How to take CBD, CBG, Delta-8, and MMJ

There are numerous methods with which to safely take cannabis products such as CBD, CBG, Delta-8, and Medical Marijuana. 

Every cannabinoid product affects the body and physiology differently. Therefore, it’s not just the form the product is taking that affects absorption and produces effects, it’s the uniqueness of a patient’s own body – i.e. each product affects each patient in different ways. 

Bodyweight has a huge impact on how these products behave in the body. In general, the more a patient weighs, the more of a particular substance they are going to need in order to garner the wanted effect. Related to body weight is body composition. The body is made up of tissues, fats, and muscles. Fat is only one element of body composition. However, large levels of fat deposits in the body changes how the body responds to substances. In this case, drug clearance is higher in patients with high levels of body fat. Therefore, these patients will need a larger dose to experience the required effects. 

Additionally, each patient has a different metabolic rate. The metabolic rate is what determines how quickly a patient is able to burn calories and turn them into energy. Increased activity levels can increase the amount of calories used in this process. However, every patient has a baseline. Those with higher metabolisms are able to break down and utilize compounds found in cannabis products more quickly. These patients would also benefit from a higher dose than those with slower metabolisms.

Once cannabis products end up in the bloodstream, it makes its way around the body. The molecules in these products interact with receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. These products also interact with receptor sites in the brain as well as receptors in the nervous and immune systems. The route to these systems and receptors affects how long it takes to get there as well as the strength of the effects. 

Common forms of administration for CBD and CBG include: 

Vaping and smoking – CBD or CBG extracts or dried hemp flowers can be rolled and smoked or vaped. Both methods allow the compounds to enter the body through the lungs. Some patients prefer vaping to smoking due to the lack of combustion and carcinogens. When CBD reaches the lungs, it enters into the bloodstream. Due to this high level of bioavailability, the effects are almost instant. The half-life of inhaled CBD is 1–2 hours following a 20mg dose.

Oral Ingestion – CBD/CBG comes in edible form such as food, or swallowed capsules, liquid tinctures, and CBD-infused beverages. Ingesting CBD or CBG this way bypasses the lungs. As CBD and CBG have to navigate the body’s digestive tract before entering the bloodstream, this method takes the longest for cannabinoids to permeate cells and produce effects. It takes at least 20 to 30 minutes before the cannabinoid finally hits receptor sites. Orally consumed CBD and CBG have a half-life of 2–3 hours.

Sublingual administration (i.e. placing CBD under the tongue) comes in the form of either oils or tinctures. This form of administration is able to bypass the digestive tract and leads to quicker absorption into the bloodstream. It takes approximately 15 minutes for sublingual CBD to take effect and has a varying half-life of between 1 and 10 hours with doses of between 5 and 20mg.

Topical CBD application to the skin is done via lotions, creams and salves rubbed directly into the skin. Since CBD rarely penetrates the skin, this type of absorption is very slow. It takes between 20 and 45 minutes before there are any effects. However, this method is preferred for skin conditions or aches and pains as it helps reduce inflammation. 

Delta 8 consumption is similar. 

Straight Delta 8 tends to have a bitter taste, so mixing it with gummies, gum, or other options masks the flavor. With edibles, the effects come on after at least an hour. However, once Delta 8 starts working, it lasts longer than other options.

Some patients even mix Delta 8 oil into their favorite foods. Like edibles, it takes some time to notice the effects.  

When Vaping Delta 8, the effects are felt almost right away though they won’t last as long as edibles.

When smoking Delta 8 Flower, the speed of the effects are similar to that of vaping. Flower tends to be more potent than other Delta 8 products.

Dabbing Delta 8 brings on the effects quite quickly and patients receive a higher concentration of it at one time.

Delta 8 Oral sublingual tinctures are one of the most popular ways to ingest the compound. Tinctures spread through the body quickly, like vaping, however tinctures benefit the body similarly to edibles so the effects last longer than smoking.

Delta 8 topicals provide pain relief that kicks in after just a few minutes though they only affect the area the product is applied to, 

With Medical Marijuana which contains THC, the methods of consumption are, again, similar. 

Smoking medical cannabis delivers instant relief and it’s fairly easy to regulate the dosage. 

Vaping medical marijuana comes in a wide array of shapes and sizes and delivers instant relief while also being less harsh on the lungs than smoking. 

MMJ edibles come in forms such as cookies, popcorn, crackers, nut mixes, lollipops, gummies, chocolates and even ice cream. Edibles provide long-lasting relief and the dosage is very precise. However, it can take a half hour to several hours for the effects to be felt. This is the most popular method among children & elderly patients.

MMJ tinctures or sublingual sprays are also easier to control dosage and have a

mild taste. Though the effects come on faster than edibles, this method is still not as fast as inhalation.

Medical Cannabis Transdermal Patches are applied to clean, dry and hairless skin such as the wrist area, ankle or the top of the foot area. Patches come in different formulations.

MMJ suppositories Kick in quickly and the effects last a long time as it is the most efficient way to digest the compound. .

MMJ topicals and tinctures are a great way to medicate without any psychoactive effects. 

Dabbing MMJ – A dab is a cannabis concentrate such as hash oil that is heated to a high temperature and then inhaled. These concentrates can contain as much as 90 percent THC so they are useful for urgent medication of acute illnesses.

This method provides instant relief.

At the end of the day, dosage matters. The amount of product patients consume at any one time influences the way in which it affects the body. No matter the route of administration, dosing matters. Seeing a specialist in MMJ and cannabis products such as Dr. Fernando Fandino-Sende and his team at Miami’s LifeCann MD is the optimum way to decide what works for each individual patient. 

Florida’s top-rated medical marijuana referral clinic has served over 3,000 satisfied patients. For more information, please visit www.lifecannmd.com, email health@lifecannmd.com or call (833) 543-3226.