By Luke Sumpter


There are myriad ways to consume cannabis, from smoking joints and hitting bongs to baking cakes in the kitchen. Each method offers unique advantages, and unique effects to boot.

Oral and sublingual administration both deliver cannabis via the mouth, but despite a similar means of access, these routes result in a dramatically different onset, duration, and intensity of effects.

Discover the key differences between oral and sublingual cannabis below, and how to harness these routes of administration to your benefit.

What Are the Alternatives to Smoking Cannabis?

Many cannabis users love smoking joints. The visceral sensation of harsh smoke in the lungs adds something to the experience. Plus, grinding, rolling, and lighting a joint are social rituals in their own right. There’s simply something meditative and familiar about the practice.

But some cannabis users have an aversion to smoking. Luckily for them, they can choose from a whole bunch of different ways to use the herb. Some of the best alternatives to smoking include:

  • Vaping: Vaporizing utilises lower temperatures than smoking. The lack of combustion results in fewer carcinogens and more of a herbal flavour.
  • Edibles (oral): There are plenty of edibles to choose from, including cakes, gummies, capsules, tablets, and much more. This route of administration takes a while to set in, but the experience lasts much longer.
  • Sublingual: This simply refers to placing tinctures, oils, extracts, or strips under the tongue, where they diffuse directly into the bloodstream.

What Is Oral Ingestion of Cannabis?

Never heard of oral ingestion? Think edibles. This route of administration simply refers to eating, drinking, or otherwise swallowing cannabinoids. Some users prefer to cook cannabis-infused brownies, whereas others value the simplicity of popping a couple of capsules.

Regardless of the vessel, orally consumed cannabinoids all end up in the same place: the stomach. This longer route sets edibles apart from other ways of consuming cannabis. Instead of directly entering systemic circulation, oral cannabinoids are subject to first-pass metabolism. This pathway involves processing in the liver, where our detoxifying organ converts THC into the potent 11-hydroxy-THC, alongside some other, inactive metabolites.

First-pass metabolism creates somewhat of a paradoxical situation. Oral administration only leads to the absorption of up to 20% of THC[1] consumed, but edibles result in a much more powerful effect. Why? Because 11-hydroxy-THC has much greater psychotropic potential. Not only does it make up for the THC lost in the gut and liver, but it exceeds the mind-altering wallop of smoked cannabis.

Oral vs Sublingual Cannabis: Which Intake Method Is Better?

Benefits of Oral Ingestion

So, why do some cannabis users opt for brownies over bongs? The main benefits of oral marijuana intake include:

  • Increased potency: People are drawn to edibles for their hard-hitting effects. Recreational users enjoy the psychedelic-like properties of 11-hydroxy-THC and find the metabolite takes them to places that regular THC cannot. Edibles also play an important role in a medicinal context, and help some medical marijuana users find more relief than with inhaled cannabis.
  • Longer onset: Edibles take a while to kick in. The cannabinoids have to travel through the gut and liver, after all. While some people avoid edibles for this reason, others value this trait. You can pop in a capsule or gummy on the train ride home and be soaring once you enter your home. The build-up can add suspense to the experience and proves no big deal to those who have freed up their schedule.
  • Longer duration: Edibles take longer to set in, but they also provide a longer-lasting psychotropic effect. Overall, the experience tends to last between 6–8 hours. Peak blood concentrations of 11-hydroxy-THC occur at around three hours, after which users experience a pleasant afterglow.

What Is Sublingual Cannabis Intake?

Ever see people take CBD oil under the tongue? That same principle applies to THC oil and tinctures too—only, unlike CBD, these products will get you sufficiently stoned.

Sublingual intake simply refers to placing a substance under the tongue. This might sound strange—why not just swallow it? Well, the tissue under the tongue serves as a semi-permeable barrier. Lipophilic molecules such as THC readily diffuse through this layer of epithelial cells and connective tissue into the capillaries below.

This route grants cannabinoids immediate access to the bloodstream. These capillaries belong to the systemic venous system. This means sublingually applied molecules sidestep first-pass metabolism. THC passes through the blood–brain barrier without encountering enzymes in the liver that would otherwise catabolise it into 11-hydroxy-THC. Plus, much more THC reaches systemic circulation. Sublingual cannabis administration vastly increases the bioavailability[2] of cannabinoids.

Oral vs Sublingual Cannabis: Which Intake Method Is Better?

Benefits of Sublingual Cannabis Intake

Sublingual intake has soared in popularity in the cannabis space. The main benefits of sublingual cannabis intake include:

  • Rapid onset: Sublingual THC takes effect within a matter of minutes. It shares a similar onset to smoking and vaping, but with no inhalation involved.
  • Easy to judge: Various factors can impact the bioavailability of oral cannabis, making it unpredictable. Sublingual products offer more accuracy and fewer fluctuations. If you take a 10mg THC sublingual strip, you’ll have a good idea of what will make it into your bloodstream.
  • You get what you’re given: You took THC, and the sublingual method respects that choice. Instead of getting the liver involved and dosing you with a much more powerful drug, sublingual marijuana administration keeps THC intact and familiar.
  • Fast duration: Sometimes, you just want to get high without sacrificing the rest of your day. Sublingual cannabis offers a swift psychotropic experience. You can sit back and enjoy it for an hour or two, after which you can get cracking on with whatever you have planned for the rest of the day.

Oral vs Sublingual Cannabis: Key Distinctions

Oral and sublingual administration offer two completely different ways to experience cannabis. Sure, they both involve inserting cannabis products into the mouth, but the similarities end there. Check out the key differences between both methods below for a quick summary of their effects.

Onset

How long does it take for THC oil to work orally? What about brownies? Or capsules? When it comes to oral intake, expect to wait between 30–60 minutes, at least. If you’ve just dosed sublingually, expect to feel the effects almost right away (within a few minutes).

Bioavailability

Bioavailability refers to the amount of a substance that makes it to systemic circulation. Oral cannabis offers poor bioavailability—only around 20% of cannabinoids make it into the bloodstream. Sublingual administration, on the other hand, offers at least three times the absorption rate[3].

Duration

Duration refers to how long the high lasts. An oral cannabis high can last up to 8 hours, so you better buckle up and get ready to enjoy the ride after you eat an edible. In contrast, the sublingual marijuana experience ends much sooner. Expect to stay baked for an hour or so before touching back down to Earth.

Effects

Edible cannabis offers an intense and unique experience. Don’t expect a similar ride to smoking a joint. It’s an introspective and powerful experience not always suited to parties or social gatherings. Sublingual products offer a much different effect comparable to smoking or vaping weed.

Sublingual vs Oral Consumption: Which Method Is Best for THC and CBD?

Next time you’re deciding between sublingual tincture vs edibles, really think about what kind of experience you want to have. After all, neither of these methods is better or worse than the other—it just depends on your preference. If you’re looking for a light, quick, and efficient high, put some THC oil under your tongue. If you want to dive deep and spend the next few hours staring at the ceiling, cook up a batch of brownies and wait for them to kick in.

DisclaimerWhen consumed, THC metabolizes into 11-hydroxy-THC, which enters the body through the stomach and liver, resulting in a significantly stronger effect due to its increased affinity for CB1 receptors in the brain.

Ensure accurate portion control. Begin with small doses and gradually increase to develop tolerance.

Remember: Set and Setting will help you deal with various situations.

Stay Cultivated.

External Resources:
  1. Human Cannabinoid Pharmacokinetics https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Sublingual mucosa as a route for systemic drug delivery https://innovareacademics.in
  3. Sublingual mucosa as a route for systemic drug delivery https://innovareacademics.in
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: