Delta 9 gummies have become one of the most common ways to enjoy hemp-derived Delta 9. There’s a gummy out there for everyone, regardless of experience level, dietary needs, or flavor preferences.
One thing that makes Delta 9 gummies so popular is their fast-acting, long-lasting effects. But before you try Delta 9 gummies, you probably have some questions. How long does it take for the effects to kick in? How long will the effects last after that? We’ll break it down for you in this guide.
What Are Delta 9 Gummies?
Delta 9 gummies are precisely what they sound like — gummies infused with Delta 9 THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp. Hemp-derived Delta 9 THC is added to the gummy mixture as it's being made, and you’ll quickly feel the effects of Delta 9 after eating a gummy.
Delta 9 THC Explained
Delta 9 THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis plants. It produces a range of potent, psychoactive effects, including euphoric feelings, improved mood, and a sense of relaxation.
Delta 9 works with your body’s endocannabinoid system and cannabinoid receptors. Once it enters your body and binds to these receptors, you’ll begin to feel the effects.
Why Gummies Are a Popular Choice
Over the past few years, gummies have become a trendy way to use Delta 9 because of their convenience, great taste, fast absorption, and long-lasting effects.
There are Delta 9 gummies available to suit nearly any taste. For example, our Koi Delta 9 THC Gummies and Extra Strength Delta 9 THC Gummies come in an array of delicious flavors, such as Strawberry, Watermelon, and Blue-Razz.
How Do Delta 9 Gummies Work?
Edibles like Delta 9 gummies need to pass through your digestive system, just like anything else you eat. After you chew and swallow a gummy, it enters your stomach — where the digestive process begins.
Once your stomach breaks down the gummy, the walls of your small intestine absorb the cannabinoids inside it. After absorption, the cannabinoids can travel to the liver for metabolization. At this point, the THC enters the bloodstream and reaches the brain, causing psychoactive effects. Most people feel the strongest effects after gummies have been fully metabolized.
When Will You Feel the Effects of Delta 9 Gummies?
Most people feel the effects of Delta 9 within 30-90 minutes. After that, the effects can last up to four hours. However, this can vary based on a range of factors.
Factors Influencing Onset Time
You begin to feel Delta 9’s peak effects only after the cannabinoids are digested, metabolized, and released into your bloodstream. If you’ve recently eaten or have a lot of food in your stomach, it’ll take longer for your stomach to digest the gummies and absorb the cannabinoids. On the other hand, if you take them on an empty stomach, your body can get to work on digesting them much more quickly.
The next thing to consider is metabolic rate. Everyone metabolizes food differently. Some people have a very fast metabolism, leading to a quicker onset time for Delta 9 gummies. Others have a slower metabolism and need to wait longer to feel the full effects.
Once digestion and metabolization are complete, there’s one final thing to consider — the release of Delta 9 into your bloodstream. If you’re a smaller person, you’ll likely wait less time for the cannabinoids to travel throughout your body, leading to a quicker onset time. If you’re a larger person, it could take longer for them to travel, leading to a slower onset time.
Other factors, including serving size and tolerance level, can influence a Delta 9 gummy's onset time. But these are the three major parts to be aware of.
What Influences the Length of Delta 9 Gummies' Effects?
Some people only feel the effects of Delta 9 gummies for a couple of hours, while others still feel residual effects several hours later. On average, you can expect to feel them working for between 3-4 hours. But, there are a lot of factors that can influence this.
Dosage and Potency
It goes without saying that higher servings of Delta 9 produce longer-lasting, more intense effects. For example, Koi Dragon Blend Gummies contain 10mg of Delta 9 and 115mg of Delta 8 THC per serving, while Koi Complete Nighttime Rest Gummies contain only 5mg per serving.
Because the Dragon Blend Gummies contain more THC per serving, you can expect the effects to be more potent and last longer.
Tolerance Level
Your tolerance to Delta 9 also plays a role in how long the effects last. If you use Delta 9 multiple times per week, you likely won’t feel as strong of effects as someone who uses it once per week or less.
Everyone's body handles Delta 9 differently. However, most people develop a tolerance for it over time. In most cases, the more often you take Delta 9, the more quickly the effects will wear off.
Body Weight and Metabolism
While a higher metabolism can help Delta 9’s effects kick in more quickly, it usually also means shorter-lasting effects. But while slower metabolisms mean a longer onset time, they can also lead to longer-lasting effects.
Other factors to consider are body weight and body fat percentage. It can vary from person to person, but larger people tend to metabolize Delta 9 slower, leading to longer-lasting effects. While body weight isn't so cut and dry, Delta 9's effects almost always last longer in people with higher body fat percentages.
THC is fat-soluble, meaning it binds to fat molecules within your body. A higher body fat percentage means more fat is available for THC to bind to, leading to longer-lasting effects.
Food Intake
When there’s nothing but the Delta 9 gummies in your system, they take first priority for digestion and metabolization. This leads to fast absorption and fast metabolization, creating intense but quick effects.
Taking Delta 9 gummies with food, on the other hand, means more competition for digestion and metabolization. Your body is digesting more food, which means a longer onset time as the gummies are broken down and Delta 9 is absorbed through the intestines. However, it also means more competition for metabolization — so while the effects will take longer to kick in and may not be as intense, they typically last longer.
How Long Do Delta 9 Gummies Stay in Your System?
THC in your body can be detected for up to 90 days. But, this depends heavily on how often you use Delta 9 and the type of test detecting it.
Blood and saliva tests typically have the shortest detection windows, while hair tests have the longest. Now, we’ll go over the different testing methods and how long they can detect THC in your body.
Urine Test Detection
Urine tests are the most common Delta 9 detection method. Methods can vary based on who’s administering the test, but they’re usually performed similarly to one you’d take in a doctor’s office. Some tests return results the same day, while others take a few days.
In most cases, Delta 9 THC can be detected through urine for up to 30 days. However, it depends on how often you use it.
If you only use Delta 9 occasionally, say one or two days a week, urine tests may only detect it for up to three days after your last use. But if you use it every day or multiple times per day, you can test positive for up to 30 days after your last use.
Blood and Saliva Tests
Blood detection tests are done similarly to other types of blood tests. The technician takes a small sample, usually from your arm, then sends it to a laboratory to detect any THC present.
For most people, a blood test will only show Delta 9 used within the past 12 hours. But if you use Delta 9 daily or multiple times daily, this window can increase to 25-30 days.
Saliva tests have a similar Delta 9 detection window. The technician will swab your mouth and typically test it on-site. In most cases, the results are available within 15 minutes. Occasional users can expect a saliva test to pick up on Delta 9 used within the past three days. However, it can be detected for 30 days or longer in daily users.
Hair Tests
When you use Delta 9, it makes its way to your hair follicles through blood vessels and sweat. Follicles are usually taken from the back of your head and then tested in a laboratory to detect any Delta 9 present.
Hair strand tests are one of the most expensive and labor-intensive options, so they're less common than other methods. However, they are one of the most accurate ways to detect Delta 9. Hair strand tests can detect THC in your body for up to 90 days after your last use.
Summary
Delta 9 gummies work differently for everybody. Whether you’re wondering about onset time or for how long you can expect to feel the effects, there’s unfortunately no direct answer.
For fast-acting, long-lasting effects, try taking Koi Delta 9 Gummies only a couple of times per week with a small, high-fat snack like nuts, cheese, or avocado. Keeping your tolerance low will encourage longer-lasting effects, while a small, high-fat snack means relatively fast absorption and plenty of fat cells for the cannabinoids to bind to.
