Methods of Medicating

Methods of Medicating

Throughout the shifting legal landscape and availability of medical cannabis, many different methods of cannabis administration have emerged, and all have crucial health implications that must be understood.  Cannabis and its derivates may be administered through smoking / inhalation, oral ingestion, or intravenous routes. Each method serves unique functions and delivery systems that are appropriate for different occasions. These varying methods and delivery systems offer diverse dosage, onset, and total duration of the medicine. Every individual’s physiological function reacts differently to cannabis and should be monitored for safe consumption.

 

Inhalation

Smoking is an ancient custom most commonly associated with cannabis but is not the only inhalation method of consumption. Alternatively, vaporization is a smokeless form of inhalation that uses controlled temperature methods rather than combustion like traditional smoking methods. These methods create a chain reaction that occur upon inhalation which happens very quickly and delivers the cannabinoids to your system with extreme efficiency.

  • Onset: 0-15 Minutes
  • Duration: 1-4 Hours
  • Peak: 15-30 Minutes
  • Smoking
  • Vaporization

Inhalation

Smoking and Vaporization

Smoking is an ancient custom most commonly associated with cannabis but is not the only inhalation method of consumption. Alternatively, vaporization is a smokeless form of inhalation that uses controlled temperature methods rather than combustion like traditional smoking methods. These methods create a chain reaction that occur upon inhalation which happens very quickly and delivers the cannabinoids to your system with extreme efficiency.

  • Onset: 0-15 Minutes
  • Duration: 1-4 Hours
  • Peak: 15-30 Minutes

Concentrates

An oil, concentrate, or extract is any product derived from cannabis flower that is processed into a concentrated form that contain only the medicinal properties of the plant. Concentrates come in many different forms and consistencies. This method can be a catchall for patients, as they can be inhaled, orally ingested, or used topically.

  • Oils
  • Extracts,
  • Cured
  • Live
  • Solventless Concentrates
  • Refined flavors and cannabinoid profiles

  • Many forms of administration

Concentrates

Oils, Extracts, Cured, Live, and Solventless Concentrates
An oil, concentrate, or extract is any product derived from cannabis flower that is processed into a concentrated form that contain only the medicinal properties of the plant. Concentrates come in many different forms and consistencies. This method can be a catchall for patients, as they can be inhaled, orally ingested, or used topically.

  • Refined flavors and cannabinoid profiles

  • Many forms of administration

Oral Ingestion

Orally ingested cannabis has become a rising trend in patients around the world due its ability for effectiveness, wide array of options available, and discretion. The onset for oral ingestion is slower with longer lasting effects. This is because, during the process of digestion, the cannabinoids undergo a chemical transformation through the liver creating a more potent and prolonged result.

  • Onset: 15-60 Minutes
  • Duration: 4-6 Hours
  • Peak: 60-120 Minutes
  • Tinctures
  • Edibles
  • Capsules
  • Oils

Oral Ingestion

Tinctures, Edibles, Capsules, Oils
Orally ingested cannabis has become a rising trend in patients around the world due its ability for effectiveness, wide array of options available, and discretion. The onset for oral ingestion is slower with longer lasting effects. This is because, during the process of digestion, the cannabinoids undergo a chemical transformation through the liver creating a more potent and prolonged result.

  • Onset: 15-60 Minutes
  • Duration: 4-6 Hours
  • Peak: 60-120 Minutes

Subligual

Sublingual’s are a popular choice for patients who chose not to inhale cannabis. Cannabis can enter the bloodstream when placed under the tongue and held in the mouth. Within the mouth there are dense networks of blood vessels that provide a direct route for cannabinoids to be absorbed. By administering these products under the tongue or in the mouth, patients are able to medicate quickly and with ease.

  • Tinctures
  • Sprays
  • Dissolvable Strips
  • Onset: 20-30 Minutes
  • Duration: 2-6 Hours
  • Peak: 60-120 Minutes

Subligual

Tinctures, Sprays, Dissolvable Strips

Sublingual’s are a popular choice for patients who chose not to inhale cannabis. Cannabis can enter the bloodstream when placed under the tongue and held in the mouth. Within the mouth there are dense networks of blood vessels that provide a direct route for cannabinoids to be absorbed. By administering these products under the tongue or in the mouth, patients are able to medicate quickly and with ease.

  • Onset: 20-30 Minutes
  • Duration: 2-6 Hours
  • Peak: 60-120 Minutes

Topicals

These infused products are applied and absorbed into the skin intended for localized relief of pain, soreness, and inflammation. This is a great idea for individuals who want relief but don’t want to participate in the psychoactive effects of cannabis, common in oral ingestion and inhalation, because the cannabinoids cannot breach the bloodstream.

  • Onset: 5-120 Minutes
  • Duration: 2-12 Hours
  • Lotions
  • balms
  • Salves
  • Oils
  • No psychoactive effects, so new users and those with a low THC tolerance can use them with confidence.

Topicals

Lotions, balms, Salves, and oils

These infused products are applied and absorbed into the skin intended for localized relief of pain, soreness, and inflammation. This is a great idea for individuals who want relief but don’t want to participate in the psychoactive effects of cannabis, common in oral ingestion and inhalation, because the cannabinoids cannot breach the bloodstream.

  • Onset: 5-120 Minutes
  • Duration: 2-12 Hours
  • No psychoactive effects, so new users and those with a low THC tolerance can use them with confidence.

Intravenous

Similar to topicals, patches or pens offer a unique method of administration as they don’t require inhalation or ingestion. Alternatively, individuals will experience psychoactive effects. This method of medicating allows cannabinoids to pass directly into the bloodstream simply by applying the product to a venous area of the body. This provides effective, time-released, and long-lasting results for patients.

  • Onset: 5-120 Minutes
  • Duration: 2-12 Hours (Infrequent cannabis users may experience extended effects)

  • Administration of cannabis can be removed at patient’s discretion

Intravenous

Similar to topicals, patches or pens offer a unique method of administration as they don’t require inhalation or ingestion. Alternatively, individuals will experience psychoactive effects. This method of medicating allows cannabinoids to pass directly into the bloodstream simply by applying the product to a venous area of the body. This provides effective, time-released, and long-lasting results for patients.

  • Onset: 5-120 Minutes
  • Duration: 2-12 Hours (Infrequent cannabis users may experience extended effects)

  • Administration of cannabis can be removed at patient’s discretion