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!