For medical patients who can benefit from the all-natural wellness benefits of cannabis, but who cannot consume it any other way, cannabis suppositories, like tinctures, are one of the plant’s greatest gifts.
Too often lost in the rush to launch regulated adult-use cannabis markets is the need to remember our roots and carve out space and special regulations for the many medical patients who have thankfully found relief, and even cures, through cannabis use.
A large part of honoring the heritage of “medical marijuana” is honoring the brands that continue to craft products like cannabis suppositories that are the furthest thing from a cash grab or a get rich quick scheme but instead cater to the specific needs of some of the most vulnerable members of the cannabis community.
So, what are cannabis suppositories?
Cannabis suppositories are generally pill-shaped or conical-shaped solid capsules containing specific blends of cannabinoids which are introduced vaginally or rectally in order to be released and activated.
These products have had outstanding success helping to treat issues with the gastrointestinal system or a woman’s reproductive tract, and some male patients use them for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
These are just a small sample of the ailments or medical issues that can effectively be corralled or even cured with cannabis suppositories.
How to Know if Cannabis Suppositories Are the Right Fit For You
There are so many ways to consume cannabis these days and you can find all of them represented on most dispensary menus. Smoking it (Flower, Prerolls) remains the most popular, followed by eating it (Edibles, Beverages), and vaping it (Hash, Concentrates, Extracts, Vape Carts, Pods, All-In-Ones, etc.).
However, not everyone is physically able to consume cannabis using those methods. I’m sure you can think of 1,001 medical ailments that could preclude someone from dabbing, for example.
But what if we told you that those highly popular methods of cannabis consumption provided the lowest levels of cannabinoid uptake?
It’s true, smoking weed from a pipe, bong, or blunt will only deliver about 15% of the bioavailable cannabinoids from that strain. If you elect to eat it instead, you’ll get roughly 35% of the plant’s gift.
Cannabis suppositories, on the other hand, effectively deliver up to 80% of the cannabinoids infused within.
So, even if you are physically able to smoke weed, but your condition calls for massive daily doses of a specific cannabinoid profile, you can punish your lungs by combusting cannabis all day long or perhaps a cannabis suppository is right for you.
How Cannabis Suppositories Work
A cannabis suppository is a small, manufactured product that is infused with a chosen cannabinoid or blend of cannabinoids. It is inserted into a patient, vaginally or rectally, and left there where it rapidly dissolves and efficiently enters the bloodstream.
When administered in this manner, the cannabinoids that are released enter the patient’s bloodstream immediately, bypassing the liver. This is one major way that cannabis suppositories differ from smoked, vaped, or orally ingested weed which passes through the liver on its way to the brain to provide the “high” typically associated with THC and with weed in general.
When administered correctly, a cannabis suppository can deliver a much larger dose of cannabinoids without disrupting a patient’s mood or mindset. This can be especially useful for very young or very old patients.
The Bottom Line on Cannabis Suppositories
We always say that all marijuana use is medicinal, whether intentional or not. However, when the main purpose of cannabis use is as a medicinal tool, we highly encourage you to get your doctor involved in the conversation.
It has never been easier to find a doc who is at least willing to listen when it comes to a well thought out plan of action that happens to include some responsible cannabis use.
Cannabinoids are the cannabis plant’s gift to us all. Get ‘em in whenever, however, and wherever you can!
Here is a cool step-by-step guide to make your own cannabis suppositories at home – you can even use your Beard Bros Pharms RSO!
