Edibles Products

Edibles are cannabis you eat or drink: gummies, chocolates, baked goods, candies and drinks. They are discreet, smoke-free and long-lasting, and they are also the easiest way to take far more than you meant to. Below: how edibles work, how long they take, what the strength on the label means, and what they cost per 100mg of THC at the Canadian online dispensaries we track.

How Edibles Work

When you eat an edible, its THC and CBD travel through your digestive system and are metabolized by your liver before reaching the bloodstream and the brain. The liver converts THC into a more potent form, which is why edibles can feel stronger and last longer than smoking the same amount.

That route is also why they are slow. Edibles take from 30 minutes to two hours to begin working and around four hours to reach their peak. Once peaked, the effects can last six to eight hours, and some people feel drowsy for up to 24 hours. Products labelled fast-acting or quick-onset use a nanoemulsion and can work within about 10 minutes.

What the Strength Means

Edibles sold in licensed Canadian stores are capped at 10mg of THC per package. The edibles listed by the online dispensaries we track are a different market: their packages commonly run from a few hundred to several thousand milligrams, as the table below shows.

So read the strength per piece, not just per package, and do the arithmetic before you eat. Health Canada recommends starting with 2.5mg of THC or less, ideally with an equal or greater amount of CBD.

What Edibles Cost in Canada Right Now

These are the 839 edibles we track at 8 Canadian online dispensaries. Edibles are sold by strength, not weight, so the fair comparison is the price per 100mg of THC. Median figures, by the total strength of the package:

By the milligram, the strongest packages work out 90% cheaper than the weakest. That is only a saving if the dose per piece suits you. Strength is read from each listing's own label, and prices change often.

Where to Buy Edibles Online in Canada

You can buy edibles online from Bud Express Now, MMJ Express, Low Price Bud, Green Society, Chronic Farms, Bulkweedinbox, BC Bud Supply and Speed Greens.

Shipping thresholds and coupons move the real total, so check the current coupon codes before you order.

Kinds of Edibles

Gummies (sold as soft chews), hard candies, chocolates, brownies, cookies and other baked goods, plus drinks: iced teas, lemonades, sodas and drink mixes. Drinks count as edibles, because they are absorbed the same way. Cannabis oils and capsules, though swallowed, are treated as extracts. See tinctures.

Edibles and Safety: What to Watch

When in doubt, wait it out. If 30 minutes pass and you feel nothing, that is normal: wait at least two hours before taking more. How strongly an edible hits depends on what you have eaten, your metabolism and your experience, so the same dose can feel different on different days.

Edibles look like ordinary food, which makes them a real risk to children and pets. Keep them in their original packaging, out of reach.

Sources: Ontario Cannabis Store: Intro to edibles; Ontario Cannabis Store: 7 things you need to know about edibles; Health Canada: Cannabis, lower your risks. Prices are taken from the dispensaries' own listings and change often.