A medication administration route is often classified by the location at which the drug is administered, such as oral, inhaled or topical. The choice of routes in which the medication is given depends not only on convenience and compliance but also on the drug’s profile.
When taking cannabis routes of administration rate of onset and duration of effects will vary from person to person depending on the tone of the individual’s endocannabinoid system.
These are general guidelines.
Smoking or Vaping: Quickest onset 5-10 minutes. Effects lasts about 2-3 hours. Up to 90% is absorbed.
Tincture Drops: Onset 30-45 minutes. Effects lasts about 4 hours. About 45%- 55% is absorbed. Tincture is held between the lip and gum line for 30 seconds before swallowing. This allows it to be absorbed through the mucus membranes into the blood stream. Full
Extract Oil: Onset 20-30 minutes. Effects are a wide-ranging lasting anywhere from 5-10 hours and for some people effects last all day. When taken sublingually an average of up to 75% is absorbed. Oil is highly concentrated often containing upwards of 50-60% combination of various ratios of THC/CBD. Dosing should begin with small amounts. A fourth to one half of a grain a rice which is gradually increased as tolerated and depending on the condition being treated.
Capsules and Edibles: Onset 60-120 minutes. Effects are about 4-5 hours. Edible consumption is sometimes recommended for patients who experience severe chronic pain because the effects manifest in more of a physiological (body) effect than other routes of delivery and have been described as a deeper or heavier feeling. Patients should take caution with edible cannabis because it can sometimes take up to twenty minutes to two hours to take effect and can last for four hours or more.
*To avoid possible overdosing, it is recommended that patients eat small portion of edible medical cannabis at a time – a form of dose monitoring known as “titration” – and wait an hour or two for it to take affect before deciding to take more. This is because when cannabis is ingested it is processed by the liver which is different process than when inhaled or taken as a tincture.
When liver enzymes metabolize edible THC, it is changed from delta 9 to delta 11.
Depending on the ratio of THC to CBD in the edible people can experience significant psychoactive intoxication and, in some cases, a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) which can be uncomfortable enough for people to seek medical attention.
Trans Dermal Patches: Time to onset: 1.25hrs +/- 0.5 hrs. Duration of effect: 6-8 hours when applied to intact skin, deliver the cannabis through the skin at a controlled rate into systemic circulation. It comes in the form of a patch or a gel that is applied directly to the skin. The quality and consistency of effect is dependent on the transport medium. They act like nicotine patches or over the counter Solanpas pain patches which contain methyl salicylate.
Suppositories: Onset 30 minutes 50-70% absorbed, last 3-4 hours. Cannabis suppositories allow for larger doses of cannabis medicine without the psycho activity experienced with smoking or ingesting orally. Several different ingredients can be used to form the base of a suppository: cocoa butter, coconut oil and glycerinated gelatin are commonly used.
Disclaimer: The ideas, procedures, and suggestions in these materials are intended to supplement, not replace, the medical advice of trained professionals. All matters regarding your health require medical supervision. Consult your physician before adopting the medical suggestions in these materials and classes.
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