Cannabis Diagrams from The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook

These diagrams extend The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook. Each one is a visual summary. The research behind it, kept current, is on CEDclinic.com, linked beneath every diagram.

Products, dosing and how to take it (37)
Sleep (9)
Pain and headaches (8)
Side effects and interactions (5)
How it works in the body (15)
The plant and its compounds (13)
Specific conditions (27)

Products, dosing and how to take it

Bioavailability / Pathway / DecisionsThe evidence: Bioavailability / Pathway / Decisions

Cannabis consumption methods: onset, strength, duration of effects over timeThe evidence: Cannabis consumption methods: onset, strength, duration of effects over time

Cannabis Delivery Methods ChartThe evidence: How You Take Cannabis Changes What It Does: A Route by Route Reference

Cannabis routes of administration, detailed overviewThe evidence: Cannabis routes of administration, detailed overview

Cannabis Tolerance Chart: CB1 Density by UseThe evidence: Does a Cannabis Tolerance Break Work? What Brain Imaging Shows About CB1 Receptors, Recovery, and the Limits of the Evidence

Choosing the Right Mode of Cannabis AdministrationThe evidence: Choosing the Right Mode of Cannabis Administration

Comparing THC administration method with absorption and THC contentThe evidence: Comparing THC administration method with absorption and THC content

Degradation of THC in Edibles Over TimeThe evidence: Degradation of THC in Edibles Over Time

Difference Between Using Fresh and Aged Cannabis for InhalationThe evidence: Difference Between Using Fresh and Aged Cannabis for Inhalation

Digestion Process and Absorption of CannabinoidsThe evidence: Digestion Process and Absorption of Cannabinoids

Edibles Metabolism FlowchartThe evidence: What the Liver Does to an Edible Before You Feel Anything

Effect of Meal Fat Content on THC Absorption and Onset of EffectsThe evidence: Effect of Meal Fat Content on THC Absorption and Onset of Effects

Effect of Tincture Base on Cannabinoid AbsorptionThe evidence: Effect of Tincture Base on Cannabinoid Absorption

Encapsulation for transdermal cannabis deliveryThe evidence: Encapsulation for transdermal cannabis delivery

Glass vs Metal vs Wood Pipe ChartThe evidence: Glass, Metal, Ceramic, Wood: Does Your Inhalation Device Material Change What You Inhale?

Hydrocarbon Recovery of Cannabis CompoundsThe evidence: Hydrocarbon Recovery of Cannabis Compounds

Impact of Inhalation Techniques on Cannabis AbsorptionThe evidence: Impact of Inhalation Techniques on Cannabis Absorption

Impact of Stomach Content on Cannabinoid Absorption from EdiblesThe evidence: Impact of Stomach Content on Cannabinoid Absorption from Edibles

Impact of Stomach pH Level on THC AbsorptionThe evidence: Impact of Stomach pH Level on THC Absorption

Increased solubility of CBD in PVA-CBD-Silica in the dermisThe evidence: Increased solubility of CBD in PVA-CBD-Silica in the dermis

Influence of Food Type on Absorption of Cannabis EdiblesThe evidence: Influence of Food Type on Absorption of Cannabis Edibles

Influence of Hydration Level on the Effects of EdiblesThe evidence: Influence of Hydration Level on the Effects of Edibles

Influence of Inhaling Speed on Cannabis EffectsThe evidence: Influence of Inhaling Speed on Cannabis Effects

Medical Cannabis and CO2 ExtractionThe evidence: Medical Cannabis and CO2 Extraction

Medical Cannabis and Ethanol ExtractionThe evidence: Medical Cannabis and Ethanol Extraction

Medical Cannabis and Falling Liquid FilmThe evidence: Medical Cannabis and Falling Liquid Film

Methods of Consumption and EfficacyThe evidence: Methods of Consumption and Efficacy

Navigating the Cannabis Maze: Your Comprehensive Guide to Dosage, Strain, and Route of AdministrationThe evidence: Navigating the Cannabis Maze: Your Comprehensive Guide to Dosage, Strain, and Route of Administration

Phases of cannabis toleranceThe evidence: Phases of cannabis tolerance

Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction of Cannabis FlavonoidsThe evidence: Solvent-Free Microwave Extraction of Cannabis Flavonoids

Stomach pH and Edible Absorption DiagramThe evidence: Why the Same Edible Behaves Differently on Different Days

THC Bioavailability Chart by RouteThe evidence: What Actually Reaches the Bloodstream: Measured Cannabinoid Exposure From Inhaled, Oral, and Topical Products

THC to CBD Ratio Chart: Fed vs FastedThe evidence: Fed or Fasted: When Cannabinoid Levels Peak, and How the THC to CBD Balance Shifts

THCA to THC Conversion ChartThe evidence: What Heat Actually Does to Cannabis: The Chemistry of Turning THCA Into THC

Time to peak THC and CBD levels in plasma: fasting and non-fastingThe evidence: Time to peak THC and CBD levels in plasma: fasting and non-fasting

What Mode of Administration Should I Use?The evidence: What Mode of Administration Should I Use?

Which mode of administration should I use?The evidence: Which mode of administration should I use?

Sleep

Causes of chronic insomniaThe evidence: Causes of Insomnia Infographic: Four Groups

Chronic Insomnia: Medical Causes and Cannabis OptionsThe evidence: Chronic Insomnia: Medical Causes and Cannabis Options

Chronic Insomnia: Medical Causes and Sleep StagesThe evidence: Chronic Insomnia: Medical Causes and Sleep Stages

Sleep aid	Dependence risk	Effect on sleep stages
Cannabis (THC)	Possible with regular use	Suppresses REM; poor sleep for a while after stopping
Diphenhydramine	Low	Reduces sleep quality
Zolpidem	Moderate to high	Moderate disruption
Benzodiazepines	High	Suppresses deep sleep
Trazodone	Low	Minimal disruption
Melatonin	Very low	Minimal disruption

Sleep aids compared: dependence and effect on sleep stagesThe evidence: What Sleep Medicine Guidelines Actually Say About Cannabis, and About the Pills It Gets Compared To

THC's Complex Relationship with Sleep: A Comprehensive Guide, Enhanced with CBD InsightsThe evidence: The Influence of THC on Sleep and Sleep Stages

The Influence of CBD on Sleep and Sleep StagesThe evidence: The Influence of CBD on Sleep and Sleep Stages

The Influence of THC on Sleep and Sleep StagesThe evidence: The Influence of THC on Sleep and Sleep Stages

The Intricate Relationship Between THC and Sleep Stages: A Comprehensive GuideThe evidence: The Influence of THC on Sleep and Sleep Stages

The Multifaceted Impact of CBD on Sleep: A Comprehensive Guide for Better RestThe evidence: The Multifaceted Impact of CBD on Sleep: A Comprehensive Guide for Better Rest

Pain and headaches

Cannabis and Chronic Pain: A Comprehensive GuideThe evidence: Cannabis and Chronic Pain: A Comprehensive Guide

Cannabis for Headaches: Cannabinoids and MethodsThe evidence: Cannabis for Headaches: Cannabinoids and Methods

Cannabis Headache Options Diagram: Five FactorsThe evidence: One Randomized Trial and a Pile of Survey Data: Where Cannabis for Headache Actually Stands

Cannabis regimens for painThe evidence: Cannabis regimens for pain

Comparing Pain TreatmentsThe evidence: Comparing Pain Treatments

Comparing pain treatments (cannabis and non-cannabis)The evidence: Comparing pain treatments (cannabis and non-cannabis)

Explaining types of pain and the therapeutic potential of cannabisThe evidence: Explaining types of pain and the therapeutic potential of cannabis

Side effects and interactions

Side effect	CBD	THC	Ibuprofen	Acetaminophen	Steroids
Drowsiness	Moderate	High	Low	Low	Low
Faster heart rate	Low	High	Low	Low	Low
Dry mouth	Moderate	Moderate	Low	Low	Low
Nausea	Low	Moderate	Moderate	Low	Low

CBD vs THC: how often common side effects are reportedThe evidence: CBD vs THC benefits: what trials show

Exploring the Side Effects and Risks of Cannabinoids: A Comprehensive GuideThe evidence: Exploring the Side Effects and Risks of Cannabinoids: A Comprehensive Guide

How Do Common Supplements and Cannabis Interact? A Comprehensive GuideThe evidence: How Do Common Supplements and Cannabis Interact? A Comprehensive Guide

Medication Interactions with Cannabis: What You Need to KnowThe evidence: Medication Interactions with Cannabis: What You Need to Know

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Medical CannabisThe evidence: Cannabis Benefits vs Risks Diagram

How it works in the body

Age, Sex, and Body Composition in Cannabis MetabolismThe evidence: Age, Sex, and Body Composition in Cannabis Metabolism

Anandamide and 2-AG Breakdown DiagramThe evidence: How the Body Switches Off Its Own Cannabinoids, and What Happened When a Drug Company Tried to Stop It

Anatomy of the skin endocannabinoid systemThe evidence: Anatomy of the skin endocannabinoid system

Cannabinoid and Immune Receptor MapThe evidence: What Cannabinoid Receptors Do Inside Immune Cells, and Why That Is Not the Same as Fighting Infection

Cannabinoid Circulation Diagram: Blood to TissueThe evidence: What Cannabis Does to Heart Rate and Blood Pressure, and Which Patients Should Take That Seriously

Cannabinoid CYP450 and ECS FlowchartThe evidence: Two Molecules, Two Routes: How the Body Handles THC and CBD Differently

Endocannabinoid System Diagram: Body MapThe evidence: Where Cannabinoid Receptors Actually Live: A Working Map of CB1 and CB2 Across the Human Body

First-Pass Effect in the Liver When Consuming Cannabis OrallyThe evidence: First-Pass Effect in the Liver When Consuming Cannabis Orally

overview of first-pass metabolism in the liverThe evidence: D40: overview of first-pass metabolism in the liver

Plasma THC Concentration Chart by Age GroupThe evidence: Why the Same THC Dose Behaves Differently at 30 and at 70

Role of Enzymes in the metabolism of THCThe evidence: Role of Enzymes in the metabolism of THC

Sites of cannabinoid receptors in skin and immune cellsThe evidence: Sites of cannabinoid receptors in skin and immune cells

Skin Layers and Cannabinoid Receptors DiagramThe evidence: The Skin Has Its Own Cannabinoid Receptors. That Is Not the Same as Topicals Working.

THC and CBD Metabolism Enzyme DiagramThe evidence: Which Genes Actually Change How You Respond to Cannabis, and Which Ones Are Being Oversold

THC Metabolism Diagram: Molecules and CellThe evidence: The Last Step of THC Metabolism: What Glucuronidation Explains About Drug Tests and Drug Interactions

The plant and its compounds

An In-depth Look at Trichome Density & Cannabinoid Content in Cannabis PlantsThe evidence: An In-depth Look at Trichome Density & Cannabinoid Content in Cannabis Plants

Cannabinoid Chemical Structures ChartThe evidence: CBG, CBN, CBC, and THCV: Which Cannabinoid Claims Come From Human Studies, and Which Do Not

Cannabinoids and their medical applicationsThe evidence: Cannabinoids and their medical applications

Cannabis Terpene Chart: Five Common TerpenesThe evidence: Cannabis Terpenes When You Inhale Them: One Controlled Human Trial, a Large Preclinical Literature, and a Dose Gap Nobody Mentions

Common cannabis compoundsThe evidence: Common cannabis compounds

common terpenesThe evidence: D24: common terpenes

Comparative Biology of Male and Female Cannabis Plants: Pollen, Stigma, and FertilizationThe evidence: Comparative Biology of Male and Female Cannabis Plants: Pollen, Stigma, and Fertilization

Comprehensive Guide to Cannabis Plant Growth Stages and Maximizing HarvestThe evidence: Comprehensive Guide to Cannabis Plant Growth Stages and Maximizing Harvest

Delta-9 THC Molecular Structure DiagramThe evidence: What Actually Happens to THC Over Time: Decarboxylation, Oxidation, and the CBN Story

Expanded Effect of Cannabis Terpenes When InhaledThe evidence: Expanded Effect of Cannabis Terpenes When Inhaled

Parts of a Cannabis Plant, LabeledThe evidence: Cannabis Plant Anatomy: What the Microscopy Actually Shows About Where Cannabinoids Come From

The Science of Aging in Cannabis Flowers: A Comprehensive GuideThe evidence: The Science of Aging in Cannabis Flowers: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the Biosynthesis and Transformation of Cannabinoids: From CBGA to THCA, CBCA, and CBDAThe evidence: Understanding the Biosynthesis and Transformation of Cannabinoids: From CBGA to THCA, CBCA, and CBDA

Specific conditions

A Comprehensive Guide on How Cannabinoids and Other Therapies Impact Various IllnessesThe evidence: A Comprehensive Guide on How Cannabinoids and Other Therapies Impact Various Illnesses

Cannabinoid Antibacterial Mechanism DiagramThe evidence: Cannabis and Antibiotic Resistance: What Cannabigerol Actually Does to MRSA, and What It Does Not Do in People

Cannabinoids and Antimicrobial Resistance: A ComparisonThe evidence: Cannabinoids and Antimicrobial Resistance: A Comparison

Cannabinoids in HIV Care: Concept MapThe evidence: Cannabinoid Therapeutics in HIV: Strong Pain Trials, an Appetite Literature From Another Era, and Interaction Data That Has Not Been Updated

Cannabinoids in Neurodegenerative Disease TreatmentThe evidence: Cannabinoids in Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment

Cannabis and COVID-19The evidence: Cannabis and COVID-19

Cannabis and Gut Microbiome Comparison ChartThe evidence: Most of What Gets Said About Cannabis and the Gut Microbiome Comes From Mice

Cannabis and TuberculosisThe evidence: Cannabis and Tuberculosis

Cannabis for Gut Issues: Decision FlowchartThe evidence: Which Cannabis Compounds Have Been Tested for Gut Problems, and What the Trials Found About Symptoms Versus Inflammation

Cannabis Use and Infection Risk in Immunocompromised PatientsThe evidence: Cannabis Use and Infection Risk in Immunocompromised Patients

Cannabis, the Gut Microbiota, and Infectious DiseasesThe evidence: Cannabis, the Gut Microbiota, and Infectious Diseases

Comprehensive Guide to Cannabinoids and Breast Cancer: Therapeutic Potential and Associated RisksThe evidence: Comprehensive Guide to Cannabinoids and Breast Cancer: Therapeutic Potential and Associated Risks

Comprehensive Guide to Cannabinoids and Menopause: Symptom Relief and Associated RisksThe evidence: Comprehensive Guide to Cannabinoids and Menopause: Symptom Relief and Associated Risks

Cytokine Storm Flowchart With THC and CBDThe evidence: THC, CBD, and Cytokine Storms: A Strong Laboratory Signal and One Negative Human Trial

Disease Stage Timeline DiagramThe evidence: Relief Is Not the Same as Slowing a Disease: What Cannabis Trials Have Actually Measured

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Minor Cannabinoids in Dermatology: From Psoriasis to AcneThe evidence: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Minor Cannabinoids in Dermatology: From Psoriasis to Acne

Impact of Medical Cannabis on VaccinationThe evidence: Impact of Medical Cannabis on Vaccination

Medical Cannabis and Neurodegenerative DiseasesThe evidence: Medical Cannabis and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Medical Cannabis in Palliative Care for Infectious DiseasesThe evidence: Medical Cannabis in Palliative Care for Infectious Diseases

Neurodegenerative Treatment Factors DiagramThe evidence: Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's and ALS: What Cannabis Has Actually Been Tested For

Pre-Seizure Symptoms and Cannabis: CBD and EpilepsyThe evidence: Pre-Seizure Symptoms and Cannabis: CBD and Epilepsy

Pre-Seizure Symptoms and Medical Cannabis: The EvidenceThe evidence: Pre-Seizure Symptoms and Medical Cannabis: The Evidence

Pre-Seizure Symptoms and Types of Seizures ExplainedThe evidence: Pre-Seizure Symptoms and Types of Seizures Explained

Side effect	How often
Sleepiness	Common
Decreased appetite	Common
Diarrhea	Common
Raised liver enzymes	Occasional
Drug interactions	Important (clobazam, valproate)

Prescription CBD in children: side effects in trialsThe evidence: Where Pediatric Cannabinoid Evidence Is Strong, Where It Is Thin, and Where It Does Not Exist At All

Public Health Implications of Cannabis LegalizationThe evidence: Public Health Implications of Cannabis Legalization

Option	Evidence in teens
Cognitive behavioral therapy	First-line, strong trial support
SSRIs	First-line, best with CBT
Exercise	Modest benefit
Benzodiazepines	Not for routine use
Nicotine, vaping	Worse anxiety between doses
Cannabis	No supporting trials; linked to more anxiety over time
CBD alone	Early, small studies only

Teen anxiety options: what the evidence showsThe evidence: A Parent's Guide to Cannabis and Teen Anxiety: What the Research Supports, What It Warns About, and What Actually Treats Adolescent Anxiety

Therapeutic Applications of Medical Cannabis in Chronic Genetic DiseasesThe evidence: Therapeutic Applications of Medical Cannabis in Chronic Genetic Diseases

These diagrams are educational summaries, not medical advice. For guidance about your own care, see a clinician at CED Clinic.