How long does medical cannabis take to work?

Today, we continue our series with one question we hear all the time:

"How long does medical cannabis take to work?"

The answer, as with most things related to medical cannabis treatment, is that it depends on a few key factors...

What are the major factors that affect the onset time of medical cannabis?

There are three main factors that will affect how quickly medical cannabis takes effect:

1. Route of administration: There are multiple ways to take cannabis-based medicines, and all come with unique ‘onset of effects’ times.
2. Dosage and potency: The strength of cannabis-based medicines varies, and this will inevitably affect how long it takes to take effect and how long it lasts.
3. Individual patient factors: Everybody reacts to medical cannabis therapy slightly differently based on their unique biology (age, weight, metabolism, and cannabinoid tolerance) and medical history.

How long does it take for different routes of administration to work?

Medical cannabis comes in all shapes and sizes. From dried medical cannabis flower to cannabis oil, capsules, patches, and even topicals. The way that patients take or use their prescribed medical cannabis has a significant impact on the time taken for the positive therapeutic impacts to be felt.

Inhalation

Dried medical cannabis flower is the most commonly prescribed CBPM in the UK. It is usually prescribed to be vaporised (smoking medical cannabis is illegal in the UK).  Vaporised cannabis flower has a very rapid onset time, as the cannabinoids and terpenes are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs.

This means patients can expect to feel the effects of vaporised cannabis flower within minutes of inhalation, lasting for around 2 to 4 hours, depending on the individual.

Sublingual (under the tongue)

Medical cannabis oils are usually prescribed for sublingual administration, meaning the oil is placed under the tongue for 60 to 90 before swallowing. This allows for faster absorption into the bloodstream through the mucous membranes in the mouth.

Sublingual administration typically takes 15 to 20 minutes to take effect and lasts around 3 to 4 hours.

Oral

Medical cannabis oil can also be taken orally with food or drink. Capsules are another common oral route of administration. There is a delay in the onset of effects when taken orally, as the medication first passes through the digestive system before being absorbed into the bloodstream.

The onset time for oral administration can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, and depending on individual factors, the effects last 4 to 6 hours.

Topical

Cannabis-based medications also come in the form of topical creams, balms, and lotions. These are applied directly to the skin and can help reduce localised pain and inflammation.

Expect topicals to take around 60 to 90 minutes for the effects to be noticeable, lasting 8 to 12 hours.

The prolonged therapeutic effects of medical cannabis

With all of that said, depending on the route of administration, the type of medical cannabis you have been prescribed, the dose, and the health condition or symptom being treated, it may take up to two weeks for the full effects of medical cannabis therapy to be felt.

Say you are taking medical cannabis oil sublingually to help reduce chronic inflammation, while also applying a topical cream for arthritis pain. You may notice the immediate effects of the topical, but it could take a few weeks for the full anti-inflammatory effects of the oil to kick in and provide long-term relief.

So, how long does it take for medical cannabis to work?

Every patient is unique, and there really is no "one size fits all approach" to medical cannabis therapy. Your prescribing specialist here at Releaf will work with you to find the right route of administration, dosage and individualised treatment plan that works best for you.

Medical cannabis is here to stay in the UK. Releaf is here to help you achieve a healthier, happier you. It all starts with our free, fast eligibility checker.

Want to learn more about UK medical cannabis?

Head over to our extensive blog and education sections.