In this month's feature, our resident Director of Health & Wellness, Cody Freeze, PharmD RPH, will discuss the various types of cannabis products and the interactions with the human body. With details surrounding each type, we will be breaking this feature into multiple parts.

Q: Why are there so many different types of cannabis products? Is there much of a difference between all these products, and what do I need to know about each type of cannabis (and hemp) products?

A: A wise individual once said, ‘Variety is the spice of life.”
Since antiquity, cannabis (and “hemp” cannabis) has been known in various scientific and medical communities around the world as a plant with a wide therapeutic window and has been used by many cultures for a variety of medical ailments.

What does this mean? This means, generally, whole plant cannabis can be used for a wide range of uses, as well as lending itself to a wide variety of dosage preparations. As each patient ailment or need is different, cannabis is generally well suited to perform a wide variety of tasks.

The quick explanation as to why there are so many forms of cannabis is due to a variety of factors about the plant and its biochemical ingredients. Those hundreds of cannabinoids and terpenoids, along with other organic and biologically active constituents, and the base chemovar (e.g., “strain) PLUS variety of cannabis (e.g., hemp vs medicinal cannabis, as well as CBD- vs THC-dominant plants) can affect which dosage form may be optimal for desired effects).

While every patient and every chemovar’s cannabinoid and terpene content can vary, there are ways to compare each method of consumption. I will try to briefly summarize the most common dosage forms and explain why a single patient using cannabis for a variety of ailments usually wants more than just a single form of the plant around! I’ll try to keep this light and brief.

Oral
Oral (as in, swallow-whole edibles or drinkable infused beverages or otherwise): This is the “swallow whole after chewing route or drink” route. When cannabis is taken in this manner, it is generally a longer acting, and more pronounced or deeply felt set of effects. Effects of swallowing whole edibles are known to widely vary from patient to patient, and variables. If a patient eats an edible on an empty stomach, effects are generally felt slightly quicker and are not as prolonged or intense. Conversely, if an edible is taken during or after a moderate to large sized meal, expect prolonged and more intense effects overall. Effects after a swallow whole dosage form as an edible are felt within a half hour on an empty stomach, or around an hour or even up to 3-4 hours if a meal has been eaten prior.

Oral cannabis drinks and their onset and duration can be somewhat comparable to an edible, but as a liquid, there is not as much work to digest the active ingredients and get them to the system. Some formulations, such as “nano” or emulsified products, use a special technology when created to maximize and speed up absorption. These products are not tested to my knowledge, but personal testimonies and information gathered in study suggest nano- or emulsified drinks of high quality may be “felt” within 15-30 minutes, and last for 1-3 hours. This is slightly quicker in both the onset and duration of its actions when compared to edibles you chew up and swallow.

Oral is often preferred if the patient has issues breathing, or compromised, sensitive airways.

Inhalational
Inhalational – Directly combusting cannabis flower or extract via a pipe or other methods is a fast way to deliver terpenes and cannabinoids to the bloodstream. While this is a very popular method to consume, it has its drawbacks. When any plant material is heated beyond 410-450+F, the organic plant material can be harmful in the form of a charcoal-like set of what are called poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These are not good and are known carcinogens. Vaping cannabis flower or extracts in their natural form can be a less harmful alternative. Vaping the above-mentioned forms of cannabis are different than vaping liquified cannabis extracts, in that raw flower or extract are generally unadulterated, containing no extra “carriers.” Vaping cannabis at the lowest minimum temperature possible to achieve the desired effects is not always the most popular, but generally will result in less formation of potentially harmful substances like tar and PAHs...

To be continued next month, stay tuned!