How we compared
Lozenges sit in the mouth and dissolve. Part of the THC crosses the tissue under the tongue. Most gets swallowed. Swallowed THC passes through the liver and turns into 11-hydroxy-THC, a metabolite with stronger effects. That step explains why a swallowed dose feels stronger than the number on the label and why it takes time. Published work puts oral THC bioavailability at 4% to 20%. Onset runs 30 to 90 minutes. Peak plasma levels arrive near 1 to 2 hours. Effects last 4 to 8 hours.
We scored four items: milligrams per piece, THC to CBD ratio, lab test panel, and pieces per package. Cost per milligram sits outside brand control because state markets set price.
First pick: a 1:1 lozenge, 5 mg THC with 5 mg CBD
Five milligrams is half the 10 mg serving cap Colorado and several other states put on a single edible. A person can take one piece and stop. A 10 mg piece leaves no room to step down. The 1:1 label adds CBD. Human trials on CBD blunting THC effects give mixed results. Treat the ratio as a dosing tool, not a pain treatment.
Troches sold in Florida's medical program come in 5 mg and 10 mg strengths and are made by compounding pharmacies. That is the clearest example of the format. Recreational lozenges in other states copy it.
Options by format
- Compounded troches, 5 mg THC. Sold in medical dispensaries. Pectin or gelatin base. Test panels are thin on some lots. Ask for the batch sheet.
- Mints, 2.5 mg THC. Smallest step. Dissolve fast. Poor fit for high tolerance.
- Chews, 10 mg THC. Higher dose, softer texture, more sugar. Packages often hold 100 mg total.
- 1:1 lozenges, 5 mg each. Best balance of dose control and CBD content. Fewest products on shelves.
What the label should show
Milligrams per piece, not per package. Total THC and total CBD as separate numbers. A batch or harvest date. A test panel that covers potency, pesticides, solvents, and mold. A package of 10 pieces at 10 mg each carries 100 mg, which is ten servings. Read the piece count before you compare price.
Where the evidence stands
Reviews of clinical trials report moderate evidence for cannabis in chronic neuropathic pain and weaker evidence for other pain types. Most of those trials used smoked or vaporized flower, not lozenges. Oral THC trials exist and are smaller. No lozenge carries an FDA pain indication. Treat the label as a dose, not a claim.
Pain is a broad term. A lozenge at 5 mg will not replace a prescription for nerve pain. It may help with sleep and with the distress that comes with pain. That distinction is worth keeping when you read product copy.