Methods of Ingesting Cannabis
Medical Marijuana can be administered in a variety of ways. It can be smoked, swallowed, eaten, applied under the tongue or rubbed on topically. Each method of delivery has a distinct course of action.
- Effects of smoking cannabis are generally felt within a few minutes and peak in 10 to 30 minutes, lasting for 1-3 hours, then declining over the next 2-4.
- Effects of eating cannabis are generally felt within 60-90 minutes, lasting for up to 6 hours.
- Effects of tincture are generally felt within 5-10 minutes when placed under the tongue and absorbed without swallowing, and last much the same as inhaled cannabis. If swallowed or placed in a tea it is absorbed by the GI tract. Onset of effect can be between five and twenty minutes, and the duration is similar to that of edibles and can last over four hours.
Smoking marijuana produces the most immediate effects and refined control of dose. It does however emit tars and noxious gases that are found inherently in smoke. It is felt that the amount smoked is variably small, so perhaps the benefits outweigh the risks. Cannabis can also be vaporized.
Vaporizers heat the cannabis to temperatures just below the point of combustion where smoke is produced. This separates the THC and other medically active cannabinoids from the plant material without burning, and they are released into a vapor. This vapor is then inhaled. The temperature at which the cannabis is heated is 400 °F, this is the point where the cannabinoids release into a vapor. Combustion of plant material begins at around 540 °F, therefore many if not all of the negative effects of smoking are mitigated. A deterrent to vaporizers is the initial cost, but due to the decreased amount of cannabis needed per dose and healthier administration method, most patients feel it is a good investment.
Edibles are longer lasting, and have lag time, the amount of time it takes to feel their effects. This is due to it’s absorption in the GI tract and metabolism in the liver. It is recommended to exercise caution when trying an edible for the first time. Most edibles are enjoyable to eat and it is easy to exceed a comfortable dose. It is recommended that you try a quarter of a dose the first time using an edible, wait 45 minutes, and then try another quarter dose if you have not achieved the desired effect. This will greatly decrease your likelihood of experiencing a stronger effect than you desire. Proceeding to quickly and over consuming the edible, by the time all the doses have hit your system, you are "over medicated." If you experience uncomfortable side effects, eating something or sleeping may reduce your discomfort. Time is the only needed antidote. The effects will pass.
Tinctures are a concentrated extract of marijuana, usually prepared in a base of alcohol, oil, or glycerol. They offer a convenient way to medicate in a non-smoking environment. Dosages are measured with a dropper or atomizer (spray) and delivered under the tongue to be absorbed through the capillaries of the mouth directly into the bloodstream. This is similar to how the effects of smoked cannabis is processed in the body.
Tinctures can also be put into a juice or a tea and consumed as a drink. The effect you feel with this method is similar to that of an edible.