The THC gummies for sale in dispensaries come in various doses, from 5mg to 50mg, with 10mg being the most common. While some believe higher doses can offer better experiences and benefits, one study suggests that reducing a 10mg edible to 2.5mg can produce positive effects.
Dementia patients had to obtain their medication from a dispensary instead of using the pre-made 2.5mg dronabinol. Get to know why doctors prescribe gummies or edibles instead of dronabinol.
Table of Contents
What is a THC Gummy?
THC gummies are weed edibles infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. These treats contain a specific dosage, so you can manage how much you consume for various effects. Consuming this product can lead to relaxation, euphoria, and therapeutic benefits such as pain relief or alleviation of anxiety.
What are They Made of?
The main active ingredient is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. Other forms, like delta-8 and delta-10, exist but in much smaller concentrations. Manufacturers transform pectin, natural flavourings, MCT oil, tapioca syrup, and cane sugar into a gummy. Some also contain citric acid and sodium citrate for preservation.
Check ingredient labels if you follow a vegan diet or have other dietary restrictions. Some brands use gelatin instead of pectin to achieve the gummy texture. Consider the sweeteners used, as some brands opt for artificial or high-fructose corn syrup.
What Can It Offer?
Most people associate the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol with recreational use. This compound offers more benefits than commonly thought. A 2023 study investigated how dispensary-bought marijuana could help dementia patients with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS).
According to their caregivers, the majority of patients who took tetrahydrocannabinol experienced improvements in NPS, such as reduced agitation, aggression, irritability, emotional lability, anxiety, and insomnia. Of the 20 patients who were taking antipsychotics, over half were able to decrease or discontinue their antipsychotic medication.
Aside from NPS, premium weed gummies can provide relief from other symptoms like pain, insomnia, and loss of appetite.
Prescription Dronabinol
Dronabinol is a synthetic form of tetrahydrocannabinol for treating HIV/AIDS-induced anorexia and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Some use it off-label to treat obstructive sleep apnea, though its efficacy in this application remains mixed and unclear.
Characteristics | Details |
Mechanism of Action | Acts as a partial agonist at CB1 receptors for pain modulation, appetite stimulation, and anti-nausea effects. |
Administration | Available as 2.5 mg (white), 5 mg (dark brown), and 10 mg (orange) capsules, administered orally with sesame oil formulation. |
Adverse Effects | Abdominal pain, dizziness, euphoria, nausea, paranoia, somnolence, abnormal thinking, vomiting. |
Contraindications | Hypersensitivity to dronabinol or sesame oil. |
Reason For Cutting Infused Gummy Into Quarters
Cutting or titrating marijuana products can achieve the desired effects and benefits. Not all dosages work for everyone; for instance, some people seeking relaxation might find high doses effective, while others may require smaller doses to avoid anxiety.
Study on Titrating Dispensary Weed
A 2024 retrospective study looked into how dispensary-bought cannabis edibles dosed at 2.5mg are better than 10mg and why dronabinol is not always the best option. Patients purchased 10 mg of weed gummy from a dispensary and divided each gummy into quarters to achieve a daily dose of 2.5 mg.
The study notes variability in the dose delivered to patients due to non-standardized dispensary dosing, which could affect treatment effectiveness.
Titrating Weed
The study did not compare why buying a 10mg edible is better than ready-made dronabinol. It may be that dronabinol can be quite expensive and that it is much more concentrated, even in low doses.
As for dispensary-based products, titration is common, no matter what type.
- To achieve the desired effects for each patient.
- Provides flexibility to adjust the dosage based on needs or responses without purchasing different strengths.
- Allows gradual titration, where patients can start with a lower dose and increase as needed based on their tolerance and therapeutic requirements.
Dispensary-Bought Cannabis vs. Dronabinol: Efficacy, Absorption, etc.
Although dronabinol and THC edibles contain the same compound, their efficacy, absorption, and dosage differ. Preference rates also vary, with most people choosing the natural option due to its effectiveness in addressing multiple symptoms.
Pricing
The synthetic version is expensive and challenging to manufacture. It can cost between $200 and $800 monthly if paid out of pocket.
Many patients, especially those with chronic conditions, find this cost prohibitive, which limits their use of the drug. Doctors also report that the high price deters them from prescribing it. In a survey of HIV/AIDS specialists, 33% of those who had never prescribed dronabinol cited its high cost as the reason. Natural marijuana is less expensive for patients than the oral synthetic version.
Efficacy
Some people prefer natural cannabinoids in edibles over synthetic versions due to their efficacy in treating various conditions. Reputable brands incorporate natural terpenes and other cannabinoids for an overall entourage effect. In contrast, synthetic forms contain only one cannabinoid.
Dronabinol remains at therapeutic levels in the blood longer than the natural version. Although considered more potent than natural cannabinoids, dronabinol has more side effects.
An article published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse examined the expected outcomes of using both synthetic and natural marijuana. The results showed that the adverse effects were higher for synthetic marijuana compared to natural marijuana across both groups.
Absorption
THC cannabis gummies are ingested and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Dronabinol is also orally consumed in capsule form but mixed with sesame oil to enhance absorption.
Oral consumption of cannabinoids has lower bioavailability compared to inhalation methods due to first-pass metabolism in the liver. This means effects can take between 30 minutes to 2 hours to onset. Dronabinol’s bioavailability ranges from 10% to 20%, influenced by metabolism and gastrointestinal health factors. The onset of effects for dronabinol occurs within 0.5 to 1 hour.
Pain Management
Dronabinol is not adequate for managing post-surgical pain in women following a hysterectomy. It did show some benefits for nerve pain caused by multiple sclerosis and improved pain and muscle spasms related to spinal cord injury. While it appears practical for chronic pain symptoms, further research is needed to confirm its efficacy.
Natural weed, on the other hand, is a viable treatment for chronic pain, including nerve pain, arthritis, and headaches. It could help reduce opioid use and assist in discontinuing opioid medications.
Best THC Gummies For Sale
Product | Total Dosage | Dosage Per Gummy | Amount Per Pack |
OneStop – Sour Green Apple | 500mg | 50mg | 10 |
Potluck Extracts – Cherry | 200mg | 20mg | 10 |
High Dose – Cannabis Infused – Blackberry | 1000mg | 1000mg | 1 |
Green Samurai Extreme – Cherry | 300mg | 300mg | 1 |
Trippy Treats – Fresh Pear | 400mg | 40mg | 10 |
Experience Why Dispensary-Bought Cannabis Products are Better
GrassLife offers a selection of the best THC gummies with discreet packaging, enhanced potency, and safe ingredients. Our THC-infused gummies come in various options to help you achieve your desired effects.
You can purchase high-dose weed gummies for consistent use and easy dosage adjustment without needing to buy more frequently. If edibles aren’t your preference, we also provide weed flower, concentrates, and CBD cannabis oils.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dronabinol more potent than regular marijuana?
Patients prescribed with dronabinol report that its psychoactive effects are stronger than those of the natural version. Adverse effects of synthetic options can include drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, mood changes, muddled thinking, perceptual difficulties, impaired coordination, irritability, and depression. Approximately one-third of patients taking synthetic versions experience one or more of these adverse effects.
What is the consequence of not titrating your marijuana products well?
If you purchase a product with a dose higher than your tolerance level, you may experience undesirable effects. Using doses that do not align with your preferences and experience level may prevent you from achieving the desired benefits. Cutting products into halves or quarters is necessary to manage dosage.
If you prefer not to cut or titrate your products, you can choose lower-dose products to control your intake better.
Can you use dronabinol for relaxation?
No. Dronabinol is exclusively for medical purposes, with the primary aim of targeting specific symptoms. The pure THC in dronabinol can be challenging to manage, especially in high doses. If you are seeking relaxation, it is better to choose natural products. Natural marijuana provides a more balanced effect with fewer adverse reactions.