking more of any of the recommended doses.
Detox Pills
You have probably heard of detox pills or drinks for a hangover, but did you know they also make the same thing for weed? There are indeed detox pills just for THC, some start to work even one hour after your first dose.
Even on the detox route, it would still take a couple of days for the THC to be completely out of your system but the effects will not be nearly as prevalent and get you back up to speed.
Another advantage of taking weed recovery pills? They contain the same energy-boosting ingredients as the food and drinks in the recommended detox diets: Natural herbs, vitamins, minerals, and even fiber. How great is it that you can be healthy and come down from your high and not have to choose between the two?
Water and Clean Foods
What is the best way to naturally flush just about anything out of your system? Water, Gatorade, fresh tea with lemon juice: any fluid that is not too sweet or syrupy not only hydrates you but will help rid your body of the edible’s strength. Those two ingredients alone (in large amounts) will delay your edible leaving your body and can actually linger the effects.
In the off chance that time is not on your side for this recovery, cut out those foods and drinks and switch to the healthier stuff.
When you take your fluids, you have to pee: a simple concept. When you do this, you are directly expelling some of that last edible so drink plenty of water and plenty of clean, fibery foods but keep it all at a reasonable pace (meaning do not try to rush and force feed).
Exercise
Speaking of strength, one of the best excuses you will find to work out or go to the gym is to recover from weed. Right now, it is inconclusive if sweat alone helps with expelling THC, but you obviously sweat when you work out and burn fat, which helps a lot because THC ends up being stored in your fat cells.
While weed and especially edibles are not considered ‘performance-enhancing drugs (for the most part), athletes are in the least amount of trouble so long as they can stick to their regimen and have at least a couple of days before a drug test.
Sleep
This list on how to recover from edibles is not at all ranked, but the argument could be made that sleep is the best way to do this. Think about it: you are already high, you get to take a nap and the edible(s) will likely give you interesting dreams.
You might be starting to see a pattern here. If not, basically every single method of recovering from edibles involve that is also good for a healthy well-being.
What Should I Not Do to Recover?
As mentioned previously but cannot be stressed enough, do not rush the recovery. Too many edibles or anything, really, at one time can already make you sick, so the very last thing you should do is make yourself sicker because you ate too much or chugged too much water too fast trying to ‘panic heal’: Over-exercising and overdosing on pills is also extremely dangerous, so never rush and always stay within what your body needs.
As you probably know, weed and alcohol do not mix so it is best not to drink when you are trying to recover. Alcohol absorbs THC which will exaggerate your current high and make you feel less drunk, making you think you have to take more of each to ‘feel’ something, which is just a bad idea.
Which brings us to this last point: If you were drinking a lot the night before and woke up with the worst hangover, would you drink more alcohol? If you got food poisoning from an undercooked meal, would you eat more of that meal? No. So do not be thinking about those leftover brownies until you are fully covered and know what to expect.
Sources
Footnotes
- Friese B, Slater MD, Battle RS. Use of marijuana edibles by adolescents in California. The journal of primary prevention. 2017;38:279-94.
- Friese B, Slater MD, Annechino R, Battle RS. Teen use of marijuana edibles: A focus group study of an emerging issue. The Journal of Primary Prevention. 2016;37:303-9.
- Calandrillo SP, Fulton K. High standards: The wave of marijuana legalization sweeping America ignores the hidden risks of edibles. Ohio State Law Journal. 2019;80:201.
- Shimelis O, Stenerson K, Wesley M. Analysis of active cannabis compounds in edible food products: gummy bears and brownies. LC-GC North Am. 2019;37(6):415.
References
- ‘You’re not going to die’: how to survive an edible marijuana overdose. The Guardian. Accessed 4/10/2024.
- The 10 Commandments of Marijuana Edible Safety. High Times. Accessed 4/10/2024.
The content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Cannabis use is subject to local laws and regulations, which vary widely by jurisdiction. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment or altering an existing treatment regimen. The authors and publishers of this blog are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided herein. Use cannabis responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws. This blog is intended for adults aged 21 and over. The Sanctuary Dispensaries D186, D187.