INGESTIBLES
While edibles remain illegal in the Pennsylvania program, there are plenty of ingestible products that offer patients an alternative consumption method to vaporization.
These options include RSO, Troches, Tinctures, and Capsules. Convenience, comfortability, and discretion are popular reasons for patients to choose these products.
What separates ingestible products from flower, concentrates, or vape products is that all ingestible products are decarboxylated. Decarboxylation is the chemical process of heating cannabis to activate its compounds which alters THCa into the psychoactive compound of THC. Decarboxylation is why if you consume flower or raw concentrates orally, you won't feel any of the effects because there has not been heat applied. For ingestible products, the decarboxylation occurs during the processing for the products, making them ready to be consumed and for the effects to be felt.
RSO
RSO is a full-spectrum (meaning it contains all of the compounds of the plant) cannabis extract that is typically packaged and dispensed in a plastic syringe for oral consumption. RSO stands for "Rick Simpson Oil," and is named after Canadian cannabis advocate Rick Simpson, who created the extract as a form of cancer treatment for himself in the early 2000s. Today, it maintains popularity as a potent and highly effective way to get the full medicinal benefits of the cannabis plant.
To make RSO cannabis plant material is combined with a solvent (typically ethanol) to isolate all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and all other plant material into a concentrated oil. The solvent is then heated off the oil to leave a decarboxylated oil that can be consumed orally.
Overall, RSO is known as a versatile, full-spectrum product that can be a great option for patients averse to vaporization that still want the benefits of a product that has all the terpenes and cannabinoids of the original plant. RSO allows patients to be precise in their dosing to control the effects and consuming the product is as easy as placing a desired dose on a piece of food and eating it.
Some recommended tips for RSO are to make sure you heat up the oil prior to consuming by either rubbing it in your hands or placing it on the side of a mug of hot coffee and always going low and slow. While RSO is an accessible form of medication, it is also very potent and if overdosed can lead to an intense psychoactive experience that can be uncomfortable for novice patients. RSO is also a great way to make your own edibles, which is legal for medical marijuana patients in PA.
TROCHES
Troches (tro-kees) are a great alternative for anyone seeking a more traditional edible experience in Pennsylvania. First introduced in PA in 2023 as lozenges that you need to let melt sublingually, the product category has since evolved to include options that resemble what patients would expect from an infused gummy and can be chewed and swallowed for consumption.
Troches are available in pre-dosed units that can range from 5mg a piece to 100mg a piece in potency to give patients a variety of dosing options. Many grower/processors make them available in a variety of fruit-based flavors like mango, raspberry, or peach.
To get the best experience from troches, patients should find the appropriate dose that works for them, understand the different consistencies available and whether they want a product that can be chewed or needs to dissolve, find the correct formulation with either just THC or THC and other cannabinoids like CBD, and understand the different cannabis oils troches are made from.
Most troches are formulated with distillate, live rosin, live resin, or RSO. Distillate is not a full-spectrum oil and only contains isolated THC, while the other options are all full-spectrum. Overall, patients have plenty of options on the shelf with troches to find an alternative to traditional edibles and find what works best for them.
TINCTURES
Tinctures are traditionally cannabis extracts consumed orally through measured dropper pipets. They have been produced for centuries and were one of the first forms of cannabis prescribed as medicine. While ethanol or high-grade alcohol has long been used to make cannabis tinctures, many growers/processors are beginning to use non-ethanol and non-alcoholic substitutes to produce tinctures.
Like other products meant to be consumed orally, the starting cannabis material needs to be decarboxylated to activate the THC from THCA. This makes tinctures another good smokeless alternative for many patients. They are typically consumed sublingually (under the tongue) or mixed into food or drink. Tinctures can be a more introductory product to cannabis consumption as they lack the potency and potential for an intense psychoactive experience that other ingestible products like RSO or troches can have.
CAPSULES
Medical Marijuana Capsules are made using some form of cannabis extract placed into a pill designed for oral consumption. Growers will vary in the extract used for capsules and if they mix the extract with any other solution to result in easier digestion and effect. Capsules are commonly filled with either RSO, distillate or another form of cannabis extract that is prepared for oral consumption. Like many other products made for oral consumption, they will not have a quick onset, so it is always important to remember not to take another dose too quickly.
The level of THC contained in capsules will vary depending on the milligram of the capsules. They can range from 5 mg doses that contain low levels of THC to 50 mg doses that contain a much higher concentration of THC per capsule. Overall, capsules are another excellent alternative for getting the therapeutic benefits of the cannabis plant.
TOPICALS
Cannabis-infused topicals and lotions are made by mixing decarboxylated cannabis oil or hemp seed oil with solutions such as beeswax, coconut oil, or aloe vera gel to create a salve or balm to be applied directly to the skin. Topicals are not meant to be ingested orally and will not result in any psychoactive effects because they are not being absorbed into the bloodstream. Still, cannabis is known for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties when applied directly to an affected area.
Topicals are completely non-intoxicating and will not induce the effects associated with other consumption methods of cannabis. They are a popular choice for patients seeking localized pain relief without the additional effects of vaporizing or consuming active THC. Topicals are an excellent way for patients dealing with localized pain or inflammation to begin accessing and safely using medical marijuana as a treatment option.
