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How Long Does an Edible High Last? Complete Timeline from Onset to Comedown
Edible highs last 4-12 hours with peaks at 2-4 hours, but your timeline is locked in during the first two hours. Learn how to track here.
Written by Brandon Topp
August 25th, 2025
An edible high typically lasts 4-12 hours, peaking at 2-4 hours. Some effects can persist up to 24 hours.
But that range is so broad that it's practically useless, especially when planning your evening, tomorrow's schedule, or that morning meeting.
We get it. You need specifics, not ranges. You're wondering if that 7 PM gummy means you'll still feel it at your 9 AM meeting.
Or maybe you're already six hours in. Googling frantically because you expected to feel normal by now.
The truth? Your edible timeline gets locked in the first two hours after you take it. Every decision you make in that window matters.
It determines whether you'll have a pleasant four-hour experience. Or find yourself still feeling the effects twelve hours later.
For those who know their dose, Mood’s selection of top-notch Edibles today.
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Table of Contents
The Complete Edible Timeline
Why Your 10mg Gummy Lasted Twice as Long as Your Friend's
The Two-Hour Wait That Determines Your Next Twelve Hours
Still Feeling It After 8 Hours? Here's What's Actually Happening
Why Gummies Last 8 Hours, But Drinks Fade in 4
Tomorrow Morning's Meeting and Tonight's Edible Decision
Understanding Edible Duration Before You Feel Anything
The Complete Edible Timeline
Let’s walk through exactly what happens when you take a 10mg edible, hour by hour. This timeline represents the most common experience, though yours might vary.
T+0:30 minutes: The doubt phase. Nothing feels different yet.
This is when most people make their biggest mistake. They think the edible isn't working. Your body is actually busy processing the THC through your digestive system.
T+1:00 hour: First effects begin. You'll notice subtle changes.
Colors seem brighter. Thoughts feel different. Maybe a slight body sensation. The THC has entered your bloodstream and is making its way to your brain.
T+2-4 hours: Peak experience. This is when effects feel strongest.
Your perception of time changes. Sensations intensify. You're fully experiencing what an edible high feels like. Peak effects typically last 2-3 hours within this window.
T+6:00 hours: Functional but altered. You're coming down from the peak, but you're definitely not sober.
Many people feel comfortable enough to watch movies or have conversations. However, driving or working would still be inadvisable.
T+8-12 hours: Residual effects. The intense experience has passed, but you still feel different from baseline.
Some describe it as feeling foggy or slightly disconnected. Many people don't expect this phase to last as long as it does.
T+24 hours: Fully baseline. For most people, all noticeable effects have completely faded by the 24-hour mark.
You're back to your usual self. However, THC metabolites remain in your system much longer.
Here's what most guides won't tell you. Those residual effects from hours 8-12 are real and normal.
They're not as intense as the peak, but they're definitely there. Planning for just the 4-6-hour "main event" is how people end up surprised.
They still feel off the next morning when they expected to be completely normal.
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Why Your 10mg Gummy Lasted Twice as Long as Your Friend's
I've taken the same 10mg Delta-9 gummy as a friend. They returned to baseline in four hours. I was still feeling it at hour eight.
The difference? Our bodies process edibles completely differently.
Regular smokers often need to adjust their expectations about how many mg of edibles for a smoker are appropriate for them.
Your metabolism plays the biggest role. If you have a faster metabolism, your body processes THC more quickly.
This usually means a shorter experience. However, sometimes it can feel more intense since everything hits faster.
Slower metabolisms extend the timeline. They create a lingering effect that some people experience.
What you've eaten matters too. Taking an edible on an empty stomach speeds up the onset.
Sometimes it kicks in after just 30 minutes. But it often shortens the total duration.
Having a full meal, especially one with fats, slows everything down. The THC takes longer to hit but sticks around longer too.
Here's something that surprises regular smokers. Your smoking tolerance doesn't directly translate to edibles.
When you smoke, Delta-9 THC goes straight to your brain. With edibles, your liver converts it to 11-hydroxy-THC.
This metabolite is actually more potent and lasts longer. It's basically a different experience altogether. The differences between edibles vs smoking weed go beyond just duration.
Body composition also affects things, though not always in the way you'd expect. THC binds to fat cells.
So body composition influences how quickly you feel effects and how long they last. But there's no simple formula here.
Two people with similar builds can have completely different experiences. Some people wonder why edibles don't work for them, while others feel effects for much longer.
The Two-Hour Wait That Determines Your Next Twelve Hours
This is where most extended edible experiences actually begin—impatience during the first two hours.
You take 5mg at 7 PM. By 7:45, you feel nothing. So you take another 10mg, thinking the first was a dud.
Here's what actually happens. You don't get one 15mg experience. You get two overlapping waves.
The first 5mg kicks in around 8 PM, peaks around 9-10 PM. Then the second 10mg wave starts building just as the first peaks.
This extends your timeline well past midnight.
This stacking effect is why Mood's 5mg Microdose Gummies make so much sense for beginners.
Starting with a lower amount gives you room to adjust. If you're shopping for edibles online, lower potency options are perfect for finding your ideal timeline.
You can always take more. But you can't take less once it's in your system.
The golden rule? Wait the full two hours, not 90 minutes, not "I think I feel something, but I'm not sure."
Two complete hours. Set a timer if you need to.
Your future self at 2 AM will thank you.
I learned this the hard way. Took 10mg before a movie. Felt nothing by the opening credits. Took another 10mg.
By the time the movie ended, I was just getting started. What followed was a ten-hour experience.
Now I know. Whether you feel it yet or not, the timeline gets set in those first two hours.
If you're concerned about potency, learn how to test THC edibles to ensure consistent experiences.
Watch: All About Gummies
Still Feeling It After 8 Hours? Here's What's Actually Happening
Hour eight rolls around, and you're still not baseline. You expected to be done by now.
But there's still that lingering altered feeling. You're not imagining it, and you're not broken.
You're experiencing the tail end of the edible metabolization process.
There's a difference between active intoxication and residual effects. After 8 hours, most people aren't actively high anymore.
Instead, they're feeling the aftereffects: mental fog, altered perception, and a general sense of being "off."
It's like the difference between being drunk and being hungover. Except you're still processing THC.
What helps during this phase? Hydration definitely makes a difference.
Your body needs water to process and eliminate THC metabolites. Light, non-greasy food can help stabilize your system.
Some people swear by CBD to smooth out the tail end. Though results vary. A good night's rest usually resets everything.
The community has plenty of theories about speeding things up. Black pepper. Vitamin C. Cold showers.
Honestly? Most of these just give you something to focus on while time passes.
The THC will clear your system on its own schedule.
This is precisely why Mood's 90-day guarantee exists. Finding your ideal amount takes experimentation.
Sometimes, you overshoot, and sometimes, you undershoot. It's part of the process of learning what works for your body.
Why Gummies Last 8 Hours, But Drinks Fade in 4
Not all edibles follow the same timeline. The format matters almost as much as the amount of THC.
Traditional gummies like the ones I usually take need full digestion. This creates that classic 6-8 hour experience. Understanding the best types of edible THC helps you pick the right format for your timeline.
Chocolate edibles often hit a bit harder and last longer. The fat content helps your body absorb more THC.
This intensifies and extends the experience. Ever wondered why that chocolate bar felt stronger than a gummy with the same THC content?
Now you know.
Sublingual products work differently. Lozenges and tinctures held under the tongue absorb through your mouth's mucous membranes.
This creates a faster onset (15-45 minutes) and shorter duration (4-6 hours). Part of the THC bypasses liver processing.
This changes the experience.
Some companies now offer nano-enhanced drinks. These use specially processed THC that absorbs faster.
They can kick in within 15-30 minutes and fade within 3-4 hours. Mood currently focuses on traditional formats.
This means you get that consistent, predictable timeline every time.
The takeaway? If you need a shorter experience, look for sublingual or nano-enhanced options.
Stick with traditional gummies or chocolates for the whole, extended experience.
Format is just as important as strength when planning your timeline.
Understanding the pros and cons of edibles vs smoking helps you choose the right method for your schedule.
Tomorrow Morning's Meeting and Tonight's Edible Decision
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Detection versus impairment.
Being functional enough to work is one thing. Passing a drug test is another entirely.
Impairment from edibles typically lasts 4-12 hours. By the next morning, most people feel completely normal.
They can handle work, driving, and regular responsibilities. That's the functional timeline you're probably most concerned about.
Detection is a different story. THC metabolites from edibles can show up in urine tests for 3-12 days after a single use.
Regular users might test positive for 30 days or more. This has nothing to do with impairment.
You could feel completely sober and still test positive days later.
For functional recovery, here's our practical timeline. Give yourself at least 8 hours before any important responsibilities.
If you take an edible at 8 PM, don't plan anything requiring full focus before 4 AM. Though honestly, who plans anything at 4 AM?
For morning obligations, count backwards. 9 AM meeting? Don't take that edible after 1 AM the night before.
If drug testing is a concern in your life, edibles might not be your best option. The same liver processing that creates the long-lasting high also produces metabolites.
These stick around much longer than smoked cannabis.
Understanding Edible Duration Before You Feel Anything
Here's the most important thing to understand. Your edible duration is determined the moment you swallow.
Not when you start feeling effects. That 10mg gummy you just took? Its timeline is already set.
The only variable now is whether you'll extend it by taking more.
Think of it like boarding a train. Once you're on, you're going to the final destination.
You can't get off early. You can add more cars to your train by taking more edibles.
But that just makes the ride longer, not shorter.
This is why working backwards from your schedule is so important. If you need to be functional at noon tomorrow, and it's 8 PM now, you have a 16-hour window.
A standard experience should fit comfortably in that timeframe. But if it's already 2 AM and you have that noon commitment?
Maybe save the edible for another night.
Storage matters too. Keep your edibles in a cool, dry place where they won't degrade or melt.
Consistent storage means consistent potency. Which means predictable timelines. Wondering if edibles expire? Proper storage extends both shelf life and consistency.
Remember, finding your perfect edible experience takes time. Mood's money-back guarantee recognizes this.
We know you might need to try different amounts and products before finding what works. It's not about getting it right the first time.
It's about learning what your body needs. Understanding how much edibles cost helps you budget for this experimentation phase.
The bottom line? Respect the timeline. Plan for the full duration, not just the peak.
Start low. Wait the full two hours. And remember that tomorrow you'll be back to baseline.
Understanding these fundamentals transforms edibles from an unpredictable gamble. Into an experience you can actually plan around.
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