What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Edibles

With 24 states (and counting) legalizing cannabis for recreational and medicinal use as of January 2025, edible cannabis is gaining popularity as a discreet and long-lasting way to experience the drug. Edibles can come in a variety of forms from brownies to cakes, chocolate bars, gummies, mints and even cannabis-infused beverages, which have made them a popular and appealing option for those who consume cannabis. 

“Instead of being absorbed directly into the bloodstream via smoking, edibles must pass through the digestive system and travel to the liver for metabolism,” explains Janice Newell Bissex, M.S., RDN, FAND, Holistic Cannabis Practitioner at Jannabis Wellness. This difference in how you metabolize the drug means edibles can take up to two hours to kick in, with effects lasting anywhere from four to twelve hours, while the onset of smoking or vaping cannabis is just minutes and lasts one to three hours, explains Bissex. 

Keep reading to learn more about what happens to your body when you eat edibles, including the potential benefits, risks, how to use them safely and a few things you’ll want to consider before trying them. 

Potential Health Benefits of Edibles

While cannabis in any form, including edibles, is not federally legal, it is fully legal in 24 states and legal for medicinal use in all but 13 states. While some people choose to use edibles and other forms of cannabis for the feeling it offers, others enjoy the medicinal benefits, explains Bissex. “Many people use cannabis (and the non-intoxicating cannabinoid, CBD) to help manage pain, inflammation, anxiety, insomnia, autoimmune disorders, muscle spasms, appetite stimulation, neurodegenerative disorders and other conditions.”

Here are just a few of the potential health benefits of using edibles. 

They can help reduce inflammation.

Several compounds found in cannabis—including ​​delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG)—have anti-inflammatory properties that research has found to be effective at lowering markers of chronic inflammation. Non-intoxicating CBD has shown promise in helping to alleviate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. However, animal studies have found that cannabis smoke may increase inflammation in the body, specifically in the airways, and some research has also found that while lower doses of cannabis may help reduce inflammation in the body, high doses can have the opposite effect.

They can provide long-lasting pain relief.

Because of the long-lasting effects of edibles, they may be an ideal option for people who need long-lasting relief from conditions like chronic pain, explains Kathryn Piper, RDN, LD, NBC-HWC, registered dietitian and board-certified wellness coach. 

Research has found that compared to opioid pain medications, medical cannabis may be perceived as equally effective at reducing pain symptoms while having a positive effect on pain-related factors like functionality and overall sense of well-being.

With the pain-relieving effects of edible cannabis lasting four to twelve times longer than inhalation methods, they may be a more practical approach for managing chronic symptoms. 

They may be safer for your lungs.

One notable benefit of using edibles is that there is no associated smell or smoke, making them a good choice for anyone who does not want to inhale cannabis, says Bissex. 

With edibles, you’re not exposing your lungs to any irritants or chemical compounds that come with inhalation. Smoking cannabis can cause injury to the cell linings of large airways, leading to symptoms like bronchitis, chronic cough and increased phlegm production.  And while there is currently no association between smoking cannabis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) like there is with cigarettes, it does increase the risk of bullous lung disease and spontaneous pneumothorax.

Risks and Negative Effects of Edibles 

It’s easy to accidentally use too much.

The main cause of negative effects from edibles often comes down to a person taking too much, says Bissex. “Given the delayed onset time, it’s easy to get impatient and take another dose or bite. This can result in elevated heart rate, anxiety, paranoia and dizziness.” 

In a study of emergency room visits related to cannabis use involving 1,135 cases, 17 percent presented with anxiety, including symptoms of panic attacks, aggression, manic behavior and hallucinations, while 83 percent had other presentations of cannabis toxicity, including intoxication and hyperemesis. Those with symptoms of anxiety were more likely to have used edibles.

One study tested 75 edible cannabis products from 45 different brands and found that just 17 percent were labeled correctly, with 23 percent containing more THC than advertised. The lack of regulation can increase the odds of taking more than intended, increasing the risk of negative effects. Homemade products using cannabis infused butter or oils can be difficult to dose accurately, and should be used cautiously, urges Bissex. 

They could cause an upset stomach.

Oils and additives used in edible cannabis products could lead to nausea or digestive discomfort, explains Piper. If you’re sensitive to added sugar, sugar alcohols, lactose or gluten, these ingredients in your cannabis brownies or gummies could lead to unwanted digestive symptoms. 

The cannabis in edibles may offer some digestive benefits but there is a growing body of evidence showing a relationship between regular cannabis use and conditions like acid reflux, pancreatitis and peptic ulcer disease.

The effects may last too long.

The long-lasting effects of edibles may be beneficial for pain relief or sleep support, but this prolonged effect can interfere with your daily routine, warns Piper. This is especially true if you take a large dose of edible cannabis in the evening to sleep or relax, as it could still be in your system for the early parts of the next day, making it difficult to get up and moving and increasing your risk of accidents, especially if driving or operating machinery early in the morning.  

Other Cannabis Consumption Considerations

Since cannabis is not federally legal, there are no official guidelines on edible dosage or recommendations for consumption. Given that more states have begun to legalize and decriminalize cannabis over the past decade, research into its health effects, especially long-term effects, and dosing is still in its infancy. Initiatives like the Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines help to examine current research and provide recommendations that emphasize moderation with cannabis use.

Both Piper and Bissex agree that if you live in a place where cannabis is legal and want to take edibles for the first time, the best thing to do is “start low and go slow.” For Bissex, this means often recommending that clients start with a 2.5-milligram dose and increase slowly until they feel the desired effect. Before trying anything new, you should always consult with your doctor, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions or take medications. 

Since THC is fat-soluble, the ingredients in your edible or what you eat along with it can also impact its effects. “ A high-fat meal will delay the onset and prolong the effect, while consuming on an empty stomach may hasten the onset, with a shortened duration,” explains Bissex. 

Arguably the most important thing to consider when bringing edibles into your home is keeping them locked and inaccessible to children and pets. Between 2021 and 2022, national poison control centers reported over 6,800 cases of unintentional exposure to edible products, with 91 percent of those exposures happening to children and one of those exposures resulting in death.

The Bottom Line

Cannabis edibles are used medicinally and recreationally for their relaxation and pain-reducing effects, among other potential benefits, but taking edibles can come with undesired effects as well. Because the THC in an edible has to pass through the digestive system and to the liver to be metabolized, its effects can take up to two hours to kick in and can last anywhere from 4 to 12 hours or longer. 

Most bad experiences with edibles can be attributed to taking too much, which is why experts and what few guidelines we have on cannabis use recommend starting with a very low dose and increasing it slowly until you get the effects you’re after. Whether using edibles recreationally or for medical purposes, talk with your doctor first and take extra care to keep them away from children and pets.