Four Steps of Cannabis Product Selection 

If you’ve ever looked at a dispensary menu of products, you know it’s a lot to take in. inhaling, ingesting, topical application – which one is right for you? Before laying out your hard-earned money in search of the effects that suit your unique and very personalized cannabis product needs, consider these steps in determining the best way to go when you’re shopping for relief.

To smoke, vape, eat, rub-on, or insert?

First, think about how you want to introduce cannabinoids to your body. Do you prefer to smoke, vape, or eat cannabis, or maybe you’d like to apply it to your skin and receive a dose of THC and/or other cannabinoids transdermally or as a suppository? You may also want to consider using a combination of dosing methods that can stretch the duration of the relief you seek. The ingestion method you choose depends on a wide range of factors. Let me try to distill those factors into a list of some of the most important things to consider:

Instant action!

When smoking or vaping marijuana, effects can be felt immediately, lasting from 1-4 hours and 10-35% of the active ingredients (THC, CBD, other cannabinoids and terpenes for example) can be absorbed or used by the body. This is also referred to as ‘bioavability’ or how much is metabolized upon introducing vapor or smoke to the lungs. Something to consider when choosing to vape or smoke cannabis is lung and throat irritation. Smoking can be harsh for an inexperienced user and dry herb vaporizing might be preferable because it can be easier or more comfortable. Also, vape cartridges (also called vape pens) can be very convenient and discrete but there’s a lot we don’t know about the possible harmful side effects that can occur when heating hash oil until it boils and becomes vapor to then be inhaled and come into contact with your body.

Long Lasting

Eating or drinking cannabis in the form of an edible will typically begin to work within 1-3 hours, effects can last up to 8 hours (sometimes more) and 4-20% of the active ingredients can be absorbed and metabolized. When eating marijuana ingredients, the body absorbs THC in a very different way than inhalation. The stomach and liver is where absorption occurs and it takes longer for that process to result in feeling any effects. Big advice; start low, go slow. If you take a small dosage of 2-5 mg of THC and wait 90 minutes to feel any effects before introducing 2-5 mg more, you will find it is is a whole lot more practical than eating too much and finding yourself feeling uncomfortable or nausea after a too high of a dose. You can always eat more if you want more effect but its impossible to eat less and subtract THC once you’ve swallowed the edibles, they’ve begun to do their thing.

Under the Tongue

Sublingual or under-the-tongue absorption is a fast and effective way to feel the effects of cannabis. Effects come on in 15-40 minutes, last 2-4 hours and you will get a range of 6-20% bioavailability. Unlike edibles, cannabinoids are absorbed through the tissue under the tongue very quickly and effects occur fast. This is because the sublingual tincture does not necessarily pass through the stomach and the rest of the digestion tract for the body to absorb the active ingredients, however, during sublingual application some swallowing might occur and in addition to the under-the-tongue absorption, digestion of some amount might occur. This can result in feeling 2 waves of effects. The combination of digestion and sublingual absorption may help to increase the duration of effects and can alter the feeling of potency. Proceed with dosing carefully, slow and low, just as you would when dosing with edibles, in 2-5mg increments

Rub It On

Rubbing cannabis compounds directly onto the skin is what’s known as using a topical to ingest marijuana. Onset of effects occurs within 20 minutes, you won’t necessarily feel ‘high’ and there is no danger of taking too much in that regard, but relief will last 2-4 hours. Bioavailability of topicals is limited but it’s worth mentioning that cultivars containing the terpene lemonime will aid in absorption of THC and CBD is a lot easier to metabolize through the skin than THC by a factor of about 10 X more able to be absorbed and utilized by the body. Topical application is a good choice for people that don’t want to feel intoxicated or impaired but seek the therapeutic effects of the active ingredients in marijuana. Additionally, applying a transdermal patch is like using a topical with a notable advantage: transdermal patches can have a 90% bioavailability. That’s a big deal mostly because cannabis products can be expensive and it’s good to know that a patch is going to release most of its active ingredients by the time its done so nothing goes to waste. But also, the skin is so efficient in absorbing what’s needed and available that transdermal patches and topicals are an amazing option that is very effective.

because those that do not want to feel high but require a high dose of THC to manage symptoms can freely use transdermal patches, realize the full effect, and not feel intoxicated which is great for daytime use.

Relief

Finally, the suppository. Vaginal or rectal suppositories are very effectively absorbed and provide relief of menstrual pain, lower back, hip or pelvic discomfort and can help relieve vaginal dryness, and suppositories can also be used as a lube. Relief comes within 60 minutes, lasts 4-8 hours and because they aren’t as intoxicating as taking marijuana orally it might be worth considering – especially if a high dose of thc is required but feeling less high is important to maintain focus throughout the day, for example. Suppositories work like topicals only on the inside of the body. Absorption is great and just like the other methods mentioned here, its always best to start with a low dose and increase it as necessary in small increments to find the most therapeutic dose for your needs.

Read the Label

The next thing I want you to do while you make your way toward a decision to use cannabis is check the labeling and the lab test results. Labeling requirements in Colorado are concerned with things like the producer’s license number, batch number, contents, the Universal Symbol and “Contains Marijuana. Keep away from children” warning statement, a list of solvents used in manufacturing (if applicable) and the potency statement. And then there is the emphasis put on the warning that must state, “This product was produced without regulatory oversight for health, safety, or efficacy” and “There may be long term physical or mental health risks from use of marijuana including additional risks for women who are or may become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Use of marijuana may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery.” Helpful? That’s debatable. The label does have useful and informative indications about the product you might be considering, and I encourage you to read and understand the label. I think it’s also very important to examine a product’s Certificate of Analysis (or COA).

Budtenders Know

You can ask your Budtender to direct you to product COA or you can contact the manufacturer and they will furnish you the information. Colorado law is particularly concerned with the Certificate Of Analysis or test results showing the presence of mycotoxins, heavy metals and other pesticides. By examining the COA of any cannabis product produced in the state, you will know whether the main ingredients contain any of those dangerous and harmful toxins. 

Banned: Vitamin E Acetate, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and medium chain triglycerides (MCT oil)

Also, it’s worth mentioning that in response to concerns about respiratory illness that resulted from vaping oils that contain nicotine and to a smaller extent THC/CBD, in 2019 the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division banned the use of vitamin E Acetate, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and medium chain triglycerides (MCT oil) for use in the manufacture of marijuana products intended to be vaped or inhaled. This moratorium placed on the addition of potentially harmful or unsafe substances previously used to control vape oil viscosity or at what temperature the oils will vaporize instills a sense of confidence that vape cartridge products you may purchase do not contain those additives. You can feel safer knowing vaporizer cartridges that can be purchased in Colorado dispensaries are unlikely to cause any illness previously associated with vitamin E Acetate, PEG or MCT oil.

Certificate Of Analysis

The most important thing here is not only to select an ingestion method, educate yourself about the contents of the type of marijuana you want to consume by reading and understanding the product’s labels, the COA and determining the potency – these are all very important – but above all you have got to begin to track the effects of a starting dose and incrementally increase your dosage to find the sweet spot where you feel relief. Sometimes less is more when it comes to THC and its really important to be mindful and intentional about how and why you are choosing marijuana to treat conditions you may suffer from. Your active participation in figuring out what works best for you is kinda fun, its easy and can be very rewarding with a little effort and knowledge. The key is getting in tune with how you feel, how you want to feel and what works best to get you to that place. 

What’s your Favorite?

What’s your favorite way to consume cannabis? Why do you prefer that method compared to one of the other method’s described here?