Considerations for Cannabis Dosing in Edibles, Vaporizers, Flower and More
when deciding which consumption Method is going to be best for you, First Consider how long It will take for effects to begin.
For some people, the long-lasting duration of ingestible cannabis products might be most effective. For others, the near-immediate onset of effects from inhalation may be more desirable. While prior experience and the height and weight of a person are important factors in cannabis dosing, we’ve observed that the severity of their ailment also plays a major role in what the optimal dosage may be. Someone recovering from surgery is going to need a higher dose even if they’ve never used cannabis before.
Onset Time of Cannabis Products: A Quick Reference Guide
Capsules | Onset time of 1-2 hours with 6-8 hour duration. Biological factors that could affect either variable would be cannabis experience, and the difference between an empty and full stomach.
Chocolates & Fruit Chews | Onset time 1-2 hours with 6-8 hour duration. Anecdotally, fat from chocolate or peanut butter seem to enhance bioavailability for faster onset than sugar based fruit chews.
Tinctures | Onset time is 15-45 minutes with 4-5 hour duration. Oil based liquids placed under the tongue can begin absorbing into the bloodstream faster than other ingestible products.
Topicals | Patients often experience an alleviation of their symptoms within 10 minutes of applying cannabis topicals. These products give people suffering from muscle spasms, neuropathic pain, and other conditions near immediate relief. Topicals work quickly to address superficial ailments without entering the bloodstream.
Extracts | Concentrates and oils such as RSO, Distillate, and EVFO have an onset time of 45 minutes-1 hour with a duration of 5-6 hours. Vaporizers and “dabbed” concentrates using a cartridge or concentrated cannabis oil have an immediate onset time with a duration of 1-2 hours.
Smoking and Vaping | Effects of smoking cannabis flower or vaping cannabis oil are next to instantaneous, often times within just a minute or two. Typically the duration of effects are around 1-2 hours, but can vary with the amount smoked or vaped, and the strength of the cannabis.
Edible Consumption Methods
Longer Lasting with a slower onset time
For most situations we would recommend an edible consumption method, these are the best for staying ahead of any issue like pain, anxiety, or sleeping through the night. Any edible product can take anywhere from 30 minutes up to 2 hours to feel the effects and can last anywhere from 6-10 hours. Due to the delay in onset and the long lasting duration of effects we always advocate to start low and go slow. You can always take more, you can’t take less.
Tinctures | A great way to control your dose on the lower end, and a great place for people new to cannabis. Typically tinctures come with a dropper for precise measuring, the oil is then placed under the tongue where it can begin to absorb into the bloodstream. The absorption under the tongue is more efficient than swallowing a capsule, or eating a chocolate so the effects are usually felt more quickly. Typically in less than an hour, however any ingestible product can take up to 2 hours to feel the effects. Typically the effects from a tincture last 4-5 hours, but can last up to 8 hours. This is why we always advocate to start low and go slow, until you know how a product will affect you it’s best to stay on the lower end of dosing.
Capsules or Chocolates | Processed through the liver, so must travel throughout your body before the effects are felt. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes up to 2 hours to begin to feel the effects. This delay in onset is definitely something to be aware of, a lot of people that try edibles will double down their dose after an hour and end up taking more than they need, which can lead to an uncomfortable result. Ingestible products have the longest lasting effects and can last up to 8 hours providing tremendous relief. Taking into account the long duration of onset can help to make sure that all day relief is achieved.
Concentrated Oil | Like an RSO style oil, FECO, or distillate is an optimal option for someone requiring higher potency than an edible, capsule, or tincture can provide. These concentrated oils are typically what is used to make edibles and topicals. These can be a cost effective way of making your own edibles or topicals, or for anyone where the standard 10mg serving isn't sufficient. Many of the people we help through cancer treatments of chronic pain find that they require high dosages for optimal efficacy. These oils can have a very bitter taste, so baking them into edibles, or just placing the oil on top of something to mask the taste and increase the palatability is ideal. The higher dosages won’t make the effects last longer, just provide a stronger effect. The effects will still take 1-2 hours for onset, and last up to 8 hours.
Smokeable Consumption Methods
Immediate onset of effects but shorter duration
Flower Combustion | The effects through inhalation are almost immediate. Smoking from a pipe, joint, or bong gets the cannabinoids and terpenes into your lungs and bloodstream within seconds and you feel the effects within 1-10 minutes. This immediate onset can be beneficial for anxiety or panic disorders. It can also be great for nausea or helping to stimulate appetite before a meal, or for pain relief when waiting up to 2 hours for relief from an edible product isn’t ideal. The effects through combustion tend to only last 1-2 hours, making it less than optimal for chronic conditions. However inhalation can work great in combination with ingestible products. Long lasting relief from the ingestible product, and immediate relief through inhalation while waiting for the onset from the ingestible product.
Concentrate Vaporization | The inhalation of concentrated cannabis oil from a vaporizer cartridge or a dab rig can provide patients with near immediate relief. It allows people to instantly consume large doses of cannabinoids. These concentrated forms would typically be something that someone would work up too if they found the strength of flower to be insufficient. These concentrated oils tend to have less of a smell than flower so they are optimal when the immediate relief of inhalation is necessary, and discretion is key. Near immediate effects tend to last between 1-2 hours, making this delivery method optimal for relief while waiting for the effects of an edible product to begin.
Topical Application
Absorbed through the skin for location-specific relief
Topicals | Topicals interact with receptors within the first few layers of skin, but do not penetrate into the bloodstream. Topical application of cannabinoids typically can provide relief within minutes. Varying combinations of THC : CBD can provide antiinflammatory effects, can help to inhibit nerve pain, and relax muscle tightness. This can provide significant location specific relief, without causing any type of intoxicating effects. Typically topical effects will last 4-6 hours per application.
Infused Epsom Salts | A product category that is often overlooked is infused epsom salts for soaking. This can be soaking in a tub to provide a relaxing full body relief, or in a foot soak for those on their feet all day, or with issues like plantar fasciitis and neuropathy. Soaking in a tub the cannabinoids act much like a topical looking for inflammation, or muscle tightness through receptors in the skin. However cannabinoids can also be absorbed through mucus membrane to provide a relaxed full body relief. As this delivery method bypasses the liver there tends to be little intoxicating effects, so the effects are more of a physical relaxation, than a mental relaxation.
Cited Sources
What Are Marijuana’s Effects? Link
When marijuana is smoked, THC and other chemicals in the plant pass from the lungs into the bloodstream, which rapidly carries them throughout the body to the brain. The person begins to experience effects almost immediately.
Cannabis Tincture and Tincture Concentrate Link
Tinctures are “a great way to medicate that fills a void between smoking, vaping and edibles”
Tinctures “usher commingled cannabinoid and terpene oil components directly into the bloodstream when administered sublingually
Cooking With Cannabis Concentrates Link
For the inexperienced, it’s very important to understand that the onset of an edible’s psychotropic effects can take up to 2-hours, so patience should be exercised and 2-hours should pass before increasing consumption. The effects will take a while to build and they will last for several hours so prepare accordingly
RSO: The main disadvantage to these concentrates is the chlorophyll that causes its black color and can result in unpleasant aroma, flavor, and stomach or gastric discomfort.
The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis and Cannabinoids Link
Users smoke cannabis principally because of the psychoactive effects that occur at doses above the individual consumer’s psychotropic threshold. These acute effects are generally perceived as pleasurable and relaxing. Sensory perception is often heightened.
Edible Cannabis Link
Compared to inhaled cannabis, edibles have delayed peak effects of about 3 hours, and these effects may last up to 12 hours after ingestion. People accustomed to an instantaneous effect from inhaled cannabis may ingest excessive doses of edibles before peak effects have occurred.
What Are Prefilled Cannabis Oil Vape Cartridges? Link
Vape cartridges tend to provide a shorter-lasting high than other methods like joints, dabs, and edibles because you consume them in smaller doses. However, while the effects may last shorter, they can also hit harder if overconsumed, so make sure to monitor dosing appropriately.
For uninitiated cannabis concentrate consumers, dosing can be a major concern. Nobody wants an overwhelming experience when attempting to enjoy cannabis. Unlike dabbing, using a pre-loaded vape pen allows for a highly controlled dose with each inhalation, giving you more control over how much or how little you consume.
