You take an edible, wait an hour or so, and repeatedly ask yourself: am I high?

If this scenario sounds familiar, you’re not alone. For as long as edibles have been around, people have struggled to put their finger on the moment they hit, and this can make it tricky to measure how long the effects of your edible will last — and whether or not you want to take more to feel your desired effects.

The easiest way to know when the edible kicks in is to learn some common markers that your high is starting, and to look out for them after taking an edible. Before we get to those signs, here’s a bit more background.

Understanding edible onset vs. duration

There are two main terms to understand when it comes to edibles: onset and duration. The onset or activation time of an edible is the amount of time it takes for you to begin to feel the effects, and the duration is the length of time those effects last. Onset begins immediately after consumption, and can last anywhere from thirty minutes to a few hours (this is the time period in question). The duration can be another two to three hours (or much, much longer if you take more than the recommended dose).

Edibles from reliable sources should have dosing recommendations on the product packaging, but a good rule of thumb is to take a small amount of an edible, and always wait one to two hours before taking any more.

Recognizing the activation of your edible

Here are some signs to look for that can help you determine whether your edible has kicked in, giving you an idea of when the onset period has ended, and the duration period has started.

✦ Red eyes. For some edible consumers, their eyes begin to redden before they feel any other effects. This can be a good indicator that a high is just around the corner.

✦ Droopy eyelids. Similarly, some people may experience droopy eyelids. If you feel like your eyes are starting to close slightly, the edible has likely started to hit.

✦ Giggling. Feeling lighter, happier, and a bit more giggly than you were a little while ago? You’re likely feeling the effects of cannabis, and can rest assured your edible experience is on track.

✦ Feeling relaxed. Relaxation is a main reason that many people turn to cannabis, and the right dosage of edibles can have you completely chilled out. If you start to feel your anxieties dwindle — no matter how subtle it may be —  it’s probably the edible at work.

✦ Tingling sensations. For some people, slight tingling feelings or vibrations in their body begin when an edible starts to do its work. This can be most common with body-soothing edibles designed to ease soreness and pain.

✦ Time lapses. Noticing that you’re zoning out ( or focusing in) more than usual can be an indicator that the edible has kicked in. You may be working on a task and suddenly notice that more time has passed than you realized. Alternatively, you may feel like just a few moments last longer than usual.

✦ Noise sensitivity. It’s common to be more sensitive to or surprised by sudden sounds when you’re under the influence of cannabis, and noticing this can be a good indicator that the activation time of your edible has come to an end.

✦ Getting hungry. The munchies are a classic symptom of cannabis consumption. Feeling hungry when you weren’t before can mean that the edible is starting to work its magic.

✦ Feeling connected. Many people take edibles socially, and noticing even a small increase in your connections or closeness to others can be a subtle sign that your edible kicked in.

At the end of the day, everyone’s body is different. The dosage, activation period, and duration outlined for any given product isn’t always one-size-fits-all, and learning to recognize these signs can help you better manage your edible consumption — and figure out what works best for you.

If you’re in the market for new edibles, you’ve come to the right place. Mood is an online dispensary delivering high-quality, 100% legal cannabis directly to your door. Shop our entire selection of edibles today.

About Mood

We believe that everyone’s got different moods, and improving yours should be easy. That’s why we created Mood, an online source for 100% legal cannabis from America’s favorite farms, that helps you quickly and easily get to your best mood. Trusted by over 40,000 customers, Mood stands as a symbol of quality in an ever-expanding cannabis landscape.