The bioavailability of medicines is an important factor when dosing cannabis for medical use. Selecting the right method of ingestion, can make your medical cannabis stretch further.
A vast majority of cannabis users smoke their medicines. This is the fastest way to get cannabinoids into your bloodstream. But with it, brings health problems. Also, it has a very low bioavailability compared to other ways of ingesting cannabis for medicinal use.
If you have any questions about bioavailability, then feel free to ask for help in our cannabis growers forum
What does Bioavailability Mean?
Smoking cannabis, will give you around 30%, bioavailability. Let me break this down for you;
A respectable strain of cannabis, will average at around 20% in cannabinoids. So, for every 10 grams of bud you have, there is 20% ( 2g) of pure cannabinoids.
If you were to smoke, 1 gram ( 1000mg) of pure cannabiniods, you’re body will receive a dose of around 30%, which is 300mg.
Two thirds of the active ingredient in your medical cannabis will not be absorbed at all.
How to ingest Cannabis for Maximum Bioavailability
Well, as we have discussed, smoking a regular joint, will give you a maximum of 30% Bioavailability. Let’s discuss other ways of ingesting cannabis for medical use.
Vaping Cannabis
Vaping is way of consuming cannabis where it is heated to a level where decarboxylation can occur, and then inhaled.
Studies that suggest the bioavailability of vaping cannabis is as low as 50%, and can reach anything to a staggering 80%!
With bioavailability this high, it nearly doubles the impact of smoking cannabis. This is not just a healthier way to consume your medicine, but will push your medical cannabis twice as far.
From one gram of cannabiniods, you can receive a dose of anything up to 800mg!
Edible Medical Marijuna Dosage
For those who have eaten “space cakes” in the past, you know 2 things about cannabis edibles;
1, It can take a long time to kick in
2, It can be really strong. Or not work at all.
Though the first one is true, the second can be a bit misleading. You get a stronger effect from eating cannabis, because it is converted into a different type of thc called 11-OH-THC.
The bioavailability of taking cannabis orally, is as low as 4%, and can reach maximums of 20%.
This is an inefficient way to use cannabis for medicinal use.
Medical Marijuana Oil Capsules
For the medical use of cannabis, the best way to take your medicine, is through capsules with carrier oils. Combine cannabis oils such as RSO and BHO with carrier oils to massively increase Bioavailability.
Using a carrier oil will change the way to cannabis oil is broken down by the liver. Cannabinoids bind to fat molecules. When these fat molecules are processed by the liver, the thc is bypassed through easier. This means more of it will pass into the bloodstream.
Bioavailability can be up to 80% when combining carrier oils with your medical cannabis oil.
What is the best way to take cannabis as a medicine?
As we can see from the list above, their are two different ways to get the most out of your medicinal cannabis.
Vaping is a good clean, easy way to consume cannabis. If you do not smoke, capsules are probably the best method for you. Percys guides will help you get the right dosage in your medical marijuana capsules.
Thanks for reading! You can find more information on anything related to growing in our cannabis grow guides. All of our guides are written by experienced growers, and members of our cannabis growers forum. If you have any questions, sign up. It is free, and we are always happy to help!
Stay safe, and happy growing.
@mattuk your already using the best carriers really.. so all good
Do we know what carrier oils are best? I used to use MCT oil for feco drops.
Edible personally use both coconut oil or honey (a jar of each). Also tend to put up to 5% cbd flower in too just incase need a big dose that does not kane too much.
Great read, I intend on sharing this with some people to help broaden their horizons and get the most use of there cannabis.