Cannabis products that are infused with nanoemulsion lead to a high absorption rate of cannabinoids and are becoming increasingly popular. These products work faster and deliver more consistent results than traditionally manufactured edibles.
According to the US National Library of Medicine, nanoemulsion is a “fine oil/water or water/oil dispersion stabilized by an interfacial film of surfactant molecule having droplet size range 20–600nm.” Translucent nanoemulsions, which are often used in cannabis beverages, range between 30-50 nanometers.
In one study, scientists discovered that traditional edible cannabis products have low absorption rates, sometimes as low as 6%. This means that when a consumer ingests a 20 mg edible, they are only getting 1.2 mg of THC. Another study investigated the absorption rate of cannabinoids from a nanoemulsion and the absorption rate was over 90%. That means that in that same 20 mg edible, consumers are getting 18 mg of THC.
Nanoemulsion also decreases the time needed for absorption. One study found that when consumers ingested CBD nanoemulsion products, the maximum blood concentration of the cannabinoids was reached three times faster than if they ingested conventional edibles. By decreasing the time needed for maximum absorption, users can feel the effects faster, like how they feel the effects of alcohol. By using nanoemulsion products, users can feel some effects within 10 minutes of ingestion, and they reach their peak effect after about 30 minutes, with the effects lasting several hours.
Traditional edibles can be unpredictable both in time of absorption and physical effects, which makes it hard to dose them and can lead to users taking too much and experiencing negative effects. Nanoemulsions address both issues.