Cannabis Made Clear
Consuming Cannabis: Ingestion
Cannabis can be consumed in many ways, each with its own pros and cons. Discover how ingesting cannabis affects the way it works in your body.
Last updated June 30, 2025 | Published on June 20, 2022
Ingestible cannabis products are ever-evolving, but this method of consuming cannabis typically affects your body differently from others, including inhalation and topical application. Before you try the latest infused beverage or cannabis gummy, learn about how cannabinoids are absorbed into your bloodstream, the timing of effects and ways to minimize your risks.
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Methods of ingestion
When you ingest cannabis, the cannabinoids travel into your digestive system, where they are metabolized by your liver before being absorbed into your bloodstream.
There are a variety of ways to ingest cannabis, such as:
- Eating cannabis-infused products
- gummies and soft chews
- chocolates
- baked goods
- infused foods and sauces
- Drinking cannabis-infused beverages
- sodas and seltzers
- juices
- teas
- dissolvable powders
- Ingesting cannabis sprays and oils
Dosage for ingesting cannabis
Ingesting cannabis may affect you differently than smoking or vaping — so start low and go slow. Most public health and research organizations, including the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse and Addiction, suggest starting with an edible cannabis product containing 2.5 mg THC or less.
Consider recording your reactions and monitoring them to fully understand how much of a cannabis edible to take to achieve the desired effect.
Timing of onset of effects
You may feel the full effects of ingesting cannabis within 30 minutes to two hours of consumption. Full effects generally peak around four hours after ingestion.
Some products may be designed for faster onset. Watch for terms like “fast-acting” or “quick-onset” when you’re purchasing beverages and edibles. These products are sometimes formulated by creating a nanoemulsion to produce effects sooner than traditional edibles, potentially within 10 minutes.
Keep in mind that different products will affect everyone differently — factors such as age, sex, overall health and previous cannabis experience all play a role — and these are only guidelines.
How to reduce the risks of ingesting cannabis
Ingesting cannabis is not without risk. Here are some ways to reduce the risks associated with consuming edible cannabis.
- Start with a low dose. One of the most common errors people make when trying edibles is taking more while waiting to feel the effects of the first dose. This can result in overconsumption and an unwanted intensity of effects. Start with a small portion, such as 2.5 mg THC, and wait several hours to gauge the full effects before considering an additional dose.
- Store edibles safely. Because cannabis-infused edibles look a lot like candies and treats without cannabis in them, they could be appealing to children. This is especially true for unregulated edibles in packages that resemble popular candy brands. If you have edible cannabis at home, including edibles you made yourself, be sure they are properly labelled, kept in child-resistant containers that are resealed after use and stored out of the sight and reach of children and pets.
- Do not mix substances. Avoid combining cannabis with other substances, such as alcohol and tobacco. Doing so could lead to unwanted effects, and mixing alcohol and cannabis can increase your risk of impairment.
- Avoid driving after consuming edibles. When the effects of cannabis take time to be felt — as in the case of cannabis that’s ingested or consumed orally — it is recommended that you avoid driving for six to eight hours, as residual effects such as drowsiness may be felt for up to 24 hours after consumption.
Each method of consuming cannabis, including ingesting cannabis-infused edibles and beverages, poses its own risks. Always start low and go slow for the best experience.
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