What Are Medical Marijuana Troches And How Do They Work?

September 6, 2024by Keri Branch0

In Pennsylvania, patients have access to a wide range of medical marijuana products, including specialized options like troches. These products offer precise serving sizes and effective relief, making them a valued choice for those seeking long-lasting relief. With expert guidance from our pharmacists and guides like these, finding the right treatment to support your wellness journey is easier than ever.

Understanding medical marijuana troches

Troches are a medical marijuana ingestible that is consumed by dissolving the Troches in your mouth. They’re small and are often flavored to mask the taste of the plant extract. Many troches are made with distillate, but you’ll also find options made with live resin and Rick Simpson Oil (RSO). Many of them are vegan as well.

Troches come in different formulas. Some contain only THC, while others contain CBD, CBN, or other cannabinoids alongside THC. They may be effective for you if you’re seeking relief from anxiety, relief from chronic pain stemming from your condition, or appetite stimulation, among other symptoms and side effects you may be experiencing.

How do you pronounce troche?

Troche is pronounced [trō-kē]. The “che” is pronounced like “key” and not like “chi.”

How do troches work?

Troches work by slowly dissolving into your mouth. This allows the cannabinoids to absorb directly into your bloodstream through your mouth tissues. As they dissolve, the active ingredients are gradually released.

After this initial absorption, the remaining cannabinoids are swallowed and passed through your digestive system. The cannabinoids convert to a more potent form when they reach your liver, enhancing the overall effects.

How do you take a troche?

Decide on your dose: Determine the appropriate amount based on your medical needs and the guidance you receive from your healthcare provider or one of our on-site pharmacists. Troches can come in different strengths, so read the package to confirm the strength of each troche before trying.

Prepare the troche: If it’s recommended that you take a smaller amount than the full troche’s dose, use a clean knife or scissors to cut it to the desired size. If you’re taking the full troche, skip this step.

Place the troche in your mouth: Put the troche under your tongue or between your gum and cheek. Do not swallow or chew the troche. Wait for it to completely dissolve.

Swallow the residue: Once the troche has dissolved, you can swallow any remaining bits. This allows the rest of the cannabinoids to be absorbed through your digestive system.

Wait for effects: Be patient as the cannabinoids are processed in your body. Effects might take some time to kick in, as they must pass through the digestive system and liver. You may also experience multiple peaks in effects if the troche was partially absorbed in your mouth and partially absorbed in your intestines (meaning, a small bit of it was swallowed).

Monitor your response: Pay attention to how you feel and adjust your dosage as needed in consultation with your healthcare provider.

Medical marijuana troche shopping at Vytal Options: 11 brands to try

1. Good News Troches

Cresco’s Good News troches are easy-to-use, easy-to-share, discreet, and effective. Good News offers troches in several flavors, including:

2. Good News Live Resin Troches

Good News live resin troches are made with live resin medical marijuana extract for a richer, more potent experience. These troches are designed to provide enhanced effects and a more robust flavor profile compared to traditional THC products. Flavor and serving size options include:

3. Organic Remedies

Organic Remedies operates a 250,000-square-foot cultivation and research center in Carlisle, PA. Their troches are crafted from high-quality medical marijuana distillate and come in a range of small serving sizes and extra strength options. Offerings include:

4. Maitri

Maitri Genetics troches are crafted carefully and designed to offer a palatable way to consume medical marijuana. Patients who require higher THC to manage symptoms and side effects like nausea and breakthrough pain may benefit from Maitri troches, which offer 50 mg of THC per serving.

Maitri troches are made with organic ingredients. Flavor and serving size options include:

5. Valhalla Confections

Valhalla, a TerrAscend brand, offers a variety of dosage and flavor options. Their lineup includes extra-strength varieties that contain 100 mg of THC per serving size. These troches are good for patients who have a high tolerance and who respond well to large amounts of THC.

6. Verano

Verano troches offer a reliable and consistent medical marijuana experience. You’ll find troches in a variety of flavor profiles. Some products are made with Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) as the cannabis extract. Options include:

7. Double Bear

Double Bear’s troches are gluten-free, vegan, and made with natural flavors and colors. Each troche is infused with medical marijuana distillate. The products are available in 10 mg and 12 mg serving sizes. You’ll find these Double Bear troches at Vytal Options:

7. JAMS

JAMS by Curaleaf offers troches in various flavors, formulas, and serving sizes. There are two versions of JAMS troches: classic that takes effect within around 1 hour, and fast-acting products made with nano-encapsulated THC that absorbs faster into your bloodstream. JAMS troches may be good if you are in need of fast relief during instances of breakthrough pain.

8. The Botanist

The Botanist soft troches come in varying strengths and administrations. Options include 10mg THC and 50mg THC troches, as well as a 1:1 THC:CBN troche that may be useful if you experience sleeplessness as a side effect or symptom of your condition. Some are fast-acting, while others take the standard time to take effect.

9. Leiffa

Leiffa offers a line of live resin troches. This concentrate is made by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from fresh-frozen medical marijuana flower using heat and pressure. Added flavor masks the plant’s taste while the troche dissolves in your mouth.

10. Momenta

Momenta, from Trulieve, offers troches in 10mg THC and 20mg THC strengths. Expect classic, delayed effects with this troche that you’re likely to feel anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours after it dissolves in your mouth. Momenta troche options at Vytal Options include:

Frequently asked questions about troches

What is the difference between a gummy and a troche?

Gummies and troches are both oral dosage forms of medical marijuana, but they differ in their administration and absorption methods. Gummies are chewed and swallowed after eating. Troches, however, are designed to dissolve slowly in the mouth, allowing active ingredients to be absorbed directly.

Can I drink water after taking a medical marijuana troche?

Yes, you can drink water after taking a medical marijuana troche. However, it’s generally recommended that the troche dissolves entirely before you drink anything. Drinking water too soon might wash away the troche before it’s fully absorbed. In this case, the troche will need to go through the digestive system before its effects are felt, in a process known as “delayed onset.”

Do troches go through the liver?

Yes, but only if parts of them are swallowed.

Typically, troches are absorbed through your mouth tissues, a process that skips your liver. Any THC absorbed in your mouth does not pass through the liver, which is one of the reasons why troches are faster-acting than ingestible products like capsules.

Any residual product is swallowed and passed through the digestive system. In the liver, delta-9-THC converts into 11-hydroxy-THC, a more potent form that may enhance the overall effects of your troche.

How fast do troches work?

Troches typically work faster than other ingestibles like capsules but slower than sublingual tinctures. The onset of effects can vary but generally occur within 30 minutes to an hour. You may wait as long as 2 hours, depending on your tolerance, your metabolism, and how much of the troche is absorbed in your mouth versus how much is swallowed.

What are the benefits of using troches?

Troches offer several benefits, including:

Precise serving size: Troches provide a controlled amount of cannabinoids, making it easier to manage how much you take at one time.

Faster onset: Compared to traditional ingestibles, troches may work more quickly since so much of the product skips your digestive system.

Minimal intestinal absorption: Troches initially bypass the digestive system, which may be good if you’re in need of faster relief.

Discreet and convenient: Troches are manageable and discreet, ideal for on-the-go consumption.

Controlled release: Troches offer a steady release of cannabinoids over several hours, providing for longer-lasting effects.

Accessing troches as a patient at Vytal Options

Becoming a patient at Vytal Options opens the door to a wide variety of medical marijuana products throughout Pennsylvania, including options like troches. As a patient, you can benefit from personalized consultations from our pharmacists to find the right troche product for your needs. Our expert guidance is here to help as you find the routine that’s best for your needs.