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The bioavailability of cannabis products determines their efficacy and when you’ll feel their effects.
The potency, quality, and bioavailability of a CBD or THC product determine its effectiveness.
When it comes to CBD and THC products, we can measure and test for potency and quality. But we can’t precisely quantify bioavailability. No product has a bioavailability number that we can put on its label.
But we know that some products offer greater bioavailability than others. The level of bioavailability is a hugely important factor when it comes to the effectiveness of CBD and THC products.
The bioavailability of a cannabinoid pertains to how much of it is absorbed into the bloodstream and how quickly it’s absorbed. It’s about how much of a compound actually gets absorbed in such a way that it can have its intended effects. The higher the bioavailability of a cannabinoid, the more effective it is and the faster it works.
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Bioavailability of CBD and THC
The bioavailability of cannabinoids has a lot to do with the form of a product and how you use it.
- When you take CBD oils sublingually, they are more readily absorbed by your body because they bypass your digestive system.
- When you ingest CBD, Delta-8, and Delta-9 Gummies, they are first processed by the liver, losing some of their potency before they have a chance to take effect.
- CBD Topicals are rapidly absorbed, directly targeting cannabinoid receptors in the skin.
- Because CBD and Delta-8 Flower are absorbed through your lungs, they tend to have an immediate effect.
The type of cannabinoid product, the potency of the product, and exactly how you apply or ingest it affects how long it takes before you feel its benefits and how long the benefits last.
Taking CBD Sublingually
When we talk about taking CBD sublingually, we’re talking about drops or tinctures. CBD Drops enable good bioavailability because the tissue underneath the tongue is very absorbent. CBD taken in this manner is absorbed more rapidly and effectively than CBD taken orally in other forms.
About 35% of the active compounds of sublingually ingested CBD are absorbed into the bloodstream. This may sound low, but it’s pretty substantial. No hemp product is absorbed at a rate anywhere near 100%, and many people who take CBD oil under the tongue confirm that this method of taking CBD is very effective.
To maximize bioavailability when using this method, pour the full recommended dose below your tongue and hold it there for 30 seconds to 60 seconds before swallowing. By then, most of the CBD will have been absorbed sublingually. The rest will be absorbed through digestion.
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Ingesting CBD and THC Gummies
Edibles, like Cannabis Gummies, are a very easy way to take cannabinoids. They are delicious and potent, but they offer less bioavailability because they need to pass through your digestive system. Their bioavailability ranges between 4% and 20%.
To compensate for the low absorption rate, Delta-8 Gummies and Delta-9 Gummies tend to come in higher milligram strengths than other products do.
Applying CBD Topically
When CBD is applied topically up to 45% of it can be absorbed. This is an impressively high bioavailability rate.
Topicals don’t need to travel very far to interact with the cannabinoid receptors of the skin, muscles, and joints and thereby can easily achieve their intended effects in a localized area. Topicals target specific regions of discomfort and take effect quickly, in as little as five or ten minutes.
To give you maximal effectiveness and bioavailability, Crescent Canna offers the most potent CBD topicals on the market. Our CBD Freeze Roller and CBD Recovery Cream are both known for their impressive strength.
Inhaling CBD and Delta-8 Hemp Flower
Given the great efficiency of lung tissue in absorbing CBD or Delta-8 THC, inhaling hemp products ensures the highest bioavailability of all. Doing so quickly sends the cannabinoids into the bloodstream to be metabolized for maximum effectiveness.
Inhalable hemp products like CBD Flower and Delta-8 THC Flower absorb at a rate of about 56%, higher than that of any other type of hemp product. Their effects are the fastest to kick in, have the shortest duration, and are the most potent.
Why Bioavailability Is Important
Most people focus on potency and quality as being the most important factors contributing to the effectiveness of CBD and THC products. The truth is, bioavailability is just as important, having a huge impact on the efficacy of cannabis products while determining when you’ll feel their effects.
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WARNING: Keep THC products out of the reach of children and animals. THC products are for purchase and use only by persons 21 or older. Do not use THC products if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Consuming THC products will impair your ability to drive and operate machinery. THC products may cause anxiety, confusion, headaches, and other adverse effects. Do not use THC products if you are taking medication or if you have a health condition before first consulting with a doctor.
Helen Lewis is the Marketing Manager at Crescent Canna. She specializes in writing about cannabis, with a focus on its health benefits. She graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. in English.