[vc_row][vc_column width="1/12"][/vc_column][vc_column width="10/12"][vc_column_text][spacer height="-2px"]
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4548" src="http://swerve.fyi/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/TeaNewResourcesSection1280x200.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="250" />

<span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>Consumption Methods</strong></span>

Under the ACMPR program in Canada, licensed producers are currently authorized by Health Canada to sell marijuana in the form of dried bud, fresh leaves, oils and capsules.  There are various methods that can be utilized, so that the active compounds in marijuana can be absorbed into the blood stream.  The marijuana plant and its extracts can be prepared and used in various delivery methods to medicate, such as smoked cannabis, vaporizers, topical treatments, edibles, juices, oils, sublingual sprays and tinctures.

<span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>1. Vaporizers</strong></span>

Vaporizers are becoming an increasingly popular method to administer marijuana. A vaporizer is a device that uses a heating process that reaches past the boiling point to release the active ingredients, but not high enough to burn the plant material. The collected vapour is then inhaled.

Vaporizers often have various temperature settings, which can impact the amount of cannabinoids in the vapour.

The effects of inhaled marijuana can be felt within minutes, and the effects last generally about 4-6 hours

A good vaporizer at the right heat setting can release up to 95% of all available cannabinoids.  Cannabinoids (e.g. THC and CBD) are chemical compounds found in the marijuana plant, which when ingested, bind to the body’s cannabinoid receptors.  This process is known to have medicinal value and applications for various aliments.  (Please visit the review article <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3442177/" target="_blank"><em>The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis and Cannabinoids </em></a>for more information on this topic.)<em>
</em>

Vaping marijuana has been found to be safer because the exposure to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16128224" target="_blank">harmful toxins</a>  that are emitted thru combustion, are <a href="http://www.cannabis-med.org/data/pdf/2001-03-04-9.pdf" target="_blank">reduced by using a vaporization device</a>.

There are <a href="http://www.canorml.org/healthfacts/Second-Study-Shows-Vaporizers-Drastically-Reduce-Toxins-in-Marijuana-Smoke" target="_blank">studies</a> and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20451365" target="_blank">data</a> that suggest vaporizing may be a healthier, efficient and more practical alternative to smoked marijuana, because this method of ingestion offers fast acting effects similar to smoking, provides better dosage control and potentially reduces health risks.

<strong>
<span style="font-size: 24px;">2. Edibles</span></strong>

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4550" src="http://swerve.fyi/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ChocolateNewResourcesSection1280x200.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="250" />

Medical marijuana patients can choose to consume marijuana, or the active components of marijuana, by eating or drinking food products infused with dried marijuana or its extracts.

On June 11, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled to legalize marijuana oils and edibles.  This landmark decision makes <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/medical-marijuana-legal-in-all-forms-supreme-court-rules-1.3109148" target="_blank">medical marijuana legal in all forms.</a>  This decision allows authorized medical marijuana patients the right to prepare, possess and consume any food products infused with marijuana or its extracts, such as cookies, brownies, muffins, teas, juices, smoothies, etc.

<strong>Medical marijuana can be prepared/processed, so it can be infused with food for cooking in the following ways:</strong>
<ol>
 	<li>Dried bud can be pulverized into a powder, known as canna flour.</li>
 	<li>Dried bud can be extracted into a fat or oil. The most commonly used fat is butter, and the final product is known as cannabutter.</li>
 	<li>Dried bud can be processed into a marijuana oil extract (caution, safety and knowledge/training are highly recommended before embarking upon this process.)</li>
 	<li>Dried bud can be infused with alcohol to make marijuana tinctures</li>
</ol>
<strong>In addition to this:</strong>
<ul>
 	<li>Fresh marijuana, which is non psychoactive, unless it is heated, can be consumed raw in a salad, blended into a smoothie or juiced.</li>
</ul>
<em><strong>Please note: </strong>The ingestion of marijuana edibles are slower acting, and as such, this delivery method has a delayed onset effect, which can take anywhere from one to three hours for the active ingredients of the eaten marijuana product to reach the bloodstream.  As well, this delivery method can induce a potent and long lasting effect, which can last much longer than 4-6 hours.</em>

<em>It it recommended that patients start with a low dose and monitor the impact that dose has before consuming a higher dose.</em>

<strong>
<span style="font-size: 24px;">3. Marijuana Oil Extracts</span></strong>

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4553" src="http://swerve.fyi/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/OilsNewResourcesSection1280x200.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="250" />

Ingestible marijuana oil extracts are concentrates that are consumed orally.  The delivery systems available to ingest oils in Canada (through licensed producers) are usually contained in capsules or in liquid form in a bottle.  The bottles come with a dosing syringe/eyedropper to measure dosage.  The oils can be orally ingested or infused with food and drink to make edibles.

<em>Please note: Much like edibles, ingestible oils can induce a potent and long lasting effect.  So use caution when dosing. The ingestion of marijuana oil has a delayed onset effect that can take 30-60 minutes or longer.  The effects of which can be felt for much longer than 4-6 hours.  </em>

<em>It it recommended that patients start with a low dose and monitor the impact that dose has before consuming a higher dose.</em>

&nbsp;

<strong><span style="font-size: 24px;">4. Cannabis Tinctures</span></strong>

Ingestible cannabis tinctures are alcohol based liquid concentration of cannabis.  In other words, the active ingredients found in cannabis are infused with alcohol.

<em>Please note: Cannabis tincture dosing, effect and duration are similar to that of edibles, if infused with food or drinks.  This method of consumption can induce a potent and long lasting effect.  The effects of which can be felt for much longer than 4-6 hours.  So use caution when dosing. </em>

<em>If cannabis tincture is absorbed under the tongue, the effects are likely to be felt quite rapidly, sometimes within 15 minutes.  This method of consumption can induce a peak high that is reached rather rapidly, the effects of which can be felt for much longer than 4-6 hours.</em>

<em>It it recommended that patients start with a low dose and monitor the impact that dose has before consuming a higher dose.</em>

&nbsp;

<hr />

* The material on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for a health care provider’s consultation. Please consult your own appropriate health care provider about the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your own symptoms or medical conditions. The information herein does not constitute health, legal or technical advice.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/12"][/vc_column][/vc_row]