Can you sniff cannabis?

Cannabis can be eaten, smoked, vaporized, or even drunk. But can it be snorted? It would seem so.

«Conventional» products»

While nasal sprays have more or less existed on the fringes of the medical cannabis market—particularly for children with epilepsy, as we can see in this video (Warning: graphic images), some companies have developed commercial versions of these same sprays.

For example, the Verra Wellness brand offers a spray in three THC:CBD ratios: 10:1, 1:1, or 1:100. According to the brand, the use of cannabinoids Intranasal administration results in increased bioavailability of cannabinoids.

But is there any scientific evidence to support this use? In theory, the nasal membranes are very thin and do indeed allow substances to be absorbed quickly without first needing to be metabolized.

«Transmucosal administration of cannabinoids via nasal vaporization is very different [from consumption through combustion]; it is safer and does not contain pyrolytic byproducts (resulting from heating) of various compounds present in the plant-based raw materials,» explains Paul Johnson, the brand’s founder. «We have developed formulations with good solubility properties, appropriate particle sizes, and sufficient purity to avoid subjecting fragile lung tissue to the pharmacological effects of cannabinoid-based formulations or to impurities. We have worked with accredited laboratories to test our formulations for optimal cannabinoid delivery.»

According to David Casarett, head of the palliative care unit at Duke University, «Absorption depends largely on what’s going on in your nose—whether you have a cold or the flu, for example. » He also notes that the nasal membranes contain high concentrations of enzymes that the CBD deactivated. The body is then no longer able to metabolize other substances, such as THC. The body’s reactions to the spray can therefore be quite unpredictable. But as with any cannabis-based product, David Casarett recommends starting slowly and gradually.

Less Conventional Products

When we talk about snorting cannabis, however, we’re certainly not talking about using raw flower. Instead, the crystallized forms of cannabinoids are more suitable for this purpose, although using them this way is not at all recommended, as the nasal passage is highly sensitive.

According to Jessie Gill, founder of a news site about medical cannabis, CBD, or THC can be absorbed nasally, just as they are sublingually. But not all cannabis products have the same bioavailability. According to Jessie Gill, snorting a line of kief will have no effect other than burning the sinuses. For isolates, bioavailability remains low since cannabinoids are not water-soluble, whereas the nasal membranes are primarily composed of water. She also warns that because isolates are highly concentrated, it’s easy to overconsume them, with the side effects of THC that we know of. As for CBD, the overstimulation of the endocannabinoid system can also produce a perceptible «effect,» without, however, impairing one’s lucidity.