What are the different ways to consume thc oils and their effects?

THC oils are becoming more popular as cannabis legalization expands. Different types of THC oil products have been developed for consumers with different tolerance levels and preferences.

Inhalation or vaping

THC vape oils use extracted cannabis oil diluted into a liquid with a vape pen carrier like propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin. A vape device can easily vaporize the oil when heated. Vaping THC oil offers faster relief – users feel effects in just 5-10 minutes as the THC enters the bloodstream quickly through the lungs before reaching the brain. Peak highs hit at around 30-60 minutes when vaped. Microdosing with THC vape oil is therefore ideal. Plus, you avoid the health risks of smoking by inhaling gentle cannabis vapor instead of smoke. It takes about 2 to 3 hours total to get a high from vaping THC oil due to its faster high. Bioavailability is also lower in vaping compared to other methods. Expect pain relief, elevated mood, and creativity. Higher dose side effects include impaired coordination, anxiety, or paranoia.

Sublingual use 

A popular way to use various cannabis oil extracts and tinctures is sublingual, held under the tongue for 30-90 seconds before swallowing. This method allows the mucous membranes to absorb THC and other cannabinoids into the numerous blood vessels located there. Effects manifest within 10 to 20 minutes of tasting thc oil sublingually and last for approximately 4 to 8 hours. It is therefore longer lasting than vaping. Sublingual bioavailability also reaches up to 35% giving more efficient absorption than ingestion. THC oil taken this way is ideal for issues like insomnia and chronic pain when you want long, sustained relief.

Edible Ingestion

Eating edibles infused with activated THC oil is a familiar technique that both recreational and medical cannabis consumers enjoy. THC oils bind to fats which makes them perfect for infusing into food oils, butters, and cooking oils to use in baked edibles, candies, capsules, and more. However, digesting infused edibles delays onset time substantially – you do not feel high for 30 to 90+ minutes while your liver metabolizes the THC. Yet ingesting THC oil generates the longest-lasting, most intense total effects. These peak at around 2 to 4 hours and sustain for 8 hours plus. Using THC oil to make edibles also creates stronger psychedelic effects even with smaller doses thanks to transformed THC converting to 11-hydroxy-THC through digestion. It makes edibles most suitable for nighttime use and recreational enhancement. Start with 2 to 5 mg before slowly increasing your edible dosage. Most edible trips are caused by overconsumption.

Topical applications

Recent innovations have enabled THC oil extracts to be applied topically too. Transdermal topical THC products are specially formulated for absorption through the skin and directly into blood vessels and tissues just below. In areas like the temples, neck, and joints, this relieves tension, soreness, and pain locally. Applying topical THC avoids any psychotropic reactions while still benefiting from its anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties. After a 30 to 60-minute uptake period, soothing relaxation lasts for several hours. Topicals work for various symptoms and conditions like eczema, muscle spasms, arthritis, and migraines. They provide subtle relief great for daily use alongside other methods like vaping or tinctures depending on need.