What Happens in Your Blood
Choose how you consume and how much, and see the modelled THC plasma concentration over time. This is why a joint lasts three hours and an edible can last eight.
Route of administration
All routes compared
| Route | Onset | Peak | Duration | Bioavailability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoked | 2–10 min | 6–15 min | 2–3 hours | 10–35% |
| Vaporized | 2–8 min | 5–12 min | 2–3 hours | 10–50% |
| Sublingual | 15–45 min | 60–120 min | 4–6 hours | ~10–15% |
| Oral / Edible | 30–90 min | 60–180 min | 4–8 hours | 4–20% |
How this model works
These curves use a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model with first-order absorption. Absorption and elimination rate constants and peak concentrations are taken from published mean values in the peer-reviewed literature. The shape of each curve reflects the modelled rate constants; the height reflects published mean Cmax for that route and dose.
Important limitations. These are population averages, not predictions for any individual. Real plasma levels vary widely with body composition, liver enzyme activity (CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms), tolerance, smoking technique, vaporiser efficiency, food intake, and product formulation. Dose scaling is modelled as linear, whereas absorption is not perfectly linear at high doses. THC is also highly lipophilic and accumulates in fat tissue, so repeated use produces different kinetics from single-dose data.
This page is an educational visualisation of published pharmacology. It is not a dosing guide, and it should not be used to plan consumption or to assess fitness to drive or operate machinery.