Cannabis Edibles
A cannabis edible is a food or drink infused with a measured dose of THC or CBD, listed in milligrams on the package. Because it is digested rather than inhaled, it takes far longer to arrive and lasts considerably longer once it does.
Edibles at a glance
- Dosed in
- Milligrams of THC per piece and per package
- Onset
- Commonly 30 to 90 minutes
- Typical duration
- Four to eight hours
- New York package cap
- 10mg THC per serving, 100mg per package
What to know before you buy
Start low, wait longer than you think
The single most common mistake with edibles is taking a second dose before the first has arrived. Onset commonly runs 30 to 90 minutes and varies with what you have eaten. Take one measured piece, then wait a full two hours before deciding anything.
Reading the label
Every edible sold in a New York licensed dispensary lists THC and CBD per piece and per package. New York caps adult-use edibles at 10mg of THC per serving and 100mg per package, so a 100mg bag is ten servings, not one.
Drinks behave differently
Many infused beverages use emulsified cannabis designed to absorb faster than a solid edible. They can arrive sooner, which is worth knowing if you are treating a drink like a gummy.
Storage and safety
Edibles look like ordinary food, which is exactly why New York requires child-resistant packaging. Keep them in that packaging, and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
When edibles is the right call
Format mechanics decide this more than anything printed on the label. These are the evenings edibles suit, and why.
Not sure edibles is your format?
Edibles questions, answered
How long do cannabis edibles take to work?
Edibles commonly take 30 to 90 minutes to take effect, because they are digested before absorption. Effects then typically last four to eight hours, considerably longer than inhaled formats.
How much THC can be in an edible in New York?
New York adult-use rules cap edibles at 10mg of THC per serving and 100mg of THC per package. Both figures are printed on every package sold in a licensed dispensary.
What should a first-time edible shopper start with?
Start with the lowest-milligram single piece on the shelf, take one, and wait a full two hours before considering more. Ask a budtender for the smallest per-piece dose they carry.