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Cannabis suppositories are small, meltable, cone-shaped solids made from a fatty base (usually coconut oil) and cannabinoids, designed for easy insertion into the vagina or rectum for fast symptom relief. Although a cannabis suppository may not be the first option that pops into your head when you think of cannabis medicine, this little-known product has remarkable therapeutic potential.
Thanks to the increased bioavailability and minimized psychoactive effects, a weed suppository can be an excellent choice for many chronic conditions, particularly those affecting the pelvic area.
Over the years, weed suppositories have been a staple for medical cannabis patients, but for many, they are in an unfamiliar or even uncomfortable format. Here, we explore the science behind cannabis suppositories and their therapeutic potential.
What are cannabis suppositories?
Although not an everyday product for those who love the recreational effects of cannabis, suppositories have long helped patients with chronic conditions. From intense nausea and vomiting to patients who simply can’t take things by mouth, this delivery form offers a unique set of pros and cons.
Weed suppositories are designed for insertion rectally or vaginally, and typically contain only a few simple ingredients. The formula is so simple that many medical cannabis patients use a cannabis suppository recipe to make them at home. Nowadays, it’s increasingly easy to find cannabis suppositories in most major markets.
In almost all suppositories, you’ll find coconut oil (or another fatty base), cannabinoids, and perhaps a few added medicinal herbs or essential oils. The coconut oil helps the capsule stay solid at room temperature, but melt quickly once inserted into the body. Then, the cannabinoids and other ingredients can be rapidly absorbed through the many blood vessels lining the inside of the rectum or vagina.
How do suppositories work?
Because a cannabis suppository is not absorbed and passed through the liver like an edible, the intoxicating effects of THC edibles caused by 11-OH-THC production in the liver are substantially minimized. Instead, most of the THC that ends up being absorbed as a rectal suppository will skip the liver and produce different, less intense effects than edibles. There is actually some research to suggest that cannabis suppositories are not well absorbed from the rectum. Regardless, cannabis suppositories also have localized effects, which is why many products target sexual health concerns, period-related symptoms, and other conditions affecting the pelvic area.
Despite a lack of good evidence, according to research published in 2021, the effects of weed suppositories have a rapid onset, often within 10 to 15 minutes. While the beneficial effects last up to eight hours, the peak happens around the two-hour mark. The paper recommends placing the suppository about one inch into the rectum. 1
Uses for cannabis suppositories
Cannabis suppositories are perfect for relieving symptoms affecting the pelvic zone — think painful, inflammatory conditions.
People who use suppositories vaginally also report benefits for endometriosis, an extremely painful disease caused by the growth of uterus tissue growing outside of the uterus. This route of administration may also help with periods and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In the last few years, there have been several high-profile reported stories of women using a vaginal cannabis suppository for cramps.
Suppositories may be a useful option with patients suffering from conditions where they cannot take medicine or food by mouth. In the research cited above, the authors write, “Suppositories could be helpful for palliative care, patients who cannot swallow, gastrointestinal illnesses, and for healing skin damaged by rectal radiation.”
Finally, a cannabis suppository could also help with sexual health. Although there have been no studies yet on this effect, consumers suggest it can help with vaginal dryness and pain, and may even increase pleasure.
The 5 best cannabis and CBD suppositories
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Price: $10.99 (2 pack)
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Cannabinoids: CBD, THC, CBG, CBC | 48 mg CBD, 1.4 mg THC, 1.3 mg CBG, 2.8 mg CBC
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Available in: Nationwide in the US
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Price: $15 (2 pack)
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Cannabinoids: THC, CBD | 10 mg THC, 20 mg CBD
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Available in: California
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Price: $66 (5 pack)
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Cannabinoids: CBD | 75 mg
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Available in: Nationwide in the US
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Price: $50 (8-pack)
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Cannabinoids: Broad spectrum CBD | 100 mg
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Available in: Nationwide in the US
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Price: $15 (2 pack)
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Cannabinoids: THC, CBD | 50 mg THC, 15 mg CBD
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Available in: California
Trusted Canna Nurse YoniEase CBD suppositories
Price: $10.99 (2 pack)
Cannabinoids: CBD, THC, CBG, CBC | 48 mg CBD, 1.4 mg THC, 1.3 mg CBG, 2.8 mg CBC
Other Ingredients: Organic cocoa butter, organic hemp extract, beta-caryophyllene, humulene
Available in: Nationwide in the US
The YoniEase Whole Plant CBD Suppository is the product of a team of healthcare professionals with extensive medical cannabis expertise. This CBD suppository, enriched with pain-targeted terpenes, features a full extract cannabis oil (FECO). While it can be used rectally by men, its primary aim is to help women experiencing conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, menstrual discomfort, bladder spasticity, and gastrointestinal issues.
Crafted on a cocoa butter base, this suppository is infused with full spectrum cannabinoids and fortified with terpenes like beta-caryophyllene (BCP) and humulene, for an additional layer of pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects.
In an industry where trust and quality are paramount, Trusted Canna Nurse’s suppository adheres to the cannabis nurse “FLOW” criteria. This signifies that it is flower-derived, lab-tested, organic, and whole plant-based, offering assurance in a market often plagued by ambiguity.
Trusted Canna Nurse already has some compelling anecdotal reports on the CBD suppository, but the team recognizes the importance of real-world data (RWD), and is currently participating in a Cannigma-MoreBetter data collection campaign to better understand how the product functions in everyday life. Stay tuned for data insights.
HelloAgain Period Vaginal Suppositories
Price: $15 (2 pack)
Cannabinoids: THC, CBD | 10 mg THC, 20 mg CBD
Other Ingredients: Cocoa butter, hemp seed oil, avocado oil, passion fruit seed oil, marula oil, pine needle extract, ylang ylang, bergamot, rosemary morocco, sweet thyme, lemon balm
Available in: California
Hello Again has formulated this vaginal suppository to target the symptoms associated with periods and PMS (premenstrual syndrome). Inside each suppository is one part THC, two parts CBD with a blend of other beneficial herbs like passion fruit seed oil, pine needle extract, bergamot, and sweet thyme, just to name a few.
Thanks to the method of administration and the high CBD ratio, these promise to provide relief of monthly symptoms without an associated head high.
Nirvana Naturals CBD Suppositories
Price: $66 (5 pack)
Cannabinoids: CBD | 75 mg
Other Ingredients: n/a
Available in: Nationwide in the US
This CBD-based suppository packs a significant amount of CBD into each capsule. With 75 mg of CBD in each, Nirvana Naturals has crafted a super-concentrated way to reap the benefits of this gentle cannabinoid without inhalation or ingestion.
All of Nirvana Naturals products are lab-tested, non-GMO, and preservative-free, and the CBD is derived from USDA-approved hemp. Each suppository is 2.65ml and should be stored in the refrigerator before use.
Foria Relief Melts with CBD
Price: $50 (8-pack)
Cannabinoids: Broad spectrum CBD | 100 mg
Other Ingredients: Organic-certified fair trade cocoa butter
Available in: Nationwide in the US
As the name suggests, Foria’s Relief Melts with CBD promise rapid absorption and easy insertion via a rectal or vaginal route of delivery. Each capsule contains only two simple yet effective ingredients, 100 mg of broad-spectrum, USDA organic-certified and regeneratively grown USA hemp.
Foria’s broad-spectrum CBD contains no THC, which means these products are legally available nationwide. If used before sex, Foria recommends using oil-safe alternatives to latex.
Kiskanu Cannabis Suppositories
Price: $15 (2 pack)
Cannabinoids: THC, CBD | 50 mg THC, 15 mg CBD
Other Ingredients: cold press coconut oil, calendula
Available in: California
Kishkanu combines organic coconut oil, cannabis, and calendula into a simple yet effective suppository format. Within each capsule there is 50 mg of THC and 15 mg of CBD, but because of the route of delivery, the possible high from the large dose of THC is greatly minimized.
Kishkanu suggests using suppositories for hip and low back pain, endometriosis relief, and vaginal dryness. All ingredients are organic where relevant.
The bottom line on weed suppositories
Because cannabinoids absorb so readily through the blood vessels inside the rectum and vagina, suppositories can deliver substantial doses but without a relative increase in intoxication. Plus, weed suppositories provide relief within 15 minutes but last for upwards of eight hours. For patients, there are few other options with such powerful benefits.
A cannabis suppository offers patients an alternative to heavy-hitting edibles. It’s also a solution for those that cannot inhale cannabis due to respiratory concerns. Therapeutically speaking, it’s often an ideal route for many painful conditions.
Sources
- Dell, D. D., & Stein, D. P. (2021). Exploring the Use of Medical Marijuana for Supportive Care of Oncology Patients. Journal of the advanced practitioner in oncology, 12(2), 188–201. https://doi.org/10.6004/jadpro.2021.12.2.6
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