Cannabis edibles are growing in popularity. They provide an alternative way to enjoy the benefits that cannabis has to offer without smoking or inhaling vapor. Edibles can be foods or beverages that contain a specific amount of cannabis in each serving and include such things as gummies, hard candies, chocolates, baked goods, granola, coffee, infused water, and more.
Just like other forms of cannabis, people use edibles for a wide variety of reasons. Depending upon the cannabis used, the edible can help you relax, ease pain, or boost your energy. For some people, however, edibles just don’t seem to work.
There’s Not Enough Cannabis
One of the main reasons why cannabis edibles might not work for you is because there just isn’t enough cannabis in the dosage you’re taking. Some individuals require higher doses than others to obtain the desired effect. If you’re not getting the desired effect from a single dose, try gradually increasing how much you consume.
Another issue is that you might be using the wrong type of edible. Not all edibles are the same. The type of cannabis in the edible matters. Certain strains of cannabis are higher in THC while others are higher in CBD. The wrong ratio may impact your experience and cause you to not feel the effects that you were hoping for.
Your Body Metabolizes the THC Too Quickly
Edibles work differently than other types of cannabis. Whereas smoking, vaping, and placing tinctures under your tongue allow the cannabis to absorb directly into your bloodstream, edibles need to be digested first. THC is metabolized in your liver before being dispersed into your bloodstream. The enzymes in your liver play a significant role in your response to different cannabinoids. Having higher or lower CYP enzymes alter the rate of metabolism and may even mean that THC isn’t metabolized at all.
You’re Taking the Edible on an Empty Stomach
For some, edibles may cause them to feel something, but it isn’t the effect they were hoping for. Instead of feeling relaxed, you might feel incredibly anxious. One of the biggest reasons for this might be because you’re taking the edible on an empty stomach. While it still takes longer to hit your system than smoking or vaping, consuming an edible with nothing else in your stomach can cause the THC to hit you more quickly than if you eat beforehand and cause unwanted effects.
If you’re taking edibles on an empty stomach and getting the opposite of the desired effects, you might want to try eating a good meal and drinking plenty of water beforehand. Doing so slows the absorption and can help to keep you from getting overwhelmed by THC.
It Just May Not Be Suitable for You
For some, edibles simply just don’t work no matter what they do. Just like certain types of conventional medications don’t work for everyone, cannabis edibles just don’t work for everyone. Instead, you may want to consider trying a different type of cannabis. If you don’t want to smoke or vape, you could try a tincture.
While cannabis edibles can be an effective way for many people to enjoy the effects of cannabinoids without smoking or vaping, they’re not necessarily for everyone. If you’re not getting the desired effects from your edibles, speak with your dispensary for tips or to find something else that can help suit your needs.
Is the effect of a tincture the same as the effect of an edible?
Hi Erica, An edible, can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to take effect. A sublingual tincture will take effect withing 15-20 mins and last 4 to 5 hours.
I’m up to 150 mg and I still don’t feel anything. I was told the reason edibles don’t work for me is because I had my gallbladder removed about 12-13 years ago. Is this an actual fact or just know-it-all crap?
Hi Jane,
Thank you for reaching out. Everyone’s dose is different. When you state you are up to 150mg dose is that an edible dose or ?
I would recommend trying a sublingual infused cannabis product such as our tinctures or hard candy lozenges. Taking cannabis sublingually will by pass the GI tract and enter your system via the mouth tissue. Most patients feel the onset faster with sublingual’s and they do not need to take as much. Hope this helps! Good luck and be well.
Jane, a friend of mine had his gallbladder removed and edibles (even a small amount) affect him. Me though, while I have just a little trouble with building up tolerance to smoking, can’t seem to get edibles to work no matter how much I eat. I took 800 mg today and didn’t feel anything. :/
I have taken 200mg’s all at one time, with absolutely zero effect. I took an entire bottle of gummies (10 gummies at 10mg/dose) and a drink with the same dosages (10 doses at 10mg/dose. After a 1-1/2—2-hour train ride I tried a sublingual tincture with 10-20 doses and again felt absolutely nothing. I had doctors in Oregon tell me I was wasting my money because my liver did not have an enzyme to process the THCA into THC. My current doctor in Florida told me that was not true, that it was more of an absorption thing. So I bought a Magical Butter2 and proceeded to make my own edibles at higher doses. I felt absolutely nothing but when I had a couple of others sample to see if my cooking was wrong. Both of them had to go lay down on their bedroom floor for a few hours because they were absolutely blitzed. So I am guessing it is not a “simple absorption issue” for quite a few people like myself.
What I would like to know is if their is a supplement I can take that will act the same as the enzyme I’m missing. Maybe take it 20-30 minutes before an edible and it will allow the edibles to be processed by my body. Anyone have any thoughts about something like this?
Is there anyone who makes extra-strong doses of edibles for people who are resistant/tolerant &/or need above-average doses because of the severity of their conditions and tolerance to all other medications. Speaking just for myself, I have had 17 surgeries, amputations, bones removed, external fixators attached for months, etc etc etc, so almost any med they give me needs to essentially be doubled-up on either dosage or time.
When I started to smoke after getting my MMJ cars I do not get as blitzed as others so I know I had a natural tolerance even as a newbie. Even now I rarely get the munchies or any giggles but I do feel “lighter,” my physical pain goes down 2-3 notches, and I can get along with other people without wanting to throttle them like Homer Simpson does Bart so I know it works smoking, and to a lesser extent vaping, but anything else is a waste.
Does anyone have any sort of feedback, help, suggestions, etc? Or as we said in the Army — “comments? criticisms? cuss-words?” :^)
Clint, We reached out and asked one of the leading cannabinoid experts, Dr. Mary Clifton, MD about your situation. She mentioned that based on her work with other clients that you may want to consider, that you are likely resistant because of enzymatic levels that are breaking down the medication quickly, or more likely that you may have genetic differences in your CB 1 and 2 receptors (so people have more and some have less) and is just not getting that much stimulation regardless of the products that you are taking. It is nice that you are seeing decreased pain and feels lighter — especially after all those surgeries. We hope this helps you with suggestions and things to research and look into!
I suggest everybody here goes out and gets some concentrates (wax or hash oil/rosin/isolate crystals are a personal favorite along with rosin) and let me know your experience. Best thing I ever did and if you guys haven’t tried it but feel your spending a lot of money on weed and/ or going through it too quick, one gram of wax can last me up to a week and costs $30 a gram whereas I can spend $70 on a quarter of flower and it’ll last 3-4 days and it takes me back to when I first got high without a tolerance and personally I believe it’s what could save people from searching for something stronger and going to harder drugs. Kudos
i dont think its possible for me to get any sort of high off edibles. i ate a 600mg chocolate bar earlier after having a meal. its hours later and i barely feel a buzz. im a pretty heavy consumer, but im also only a 5’3, 98lb girl. it just makes no sense 😭
How common is it for people to not have the enzyme that helps digest edibles? Me and my boyfriend have both tried edibles only twice now (we’re heavy smokers though) and we both haven’t felt anything either times. We don’t know if this is a tolerance thing, a biological thing, or maybe the edibles just weren’t strong enough? I’m not positive but I think the latest dud was supposed to be 150mg and we started by eating half of it, waited two hours and didn’t feel it so we each ate the other half and it still didn’t work. So essentially we both ate a full 150mg edible and didnt feel anything. Now I’m still a bit new to all of this stuff so I honestly don’t know if that’s a high dose or not? I’m just trying to figure out if this lack of enzyme thing is common and coincidentally happening to me and my boyfriend both, or if we just are t getting the right kind of edible for us.
Howdy Emily!
We are hearing more and more people sharing the same kind of experience. When you digest anything via your GI tract, stomach acids kill off a percentage of the cannabinods, once the cannabis passes into the small intestines where it should be absorb, there could be an absorption issue or lastly it could be that you may have alot of the enzymes in your liver and you are breaking down the cannabis to quickly. Some customers have found using a infused beverage or liquid is easier to digest and they feel the effects, others say that they use sublingual tinctures or smoking and by pass the GI tract with the cannabis directly entering the blood stream. One thing is for certain, if you ingested 150mg of cannabinods, and it was from a licensed shop where the edibles are TESTED for potency, you should of felt something.
Hope you find this helpful.
Lex,
you may want to read my reply to Emily regarding the same issue.
I had gastric bypass 10 years back. I first tried edibles a few years after the surgery and every time they have had almost no effect on me whatsoever, regardless of dosage. Even the most loaded-up of brownies do nothing for me. Granted, as of the last few years my THC tolerance has been quite high, but even that first time didn’t produce a reaction. I’ve always wondered whether there is a correlation between having gastric bypass/its effects on the body and the effectiveness of THC edibles.
How come when I make cannabis chocolate from scratch it doesn’t stay hard after refrigerating if it sits out for just a touch?
Same here Clint. Takes huge does for me to get high, 1200mg+ in any form. Been making my own, buying others, it’s just how it is for me. T breaks, all that never makes a real difference, comes right back in a few days.
I are about 600 mg or more of edibles and I’m not feeling anything it’s been like 4 hours? Not enough dosage I’m pretty small (5’2/ 120 p) don’t know how I’m not blazed right night.
Hi Amy!
The procedure you had does impact absorption in general in regards to nutrient’s as well as cannabis. I would suggest that for vitamin supplements AND cannabis to use a sublingual product that will be absorbed via your mouth tissue and not your GI tract such as our tinctures or hard lozenges. Hope this helps!
Amy Fairchild, MSCAM
So a few years back when I was 17 I ate my first edible and it kicked in withen the hour but now that I’m 23 and have eaten a edible it has no affect on me I’ve eaten 2-3 at once and nothing is there a reason why I was able to get high of edibles when I was younger and not now that I’m older ?
I’m thrilled to know that I’m not the only one this is happening too. I have 30mg capsules that I got from my dispensary after having zero effect from previous edibles. I took 10 of them! 300 mg and I do not feel a thing!! So annoying!
I usually take 100-200mg of thc when I do edibles, but I have yet to have any sort of reaction. I do have mild gastroparysis, so I was wondering if this could be why? I have a very high tolerance for thc when smoking or vaping and usually dab about 3 grams of wax concentrate per week. Is it possible I’m just not taking enough edibles because my tolerance is so high?
Hey so recently after a year without eating edibles I finally ate one 2 weeks ago and it didn’t have any affect not only that but I ate gummys and other tipe of edible to nothing I dont under stand why they dont work anymore befor I could eat a 50 mg and that used to be good but now nothing works why could that be?
I am a daily cannabis user. I use flower, concentrates, tinctures, etc. I’ve used it all for many years. I do have a high tolerance but do take tolerance breaks. I have never once had any edible work for me. Never. I have wasted thousands of dollars over the years trying. I have tried hundreds of different dispensary edibles as well as even home making. Same thing, my wife and friends and family all get high from exact edible I am taking. I take 20, they take 1. They are high, I feel nothing. Sublingually thc works for me. It’s only edibles. I still am stupid and waste time and money from time to time to see If my body has changed. It never has. I have never been given a real or straight answer on why. I love thc and it’s been super frustrating not being able to enjoy or feel anything from edibles. I would love to know the exact reason as there should be some way to counter this enzyme, or immulate it depending on if it is insufficient or over sufficient. Sounds like I’m not alone, but trust me edibles DO NOT work for me period. I’ve taking as much as 1,500 mg thc at once, and nothing. Had to hit my vape pen all night…… good luck to you all and hopefully we can find a real scientific answer
Howdy Laura,
It could be due to both your high tolerance and due to malabsorption in your GI tract as well. When you take a cannabis edible, the cannabis is broken down by your enzymes in your liver. You could have a very high amount of these enzymes which could be metabolizing the THC very quickly before the onset of the psycho-activity.
Hello! I found you by searching this question. I am a heavy frequent user (due to pain & other) I started edibles in August 2020.
My issue is, sometimes it works, sometimes not at all. I did discover that eating is important. I’m wondering if what we eat could have something to do with it.. 🤔
Thank you!
I took a 1500 mg brownie and didn’t feel anything aside from a small ditzyness
I had my gallbladder removed as a young teenanger. I also, do not get high off edibles. Scarfed down 500mg and nothing.
It’s the dispensaries. They sell garbage. I’ve made and eaten edibles for years, and if you slip up and eat too much you trip your face off for a day. The ‘new’ edibles are simply a lie. You can overdose on edibles, and the dispensaries don’t want any part of that. They make their products so weak that you would fill your stomach and start to vomit before getting too high. It’s a scam. Buy your edibles on the black market. That’s the only way you get the real deal.
I have been smoking weed and concentrates regularly for 20 years, but edibles have never worked on me. I once took 5,000mg at once with no results and had pretty much given up on them. I was out of weed recently and ate some gummies I had leftover from when my grandma was visiting (she was fighting cancer at the time and used edibles for pain relief). The damn things hit me hard and got me super high. The only thing that has changed since the last time I tried edibles is that I recently had my gallbladder removed. I’ve heard the rumor that people without gallbladders can’t get high on edibles, but I had the exact opposite experience. I wonder if it has something to do with a change in enzyme production after my gallbladder was removed.
Hi Brandon,
Thank you for sharing! It is true that edible regulations only allow legal edibles to be 10mg of THC per serving and 100mg THC per package/container. Before regulation, we used to make 500mg Red Velvet Brownies but unfortunately, they are no longer compliant. Cheers!
Cannabis oil is fat soluble. When you take an edible with food it may help absorption.
Hi I recently started trying the edibles at home with my canna butter I do not feel like thing I have a bad liver. Does that mean the tincture Will not work also I’m just trying to figure everything out I’m trying to bypass my liver and stomach you said some thing about candy
Hey everyone, after reading what everyone else had to say I too am in the same boat. No matter how many mgs of THC the edible has I don’t feel a thing. Now I’m kinda a new smoker per say. I actually used to not like weed at all, my first experience was brutal, severe paranoia and confusion and I just couldn’t wait for the feeling to end. Therefore I have hardly smoked much in my life but I have fortunately found a couple strains of bud that actually work for me, meaning they help my symptoms but I also catch a nice little buzz too, the problem is I also have difficulty finding strains that even work for me which sucks. Luckily the closest dispensary sells flower in 1g increments which is great to be able to try multiple different types without having to buy an eighth minimum. Anyway my question is can anyone else that deals with this apparent enzyme/genetic disorder recommend what works best for you and maybe what symptoms it helps relieve. Thanks for reading and any advice 😊
I once took 150 mg of edibles and was zonked in about 90 mins and then had to sleep off in the next 2 hours. However I have tried edibles 4-5 times since then in varying quantities. Yesterday I went to 315 mg but didn’t feel a single thing. I’ve been a smoker for the past 6 years now. Do you have any information that could help me? How did I become resistant to edibles in a year?
Hello, I am a type 2 diabetic. When I eat Edibles, it does nothing. I was wondering if it was because of the insulin levels in my body? I take 1.8 mg of Victoza every day. Would this be the reason why Edibles do not have an effect on me? Could the sweetness of the edible be canceling out the THC? Thank you very much.
Howdy Ryan,
Thanks for your comment. There is no clinical research supporting this theory although it could possibly be impacting it.
I would suggest trying sublingual drops (tincture with THC) this by passes your GI track. If you experience the psycho- activity, then you can pretty much figure it is more of a absorption issue in the GI track causing edibles not to work.
Howdy Dalton, Thanks for your comment. Are your homemade edibles working for you? Make sure you are baking under 350 degrees not to burn off your cannabinods. Tinctures work sublingually, entering your system through your mouth tissue by passing GI track. You are also regulate and find your ideal dose much easier with a tincture do to the calibrated droppers and info on bottle. Dr. Raw manufactures hard candy lozenges that work sublingually as well if you let them dissolve in your mouth. They come in 3 formulas – FOCUS – high CBD, BALANCE 1;1 THC: CBD and RELAX 20:1 THC: CBD.
I’m wondering if I suck the gummy bears instead of chewing, would that bypass my liver? I have no gall bladder
Someone asked about bariatric surgery and if it effects edibles. My friend had a gastric bypass and he gets zonked on a 40 mg edible. For anyone having issues with edibles not working for them, I suggest trying rso. Either in oil form, which you can buy by the half or full gram in a syringe, or capsules. I started with the oil, which I have baked into brownies but now just put a dose of it in a spoon full of peanut butter. The capsules are a more exact dose and you can buy them in different mg dosages. The oil is cheaper per dose, bit tastes horrible.
What if I suck on the gummy bears? since my gastric bypass and removal of my gall blotter I can’t get high even smoking. I have tinctures and 25mg capsules and gummies . Spending $$$ and getting nuts!
I like (standard)gummies. And is always random when I get high. Even in does of 800mg. Help
Alma
Sublingual delivery may work but if smoking dose not deliver the affect you are looking for, I do not know if sublingual will.
You enzymes in your liver might be breaking down the THC so fast that is prohibiting the high.
I think my issue is absorption because no matter how much I ingest I get no results. I have celiac disease & I’m wondering if its connected.
Tammy
Yes, with Celiac disease malabsorption is definitely a problem. Sublingual cannabis options or smoking, dabbing or topical for spot treatment of pain would be your best considerations.
Alma, it all depends if the gummy would dissolve in your mouth completely. There are sublingual edibles. For example, we manufacture hard candy lozenges that dissolve in your mouth and are made for sublingual application.
I’ve personally tried over 10 different types of edibles and not a single one of them made me feel a thing, I do smoke everyday as it helps a lot with my type 1 diabetic symptoms like being nauseous or not being hungry. Also I have asked around and both my mother and father have taken edibles and same results , they feel nothing . They also smoke everyday but I’m wondering could these be a genetic type thing even if I didn’t smoke I feel like after reading everyone’s comments I bet this is a genetic thing! Also why isn’t diabetes on the list of medicinal marijuana! A different subject but the results are undeniably terrific and so helpful for a lot of my symptoms (restless leg syndrome, mood swings due to blood glucose levels constantly changing, etc.
Gallbladder removed about two years ago.
They’ve always been weak for me unless they were made really strong. Got worse qfter surgery. I ate 1100 mgs the other day and didn’t feel high at all.
Mark, Thanks for your comment. When edibles DO NOT work, its either malabsorption or an increased amount of the enzymes in your liver that metabolize the THC quickly not allowing the psycho-activity. Smoking by passes the GI tract and goes directly into the blood via the lungs.
I ate an edible with 600 mg of thc and 2 hours later nothing is happening. I want to know if it has anything to do with my thc intake when vaping.