TL;DR: To recover from an edible hangover, stay hydrated, eat light, rest, and avoid heavy activities. Moderation is key to preventing hangovers.
Main Points:
- Understanding Edibles: Long-lasting, discreet, potent; processed by the digestive system.
- Edible Hangover Symptoms: Sluggishness, brain fog, fatigue.
- Recovery Tips: Drink water, eat light foods, rest, try herbal teas, and avoid heavy activities.
- Prevention: Start with small doses and avoid overconsumption.
Edibles offer some unique advantages compared to other cannabinoid products. They’re long-lasting, especially discreet, and pretty potent.
However, some edible users find themselves dealing with an edible “hangover” the next day. That includes unwanted effects like sluggishness, tiredness, brain fog, and more.
So, how can you treat an edible hangover? How can you recover from edibles the next day? Let’s take a closer look.
What are Edibles, and What Is an Edible Hangover?
In the simplest and broadest definition, edibles are food and drinks that contain cannabinoids. Prepackaged edibles tend to be candy or sweets, with gummies and chocolate being especially popular.
Edibles generally contain psychoactive cannabinoids, like Delta 8 and HHC. These chemicals interact with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system and produce certain effects. Feelings like an elevated mood and altered perceptions are common.
Edibles are often used recreationally, although they’re also a favorite for some users due to potential benefits like pain relief.
Unlike vaping or smoking, where cannabinoids enter the bloodstream through the lungs, the cannabinoids in edibles are processed by the body’s digestive system. That means:
- It takes a relatively long time for the effects of edibles to kick in. The exact time frame varies based on metabolism, whether other food has been eaten recently, and other factors. In general, users start feeling the effects of edibles about 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming them.
- Because of those delayed effects, it’s important not to overconsume edibles and risk an edible hangover. Learn more about edible dosing.
- The effects of edibles kick in gradually and fall off in the same way.
- The edible experience tends to last much longer than smoking or vaping, stretching across several hours instead of just a few.
- A single dose of an edible can provide an experience that seems more intense or powerful than that of smoking or vaping, as Leafwell explains.
Additionally, edibles are popular because they don’t produce any smoke, vapor, or odor. They’re the most discreet way to enjoy cannabinoids. The overall experience of an edible is still very similar to smoking or vaping, but these important differences stand out.
Legality of Cannabinoid Edibles
Cannabinoids have two major sources: cannabis and hemp plants. The cannabinoids in edibles — the active ingredient — come from one of these two sources.
Cannabis edibles (i.e. edibles made from cannabis plants) are illegal on the federal level. However, they’re legal in states that have medicinal and/or recreational cannabis programs.
Hemp-based edibles are federally legal and legal in many states. However, some states restrict or prohibit their sale and possession.
What Is an Edible Hangover?
The idea of a “weed hangover” dates back several decades. Research on the topic from 1985, published in the peer-reviewed journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, is just one example. While there is no conclusive, authoritative proof that these hangovers exist, many users recognize the concept.
The good news is that a cannabinoid or edible hangover appears to be less intense than that of an alcohol hangover.
However, the symptoms can be similar. Medical News Today lists cannabinoid hangover symptoms, including dry mouth, fatigue, headaches, and lethargy. If you feel out of sorts, tired, dehydrated, or otherwise not normal the next day after using cannabinoids, you may be experiencing a hangover.
We can tell that edible hangovers aren’t a desired effect — in general, hangovers never are. So, how can you prevent edible hangovers and minimize their effects?
How to Recover From an Edible Hangover
The best way to recover from an edible hangover is to avoid one in the first place. In other words, moderate your use of edibles the day or night before.
Don’t overdo it. Take a small dose to start with (1/2 of the recommended dose, if you haven’t tried edibles before) and resist the urge to take more while waiting for the effects to kick in. Edibles can be very potent, so a single or half of a single dose is plenty for most users.
What happens if, despite your best efforts, you’re still feeling the symptoms of an edible hangover the next day?
These suggestions may not fully cure a hangover, but they can help address the symptoms. Because a hangover from edibles tends to last only part of a day, it’s often enough to get through the issue as it resolves. We suggest:
For Nutrition and Hydration:
- Drink plenty of water, especially if you feel dehydrated or have dry mouth. Drinking a beverage with plenty of electrolytes (such as sports drinks like Gatorade) can also help.
- Eat light, nutrient-dense foods. Examples include whole grains, lean protein, fruits, and vegetables.
- Avoid heavy, greasy foods until you feel better.
For Activity and Rest:
- Avoid strenuous physical activity and heavy exercise if possible.
- Instead, try a lighter activity like walking or stretching.
- Take a nap or rest instead of engaging in strenuous or complex mental activity, if possible.
For Increasing Relaxation:
- Try an herbal tea, like mint or chamomile, to help you relax and possibly reduce the severity of symptoms.
- Pick a relaxing and simple activity to take your mind off of the symptoms. Try reading or watching a few episodes of your favorite TV show.
For Specific Symptoms:
- If you have a headache, consider using an over-the-counter pain reliever like aspirin.
- If you have an upset stomach or nausea, try an over-the-counter antacid.
- Moderate caffeine consumption may help a headache, but too much caffeine could have the opposite effect.
Exceptional Cannabinoid Edibles from Delta 8 Resellers
Using high-quality edibles may help to reduce the potential of an edible hangover. Delta 8 Resellers is proud to bring you the very best hemp-derived edibles from the industry’s leading brands!
Our suppliers have strongly positive reputations and long track records of satisfying customers. Additionally, we share the results of third-party lab testing on the products we offer, whenever available, on individual product pages. That way, you can see exactly what you’re buying for yourself.
