Sleeker, Safer, Subtler: Everything You Need to Know About Sublingual THC

• Sublingual THC is portable, discreet, and one of the easiest ways to control dosing.
• A perfect middle path between inhalation and edibles, the effects from sublingual THC hit quickly like a puff and are easier to control than edibles.
• Sublinguals are ideal for those of us who are especially health conscious and care about the environment.

6-minute read

A Little Bit of Magic Under Your Tongue

When it comes to cannabis, your path to euphoria can come in many forms. Due to their familiarity, joints, edibles, and vapes often take center stage. But what about sublingual THC? While it might sound boring or medicinal, it’s actually one of the safest, most convenient ways to experience cannabis. Because of the convenient and controlled approach to highs that they create, sublinguals have become some of our favorites. Thanks to their discreet and compact form, they redefine portability—it’s easy to seamlessly integrate them into your daily routine. So, whether you’re a professional navigating a demanding schedule or someone who simply values discretion, sublinguals are a must.

What’s Sublingual THC?

Wait, what’s sublingual THC? As the name suggests, sublingual cannabis products go under your tongue. The mucous membranes in the mouth there are highly porous and incredibly efficient at absorbing compounds like THC. So, they offer a quicker path for cannabinoids to get into your bloodstream than through your digestive system. They can come as a tablet, dissolvable strip, spray, oil, or a tincture. Just pop one under your tongue and wait for the magic to happen. While the onset isn’t quite as fast as inhalation, the effects kick in much faster than with traditional edibles—usually within about 20 minutes. With an onset that quick, it’s much easier to control your dosage than with other forms of edibles.

How Do Sublinguals Work?

How does sublingual THC work? It’s all about absorption, baby! Technically, sublingual THC is in the same category as edibles. But, there are a few major differences between the 2 form factors. By opting for the sublingual route, you cleverly bypass the digestive system. So, when you place that sublingual under your tongue, the active compounds, like THC, make direct contact with your capillaries. These tiny blood vessels absorb cannabinoids right into the bloodstream, where they can begin their journey through your endocannabinoid system. This kind of absorption gives sublingual THC a distinct advantage over edibles both in timing and intensity. Consequently, sublinguals have a faster onset and ensure a more controlled, predictable experience than edibles can give you.

Benefits of Sublinguals Over Other Form Factors

Sublinguals also offer a middle path between inhalation and edibles. They don’t have any impact on your lungs. But they have a relatively fast onset and can waste less cannabinoids. So, they give you complete discretion, a high degree of dosage control, and can be processed with safe, green chemicals, like ethanol. And you can ignore those “No Smoking, No Vaping” signs.

Sublinguals vs Smoking or Vaping

Of course, there are some obvious differences between sublingual THC and the cannabinoids you consume through inhalation. Inhaling flower or concentrates will give you almost instantaneous results. But they also produce smoke and its aroma. So, they’re not always ideal for your health or public consumption. In contrast, sublinguals have a relatively quick onset without impacting your lungs at all. They’re also advantageous for those of us with sensitive throats because sublinguals guarantee a smooth experience devoid of any burning or coughing.

Sublingual THC in Public

Another great benefit of sublingual THC is that it ensures that your cannabis experience doesn’t impact anyone else. Sublinguals offer a low key and portable option that you can indulge in anywhere. That’s ideal for a modern lifestyle and for those who prioritize privacy. Whether you find yourself in a no-smoking or no-vaping venue, a restaurant, a theater, or even in the passenger seat of your friend’s car, sublinguals provide the ultimate flexibility. Their form allows you to easily take them in social settings without drawing unwanted attention. With sublinguals, you can perfectly tailor your cannabis consumption to your lifestyle because you don’t have to worry about the limitations of other forms.

Sublingual Bang for Buck

Let’s dive a little deeper. Sublingual THC also has greater bioavailability than the THC you can get through inhalation. That’s because your body absorbs sublingual THC more efficiently than it absorbs cannabinoids when you smoke flower or concentrates. In part, this is due to the fact that heat leads to expedited cannabinoid decomposition and terpene loss. Sublinguals preserve the full spectrum of these compounds, and, thus, enhance your overall experience of them.

Safer Consumption

Most vape oils and some sublinguals are extracted with hydrocarbons, like butane and propane. While these chemicals efficiently process cannabinoids into concentrates, residual hydrocarbons left in the final product are absorbed into the body through your lungs when you inhale them. Yuck. Long-term exposure to hydrocarbons can result in damage to your respiratory tract. Sublinguals, on the other hand, can be extracted with ethanol or H2O. While the latter is the safest method, ethanol is also considered very safe for humans in the kinds of trace amounts left after processing cannabis. So, for the safest consumption, look for sublinguals that aren’t processed with hydrocarbons.

Greener Processing

There are environmental considerations in extraction, too. Hydrocarbons pose significant environmental risks. Hazardous waste from production can run off into our water supply and pollute the surrounding environment. Toxic runoff affects drinking water, damages septic tanks, and endangers aquatic life. These compounds and the extraction process utilizing them are also known contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, ethanol and H2O extraction have been designated as “green circle” processes by the EPA for their minimal environmental impact.

Sublinguals vs. Edibles

Sublinguals also offer significant advantages over edibles. As edibles move through your digestive system, your liver metabolizes the cannabinoids. During this process, it transforms THC into a more potent and longer-lasting form of itself. This change is why the effects of edibles last longer and are more intense than the ones you get from inhalation and sublinguals. But that also makes them harder to control. With their direct route to the bloodstream, sublinguals sidestep this metabolic change. Forget waiting for hours for edibles to fully kick in. Direct absorption of sublingual THC into the bloodstream offers a swift onset that’s perfect for the fast-paced rhythms of your life. Sublinguals also bring an added bonus for the health-conscious: next-to-no calories!

Tips for Sublingual THC Newbies

If you’re new to sublinguals, a few tips can make all the difference in your journey. First things first—mind your dosage. Sublinguals come in every strength, from tiny microdose sprays to incredibly potent oils. If you’re just starting, dip your toes into the sublingual pool with a low dose and gradually adjust until you find your sweet spot. As with all cannabis, let the effects kick in fully before you consider taking more. But, since you’ll feel a sublingual in 15-30 minutes, you won’t be waiting long.

New Year, New Highs

Sublinguals might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Slot them into any lifestyle, any mood, any time. Their discreet form and convenient dosing combined with a speedy onset make them the perfect middleman between edibles and inhalation. Sleeker, safer, and subtler are in for 2024. Kick off the new year with your new favorite way to get high.