A Guide to Cannabis Edibles: Recovery, Dosage Info & More

Oof. That edible sure was tasty, but now that some time has passed, you’re wondering if you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Is it even possible to clear away these icky side effects and start feeling normal again? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together plenty of tips and tricks to help you start feeling better, along with some advice to help you safely dose and enjoy edibles in the future. Don’t worry—even if it doesn’t feel like the end is in sight, you will feel better soon!

Things You Should Know

Drink lots of water as you recover to help gradually work the marijuana out of your body. Water can also help with any dry mouth symptoms.
Eat a healthy snack like cheese or nuts to help you feel more grounded. The next morning, eat a healthy, fruit-filled breakfast to help you recover from your weed hangover.
Expect your high to stick around for up to 12 hours, with some effects possibly lasting up to 1 day after the fact.

Section 1 of 4:

Recovering from Edible Symptoms

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Drink plenty of water. Water won’t instantly sober you up, but it helps your body gradually clear the marijuana out of your system.^{[1]
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Research source} So, make sure to stay hydrated before, during, and after your edible experience! Water can also help clear away the “cotton mouth” you might be feeling, as well as chewing on a stick of sugar-free gum or rinsing out your mouth with a dry mouth mouthwash.^{[2]
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- Drinking lots of water can also help you get rid of any pesky weed hangover symptoms the next morning.^{[3]
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- Cut back on caffeine while you’re recovering from your dry mouth so it doesn’t contribute to your symptoms.
Enjoy a small, healthy bite to eat, like a piece of fruit, a little bit of cheese, or a handful of nuts. Eating food can help ground you, which helps you recover from your high.^{[4]
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Research source} If you’re struggling with a weed hangover, enjoy a healthy, substantial, fruit-filled breakfast (your body absorbs the natural sugars in fruits more quickly as opposed to the refined sugars in some breakfast foods).^{[5]
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Lie down and get some sleep. Your body knows what it needs—so, if you’re feeling really tired and low-energy, crawl into bed or take a snooze on the couch for the time being.^{[6]
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Research source} Giving yourself a chance to rest helps gives your brain a chance to clear the cobwebs out—that way, you can start feeling more clear-headed.^{[7]
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- It’s okay if you’re not ready to head to bed just yet. Even a short nap can make a difference!
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Chill out with some relaxing activities. If your edible has left you feeling a little anxious, choose a low-key activity to help you relax, like listening to some great tunes, putting on an episode of your favorite TV show, or hanging out with some friends. However you’re feeling now, it’s important to remember that the high is only temporary, and you’ll be feeling back to normal before you know it.^{[8]
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- Hopping in the shower can be a relaxing way to start sobering up! A cold shower may help jolt you from your high, while a warm shower can be a great way to chill out and ground yourself.^{[9]
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- Taking a nice, long shower in the morning (when you’re experiencing a weed hangover) can also help you feel better since it gets your body to produce endorphins.^{[10]
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Get a little exercise if you feel up to it. Exercise can be a great mood booster, and is a simple way to relieve some extra stress and help you relax.^{[12]
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Go to source} Don’t overdo it, though! A simple walk around the neighborhood is a great way to get your blood pumping.
- See how you’re feeling before you do any type of exercise. If you’re feeling dizzy, woozy, or unwell overall, don’t try any sort of exercise.
- Getting a little exercise (like going for a walk) and enjoying the fresh air can also help you feel a little more levelheaded.^{[13]
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New research reports that painkillers like ibuprofen (as well as prescription medications like celecoxib/Celebrex) can help counteract some of the high you feel after using marijuana.^{[14]
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Research source} Just one pill is enough—you don’t have to take a full dose.^{[15]
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Nibble on 2-3 black peppercorns to help ground yourself. Terpenes are natural compounds found in a variety of plants—in fact, they’re responsible for the way plants look, taste, and smell (including cannabis).^{[16]
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Go to source} Black peppercorns happen to be rich in the alpha-pinene terpene, which, when paired with the THC in your system, helps you relax. If you feel like your brain’s going a mile a minute, gnawing on a couple of peppercorns may help you start feeling better.^{[17]
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- Lemon slices might also help since they’re rich in limonene, a terpene that helps get rid of stress.^{[18]
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- Keep in mind that not all terpenes are created equally—mangoes, for instance, contain a terpene called beta-myrcene, which has a sedative effect. If you eat a mango before you an eat an edible, your high can last even longer.^{[19]
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Take a CBD product. According to some weed enthusiasts, taking CBD products (like tinctures and gummies) can help clear away the side effects of a weed hangover and help you start feeling better.^{[20]
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Research source} Always talk with your doctor before trying any CBD products, though, as they might be able to recommend a specific CBD product for you and/or let you know if CBD could have any negative side effects with your current medications.^{[21]
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- Want to take a deeper dive into your CBD preferences? Check out wikiHow’s “Could CBD Be Right for Me?" quiz.

Section 2 of 4:

How long do edibles last?

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The high from an edible can linger up to 12 hours. Unlike smoked or vaped weed, edibles are processed through the digestive system. Because of this, it takes longer for the initial high to kick in—plus, the after-effects of the high last a lot longer. An edible’s side effects can easily stick around for 12 hours, while some people feel leftover effects for up to a day after the fact.^{[22]
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- Every person has a unique metabolism and body chemistry, so there’s not a “one size fits all” recovery time for edibles.
- Keep in mind that it takes a lot longer to reach the “peak” of your high when you’re eating an edible (as opposed to smoking/vaping weed). When you inhale weed, you get the peak effects after about half an hour; with edibles, it can take up to 4 hours to reach your peak.^{[23]
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Marijuana sticks around in your urine for up to 30 days. Worried about a future drug test? The marijuana from your edibles can be spotted in your urine for anywhere from 1 to 30 days, and in your saliva for up to a day after the fact. Hair follicles are a different story—marijuana can be found in your hair for up to 3 months/90 days after your edible experience.^{[24]
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- Sweat testing isn’t quite as long-term as hair follicle testing, but it can identify marijuana in your system up to 1-2 weeks after you’ve eaten an edible.

Section 3 of 4:

What is a safe dose of cannabis edibles?

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Start with a 2.5 mg or smaller dose if you don’t have much experience. The high from an edible lasts much longer than the high from vaped/smoked marijuana, so it’s always best to start with a smaller dose.^{[25]
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Research source} If you’re somewhat experienced with edibles, you’re welcome to try a larger dose, like 5 mg or 10 mg. Just remember—it’s always better to start small!^{[26]
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- Don’t eat more than 10 mg of cannabis in a single serving of an edible.

Section 4 of 4:

Best Practices for Edibles

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Always pick up your weed from a dispensary; that way, you know for sure that your weed is good quality and not laced with pesticides, bacteria, mold, and other harmful substances.^{[27]
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Research source} Never use any type of synthetic marijuana (sometimes sold under brand names like Mr. Nice Guy, Bizarro, and Scooby Snax)—they’re essentially plant materials spritzed all over with chemicals (and possibly other drugs), and they’re extremely dangerous to use.^{[28]
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Wait a few hours to feel the high from your edible. Edibles are processed through your digestive system, so they don’t provide the same quick high you’d get from inhaling weed (like through a bong, joint, or vaporizer). Don’t take another just because you don’t feel the effects right away, otherwise you might accidentally get uncomfortably high.^{[29]
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- Edibles such as chocolate bars or brownies might take even longer to kick in, so be especially careful if you’re consuming these.
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Eat your edibles in a safe place. Getting high can be a unique and disorienting experience, so make sure you’re in familiar territory whenever you consume edibles. Staying at home or hanging at a trusted friend’s home are great locations to consider.^{[30]
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- Don’t take edibles in a public, crowded space where you don’t feel completely safe, like a club or a party.
Getting high can be unsettling, and it isn’t always fun it to ride it out alone. Invite a friend over and see if they’re willing to hang out with you while you take your edible. If anything goes wrong, your friend can step in and keep an eye on you.^{[31]
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Give yourself at least 8 hours to process the edible. Enjoying edibles can be a really fun time, but they leave you out of commission for a little while. Choose a time (like the weekend) where you dedicate at least 8 hours to your edible experience.^{[32]
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Research source} The more time you give yourself to recover, the better!
- Warning: Never drive or operate any kind of heavy machinery while you’re high. If you’re expected to drive somewhere, save your edible for another day.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Are there any other ways to recover from edibles?

Lauren Forsch
CBD Expert
Lauren Forsch is a CBD Expert and Founder of Popped.NYC based in New York. Popped.NYC is a cannabis company and lifestyle brand that creates CBD products designed to provide people with relief and promote wellness, self-care, and health. With first-hand experience of managing physical pain and anxiety, Lauren found relief from plant-based, CBD remedies. She created Popped.NYC from a desire to help people manage their pain and offers consultations and a wide variety of handmade, THC-free, vegan CBD products.

Lauren Forsch

CBD Expert

Expert Answer

You can try eating something, especially something that's fatty, which can sometimes absorb any lingering effects, though it might also reactivate some THC since fat binds with it—so go easy. Hydrate with water or a calming herbal tea to stay grounded, and avoid alcohol, as it can intensify the high.

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Tips

Always air on the side of caution when portioning your edibles. Because of the way they’re made, edibles are much harder to accurately dose (as opposed to inhaled marijuana). A normal “serving” of an edible, like a single cupcake or cookie, could actually have more than the recommended 10 mg dose of marijuana. Here’s a THC calculator that may help you get a better grasp on dosages.

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Some weed enthusiasts claim that detox pills can help you feel better after having an edible. Always talk to your doctor before using these types of pills to make sure that they don’t negatively interfere with your medications.

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Warnings

While THC (the psychoactive component in marijuana) overdoses aren’t usually dangerous, they can still be extremely scary and disorienting. If you start experiencing severe symptoms like major fear and anxiety, heart stress, delusions, and/or vomiting, call emergency services right away.

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Always store your edibles safely, especially if you live around children and pets. Edibles often look like appealing treats, so they might be eaten by an unsuspecting person. Make sure that your edibles are locked up and well-hidden so only you can access them.^{[33]
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