The reasons why the body doesn’t process all the CBD and THC oil it consumes

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Not all of the cannabis compounds consumed are utilized by the body

It may come as a surprise to many to learn that, just because a cannabis product contains 3mg tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), not all of that is consumed by the body. Whether it be THC, cannabidiol (CBD) or any of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis products, there is a large portion that is actually wasted. This is the case with anything the body absorbs, as any product will meet several factors as it comes in contact with the organs and the bloodstream, and it all comes down to bioavailability.

Bioavailability can be interpreted as the rate at which the body absorbs any substance. That rate is dependent on things such as physiological conditions, higher (or lower) metabolism, physical characteristics of the body and much more. Consumption methods can also affect the bioavailability, with certain types allowing for more of the compound to be utilized or go to waste.

In some cases, only 6% of the cannabinoid will make it to the bloodstream. THC and CBD oil are notorious for not delivering higher amounts since the human body is about 60% water. The simple science everyone learns in elementary school holds true with cannabis – oil and water don’t mix.

Ingesting cannabis orally means that the compound, or compounds, will first pass through the gastrointestinal tract before being transported to the portal vein and then to the liver. When it reaches the liver, it will be metabolized and part of it burned off. Since some of the amount has already been depleted as the cannabis makes its way to the liver, the organ then has less to work with and send to the bloodstream.

Between THC and CBD, the former will typically be retained more than the later, usually about 30-50% higher when administered orally. With this knowledge at hand, scientists are exploring nano-emulsions and micro-emulsions in order to provide up to 100% bioavailability, which is going to have an impact on how products are manufactured, regulated and released in the future.