How to dose cannabis sprays

Cannabis spray can be a great alternative to more traditional methods like smoking or edibles.

Designed to be user-friendly, cannabis sprays absorb quickly and produce powerful effects. They’re also simpler to dose than other consumption methods.

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What are cannabis oral sprays?

Cannabis sprays are cannabis extracts that have been diluted, usually in ethanol alcohol or MCT oil. They come in travel-friendly spray bottles, and are usually applied under the tongue, similarly to other sublingual products like strips and tinctures.

Many sprays contain both THC and CBD, the primary cannabinoids in cannabis. However, pure-THC formulas are available, and in states where cannabis use remains illegal, you’re more likely to see sprays that consist primarily of CBD.

The effects of oral THC sprays don’t feel all that different from other forms of cannabis. Like other product types, sprays can produce relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, and more.

If you’ve never used cannabis before, oral sprays could be a smart way to get accustomed to the effects of cannabis, as their user-friendliness makes them great for beginners.

Cannabis sprays come in various concentrations (milligram strengths), meaning that some are more potent than others. That’s why it’s important to read the product label before you buy.

How do cannabis sprays work?

Like other cannabis products, oral sprays allow cannabinoids like THC and CBD to be absorbed into the bloodstream. They’re highly bioavailable, which means that they absorb very quickly and easily to offer fast-acting and potent effects. You may feel the effects of cannabis sprays within 5 to 30 minutes.

How to use a cannabis spray

When researching how to use cannabis sprays, we turned to Mark Kasabuski, a doctor of pharmacy with over 15 years of experience working in pharmacies and medical cannabis dispensaries.

“Keep the dose under the tongue so the medication has a chance to get absorbed by the blood vessels in the mouth,” he says. He recommends holding the dose under the tongue for roughly one minute before swallowing.

He also states that if you don’t apply your spray correctly, you might have to wait longer before feeling the desired effects.

He warns, “If you don’t keep it under the tongue and it doesn’t get the chance to absorb, and you end up swallowing it, it’s going to take on more of a cannabis edible or consumable-type effect where it will have a one to two-hour onset until you are feeling anything.”

How to measure your dose

Dosing an oral cannabis spray is similar to dosing a tincture.

First, you’ll need to know the total cannabinoid content of the bottle, and the amount of liquid. From there, you can calculate how much THC and/or CBD are in a single milliliter (mL).

The total cannabinoid content is divided by the volume of liquid. For example, if you have a 30 mL cannabis spray bottle containing 300 milligrams (mg) THC and 300 mg CBD, then you have a product that contains 10 mg THC and 10 mg CBD per ml.

Figuring out how many sprays there are in a 30 mL bottle can be difficult, as it can vary between products due to differences in nozzle size, as well as the spray’s consistency.

Some product labels may state the total number of sprays in each bottle. Other products provide an approximate number, which is usually somewhere between 160 and 220 sprays per 30 mL product.

Are THC and CBD sprays safe?

THC and CBD sprays are generally safe, but there are still potential risks and side effects, especially if you accidentally take too high of a dose. They include:

• Anxiety
• Drowsiness
• Impairment
• Increased heart rate/heart palpitations
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea

These side effects are more likely to occur if you have a low cannabis tolerance. To avoid these risks as much as possible, beginners should take half of the recommended dosage and wait 30 minutes to feel the desired effects before increasing the dose.

The bottom line

Proper dosing of an oral cannabis spray relies on several factors, including your tolerance, desired effects, and the strength of the product.

Still, a good general guideline is to start with one spray, hold it under your tongue for one minute, and wait 30 minutes to feel the effects kick in. Repeat the process if you’re not getting the results you were hoping for.

For more help finding the right cannabis spray dosage for you, consider making an appointment with Leafwell, where you can receive more personalized guidance.

Resources

A Review of scientific evidence for THC:CBD oromucosal spray (Nabiximols) in the management of chronic pain. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7027889/

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