Medical cannabis has a unique, acquired taste. If you’ve never experienced it before, you may be wondering what to expect. Here’s everything you need to know:
Why Do Different Types Of Medical Cannabis Have Different Tastes?
The taste of your medical cannabis depends on the type you’ve been prescribed, and the way you take it. Terpenes (compounds in the cannabis plant) give each type its unique characteristics, including its taste. Cannabis generally has a bitter taste, but each of the many hundreds of terpenes offers its own benefits and flavour profile. A few notable terpenes include:
- Myrcene – A natural, earthy, sometimes spicy taste common in indica cannabis strains
- Limonene – A sharp, citrusy, zesty taste common in sativa cannabis strains
- Linalool – A floral taste that’s often said to resemble lavender
- Pinene – A piney taste that comes from its extraction methods
- Caryophyllene – A spicy, peppery taste with notes of clove or cinnamon
Other flavours associated with cannabis can include sweetness, fruitiness, or muskiness. While you can’t usually request a specific flavour of medical cannabis, your prescribing doctor may be able to recommend an alternative method of administration to change the intensity of the taste.
How Does The Method Of Administration Affect Taste?
The method of administration is the way in which you get medical cannabis into your system, which can also impact the taste you experience. For example:
- Oils/Tinctures – These are thought to have the strongest taste, but things like the carrier oil used and the dosage could affect this. One benefit of this method is that it’s applied orally under the tongue, meaning there may be less aftertaste than oral methods. Around 57% of people taking medical cannabis in the UK are prescribed oils, according to data from the Medical Cannabis Alliance.
- Vaporised – Dried flowers have different terpenes. These are released using heat at lower temperatures than smoking, making the flavours more identifiable. Different strains may have more distinct flavours like vanilla, berries or spice. The Medical Cannabis Alliance estimates 78% of people taking medical cannabis in the UK are prescribed this form.
- Oral (Edibles/Capsules) – Medical cannabis can be swallowed in capsule form or combined with food in edible form, such as in a gummy sweet or a drink. When taken this way, the natural cannabis taste may be minimal or non-existent.
All sorts of factors impact the taste of medical cannabis. If you are concerned about taste, speak to your prescribing doctor to find out if another method of administration could help reduce any bitterness. Also, ensure your medical cannabis is in date – older products won’t have the same efficacy and could produce an unpleasant flavour through oxidation.
Are There Ways To Improve The Taste Of Medical Cannabis?
If the taste of your medical cannabis is making it tough to take, speak to your prescribing doctor about the possibility of switching to an easier administration method. If they cannot provide this, they may be able to give further advice on how to make this easier. For example, when holding oil under your tongue, be ready to drink or eat something strong to mask the taste, such as acidic orange juice or a flavourful sweet.
If you are using vapourised medical cannabis, ensure you clean your vape regularly to prevent buildup, and avoid a burnt flavour by monitoring the temperature – vapourisation is usually effective between 160°C and 230°C – and consider changing your vapouring device, as this may produce a better taste. You could also sip herbal tea to make the experience more enjoyable. Although medical cannabis can take some getting used to, many people come around to the taste over time, so this is unlikely to be a long-term issue.
At Emerald, we make it easy for people managing chronic conditions to access medical cannabis under the care of qualified clinicians. That includes making sure your medical cannabis is palatable for you, and doesn’t feel like a chore to take. We provide safe, legal products of the very best quality and greatest value, helping you regain a sense of balance in your life. If you have questions about the flavours you are likely to experience when taking medical cannabis, Emerald can help.