Looking for a prescription?
Find a Doctor
Find a UK-based prescribing clinician for medical cannabis.
Why Pharmacokinetics Matters
- Route of administration is the most important determinant of cannabis effects
- Individual variation in metabolism means standard doses affect patients very differently
- Understanding PK helps explain why formulations behave differently
- First-time patients often make dosing errors due to PK misunderstanding — particularly with oral products
Pharmacokinetics explains why the same cannabis product may work very differently for two patients — and is essential for safe dose titration.
Inhalation vs Oral vs Sublingual
- Inhalation: peak plasma 5-15 min, duration 2-4 hrs, bioavailability 15-35%
- Oral (swallowed): peak 1-4 hrs, duration 6-10 hrs, bioavailability 4-20% — THC becomes 11-OH-THC in liver (more potent)
- Sublingual (under tongue): peak 15-45 min, duration 4-8 hrs, more predictable than oral
- High-fat meals significantly increase oral cannabis absorption
The delayed, prolonged onset of oral cannabis is the most common source of patient dosing errors — leading to overconsumption. Start low, go slow.
