There’s nothing quite like the disappointment of preparing for a great sesh, popping an edible, and waiting for hours to feel… nothing. If you purchased your edible from a licensed adult-use dispensary, you can rest assured that it’s a quality product — so what’s the issue?
As it turns out, some folks simply don’t feel the effects of edibles. If that applies to you and you’re curious why it may be, read on. We’ll explain the concept of “ediblocking.” why it happens, and alternative cannabis products you could try instead.
How cannabis edibles work
When you eat an edible, it travels to your stomach where it is digested. As the edible breaks down, the cannabinoids inside are processed by your liver, where THC is converted to a stronger form known as 11-hydroxy-THC.
From there, the cannabinoids enter your bloodstream and circulate throughout your body, interacting with your endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) to produce intoxication, as well as a myriad other effects.
Learn more about how edibles work in our happy camper’s guide
This gradual process takes anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes or more, so you’re unlikely to feel the effects of an edible moment after consuming one. Unlike smoking or vaping, which you’ll feel the effects of almost immediately, there is a delay between consuming the edible and feeling its effects. It’s important to wait for up to a few hours to see how an edible affects you before consuming more.
In addition, edibles last longer than inhaled cannabis products. While the effects of smoking or vaping may only last a couple of hours, the effects of consuming an edible last for hours on end. Some folks report feeling the effects of their edible 12 hours or even 24 hours later, depending on the dose.
In short, edibles are slow to take effect, but once they do, they work for much longer because of the digestion process they go through.
Why don’t edibles work for me?
It’s not uncommon for you to experience little to nothing when trying an edible. If you’ve waited several hours, taken more edibles, and tried multiple products to make sure it wasn’t just one ineffective edible, you may be what some consumers call “ediblocked.”
More research is needed into why some consumers aren’t affected by edibles, but there are several working theories as to why this may be.
Your liver may metabolize THC differently
Perhaps the leading theory about ediblocking is that some folks have a variant liver enzyme that metabolizes THC so efficiently that it never enters the bloodstream in sufficient amounts to cause intoxication.
Learn more about how THC works in our happy camper’s guide
The liver contains Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes, which are responsible for breaking down cannabinoids when you ingest an edible. Genetics determine how well these enzymes metabolize certain substances, and some folks’ bodies may be hyper-efficient at clearing cannabinoids from their system. In this case, the cannabinoids break down so quickly that they can’t reach the necessary levels in the bloodstream to make you feel high.
Be forewarned: the opposite can happen as well. Some consumers metabolize cannabinoids so slowly that THC can build up in their system at greater levels than the average person. These consumers may get hit extra hard by the effects of edibles. So, if you’ve never tried edibles before and a friend tells you “they’re not that strong,” you should still start with a very small amount to be safe.
You may have a gastrointestinal or digestive disorder
Oftentimes when consumers report edibles don’t work for them, it’s also true they have difficulty digesting other types of food. Some of these consumers are living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), while others may simply have difficulty absorbing nutrients.
If you know you have a GI disorder or difficulties digesting certain foods, that could also be a reason edibles don’t work for you. Before they reach the liver for metabolization, they need to be digested in the stomach. So, if your digestive system doesn’t work the way the average consumer does, that could explain why edibles work differently (or don’t work at all) for you.
It hasn’t taken effect or you bought an ineffective product
If you’re reading this because you just ate an edible and haven’t felt it yet, it’s possible it just hasn’t kicked in. Edibles can take up to a few hours to take effect, so if you haven’t waited that long yet, don’t consume more — you could end up feeling too high and having a bad time.
If you have waited a few hours and still nothing, consider consuming a small amount more. Increasing your dosage gradually may be enough to kickstart the effects of an edible, and could simply signal that your tolerance is higher than average.
Finally, if you’ve waited and waited and increased your dose but still felt nothing, you may have simply purchased an ineffective product. Visit a licensed dispensary – such as Boone Town Provisions – to ensure you’re buying lab-tested, high-quality cannabis products. These lab tests guarantee that the product you buy contains what it says the product contains on the label. Try another type of edible to see if that works for you.
If it’s none of the above, you really may be ediblocked. But don’t worry — if edibles don’t work for you, there are still other cannabis products you can try.
Alternative cannabis products to try if edibles don’t work for you
Just because edibles don’t work for you doesn’t mean all orally ingested cannabis products are off the table. Here are some other product types you might consider if it turns out you are indeed ediblocked.
Tinctures
Tinctures are cannabis extracts designed to be placed under the tongue with a small dropper. They both absorb through tissue in your mouth and take effect through the digestive system when the remainder is swallowed. This means the majority of the product bypasses your digestive system. Even if you have difficulty digesting or metabolizing ingested cannabinoids, those absorbed through the mouth will enter the bloodstream directly and take effect.
Sublingual lozenges
Sublingual lozenges are meant to be placed in your mouth and held there until they dissolve. Like tinctures, they work partially through your mouth tissues and partially through digestion. So, even if you are ediblocked, you’ll be able to absorb plenty of cannabinoids directly into your bloodstream through your mouth.
Beverages
Cannabis beverages may be a good choice for consumers of GI disorders and digestive issues variety. These drinkable cannabis products are also metabolized in the liver, though, so consumers who are hyper-efficient metabolizers of cannabinoids may still not feel them.
Tablets
Like beverages, cannabis tablets or capsules may work if you have difficulty processing edibles. However, these products are metabolized through the liver like edibles, so consumers who are hyper-efficient at breaking down cannabinoids may not feel their effects.
These products all offer consumers alternatives to edibles, as well as smoking and vaping. If you’re ediblocked, beverages and capsules may not work for you, but the others on this list will. To see what’s available at Boone Town Provisions, check out our online menu to see what’s in stock.
Explore what works for you at Boone Town Provisions
When you hit the trail, you want to be sure you have the supplies that work for you. At Boone Town Provisions, we’ve got something for every type of consumer, including those who don’t feel anything when they eat edibles. Explore some of New Jersey’s best cannabis brands at our Boonton dispensary, located at 677 Myrtle Ave. Our expert field guides can help you find everything you need to make your next expedition one to remember.
