This form of medicine will be the cannabis flowers after it has been dried, cured, and homogenized (cannabis flowers of a dime size or less). The cannabis flowers available at the dispensary have not been ground to achieve homogenization. They will have gone through no adulteration or processing other than normal harvesting procedures. Each strain will be available in various pre-packaged quantities depending on the licensed producer supplying the product.
- Advanced Grow Labs: Typically packages in 14 gram quantities
- CT Pharmaceutical Solutions: Typically packages in 3.5 gram and 7 gram quantities
- Curaleaf: Typically packages in 2 gram, 3.5 gram, and 7 gram quantities
- Theraplant: Typically packages in 3.5 gram, and 7 gram quantities
A concentrated oil will be infused into a vegetable based glycerin, cooking oil, or alcohol to provide a rapid onset of action due to a sublingual administration. Sublingual, from the Latin word for “under the tongue”, refers to the pharmacological route of administration by which medication diffuse into the blood through tissues under the tongue.
When chemical compounds come in contact with the mucous membrane beneath the tongue, it diffuses through it. Because the connective tissue beneath the epithelium contains a profusion of capillaries, the substance then diffuses into them and enters the venous circulation. In contrast, substances absorbed in the intestines are subject to “first-pass metabolism” in the liver before entering the general circulation.
Sublingual administration has certain advantages over oral administration. Being more direct, it is often faster, and it ensures that the substance will risk degradation only by salivary enzymes before entering the bloodstream, whereas orally administered drugs must survive passage through the hostile environment of the gastrointestinal tract, which risks degrading them, either by stomach acid or bile, or by the many enzymes therein, such as monoamine oxidase (MAO). Furthermore, after absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, such drugs must pass to the liver, where they may be extensively altered; this is known as the first pass effect of drug metabolism.
Tinctures will come in various sized bottles at multiple concentrations. Its possible that tinctures will be strain specific, or mixed, depending on the effect they are intended to produce. This form of medicine is a great introduction for patients who have never used Cannabis as medicine due to its ease of application and lack of combustion.
A concentrated oil will be infused with an EFA base (essential fatty acid), and encapsulated to provide a longer duration of symptom management via oral administration. The capsules will be available in various quantities and dosages. In addition, capsules could be offered with
increased THC:CBD ratios, increased CBD:THC, or a relatively even THC:CBD ratio to provide the best coverage. These capsules would be easily broken down within the body and desired effects could begin within 15-45 minutes depending on the user.
A topical cream or oil is formulated using the concentrated oil of a cannabis chemotype with a multitude of potential health benefits ranging from; anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-oxidant. The cream could be applied to most surfaces of the body, or directly on the area in which a symptom of a particular ailment may be occurring. Typically, absorption through the skin can occur rather quickly and this form of medicine can in certain cases offer faster relief to targeted areas.
A concentrated Cannabis oil will be infused into a variety of small portion of consumable products that will have a focus on health consciousness, meaning they will avoid the use of high sugar and high fat ingredients. This form of medicine typically takes longer for the onset of effects, but typically lasts for greater lengths of time, and can prove to be much stronger then most other offered products. Edibles will be available in many dosages, with incremental rises in potency to suit any patients need.