How cannabis is ingested to
receive the medicine is subject to each patients preferably. Whether
it is smoked or taken orally in an edible has some differences like
the time it takes effect, the ability to dose effectively, the
duration it lasts, the way it is metabolized, and the difficulty
regulating the amount of THC in an edibles ingredients.(Source)
Smoking shows a faster
effect than edibles for relief. A study in 2013 looked at the
differences of marijuana that was smoked versus the THC pill
dronabinol. Smoking showed a relief in symptoms and feeling of it
working in 15 minutes, where donabinol showed effect after 60-90
minutes.(Source)
Patients suffering from pain tend to prefer faster relief than a
prolonged wait period.(Source)
For the extended length of
time it takes edibles to take an effect, dosage could be administered
too low or too high. A faster effect from smoking could allow
patients to give the correct amount from feeling the effects quickly.
Patients during a study reported that while smoking gave fast
effects, the psycho-active high usually lasted longer than the relief
of pain. The study also showed most patients felt more high when
smoking rather than using the edible.(Source)
On the flip side with a delayed effect on edibles, an overdose can
occur and make patients uncomfortable. The effects of the overdose
can be agitation, anxiety or hallucinations.(Source)
The duration of smoked
cannabis can last a couple hours where edibles once they take effect
can last 3-4 hours. With pain sufferers a faster effect is desired,
however a longer duration is desired as well. For some patients
finding a time and a place to smoke every couple of hours can be
unfeasible, making it more convenient for a longer lasting effect to
be preferable. (Source)
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is a
neurosurgeon and CNN’s chief medical correspondent weighed in on
the subject and said that he would argue that vaporizers are the best
way to deliver marijuana by activating it without burning it.
Edibles, Dr. Gupta went further to say, can lead to uneven absorption
which can lead to undesired effects. (source)
The way edibles are
metabolized can effect the way THC is absorbed unevenly. Kari
Franson, PharmD, PhD, Clinical Pharmacologist and Associate Dean for
Professional Education, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, at
University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy studied the
metabolism of THC. “The THC will compete for metabolism in the
liver with other drugs. Things that are inhaled can go directly to
the brain and not have these interactions. So even confident users
can get surprised with an edible.”
Kari Franson also warns
about the unregulated standardization of edibles. The package may
say in contains a certain amount of THC, but not be correct.
Laboratory tests of the products can register the THC higher or lower
in concentration, not making for a consistent way to administer the
medicine properly.(Source)
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