Edibles on an Empty Stomach: Should You Take Them?

2 men sitting on couches with open jars of Delta Munchies' gummies.

Edibles might be scary at first. Stories about people getting dry mouths and intense highs after taking an edible can easily look like a tale made for children to scare them from trying a good old cannabis-infused brownie.

However, learning to take an edible can have pretty good results, especially if you know how your body reacts and when’s the best time to have them. For recreational or therapeutic purposes, edibles are an amazing and safe way to try cannabinoids once you’ve covered the basics.

The first rookie mistake is having an edible on an empty stomach because it will “hit harder.”

The logic behind this is because of how alcohol works since it can “easily” get into your system. Cannabinoids work very differently from other compounds and are fat-soluble, meaning that the actual chemistry behind how they work is far more complicated than just skipping lunch.

If you are interested in knowing the basics of edibles and how eating them with an empty stomach is not necessarily the best way to make them hit harder, we’ve got you. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know to decide if an empty or full stomach or having fatty food before an edible is the correct choice for your goals.

Looking for an unforgettable edible? Check out what we got for you.

 

Key Takeaways

  • Edibles are cannabis or hemp-infused products that are absorbed through the digestive system.
  • This kind of product can take anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour to take effect, and the effects last from 6 to 12 hours, depending on your metabolism.
  • When eaten on an empty stomach, the effects might take less time to set and cause side effects.
  • Eating edible with fatty foods might increase the overall effects, including psychoactive ones, as cannabinoids are fat-soluble.

 

How Marijuana Edibles Work

Let’s start with some of the basics about edibles. A marijuana edible is a product that’s been infused with hemp or cannabis-derived extracts. Unlike vaping or smoking, the concentrates are absorbed through the digestive tract.

This results in an even stronger potency and longer onset effects than a joint, which could be an excellent choice for prolonged wellness effects. It can also help for longer sessions of recreational use, like relaxing over a weekend or vacation.

In the end, users have described this as an intense experience, especially when having a product with psychoactive cannabinoids. So products with a milder affinity to the endocannabinoid system, like delta 8 THC, can provide a much more pleasant experience when compared to delta 9.

The good side is that edibles are incredibly discreet and skip smoke altogether. So if you’ve been looking for a way to get to your wellness goals, you can always use the microdosing method. This involves splitting your edibles into smaller portions and slowly increasing the dose every week until you feel the desired effects.

 

Should You Take Edibles on an Empty Stomach?

The answer to this is a little complicated. Unlike alcohol, which can be metabolized easily into your bloodstream, cannabinoids are fat-soluble. So while they will be absorbed faster, the effects won’t last as long as eating it with at least a snack.

Users have reported that when edibles are taken on a full stomach, most of the effects last less than eating it with something fatty. Also, you might be prone to experience negative side effects, like paranoia or having a dry mouth.

This is especially important if you are using edibles to potentially aid you in falling asleep. Whatever you eat before having a gummy could be the difference between having a restful sleep or waking up to unpleasant dreams and feelings too early in the morning.

 

Edibles on an Empty Stomach vs. a Full Stomach

You might be tempted to have an edible on an empty stomach, but let’s check the whole picture before going. As we mentioned, cannabinoids are fat-soluble, so eating them with nothing in the stomach will make the effects set faster but also fade faster as well.

Eating an edible on an empty stomach can also lead to more side effects. At the same time, non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD won’t have effects as strong as paranoia or dry effects. But even milder psychoactive compounds like D8 can produce them with an empty stomach if you don’t have a THC resistance.

On a full stomach, the general onset can take a lot longer. This might also depend on your metabolism, but some people have even reported feeling more intense effects with a full stomach with fatty foods. This makes sense since cannabinoids are fat soluble and can use them as free transport to your system.

Which one is better? In the next section, we’ll go into detail about some of the benefits of having an infused product on an empty stomach.

 

Are there Benefits of Edibles on an Empty Stomach?

Let’s start by saying we don’t recommend them on a full stomach unless you want a quick trip and already have THC resistance, as they can easily lead to side effects you might not want.

That said, if you need intense effects for wellness goals, like helping with pain and other symptoms, it could actually have a stronger onset in a shorter period. So if you suffer from chronic pain and can’t have a toke, edibles could potentially aid with pain relief.

However, for stronger therapeutical effects, we recommend having fatty food before an edible. While metabolizing might take longer, the potential therapeutic effects will also last longer. This also includes psychoactive effects as well, so make sure to dose according to the desired effects.

 

Should I Take Edibles With Or Without Food

Well, this depends on what kind of experience you want to have. For all-time newbies, we don’t recommend trying it on an empty stomach. As we mentioned above, having an edible with nothing else to digest will give you quicker effects and make the effects last less.

Some people also experience stronger side effects, especially with high-potency edibles. So unless you are an intermediate or veteran consumer, we’d recommend having at least a snack before having a cannabinoid-infused product.

The good news is most side effects will also go as quickly as they came, as your metabolism will process the cannabinoids faster. Just make sure you are in a safe environment and keep yourself hydrated.

On the other hand, having a full stomach for an edible as a person with tolerance can be a little bothering, especially if you are expecting a stronger experience than your usual toke. We’d recommend this technique only if you want an intense high and instead of an empty stomach, try eating something fatty for the cannabinoids to bind to and absorb easily.

 

How Long Do Edibles Take to Kick In

While this depends on the kind of cannabinoid, infused product, and your metabolism, the general rule of thumb is to wait between 30 minutes and an hour to feel the effects of your edible.

Some products, like gummies, might be faster to absorb than baked goods and hold out their potency for longer. Usually, cannabinoid-infused products peak in the 1.5 through 2-hour window, so try to look out for any effects before trying another gummy.

In general, edibles can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours to leave your body after ingestion. And if you had one before having anything to eat, you’ll probably have the effects last less than with a full stomach in the 6-8 hour window.

But no matter what you choose, edibles will still take a long time to leave your system, so try avoiding activities that require your dexterity or reflexes, like driving.

 

Where to Buy Edibles Online

Buying edibles online is much easier than before. Sketchy dealers and homemade edibles with questionable potency are a thing of the past when you’ve got third-lab party-tested, high-quality edibles from brands like Delta Munchies.

We currently have three edible types in our store depending on the cannabinoid you are looking for: HHC, legal hemp-derived delta 9 THC, or delta 8 THC. They all have third-party testing for potency and quality to ensure an incredible experience.

For the adventurers out there, we got the delicious HHC gummies. These are available in three flavors, Blue Razz, Melon Dreams, and Fruit Punch. You can get them in a 25 or 40-pack, perfect for a party or just microdosing through the bag. Each candy has 25mg of our top-shelf HHC extract, which has a stable shelf life and holds its potency for longer.

Featured Products

Melon Dreams HHC Gummies

From: $37.99

Now, if you want to try legal delta 9 THC in smaller doses, our delta 9 gummies are perfect for microdosing or enjoying fully. They come in the iconic Strawberry Shortcake, Pink Lemonade, Peach Gelato, Mango Crush, Kiwi Burst, and Blue Dream flavors.

Both use fully hemp-derived D9 THC, with 10mg of our full spectrum formula in each gummy. These also come with different added cannabinoids that synergize with delta 9 THC, like CBN, CBG, CBD, CBC, CBCa, CBGa, CBDa, THCV, THCva, D8, and THCa.

We recommend that newbies to hemp or explorers of the edible scene start with a cannabinoid with fewer side effects, like delta 8 THC. Here are some of our top choices.

If you are looking for something you can dose, the Watermelon Runtz Gummies are a better option. They also come with 25mg of our premium extract but have a squared form, so you can split it up in whatever size you want to try at first. These come in a 25-pack and have a tropical yet slightly tart flavor.