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PL Cannabinoid · THC metabolite (active)
11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) is the active metabolite your liver makes from THC — and it is the main reason edibles feel stronger and last longer than inhaled cannabis. When you swallow THC, first-pass liver metabolism converts a large fraction of it into 11-OH-THC, which crosses into the brain readily and is at least as psychoactive as THC itself.
Why edibles hit differently
First-pass metabolism
Swallowed THC goes to the liver before it reaches the brain, and the liver turns much of it into 11-OH-THC. Inhaled THC largely bypasses this, so it produces far less 11-OH-THC. That difference — more of an active, brain-penetrating metabolite from oral doses — is why edibles feel more intense, come on slowly, and last for hours. It is also why edible dosing is easy to get wrong. See our dosing calculator.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is 11-hydroxy-THC stronger than THC? It is at least as psychoactive as THC and crosses into the brain readily. Because oral THC produces a lot of it, edibles often feel stronger than the same amount smoked.
Why do edibles take so long to work? Swallowed THC must pass through the liver to become 11-OH-THC first, which delays onset to 30-90+ minutes.
Sources
- 11-hydroxy-THC metabolism and oral vs inhaled THC, PubMed. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Part of the NOIDS cannabinoids index. Educational reference, not medical advice.
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