Will Edibles Show Up in a Drug Test?

Will edibles show up in a drug test? If you are curious about whether or not edibles are detectable in a drug test, you may be taking a drug test at the request of an employer or parent. If you consume edibles prior to a drug test, there is a chance that marijuana will show up in the test results.

As the use of marijuana products is slowly becoming more acceptable throughout the nation, many people have begun experimenting with this substance. In particular, the use of edibles is becoming more and more popular. This can include anything from foods or drinks that have been infused with cannabis, both of which are becoming more accessible as more states legalize marijuana. If you have been experimenting with edibles, it is important to know what to expect if you are preparing for a drug test. 

What Are Marijuana Edibles?

Marijuana edibles are ingestible products that contain cannabis. These can come in various different forms, such as edible gummies, baked goods, candies, lozenges, and drinks. Many of these products are in commercial dispensaries, although it is common for people to make their own edibles at home.  To make an edible, people extract the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and turn it into an oil or butter used in baking, cooking, or mixing into beverages. 

While most people prefer to smoke marijuana, as this produces a faster high, taking edibles is becoming more popular. Unfortunately, many of those who use this drug are unaware of the dangers that marijuana can pose.  According to the CDC, marijuana is the most commonly used controlled substance in the U.S., with 48.2 million people having used this drug at least once in 2019.  More recent research shows that approximately 3 in 10 people who use this drug suffer from a marijuana use disorder, a side effect more common amongst those who experiment with this drug before the age of 18.

Are Edibles Dangerous?

Many people who are considering using marijuana will, at some point, ask themselves, “How long do edibles last?” The first thing to know about edibles is that these can produce much longer-lasting effects than would occur from smoking this drug.  It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for cannabis edibles to kick in. Once they do, you may experience a high for up to several hours depending on the kind of THC you took, your diet, and whether you used any other substances with the edible. It can also be difficult to accurately measure the amount of marijuana you are consuming when eating edibles, so you may not be able to gauge what a safe amount will look like.

This, combined with the late onset of side effects that may encourage you to take more, can result in a marijuana overdose. Some of the side effects that can occur after ingesting high doses of potent cannabis edibles include drowsiness, confusion, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, panic attacks, psychosis, impaired motor functions, respiratory depression, and heart problems. While many people believe that marijuana is an essentially harmless drug, this is simply not true. Not only do edibles pose a high risk of overdose and other adverse side effects, but long-term use of marijuana can become habit-forming. In some cases, marijuana can even serve as a gateway drug. This means that once marijuana use becomes a habit, you may be more likely to experiment with other, harder substances that can be even more dangerous.

How Long Do Edibles Stay in Your System?

If you have been experimenting with edibles, you may be wondering “Will edibles show up in a drug test?” It is normal to be concerned about whether or not a drug test will be able to detect the marijuana in your system. The first thing you should know is that the amount of time that edibles stay in your system can vary depending on a number of factors, including:

• Your body weight
• Your metabolism
• Your tolerance to THC
• The amount of THC you consume
• The type of edible you consume
• Whether you eat the edible on an empty stomach or not