Timing Your Dose: How Different Cannabis Products Reduce Pain

by Katherine Golden, RN – Founder and CEO of Leaf411

You have options when it comes to cannabis dosing

Whether you’re looking at CBD hemp or cannabis containing higher levels of THC, you have several different routes of administration to choose between:

• Inhalation (smoking, vaping): Takes effect immediately and lasts 2-4 hours. This is a great choice for instant relief and for treating breakthrough pain (a flare-up in pain). You can also layer inhaled cannabis with a longer-acting method to help get you through the night.
• Transdermal (patches, gels): Extended release option that takes effect quickly, since the cannabinoids are absorbed directly into your bloodstream. The time of onset is rapid, sometimes within 20 minutes. Transdermal products provide a consistent dose of medicine for up to 12 hours. The transdermal patch or gel is used on an area where the veins are near the skin’s surface—like the inside of your wrist or on your ankle.
• Sublingual (placed under the tongue): Sublingual administration can provide rapid relief, however, there are few true oromucosal (sublingual) products on the market. Cannabinoids are fat-soluble and, in their natural state, do not absorb well into the oral mucosa. Moreover, cannabis products are often extracted into oils, and these products are not water-soluble. Patients often expect rapid onset when using tinctures, only to wait 1-3 hours for the dose to take effect. Many products marketed as tinctures will end up being swallowed and absorbed via the digestive system, regardless of how long they are held under the tongue. A true sublingual (a product in which the cannabinoids are formulated to be more water-soluble) absorbs rapidly into the mouth. The effects can be perceived in 15-20 minutes and can last 4-6 hours.
• Edibles (gummies, capsules): Edibles take effect in between 30 minutes and 2 hours. You’ll feel their effects between 5-8 hours. They provide a discreet, portable long-acting option.
• Topicals (creams, salves): Topicals provide short-term localized relief. They can take effect within minutes, and may last for up to an hour.

It may take some trial-and-error to determine just which type of product works for you. In fact, you may discover that there are different routes of administration for different symptoms you are experiencing. For assistance identifying what works for you, contact a cannabis-trained nurse at Leaf411.