Edible

An edible is any cannabis-infused food or beverage consumed orally for absorption through the gastrointestinal tract. The category encompasses gummies, chocolates, baked goods, mints, capsules, infused drinks, cooking oils, and tinctures that are swallowed rather than held sublingually. Because the dose passes through the stomach and small intestine and enters the hepatic portal circulation, it undergoes first-pass metabolism in the liver, where CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 convert Δ9-THC into 11-hydroxy-THC — a metabolite with higher CB1 affinity and more efficient blood-brain barrier penetration than parent THC. This is why edibles often feel qualitatively stronger and longer-lasting than inhaled cannabis at equivalent THC doses. Oral bioavailability is low and variable, typically cited as 4–12%, and is influenced by fat co-ingestion, gastric contents, and individual enzyme variation. Traditional edibles have an onset of 30–120 minutes and a duration of 4–8 hours or more. Most U.S. adult-use states cap single servings at 10mg THC and packages at 100mg, with outliers in either direction. The delayed onset combined with the potency of 11-OH-THC is the mechanism behind most accidental overconsumption emergency-room visits. → See also: pharmacokinetics and onset (Part 5), Distillate, Full-spectrum extract (Part 3). ---