How Long Do Cannabis Effects Last? A Timeline by Method

One of the most practical questions for anyone consuming cannabis is simply: "How long will this last?" The answer varies dramatically depending on how you consume cannabis. Understanding these timelines helps you plan appropriately and avoid situations where effects persist longer than expected.

This guide provides realistic timeframes for each major consumption method.

Smoking Cannabis

Onset: 1-5 minutes
Smoked cannabis produces the fastest onset of any consumption method. THC enters your bloodstream through your lungs and reaches your brain within seconds.

Peak Effects: 15-30 minutes
You'll typically feel the strongest effects within the first half hour.

Duration: 1-3 hours
Total effects generally last one to three hours, though some residual effects may linger slightly longer. Most people feel essentially back to baseline within four hours.

Factors affecting duration:

• Potency of the product
• Amount consumed
• Your tolerance level
• Whether you continue consuming

Vaping Cannabis

Onset: 1-5 minutes
Similar to smoking, vaporized cannabis produces rapid onset as cannabinoids enter through the lungs.

Peak Effects: 15-30 minutes
Peak effects occur shortly after consumption.

Duration: 1-3 hours
Duration is comparable to smoking. Some users report that vaping produces slightly shorter or cleaner experiences than smoking, though this varies.

Flower vs. Concentrates:
Vaping high-potency concentrates may produce more intense effects that last slightly longer at the peak, but total duration remains similar.

Edibles

Onset: 30 minutes to 2 hours (sometimes longer)
Edibles have the most variable and delayed onset. Effects can take anywhere from half an hour to over two hours to begin, depending on factors like stomach contents, metabolism, and the specific product.

Peak Effects: 2-4 hours after consumption
Peak intensity typically occurs several hours after eating the edible.

Duration: 4-8 hours (sometimes up to 12)
This is where edibles differ most dramatically from inhalation. Effects last much longer because of how your body metabolizes THC through the digestive system. Higher doses can produce effects lasting 8-12 hours or more.

Why so long?
When you eat cannabis, THC is converted by your liver into 11-hydroxy-THC, a metabolite that crosses into the brain efficiently and is eliminated slowly from your system.

Tinctures and Oils

Timing depends on how you use them:

Sublingual (under the tongue):

• Onset: 15-45 minutes
• Peak: 30-90 minutes
• Duration: 4-6 hours

Taking tinctures sublingually allows cannabinoids to absorb directly into your bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. This produces faster onset than edibles but longer duration than smoking.

Swallowed:

• Onset: 30 minutes to 2 hours
• Peak: 2-4 hours
• Duration: 4-8 hours

Swallowed tinctures behave like edibles since they pass through your digestive system.

Topicals

Onset: 15-45 minutes for localized effects
Duration: 2-4 hours locally

Standard topicals (lotions, balms, salves) don't produce systemic effects—they stay localized to the application area. Most people don't feel "high" from topicals because cannabinoids don't significantly enter the bloodstream.

Transdermal patches are different—they're designed to deliver cannabinoids into the bloodstream:

• Onset: 15-60 minutes
• Duration: Up to 8-12 hours (patches release cannabinoids slowly)

Concentrates (Dabbing)

Onset: Near-instantaneous
Effects begin within seconds.

Peak Effects: 5-15 minutes
The peak comes quickly and intensely.

Duration: 1-3 hours
Despite their potency, dabbed concentrates don't last dramatically longer than smoked flower. The experience is more intense but not necessarily longer.

What About "Coming Down"?

The timelines above describe the main window of effects. However, many people experience residual effects during the "comedown" period:

After smoking/vaping: You may feel slightly foggy or tired for an hour or two after primary effects fade.

After edibles: Residual tiredness or grogginess can persist for several hours after the main experience, sometimes into the next day after high doses.

Sleep effects: Cannabis consumed in the evening may affect sleep quality and how you feel the next morning, even if you no longer feel high.

Planning Around Cannabis

Use these timelines to plan appropriately:

Don't drive until you're completely certain effects have worn off—and add a safety margin. If edibles normally last 6 hours for you, wait at least 8 hours before driving.

Don't schedule obligations during or shortly after your expected effect window.

Plan edibles especially carefully. Their long duration means afternoon edibles can affect your entire evening.

Account for individual variation. These timelines are averages. Some people metabolize cannabinoids faster or slower than others.

Key Takeaways

Cannabis duration depends primarily on consumption method. Smoking and vaping produce effects lasting 1-3 hours with near-instant onset. Edibles take 30 minutes to 2 hours to begin but can last 4-8 hours or longer. Tinctures fall between these extremes depending on administration method. Understanding these timelines helps you plan responsibly and avoid unexpectedly prolonged experiences.

This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice. Individual experiences may vary. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your wellness routine.