Recent developments in drug-delivery mechanisms have allowed for the emergence of “fast-acting” or “rapid onset” cannabis-infused edible gummies, seltzers, tablets, and other products. As intriguing as these new products may seem, their newness means consumers — naturally — have questions like:
In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions and discuss all the benefits that fast-acting edibles offer. Whether you are an experienced edible enthusiast or a newcomer, our comprehensive guide will help you decide if fast-acting edibles are right for you.
The biggest difference between rapid-onset edibles and traditional edibles is the amount of time it takes to feel the effects. With traditional edibles, onset times can vary between 30 minutes to two hours or longer. The effects typically last 6-8 hours.
Fast-acting edibles, meanwhile, have onset times between 5-30 minutes. The effects of these edibles last between 2-4 hours.
The biggest reason traditional edibles take so long to kick in is that they have to make their way through the entire digestive system. Because of this, the onset of traditional edibles is affected by how much you have eaten recently. Further, an individual’s metabolism can also speed up or slow down absorption. Frustrated at long onset wait times, some consumers may eat more cannabis than they can handle leading to unwanted effects.
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In contrast, fast-acting edibles bypass the digestive system entirely, entering directly through the bloodstream. This is achieved through various mechanisms like:
Fast-acting edibles’ quick absorption is made possible by a production process called nanoemulsification. This process breaks down cannabis oils into tiny, water-soluble droplets. These droplets are small enough to pass through digestive membranes and enter the bloodstream more efficiently.
Since fast-acting edibles minimize the conversion of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol into 11-hydroxy-THC, their effects differ from the effects of traditional edibles. 11-hydroxy-THC is a metabolite, a substance produced during digestion. This substance, reportedly, is more potent. As such, it produces more intense psychoactive effects as well as a pronounced relaxing effect. This is the reason that traditional edibles are associated with a “body high” — something which makes them helpful for treating pain and poor sleep.
Fast-acting edibles, in comparison, deliver effects that are more similar to those achieved by smoking. This is because smoking cannabis delivers delta-9-THC directly to the bloodstream via the lungs. Because fast-acting edibles release delta-9-THC into the blood without first passing through the liver, these edibles produce uplifting, energetic effects that improve mood, promote creativity, and support concentration.
Fast-acting edibles are a good option for people who do not want to smoke but are looking to benefit from the effects of smoking cannabis. They are also a great alternative edible for people who do not want the effects of cannabis to be sustained for many hours.
That said, fast-acting edibles may lack some of the same therapeutic offered by traditional edibles. Individuals who want an edible that will help with sleep or pain management may want to stay away from fast-acting edibles.
The third absorptive site mentioned – the “lining of the stomach” – does NOT bypass the liver’s metabolic function, fast-absorbed or not. The gastric blood supply, bearing substances absorbed through the gastric lining, routes directly to and through the liver, where “hepatic first-pass metabolism” routinely processes a host of substances absorbed from the stomach after oral ingestion, e.g. drugs, toxins, and nutrients. The liver is where Delta-9 THC is converted to 11-hydroxy THC. THC absorbed into the blood from the lungs, or oral/sublingual mucosa, does bypass the liver initially, heading directly to downstream organs like the brain – which is why meds needed for immediate relief, like nitroglycerin for an angina attack, are given sublingually. They all reach the liver eventually, to be metabolized and cleared from the body – which is why even smoked THC wears off after a few hours. Speeding absorption from the stomach only gets THC to the liver faster. Taking THC with food reduces THC’s immediate contact with the stomach mucosal lining by diluting it, and will slow the onset of its effects, regardless of whether or not it’s “nanoemulsified.”
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