When Do Edibles Wear Off and How Long the High Really Lasts

Written by Lorien Strydom

November 14th, 2025

Edibles typically take 30 to 120 minutes to start, peak around 2 to 4 hours after you take them, and last 4 to 8 hours for most people, with effects potentially lingering up to 24 hours.

They last longer than smoking because your liver converts THC to 11-hydroxy-THC, a more potent compound that crosses into your brain more effectively.

Here's exactly when you'll feel each stage and what actually controls the timeline.

Table of Contents

• The Hour-by-Hour Timeline

• Why You Can't Make Edibles Wear Off Faster

• What Makes Your Timeline Different From Everyone Else's

• How Food Changes When Edibles Kick In

• What to Do When Your Edible Feels Too Strong

• Edibles vs Smoking, Vaping, and Drinks

• Feeling Normal vs Testing Clean

• Product Differences That Change Duration

• Plan Your Timing With Confidence

The Hour-by-Hour Timeline

Most people feel nothing for the first 30 minutes after taking an edible. Between 30 and 60 minutes, you'll notice the initial shift beginning—a subtle change in how your body feels or how your thoughts flow.

By 60 to 120 minutes, you're approaching peak intensity, and this is where the experience becomes unmistakable.

Peak effects hit between 2 and 4 hours after consumption, when 11-hydroxy-THC levels max out in your system.

This is when the experience feels strongest, whether that means deep relaxation, heightened sensory awareness, or a heavy body feeling.

From 4 to 6 hours, you'll notice a gradual decline as effects start tapering off, though you're still clearly altered.

Between 6 and 8 hours, most people are functional but still feel residual effects—you might move slower, think differently, or feel a pleasant calm lingering.

From 8 to 12 hours, you may experience what some call an "edible fog," where you're mostly back to baseline but not quite as sharp as usual.

By 24 hours, the vast majority of people feel completely normal again.

Format Makes a Big Difference for Onset

Standard edibles like gummies and baked goods take 30 to 120 minutes to kick in because they need to pass through your digestive system.

Beverages and sublingual products absorb faster, typically producing effects in 15 to 45 minutes because some THC enters your bloodstream through your mouth and stomach lining.

We offer THC beverages that work on this faster timeline.

Rapid-onset formulations use nanoemulsion technology to reduce onset time even further, often producing effects in 5 to 15 minutes.

Our Hero Dose Rapid-Onset Gummies are designed exactly for this—giving you more predictable timing so you're not left wondering when things will start.

That said, faster onset doesn't mean shorter duration; you'll still experience the full 4 to 8 hour arc once effects begin.

A small minority of people report feeling lingering effects for multiple days, typically due to slow digestion or gradual THC release from fat tissue.

This is rare, but if you're someone who metabolizes things slowly or took a particularly high THC amount, it's within the realm of possibility.

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Why You Can't Make Edibles Wear Off Faster

Once you swallow an edible, you're committed to the full arc with no reliable shortcuts.

Your liver processes THC into 11-hydroxy-THC at its own pace, and there's no intervention that meaningfully speeds this up.

The practical move is to avoid extending your experience by following the 2 to 3 hour wait rule before taking more.

Here's how stacking doses extends your night: You take 5mg at 7pm and feel mild effects by 8pm. Thinking the first piece was weak, you take 10mg at 7:45pm.

Now you have two doses hitting your system, and when they both peak around 9 to 10pm, you're experiencing the combined effect of 15mg.

Instead of winding down by midnight, you're looking at effects lasting well past 2am or later.

Match Your THC Amount to Your Desired Duration

Beginners should start with 2.5 to 5mg for a 4 to 6-hour experience that feels manageable and won't dominate your entire evening.

Moderate users typically find 10 to 15mg produces 6 to 8 hours of effects, which works well for a full evening without bleeding into the next day.

High-tolerance individuals may need 25mg or more to achieve similar intensity, often resulting in 8 to 12 hour durations.

Our  Delta-9 Gummies  come in 15mg pieces, which represents a moderate-to-strong amount for most people.

If you want to start with less, you can cut the gummies into halves or quarters to get closer to that 2.5 to 5mg beginner range. It's not as precise as buying pre-measured lower amounts, but it gives you control over your THC intake.

Remember that these are general guidelines. Your personal timeline depends on factors we'll cover in the next section, but the core principle holds: more THC equals longer duration, and there's no way to reverse course once you've swallowed.

What Makes Your Timeline Different From Everyone Else's

Metabolism speed is one of the biggest factors determining how long edibles last for you.

Fast metabolizers process THC more quickly, which can mean earlier onset and sometimes more intense peaks, but not necessarily shorter overall duration.

Slow metabolizers might wait 2 hours before feeling anything, then experience effects that stretch toward the 10 to 12 hour range.

Body composition plays a role because THC is fat-soluble and stores in fat tissue.

People with higher body fat percentages may experience extended durations as THC is gradually released back into the bloodstream.

Age affects enzyme activity—younger people often process substances faster, while older adults may find effects last longer from the same THC amount.

The Tolerance Paradox

Regular users typically feel shorter durations from the same THC amount because their endocannabinoid system has adapted. A daily user might get 4 to 6 hours from 15mg, while a beginner gets 8 to 10 hours.

But here's what catches experienced users off-guard: after a tolerance break, that familiar 10 to 15mg can hit harder and last significantly longer than you remember.

Your tolerance resets during breaks, but your memory of "normal" comes from your adapted state.

When you return to edibles after even a week or two off, you might experience both increased intensity and extended duration, sometimes approaching what a complete beginner would feel.

This is why we recommend starting with lower amounts after any significant break, even if you were handling higher THC amounts comfortably before.

Think of it like caffeine sensitivity. Some people get jittery from half a cup of coffee, while others drink three cups and feel fine. You probably have a sense of where you fall on that spectrum through trial and error.

The same self-assessment approach works with edibles—track your experiences, note your patterns, and adjust accordingly.

For deeper personalization on all the factors at play, check out our guide on factors affecting edible duration.

How Food Changes When Edibles Kick In

Taking edibles on an empty stomach speeds onset to the 30 to 45 minute range but may compress the duration slightly.

Your body absorbs the THC quickly without competition from other food, leading to a faster but sometimes less ext

ended experience. High-fat meals delay onset significantly—sometimes pushing it to 90 to 120 minutes or longer—but increase total THC absorption and extend effects, potentially reaching 10 to 12 hours.

Fat content in your meal matters because THC binds to fat molecules. A light salad before your edible behaves differently than a cheeseburger and fries.

The fatty meal slows initial absorption but ultimately delivers more THC into your system and keeps it there longer. This creates both unpredictability and opportunity, depending on what you're trying to achieve.

Strategic Timing for Better Experiences

If you're using edibles for rest, take them about 1.5 to 2 hours before you want to be winding down.

This aligns peak effects with when you're actually ready to rest, rather than hitting you in the middle of the night.

Our Sleepytime Gummies work particularly well for this timing approach because they're formulated to support relaxation.

Avoid eating large, rich dinners late in the evening if you're planning to take an edible.

That heavy meal can push your peak to 3am or 4am, disrupting your natural patterns instead of supporting them.

You'll wake up in the middle of the night feeling the strongest effects when you wanted to be deeply at rest.

For social situations or recreational use where timing matters, consider rapid-onset gummies or drinks.

These formats give you tighter control over when things start, which helps you avoid the awkward lag where you're waiting to feel anything while everyone else is already having a good time.

Just remember that faster onset doesn't mean shorter duration—you're still looking at 4 to 8 hours once effects begin.

What to Do When Your Edible Feels Too Strong

Important disclaimer: We at Mood are not medical professionals and cannot provide health or safety advice. If you experience severe discomfort or concerning symptoms, consult a licensed healthcare provider.

When an edible feels overwhelming, you might experience uneasiness, racing thoughts, or a sense that time is moving strangely. Your body might feel heavy or your heart might beat faster than usual.

Some people feel strong drowsiness or find themselves fixated on uncomfortable sensations. These experiences are common when you've taken more than your body is ready for.

Practical Comfort Tactics

Rest in a safe, comfortable space where you won't be disturbed. Your bedroom with soft lighting and familiar surroundings works better than trying to push through and stay social.

Stay hydrated—sipping water gives you something to focus on and helps with dry mouth, though it won't shorten the experience.

Create a calm environment by putting on gentle music, turning down harsh lights, or watching something comforting and familiar.

Avoid stimulants like additional caffeine or energy drinks, which can amplify the racing heart sensation and make uneasiness worse. Some people find that CBD helps smooth the edges of an intense THC experience, though results vary widely from person to person.

If you have CBD products available, they may take some of the intensity down a notch, but don't expect them to completely reverse what you're feeling.

What Actually Doesn't Work

Water, exercise, cold showers, and diuretics won't shorten your subjective experience. These interventions affect how long THC metabolites stay detectable in drug tests, not how long you feel altered.

The internet is full of these myths because people desperately want a quick fix, but the reality is that you need to wait it out.

Many people experience what we call an "edible hangover" where mental fog or mild fatigue lingers for 12 to 24 hours after the main effects subside.

You might wake up feeling slightly off, slower to think, or just not quite yourself.

This is normal and resolves with time, rest, and staying hydrated.

The best thing you can do during an overwhelming experience is remind yourself that it's temporary, you're safe, and you'll feel normal again soon.

Edibles vs Smoking, Vaping, and Drinks

Smoking and vaping produce effects that last 1 to 4 hours, with peak intensity hitting 15 to 30 minutes after inhalation. Edibles last 4 to 8 hours typically, with peak effects at 2 to 4 hours.

Tinctures taken sublingually fall somewhere in the middle, usually lasting 4 to 6 hours with peaks around 1 to 2 hours.

Beverages also occupy that middle ground, typically producing effects for 4 to 8 hours but with faster onset than traditional edibles.

The metabolic difference explains why these timelines vary so dramatically. Inhaled THC enters your bloodstream directly through your lungs, bypassing your liver entirely.

Ingested THC undergoes liver conversion to 11-hydroxy-THC, which is more potent and longer-lasting.

This is why the same person can smoke throughout an evening and feel fine the next morning, but take one edible and still feel altered 12 hours later.

Choosing the Right Format for Your Situation

Our THCa flower follows the inhalation timeline when you smoke or vape it—effects start within minutes and taper off within a few hours.

This makes flower a better choice when you want shorter commitment or the ability to adjust your experience in real-time by taking additional puffs.

Edibles work better when you want sustained effects without repeated consumption.

Beverages offer a middle ground that many people find ideal. They absorb faster than solid edibles because liquid moves through your digestive system more quickly, but they still provide that extended duration that makes edibles appealing.

If you want effects that last several hours but don't want to wait 90 minutes for onset, drinks might be your sweet spot.

Each format has its place depending on your schedule, preferences, and what you're trying to achieve.

Inhalation gives you control and shorter timelines. Traditional edibles give you long-lasting effects with less frequent consumption.

Fast-acting options like our rapid-onset gummies and beverages try to capture the best of both worlds—quicker onset with sustained duration.

Feeling Normal vs Testing Clean

You might feel completely normal 8 hours after taking an edible, but THC metabolites remain detectable in your system far longer.

Saliva tests can detect THC for 1 to 3 days after use. Blood tests work for 3 to 4 days. Urine tests are the most common for employment screening and can detect metabolites for 3 to 30 days depending on how frequently you use cannabis.

Hair tests can detect use for up to 90 days.

Frequency of use dramatically affects these detection windows.

Someone who took a single 10mg edible will clear metabolites much faster than someone who takes edibles daily. Heavy, regular use causes metabolites to accumulate in fat tissue, extending detection times to the longer end of those ranges.

This is why you can feel totally sober but still fail a drug test weeks later—your subjective experience and your body's metabolite clearance operate on completely different timelines.

Legal Context and Testing

Mood offers millions of users helpful hemp-derived THC, which at the time of writing this article is at a point of reckoning.

Please read  here  to learn more about how we're powering through this trying time to continue to provide the products you love.

Hemp-derived Delta-9 THC products produce identical drug test results to cannabis from traditional sources.

There's no chemical difference that a test can detect—THC is THC, regardless of whether it came from hemp or marijuana.

If your job, probation, or other circumstances require passing drug tests, assume that any THC product, including ours, will cause you to test positive.

We provide third-party lab testing and Certificates of Analysis  for all our products, which verify THC content accuracy.

This helps you know exactly what you're taking and supports predictable experiences, but it doesn't change how long metabolites stay in your system or how tests will interpret them.

Product Differences That Change Duration

Fat content in edibles increases bioavailability, meaning your body absorbs more of the THC you consume.

Chocolate bars and baked goods made with butter or oil often produce longer-lasting effects than lower-fat options like hard candies or some gummies.

This doesn't just affect intensity—higher absorption can extend your timeline from 6 hours to 8 or more.

Cannabinoid profiles make a difference too. THC-only products produce a different experience than balanced THC:CBD formulations.

Products enhanced with CBN, like some versions specifically formulated for rest, may extend sedative effects and create a different arc than standard gummies.

Our Sleepytime Gummies use specific formulations designed to support relaxation and extended calm.

How Processing Technology Affects Timing

Nanoemulsion technology breaks THC into tiny particles that absorb more quickly through your stomach lining and digestive tract.

This reduces onset time to less than 15 minutes in many cases, compared to 60 to 90 minutes for traditional edibles.

Our  Hero Dose Rapid-Onset Gummies  use this technology to give you more predictable timing from the start.

Just understand that rapid onset affects when things begin, not necessarily when they end. You're still looking at 4 to 8 hours of effects once they start, regardless of whether onset took 10 minutes or 90 minutes.

The benefit is control and predictability—you know when you're entering the experience, which helps you plan better and avoid taking more while waiting for onset.

Shelf Life and Potency Changes

THC degrades to CBN over time when exposed to heat and light. Older edibles or those stored improperly may feel more sedating and less psychoactive because the THC has partially converted to CBN, which produces more calming, drowsy effects.

This can actually extend the feeling of heaviness or the urge to rest, even as the euphoric or cerebral aspects fade. For more on proper storage, check our guide on gummy shelf life.

Fresh, properly stored edibles deliver effects closer to what the label promises. Keep them in cool, dark places, sealed airtight, and away from temperature fluctuations.

This preserves both potency and the intended experience, which makes your timeline more predictable from one use to the next.

Plan Your Timing With Confidence

You now understand the hour-by-hour arc that edibles follow: 30 to 120 minutes until onset, 2 to 4 hours until peak, and 4 to 8 hours total for most people with possible lingering effects to 24 hours.

You know that faster onset doesn't mean shorter duration, and that there's no shortcut to make effects wear off once they've started.

The only control you have is choosing your THC amount, timing your consumption around food, and absolutely following the 2 to 3 hour wait rule before taking more.

Match your THC amount to your desired timeline: 2.5 to 5mg for 4 to 6 hours, 10 to 15mg for 6 to 8 hours, 25mg+ for 8 to 12 hours.

Choose your format based on how much control you want over onset timing—traditional edibles for maximum duration, rapid-onset gummies for predictability, beverages for middle-ground timing, or flower for shorter commitment.

Account for individual factors like your metabolism, tolerance level, body composition, and what you've eaten recently.

These create 3 to 5 hour swings between people taking identical products, which is why starting conservatively and tracking your personal patterns matters more than following universal rules.

After tolerance breaks, treat yourself like a beginner again—your familiar amounts will hit differently.

We provide third-party testing and Certificates of Analysis for all our products, which ensures you're getting accurate THC amounts rather than guessing.

This predictability is essential for planning your timeline effectively.

Our 90-day guarantee reduces experimentation risk—if a product doesn't work for your needs, we'll make it right.

The timeline is locked once you swallow, but now you have the tools to plan it intentionally. Choose your THC amount for desired duration, pick your format for onset timing, wait the full 2 to 3 hours before considering more, and trust the process.

You're not at the mercy of unpredictable effects anymore—you're making informed decisions that align with your schedule, preferences, and goals.