The EVOLUTION Magazine July 2026 | Seite 19

Adult Use Age 21 +. Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular medical marijuana products.

for newbies. The risk of over-consumption becomes greater. Until you become familiar with your tolerance and how much you actually need, start with a low dose(< 2.5mg), wait an hour, and see how you feel. If it’ s not enough, take a bit more, wait an hour, etc.

Another form of oral ingestion, and one that provides more immediate relief, is sublingual( under the tongue) application of cannabis tincture. This bypasses the liver, entering the bloodstream within minutes. Because the effect is quick, it’ s also far easier to titrate your dosage than edibles. They can be used during the day, on the go, and even discreetly in the workplace.

Then, of course, there’ s smoking and vaping. Both provide an immediate effect, albeit not as long-lasting as edibles and tinctures. Vaping is also reasonably discreet.

Topical applications such as balms and salves often prove immensely beneficial, not only for arthritis, but also for many other types of aches and pains. They can provide many hours of relief. Look for“ whole plant” products and avoid products made from isolates( they contain only isolated cannabinoid molecules, i. e., they’ re pharmaceuticals). It’ s not so easy to tell, so ask the producer. Just bear in mind that the real deal balms and salves are often difficult to find. If you can’ t find a good source, you may have to blend your own with pure cannabis oil.

What tends to work best for many arthritis sufferers is a combination of ingestion and topical application methods, such as vaping as needed through the day, topical application of a cannabalm, then an edible an hour before bedtime.

Look for strains not too high in THC and not too low in CBD. The closer the percentages are to one another, the better. 1:1 is ideal but not an absolute requirement.

Product Type How to use these THC products Onset Time Oils / Tinctures Taken sublingually for quick absorption. 15-45 minutes

Topicals

Applied directly to the skin for localized relief.

Varies by product. Estimate 15-30 min.

Edibles Ingested for longer-lasting effects. 30-90 minutes

Peter Kershaw is a medical cannabis consultant. Contact him at pkershaw. email @ gmail. com As with all writers within these pages, if you’ ve benefited from Peter’ s articles, please let him and all writers know. They appreciate your thoughts.

Notice: The information contained herein is in no way intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, but rather a sharing of knowledge and information based on research, experience and the opinion of the writer. The content is for general informational purposes only. As always, check with your doctor first.

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