Published on: 23/12/2022
Many people have no idea what they are, although they are one of the easiest and most effective ways to take thc.
The types of cannabis administration are numerous and act in different ways and at different times.
In this article we will talk about how the sublingual intake of THC works, in countries where sale is permitted by law, and how this method differs from that by ingestion and by orodispersible intake.
Sublingual THC strips: What are they and how do they work?
THC strips are small edible films that dissolve when in contact with the sublingual mucosa. Simply put, sublingual intake occurs through placement of the substance under the tongue.
They are available in various flavors and with different THC concentrations (each strip has an average of 10 mg THC); they may also contain CBD.
Referring to the experiences of users in countries where it is legal to buy THC strips, there would be several advantages of this mode of cannabis use. Let’s see the main ones:
- efficacy: they involve an immediate absorption of THC. The molecules of this substance spread through the oral mucosa (the soft tissue under the tongue), and quickly reach the blood flow by penetrating the blood-brain barrier, without encountering enzymes present in the liver.
- practicality and discretion: they are proposed in single doses (easy to consume) contained in a small and discreet wrapper. The THC strips blend in with the classic mint stripes and do not smell like grass, nor do they recall the appearance in any way.
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Differences between sublingual and oral cannabis intake.
Oral and sublingual administration both pass through the mouth but involve two very different ways of assimilation
THC strips, just like edibles, are taken through the mouth, but involve different ways of assimilation, which can be explained according to the concept of bioavailability. The latter, simplifying, corresponds to the speed with which the active ingredient enters the bloodstream.
Edibles have a lower bioavailability, given that THC passes through the stomach, intestine and liver before entering the circulation, which act as a filter, with the result of cushioning the strength of the active ingredient; in other words, the THC must pass through the digestive system before entering the bloodstream and being transported to the brain.
Sublingual strips, on the other hand, have greater bioavailability, since the active ingredient is absorbed by the sublingual artery (where there are very capillary blood vessels), entering the circulation faster than when taken orally. This is because the molecules present in the product enter the mouth but are not ingested and therefore do not act through the passage in the stomach and liver.
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The difference between sublingual intake and orodispersioble intake.
Ingestion and orodispersible intake are not synonymous. When we talk about orodispersible intake we refer to a substance (tablet or granular preparation) that dissolves in the mouth and is then ingested. In this way, rapid absorption in the mouth is first achieved and then, with ingestion, the molecules of the substance reach the digestive system when they are already dissolved, facilitating their assimilation.
With reference to bioavailability, therefore, orodispersible intake represents a middle ground between sublingual intake and ingestion: the molecules do not reach the bloodstream directly, having to pass through the digestive system and the liver, but being already dissolved they are assimilated more quickly compared to ingestion.
Sublingual THC Strips: Why taking it sublingually is more effective than other methods.
As regards, in particular, therapeutic cannabis, the scientific community is increasingly oriented towards inhalation and sublingual use. We try to avoid taking it orally because the metabolism that cannabis undergoes in the liver makes it ineffective and therefore without effects.
Among the methods of administration approved by UK law, the most common are those that involve taking an oil sublingually or orally or by inhalation using authorized vaporizers. However, smoking cannabis for therapeutic purposes is not permitted.
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