How Long Do Delta 8 THC Gummies Take to Kick In?

Delta 8 THC edibles, such as gummies, take more time to kick in than other formats. They actually come with the biggest delay — but on the other hand, they offer the longest-lasting effects.

The time required for Delta 8 THC gummies to produce their effects depends on several factors, such as the product type, potency, dose, and metabolism.

While there’s no clear answer on the activation time of Delta 8 THC edibles, you can expect them to kick in within a certain window.

That’s what we’ll focus on in this article.

Read on to learn how long it takes for Delta 8 gummies to kick in, how long they last, and whether or not Delta 8 THC shows up on a drug test.

How Long for Delta 8 Gummies to Kick in (Highlights)

• Different types of Delta 8 THC edibles come with different onset and duration of effects.
• The buzz from Delta 8 gummies lasts anywhere from 4–8 hours, although some products can get you high for as long as 10 hours.
• Sublingual and chewable edibles offer faster-acting effects, although they might not last as long as the other types.
• Make sure to verify the quality of your Delta 8 gummies by looking into their lab reports. The lab test results should refer to the current product batch.
• Your metabolism plays an essential role in the onset and duration of Delta 8 edibles.
• If you take Delta 8 gummies after a meal, you can expect them to hit you with a slight delay — but Delta 8 THC will be released gradually from your liver, ensuring longer-lasting effects.

Not All Delta 8 Edibles Are the Same

Delta 8 THC edibles come in various types and formulas. They include different ingredients, have varying levels of potency, and include a different base.

Some cannabis edibles, such as cookies, chocolate bars, and brownies, have more fats inside, improving the absorption of Delta 8 THC.

Such products require lower doses to produce a similar palette of effects, but on the other hand, they won’t stay fresh for as long as edibles like gummies.

Delta 8 gummies usually contain high amounts of sugar, which acts as a preservative along with citric acid. This increases their shelf life big time.

Gummies also share one feature with sublingual edibles, such as lollipops, chews, candies, and lozenges. Some of their content gets sucked when you eat them, reaching the bloodstream through sublingual capillaries in the mouth.

This allows them to avoid the first-pass metabolism in the liver.

As a result, you may feel the effects faster, but they won’t be as noticeable as with the classic edibles that use cannabutter.

If you can, refrain from taking another gummy if you’re not satisfied with the initial effects. Once the dose that passes through the liver kicks in, you will experience the buzz from Delta 8 at its finest.

How Long Does It Take for Delta 8 Gummies to Kick In

Now to the title question.

Traditional edibles usually kick in after 60-90 minutes. The amount of time a traditional edible needs to hit you depends on various factors like how much you’ve recently eaten and what your metabolic rate is.

As mentioned earlier, sublingual edibles have a faster onset; the effects usually take hold in less than 30 minutes.

Some Delta 8 users report feeling the first signs of buzz in about 15 minutes, but the full potential can be experienced after about 45 minutes to one hour.

Factors Affecting the Time Needed for Delta 8 Gummies to Kick In

Product Type

Again, orally ingested Delta 8 products, such as gummies, brownies, and cookies will generally need about 45-60 minutes to take effect.

Sublingual edibles, in turn, kick in faster — usually in about 15-30 minutes.

If you’re looking for a product that needs less time to produce its effects, try out Delta 8 vapes or pre-rolled joints.

Potency

The potency of your Delta 8 gummies can change the activation time to some point. Low-strength Delta 8 products sometimes fail to deliver the desired effects since Delta 8 THC is about twice less potent than Delta 9. Another reason why the effects may feel too mild is that some of the Delta 8 will be lost due to the first-pass metabolism in the digestive tract. You may need to take a few more gummies to get similar results to a high-potency product.

Dose

This factor is closely connected to the product’s potency. If you take a dose that’s too small, you may not feel anything at all. On the other hand, a sudden influx of a large dose of Delta 8 might allow you to feel the effects faster and with greater intensity.

Metabolism

Everyone has a slightly different metabolic rate, and depending on your metabolism; you may need more or less time to experience the effects of Delta 8 THC. If your metabolic rate is slow, it might take longer for the effects to kick in — especially if you take Delta 8 on a full stomach.

What Does the Delta 8 High Feel Like?

The psychoactive effect of Delta 8 gummies varies between individuals and is impacted by the dosage you take and your tolerance to THC.

Another factor modulating the effects of Delta 8 depends on the other cannabinoids and terpenes used in the formula. Delta 8 extracts are made from different strains — each having its own unique set of the said molecules.

Together, minor cannabinoids and terpenes contribute to the entourage effect. This synergy causes the minor cannabinoids and terpenes to boost the beneficial effects of the main cannabinoid while mitigating its potential side effects.

The high from full-spectrum Delta 8 gummies feels similar to the effects of Delta 9 THC — but with lower strength. The mental buzz is calm and more easygoing than marijuana; it also comes with a lower incidence of anxiety and paranoia.

The physical layer of Delta 8 makes you feel mellow and relaxed, making them a decent pick to combat physical discomforts, such as pain, muscle strains, stiffness, and inflammation.

Terpenes and other cannabinoids are important because the high from Delta 8 THC alone feels pretty bland. You feel buzzed but in no particular direction. It’s also easier to experience the side effects of Delta 8 when you consume it alone.

How Long Do the Effects of Delta 8 Gummies Last?

Just like the aforementioned factors will impact the onset of effects, they also affect their duration.

Traditional edibles are metabolized slowly. Delta 8 THC is gradually released from the liver, ensuring longer-lasting but less pronounced effects.

The amount of time a traditional edible will stay in your system is around 6-8 hours.

Sublingual edibles need less time to kick in, but the effects last shorter, typically up to 4 hours.

That’s because a large portion of a sublingual edible gets absorbed by the capillary glands under the tongue, so the product is less affected by direct digestion.

If you want your sublingual edibles to last longer, take them after a meal. Doing so will slow down their metabolism and act like traditional edibles.

What Happens When You Take Too Much Delta 8?

The good news is that you can’t fatally overdose on cannabinoids.

That’s because they don’t interact with the brain stem regions responsible for controlling respiratory function.

But as with any psychoactive product, side effects are possible when you take too much.

Here’s what you can expect from too high a dose of Delta 8.

Side Effects of Delta 8 Gummies

Because Delta 8 is strikingly similar to Delta 9 THC, it produces some side effects, such as:

• Dry mouth
• Red eyes
• Trouble with concentration
• Coordination issues
• Slowed reaction time
• Short-term memory loss
• Rapid heart rate
• Sedation
• Anxiety and paranoia (very rare)

There’s also a risk of cross-interactions between Delta 8 THC and pharmaceutical drugs that may lead to unwanted reactions. It’s wise to consult your doctor if you’re considering adding Delta 8 edibles to your routine. Doing so will help you establish the right dosage and timing for both compounds — and avoid interactions.

How Long Does It Take for Delta 8 Gummies to Kick in Compared to Delta 9 Gummies?

For a (yet) unknown reason, Delta 8 gummies need more time to kick in than their Delta 9 THC counterparts.

While the effects of Delta 8 THC take hold after 45–60 minutes on average, marijuana edibles have a shorter onset — around 30–40 minutes.

However, the ultimate activation time also depends on factors like potency, dosage, metabolism, and the type of edible.

Does Delta 8 THC Show Up on a Drug Test?

Yes, if you’re tested for drugs at work, you should clear your system from Delta 8 THC because you may test positive on screening.

Drug tests aren’t designed to distinguish between different isomers of THC. They just look for its metabolite, THC-OOH, which is the same across the whole family.

Whether you take Delta 9, Delta 8, Delta 10 THC, or HHC, they can make you fail a drug test, especially if you’re a heavy user.

How Long Does Delta 8 THC Stay In Your System?

The amount of time D8 stays in your system is primarily affected by your basal metabolic rate, i.e., the time your body needs to process the active compounds of your product.

Another driving factor is the frequency of use.

If you’ve taken Delta 8 gummies only once, it may take 1–3 days until there are no traces of THC in your system.

Moderate use (4 times a week) can be detected after up to 7 days from your last use.

Chronic use (every day) can be detected for 2 weeks after consumption.

If you’re a chronic heavy user (multiple times every day), THC will stay in your system for 30 days or more.

Where to Buy Delta 8 Gummies

Delta 8 is legal in most states, so you shouldn’t have problems finding a local hemp store that offers such products.

However, Delta 8 THC is a relatively new space. The market is booming and unregulated, so there are no established manufacturing and lab testing standards that Delta 8 brands would have to follow under the threat of hefty fines.

This has created room for fly-by-night Delta 8 companies that are churning out substandard, uncertified products on the market.

Untested Delta 8 gummies can be contaminated with pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and solvents. They can also have unnecessary additives that are detrimental to your health — including artificial colorings, flavorings, bleaches, and preservatives.

The best way to tell whether or not you’re buying a legitimate Delta 8 product is to look for a reputable online store. Buying Delta 8 online gives you a better toolset for researching your potential vendor and their collection so we suggest you shop D8 gummies online.

You can look into the certificates of analysis (CoAs) and verify the product’s potency and purity. Reaching out to other users on social media platforms and forums like Reddit is another handy method of verifying the credibility of your potential supplier.

Aside from a better transparency check, online stores offer better prices because they can cut out the middleman. You can take advantage of regular discounts, subscription purchases, bulk orders, and reward programs to save even more money on premium-grade products.

Last but not least, online retailers have a more diverse product choice. You can browse through hundreds of different formulas from various brands in the comfort of your home — with no time restrictions and pressure from the salespeople.

Key Takeaways on Delta 8 Gummies Activation Times

Delta 8 gummies may need anywhere between 40–60 minutes to kick in, depending on the potency of your product, your metabolic rate, the ingested dose, and the type of edible.

The effects of Delta 8 gummies will take hold faster than traditional edibles because a portion of the dose is absorbed sublingually — and the rest travels to your bloodstream through the digestive system.

This causes a first wave of a mild psychoactive buzz followed by more intense effects from the second wave after around an hour.

Everyone reacts differently to Delta 8 edibles; the aforementioned timeframe is just a general point of reference. If you don’t feel the effects of your gummies after 30 minutes, wait for up to 2 hours before following through with another serving to avoid the side effects.