How Long Do Delta 9 Edibles Last?

Are you considering trying Delta-9 THC edibles and wondering how long the high would last? Or perhaps you have an upcoming drug test and want to know how long delta-9 edibles last and remain detectable in your body?

Whatever the case, this blog aims to explore the science behind THC absorption, metabolism, and interaction with the human body.

Delta-9 edibles refer to edible products that contain Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is known more commonly as THC, the primary psychotropic compound found in the cannabis plant. 

The difference between the overall effects from one cultivar to the next is caused by the variation of other cannabinoids, terpenes, and likely other compounds we have yet to discover. These variations can make a cultivar feel more euphoric or more relaxing and heavy feeling when consumed in different products.

Delta-9 THC can be consumed in a wide range of inhalable and ingestible products. For inhaled, you will find many live resin carts, live resin disposables, and live resin dabs. With food options containing Delta 9 THC, you’ll find lots of gummies, softgels, tinctures, chocolate, and rarer, but something we carry (also one of our favorite products due to the effects) is caramels. 

Delta-9 products offer an alternative method of weed consumption to vaping and smoking, providing a discrete and convenient way to enjoy THC. 

GET NERDY: The term “Delta-9” specifically refers to the chemical structure of THC. It’s a central ring with a 5-carbon chain and a double bond denoted by the letter “Delta”, between carbons 9 and 10. Delta-9 THC is slightly different from Delta-8 THC, which has a double bond between carbons 8 and 9.

Yes, Delta-9 edibles can get you high because they contain THC, the primary psychotropic cannabinoid. How much do you feel the effects can vary from person to person due to tolerance variations? Additionally, how much you consume and in what form will impact the effects felt as well. 

Get Nerdy: Cannabinoids refer to all the chemical compounds found in cannabis and CBD plants, including CBD, CBN, CBG, THC, and terpenes.

Get Even Nerdier: Nearly ALL cultivars of CBD available on the market today are low THC cannabis plants, not  CBD plants; high CBD cannabis that's low THC is also referred to as a Type 3. Type 1 cannabis is a classification for high THC cultivars, and Type 2 is a balanced ratio of THC: CBD.

When you consume Delta-9 THC edibles, the THC is broken down in the liver and converted into 11-hydroxy-THC. This THC metabolite is stronger and lasts longer compared to Delta-9.

According to research, 11-hydroxy-THC crosses the blood-brain barrier more readily than Delta-9. The brain-blood barrier refers to a collection of cells (membrane) that forms an extra selective filter for blood entering the brain.THC then binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, causing intoxicating effects. 

D9 edibles act slower than other forms of THC consumption, such as smoking or vaping. This is because edibles must be digested and processed by the liver before Delta-9 THC is released into the bloodstream. This delayed onset can often cause people to think they took too low of a dose (because they don’t feel anything right away), causing them to take more. This often leads to consumers being uncomfortably high. 

For this reason, always wait 30-45 minutes before consuming more and realize that the full effects aren’t felt until roughly an hour after initial consumption.  

Another thing that's important is to start with a lower dosage, especially if you’re inexperienced, have a low tolerance, or don’t know your tolerance.

Delta-9 THC is just one of the 100+ known cannabinoids in cannabis. Each cannabinoid has distinct characteristics that influence its effects on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS)

The ECS is a complex cell signaling system found in all mammals.

The Endocannabinoid system consists of two primary receptors: CB1 receptors found in the central nervous system and CB2 receptors located in peripheral tissues and the immune system. 

Each cannabinoid interacts uniquely with these receptors to bring about the various effects associated with cannabis use.

Here are some ways in which Delta-9 THC differs from other cannabinoids:

• Delta-9- THC Is Psychotropic

Unlike cannabinoids such as CBD, Delta-9 THC is psychotropic, meaning it can cause intoxicating effects. The ability of Delta-9 to activate the CB1 receptor accounts for its intoxicating effects.

Research has shown that Delta-9 mimics the body’s cannabinoids called endocannabinoids. Cannabinoids such as CBD do not activate CB1 and CB2 receptors; hence have zero intoxicating effects or mind-altering effects.

• Interact Differently With Body Receptors

As mentioned, Delta-9 THC binds directly to CB1 and CB2 receptors. By activating these receptors, Delta-9 THC triggers various psychoactive effects, e.g., “the high.”

While Delta-8 THC also binds to CB1 receptors, its affinity for these receptors is lower compared to Delta-9 THC. This explains why Delta-8 THC is not as psychoactive as Delta-9.

On the other hand, cannabinoids such as CBD don’t bind directly to CB1 and CB2 receptors and instead interact with other receptors in the body, such as vanilloid and serotonin receptors. This gives CBD its unique non-intoxicating properties.  

Apart from its chemical structure and effects on the body, Delta-9 THC is also treated differently from other cannabinoids legally. 

For instance, while CBD, CBG, CBN, etc, are federally legal, Delta-9 THC remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance. 

However, many states have decriminalized Delta-9-THC for both medical and recreational use.

It has become alarmingly popular to find 1000mg single-dose edibles on the market as companies recklessly attempt to win the unspoken “highest potency - lowest cost” consumer market. Many of these products are made with questionable inputs and, when tested, don’t have accurately listed dosing.

Why do we mention that? To plug our methodical testing and accurate labeling for potency and dosing, of course. And to say that because accurate labeling is so uncommon, you really do want to always start lower than you think and build your dose when consuming a THC product you haven’t had before.  

Here are a few tips to help you determine the right amount of product to consume:

It’s not about the number of edibles you take; it’s about the amount of THC in each. It’s also about the form factor- inhaled versus consumed products will have a different effect even at the same dose. 

There’s also variation depending on how much someone has consumed recently and whether they have built a tolerance. Last (there are other impacts, but this is where we will leave off on this topic), if there is CBD present in the blend, the amount of CBD will impact the impact of the Delta 9 THC for the reasons described above about how they engage with the ECS receptors. 

For a lower and more comfortable starting journey or just for a more active functional high, we have our Delta-9 Live Resin Gummies: Daytrip Microdose, which contains 5mg of Delta-9 per gummy.

More seasoned? Try our Delta 9 Live Resin Gummies: Daytrip Macrodose, which contains 20mg of Delta 9 THC per gummy, or our Live Resin D9 Caramels, which contain 40mg of THC per and have a unique high due to the fat content in the product (our personal favorite uplifting product).  

Delta-9 THC has different effects on different people depending on various factors. Some of these factors are age, gender, health, and body metabolism. 

Some experimentation is necessary to determine the correct dosage for you.

It’s best to begin with a low dose and gradually increase your intake. This will allow you to assess your reaction to Delta-9 THC at various serving levels.

Delta-9 edibles have to be digested before their effects can set in. THC edibles may take anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes to kick in. Don’t be tempted to take more of your delicious edibles to avoid overdosing.

There are two ways to answer this question. One, how long the effects of Delta-9 THC last in the body, and two, how long THC’s metabolites will remain detectable in your body. 

The same way the effects of Delta-9 THC edibles take longer to kick in is the same way they take longer to dissipate.  

Generally, the felt effects of THC edibles last 2-4 hours, but the actual impact is up to 12 hours. However, this will vary depending on factors such as:

• Dosage: Higher dosage will produce stronger and longer-lasting effects.
• Metabolism: Body metabolism determines the rate at which the body processes and eliminates Delta-9 THC. People with lower metabolism will experience the effects for longer.
• Body Tolerance: People with a lower tolerance may have prolonged effects with lower doses. On the other hand, people with higher tolerance may require larger doses to achieve desired results and may experience effects for a shorter duration.
• Body Sensitivity: Just like tolerance, sensitivity to Delta-9 can vary among individuals. Higher sensitivity to the compound means stronger and longer-lasting effects.
• THC Potency: The amount of THC in the edible will determine how long the effects last. The stronger the concentration, the longer the effects will last. 

As explained, when you ingest edibles, your liver processes THC, turning it into metabolites and other by-products. 

Drug tests look for these metabolites and by-products, which stay in your body longer than Delta-9. Eventually, these metabolites are excreted in sweat, urine, and stool.

However, being a lipid-soluble chemical, Delta-9 THC binds to fats in the body. 

If you’re a frequent cannabis user, THC builds up in fatty tissues faster than the body can eliminate it. This increases the length of time it takes for the body to fully eliminate Delta-9 THC. This explains why THC remains detectable in our bodies many days or even months after consuming THC edibles!

If you have a THC drug test coming up, it’s critical to understand the different drug tests. Moreover, determine how long Delta-9 will be detectable in each one.

Point To Note: This is a general guideline and doesn’t apply to THC edibles only.

A 2017 study suggests that THC may be present in urine for the following amount of time after last use:

• Single-use: 3 days
• Up to 4 times per week: 5 to 7 days
• Daily use: 10 to 15 days
• Multiple times per day: up to 30 days

Saliva tests may detect same-day THC use and up to 72 hours for heavy cannabis users.

Blood drug tests detect recent THC use, generally within 2 to 12 hours after use. However, some blood tests have tested positive 30 days after use.

Hair tests are the most sensitive and may detect THC for up to three months after use.

When looking for the best edibles to buy, it’s important to note that not all of them are created equal. 

Here are some of the factors you should consider when looking for the best Delta-9 edibles:

The best cannabis companies will get their products tested by third-party independent labs and get a certificate of analysis (COA)

This certificate will have important information such as how the edibles were manufactured, cannabinoid content, presence of residual solvents or contaminants, the ingredients used, etc. 

Here are examples of certificates of analysis from The Hemp Collect.

Another way to know if you’re dealing with a credible company is to check the reviews left by other customers. If you find a lot of negative feedback online about a brand, then it’s likely you’ll get a bad experience. We’ve got lots of great reviews on Trustpilot from our customers.

A lot goes into making a quality THC edible: quality ingredients, knowledgeable staff, safe extraction methods, testing, packaging, etc. Therefore, if safety is important to you, consider that most low-priced edibles on the market are made affordable, most commonly by using less safe inputs and not testing regularly (as it's expensive). We batch-test all of our products to ensure safety and accurate potency.

Some processes use less safe compounds to get the final product. If companies properly tested all of their inputs to ensure all of these compounds (some toxic) make it out then this is not a problem at all, but unfortunately, as mentioned above- many companies prioritize profit over safety and do not test regularly to ensure safety as we do with all of our inputs. 

Ingredients

Go for Delta-9 edibles made using high-quality ingredients. This is indicative of how the rest of the product is made- including the quality of the inputs. 

Our gummies are vegan and made with real fruit juice and natural coloring instead of synthetic dyes and cheap flavoring. Our caramels are also made with nearly all organic ingredients!

Following the 2018 FARM BILL, all cannabis products with less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight volume are considered federally legal. 

Therefore, Delta-9 edibles are legal federally so long as the concentration of Delta-9 is less than 0.3% THC.

Rules are different at the state level, with many states ignoring the 0.3% Delta-9 THC limit and legalizing THC products for both recreational and medical use.

Minnesota is the 23rd state to legalize cannabis for recreational use. The other states are:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Montana
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington

Adult-use marijuana is also legal in the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

More states have legalized medical use to varying degrees.

Each state has different laws regarding what conditions marijuana can be prescribed for, the process of issuing medical marijuana cards, etc.

These laws are constantly changing, so stay up to date.

How long Delta-9 edibles last in our bodies will depend on factors such as THC potency, body tolerance, frequency of use as well as age, sex, and health. 

Unlike vaping or smoking, the effects of Delta-9 edibles take longer to kick but will be experienced for longer.

For the perfect balance between quality Delta-9 edibles and affordable prices, check out our shop page at The Hemp Collect online shop.

We have both standard Delta-9 edibles and Delta-9 edibles with live resin in them. We use full live resin extract to give you a better high, which includes a more balanced and fuller spectrum effect (not just foggy and faded) and more targeted effects for active, social, or restful experiences. 

One of our main foundations as a company is empowering consumers by providing education to enable informed decisions. We also work hard to encourage the businesses we work with to promote education and choose to stock ethical brands that lift the industry by using good practices. 

If there’s a topic you’d like to see covered or if you see something that could be adjusted for clarity or accuracy, let us know.