Bioavailability

Bioavailability is the fraction of an ingested or inhaled dose of a cannabinoid that actually reaches systemic circulation. Inhaled cannabis has high bioavailability (~30-50%); oral edibles have low bioavailability (~6-20%) due to first-pass liver metabolism. Sublingual tinctures sit between the two. This is why edible doses must be much higher than vape or flower equivalents to produce comparable effects.

Example: The bioavailability gap is why a 5mg edible feels weaker than one hit off a cart.

Etymology: Standard pharmacology term; applied to cannabinoids since the 1970s research era.