Administration of medicinal cannabis

There are different ways to take medicinal cannabis.

How medicinal cannabis, also known as medical cannabis, is taken determines the onset, intensity and duration of any effects. Therefore, choosing the correct administration route, or dose form, is important. The correct route helps patients manage their total daily dosage, the timing and frequency of use. It also helps reduce the risk of side effects. A doctor advises which administration route best suits the treatment outcome and patient needs.

How is medicinal cannabis taken?

Medicinal cannabis is typically taken by inhalation, oral ingestion, or oromucosal routes, each with distinct onset times, duration, and absorption rates. Inhalation through vaporizers effects quickly, while oral or oromucosal methods usually take longer but may last longer. Choosing the right administration route depends on the medical condition, dosage control needs, and patient convenience.

Below, you can find general information about the most common administration routes and dose forms for medicinal cannabis. You can also read about methods pharmacies use to prepare medicinal cannabis for patient use.

• Inhalation – by the lung
• Oromucosal – inside the mouth/cheek
• Oral – by mouth

Also read:

• Pharmacy compounding
• Cannabis oil
• Tea, edibles and smoking

Inhalation or administration via the lungs is a very common route. This is because of the rapid absorption of the cannabinoids by the lungs (i.e. THC and CBD). A medical device is necessary to ensure safer and consistent administration. Using a medical device, doctors can advise patients how to gradually reach an optimal dosage (dose titration). There are currently three registered medical devices that were developed specifically for the medicinal use of cannabis:

Volcano Medic

A table top vaporizer device that produces a vapour of cannabinoids from dried cannabis flowers. It is also suitable for vaporizing dronabinol dissolved in alcohol.

Mighty Medic

A portable vaporizer device that produces a vapour of cannabinoids from dried cannabis flowers.

SyqeAir

An EU-GMP-certified inhaler developed for professional healthcare use in hospitals or by licensed patients. It delivers metered and consistent doses of cannabinoids from full-spectrum cannabis in the form of aerosols. The device is currently only available in Israel and Australia.

With the oromucosal administration, the cannabinoids (THC and CBD) are absorbed through the mouth’s mucosa (the mucus membrane lining the inside of the mouth). The dose is usually administered sublingually (under the tongue) or buccally (inside the cheek) in the form of a solution, spray, or rapidly dissolving wafer. Among the products commonly administered via the oromucosal route are cannabis oil extract solutions.

Oral cannabis-based preparations are similar in form to other medicines patients may already take. Products for oral administration can come in the form of solutions, tablets, or capsules. However, oral dosing can result in very low absorption of TCH and CBD. It is estimated that up to 6% of the total taken, only, is absorbed. That is because cannabinoids undergo extensive first‐pass metabolism in the liver when swallowed. Lower blood concentrations and a delay to reach peak blood concentration (approx. 120 min) slow the onset of action and duration of effects.

When to choose a route of administration?

A compounding pharmacy can prepare cannabis medicine in a specific formulation and dosage form, such as tablet, oil, capsule, spray or ointment. This depends on the doctor’s prescription. These pharmaceutical preparations must meet legal quality requirements. For example, just as for registered medicines, requirements are imposed on the raw materials used for these preparations. However, there is inconsistency in regulations and compounding methods, resulting in variability in cannabinoid content between different preparations and pharmacies.

THC or CBD extracts and full-spectrum cannabis extracts (containing multiple cannabinoids, terpenes and other plant components) are commonly referred to as cannabis oil or cannabis drops. Cannabinoids are extracted from the flowers or leaves of the cannabis plant, often using a solvent extraction process (CO₂ or ethanol). The extracts are put into solution (formulation and dose) to be administered either sublingually or orally. Cannabis oils in solution may be produced by pharmacy compounding as a magistral preparation. They are also produced by industry according to pharmaceutical standards.