Delta 9 gummies are one of the most popular ways to enjoy hemp-derived delta 9 THC. After you take them, delta 9 gummies will kick in within 30 minutes to 2 hours. The exact onset time is dependent on many factors, such as your metabolism, weight, food intake, hydration, tolerance, and dosage.
In this article, we’ll discuss the factors that influence how long it takes delta 9 gummies to kick in, and we’ll answer other questions related to delta 9 gummies and how they work in your body.
What Are Delta 9 Gummies?
Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9 THC) is a cannabinoid that occurs naturally in the cannabis sativa plant.
Delta 9 is the cannabinoid most people are referring to when they say “THC”; it’s the THC variant most abundant in cannabis, and the one responsible for the plant’s signature psychoactive effects.
While cannabis is federally illegal, delta 9 is legal on the federal level when derived from hemp, a cannabis variant containing less than 0.3% THC.
Delta 9 gummies are a type of candy containing delta 9 THC. Gummy candy is one of the most preferred consumption methods for cannabinoids due to the straightforward dosing and great taste it offers.
How Long for Delta 9 Gummies to Kick In?
After you take them, delta 9 gummies will kick in within 30 minutes to 2 hours.
The reason for this wide variation in potential onset time is that a number of factors influence how soon you begin feeling the effects of delta 9 gummies.
Some of these factors are related to your body, while others are related to how you consume delta 9 gummies.
Factors Affecting the Onset Time of Delta 9 Gummies
Several things can impact how long it takes delta 9 gummies to kick in and begin rendering effects. Here’s a bit about each factor:
Metabolism
After you consume delta 9 gummies, your body has to begin metabolizing them for you to begin feeling the psychoactive effects.
Everyone’s metabolism is naturally a bit different. If your metabolism is fast, you’ll feel the effects of delta 9 gummies sooner than someone with a slower metabolism.
Food intake
Because delta 9 gummies are consumed the same way food is, they have to pass through the digestive system to begin being metabolized, which is when they begin rendering their effects.
This means that if you eat a lot of food before taking delta 9 gummies, you’ll have to wait longer to begin feeling the effects.
Hydration
Drinking water speeds up metabolism and digestion, both of which influence how long it takes delta 9 gummies to kick in. The more hydrated you are (to a point), the sooner you’ll feel the effects of delta 9 gummies.
Tolerance
Your level of tolerance to delta 9 THC can have an influence on how soon you feel the effects of delta 9 gummies. If your tolerance level is higher, a greater amount of delta 9 will need to be metabolized before you begin feeling effects, so the onset time will be longer.
Tolerance is partially determined by genetics and partially determined by how you consume delta 9. If you consume more and more delta 9 each time, your tolerance will increase.
Dosage
Dosage often doesn’t play a major role in how fast delta 9 gummies kick in, but it can, depending on your tolerance.
If your tolerance is higher, higher doses of delta 9 will kick in sooner, as the amount of delta 9 required to produce a high will be metabolized sooner.
Weight
One last factor related to onset time that many people think matter is how much you weigh. However, your weight doesn’t actually play a role in determining onset time.
While body weight can determine the dose at which you’ll feel certain effects, it doesn’t have an appreciable influence on how soon you’ll feel the effects of delta 9 gummies once you take them.
This is because weight doesn’t have a linear correlation to either metabolism or digestion rates, which are the two things that have the most influence over onset time.
How Long Do the Effects of Delta 9 Gummies Last?
Once delta 9 gummies kick in, the effects will last for 6-8 hours. This duration, also, will be influenced by the amount you take and other factors.
Delta 9 gummies and other edibles tend to be metabolized more slowly by your body than other forms of delta 9, so their effects tend to last longer.
How Long Do Delta 9 Gummies Stay in Your System?
If you consume delta 9 gummies one time or only do so occasionally, the delta 9 will be gone from your system in about one week.
However, if you take delta 9 gummies on a regular basis, it may take anywhere from 30 days to 3 months for the delta 9 to clear your system.
For more, check out our guide to how long delta 9 gummies last in your system.
How Many Delta 9 Gummies Should You Take?
Starting out, we recommend taking a low-strength dose of delta 9 gummies. You can calculate your starting dose using the formula below:
(0.05) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your daily delta 9 dosage in mg.
The exact number of delta 9 gummies this will translate into depends on your weight and the strength of the gummy.
If you weigh 200 pounds, for example, your starting dose would be 10mg of delta 9. There are many strengths of gummies out there – 10mg might be a piece of a gummy, one gummy, or multiple gummies.
Once you take your dose a few times, you can adjust it up or down depending on how it’s working for you.
For more, see our delta 9 dosage guide.
Benefits of Delta 9 Gummies
Research suggests delta 9 THC may have therapeutic benefits in a variety of areas:
- Stress & Anxiety: Research on THC for anxiety shows that it may either be beneficial or detrimental, depending on how much you take. A Yale School of Medicine study found that THC may exert anxiety-reducing effects at smaller doses [1]. Larger doses may cause anxiety.
- Pain: Several studies have indicated that THC has potential analgesic (pain-reducing) properties, which may be due in part to its psychoactive effects [2].
- Nausea: In a 2010 study from a major research institute in Barcelona, Spain, a THC:CBD mix exerted antiemetic (anti-nausea and vomiting) effects [3].
- Sleep: Anecdotally, THC may promote restful sleep through its euphoric, relaxing effects. In a 2022 study by three Australian researchers, medical cannabis improved both duration and quality of sleep [4].
- Appetite: THC’s ability to stimulate appetite is the origin of the term “munchies,” which refers to the feeling of hunger you get after smoking cannabis. However, researchers also have investigated this effect for therapeutic applications. A 1994 study by the Cleveland Clinic found that THC may have appetite-stimulating properties [5].
Side Effects of Delta 9 Gummies
While delta 9 gummies are generally safe and well-tolerated, they may create the following adverse effects for some people:
- Dizziness & lightheadedness
- Paranoia & anxiety
- An increase in heart rate
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Inability to concentrate
- Nausea
To minimize the negative potential of delta 9 gummies, start by taking a small dose until you’re comfortable with the effects.
Conclusion: What Affects Delta 9 Onset Time?
A variety of things can influence the onset time of delta 9 gummies, including metabolism, food intake, hydration, and dosage.
To have the best experience with delta 9 gummies, drink plenty of water before and after you take them and start with a low dose to achieve the right balance of potency and comfort.
How Long for Delta 9 Gummies to Kick in: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our customers frequently ask us about how long it takes delta 9 gummies to kick in:
How long do delta 9 gummies last in your system?
With occasional use, delta 9 gummies will last in your system for about one week. With consistent use, delta 9 gummies will last in your system from 30 days to 3 months.
How long does it take for 10mg delta 9 edibles to kick in?
After you take them, 10mg delta 9 edibles will kick in within 45 minutes to 1 hour.
How long does it take for 1000mg delta 9 edibles to kick in?
1000mg delta 9 edibles will typically kick in within 45 minutes to 1 hour, however, they may kick in sooner – as soon as 30 minutes – due to their larger dose.
How long does it take for 300mg delta 9 edibles to kick in?
300mg delta 9 edibles will typically kick in within 45 minutes to 1 hour, however, they may kick in sooner – as soon as 30 minutes – due to the larger amount of delta 9 THC they contain.
Sources
[1] Lichenstein, Sarah D. “THC, CBD, and Anxiety: A review of recent findings on the anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects of cannabis’ primary cannabinoids.” Current addiction reports vol. 9,4 (2022): 473-485. doi:10.1007/s40429-022-00450-7
[2] Bains S, Mukhdomi T. Medicinal Cannabis for Treatment of Chronic Pain. [Updated 2022 Dec 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574562/
[3] Duran, Marta et al. “Preliminary efficacy and safety of an oromucosal standardized cannabis extract in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.” British journal of clinical pharmacology vol. 70,5 (2010): 656-63. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2010.03743.x
[4] Ried, Karin et al. “Medicinal cannabis improves sleep in adults with insomnia: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study.” Journal of sleep research vol. 32,3 (2023): e13793. doi:10.1111/jsr.13793
[5] Nelson, K et al. “A phase II study of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for appetite stimulation in cancer-associated anorexia.” Journal of palliative care vol. 10,1 (1994): 14-8.
