Shaken or Stirred? How Different Methods of Ingestion Change THC's Effects

by Viki Adams Freelance Writer

There are multiple strains of cannabis, but there are also various ways to ingest THC. With each ingestion method, the body processes THC differently and produces different effects. Here are some of the most popular ways to ingest THC.

1. Smoking

Using items such as rolling papers, tobacco leaves, pipes, and bongs to smoke cannabis is one of the most popular methods of THC ingestion. When a person burns cannabis flowers, heat changes non-psychoactive THCA into psychoactive Delta-9 THC, which is commonly known as THC. This psychoactive THC then enters the bloodstream through the lungs. The effects are felt almost instantly and typically last 1-3 hours.

Smoking cannabis with glass pipes provides easier dosage control and almost immediate relief, but there are some concerns about the health risks associated with smoking. Carcinogenic by-products such as tar can irritate the lungs and cause coughing, inflammation, mucus. As such, those with lung problems may want to consider other ingestion methods.

Another drawback is that the bioavailability of THC averages at about 30% with smoking, meaning that a person will only use about 30% of the THC. This may not be ideal for those who want stronger, therapeutic effects.

2. Vaporization

Vaporization offers the faster effects of inhalation with less of the health risks associated with smoking. Unlike smoking, vaporization heats the cannabis enough to release THC, but it does not combust the cannabis and release irritating by-products. Vaporizer devices are available as small vape pens as well as larger devices. These devices can be used with flowers and concentrates, and they also offer additional benefits such as temperature control.

Vaporization is technically inhalation. Therefore, it also has limited bioavailability that may not be strong enough for some people.

3. Edibles

When ingested through food, THC is metabolized by enzymes in the liver before it enters the bloodstream. This process is called the first-pass metabolism. Due to this process, it can generally take 30 minutes to 2 hours to feel the onset of edibles. Depending on the dosage, the effects of edibles typically last 6-8 hours.

Edibles produce very potent effects even with low bioavailability of 4%-12%. Surprisingly enough, the potency of edibles doesn't come from THC alone. Instead, the liver further metabolizes the psychoactive THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is several times stronger than normal psychoactive. This helps explain why edibles made with low-THC cannabis can sometimes be more potent than inhaled cannabis with higher amounts of THC.

Depending on needs and preferences, the stronger potency and longer-lasting effects of edibles can be advantageous or disadvantageous. The delayed effects of edibles can make dosing tricky, and it is easy to ingest too much and have an unpleasant experience. The rule of thumb is to start with the lowest dose, wait, and then increase dosage as needed.

4. Topicals

Topicals are cannabis-infused lotions, oils, balms, and other products that are applied directly to the skin. The cannabis extracts are decarboxylated to activate the cannabinoids. Once applied, the cannabinoids bind to receptors in the skin, muscles, and ligaments, but they don’t enter the bloodstream and produce psychoactive effects.

Cannabis topicals are a great choice for those who want localized pain relief from issues such as aches and strains without the psychoactive effects associated with cannabis.

How a person chooses to ingest THC ultimately depends on a person's unique physiology and the desired outcome of consuming cannabis. Knowing how different methods of ingestion affect the body will help cannabis consumers make educated, informed decisions about how they choose to use cannabis.