Published by Programme B
As more people continue to learn about cannabis benefits, they’re curious about how best to use it. There are various cannabis consumption methods, each with its pros and cons. The right way to consume cannabis is personal, meaning it differs from one person to another depending on the product you’re using, the experience you’re looking for, and how long the effects last.
If you’re using medical cannabis, your choice may depend on the desired treatment goals. Understanding the different cannabis consumption methods can make selecting one or more that suit you easy. This article discusses several ways to consume cannabis.
1. Smoking
Smoking is among the quickest ways to deliver cannabis into your system. It’s also the most common way people use cannabis. Once you inhale cannabis, most of the cannabinoids go into the body via the lungs, whether they’re directly transported into the bloodstream. Its effects are nearly immediate. When using cannabis medically, inhalation is an effective way to consume it. If you’re new to cannabis smoking, there are a few options you can try, including:
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Joints
Joints are cannabis cigarettes that are usually hand-rolled by individuals. They involve packing cannabis into rolling papers. You can add filters (optional) to ensure your hands aren’t burnt when smoking. Note that most commercially sold rolling papers, especially those labeled bleached, flavored, or fast burning, have harmful chemicals and pollutants that can harm your lungs. As such, consider unbleached, unrefined, or unflavored rolling papers to reduce exposure chances.
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Pipes
Pipes, also called bowls or spoons, are a simple smoking method. They have a stem, hollow bowl, and mouthpiece via which you smoke. Some pipes consist of a carb hole (a tiny hole close to the bowl) that you can uncover and cover using your fingers as you inhale to clear smoke off the pipe.
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Blunts
Blunts are bigger and last more than joints but are made in a similar manner. The only difference is blunts are made using cigar or blunt wraps, not rolling paper. A blunt wrap is made using tobacco leaves, meaning they have nicotine.
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Bongs
A bong, also called a water pipe, is a smoking device that uses water to filter and cool smoke. The cooling of the smoke allows users to take bigger hits and generate more smoke than the other smoking methods.
Bongs have a bowl and a downstem (a cylindrical glass piece). Once the bong is hit, smoke moves down the downstem, gets water filtered, and then travels to the mouthpiece through the bong’s neck. A ‘cannabis store near me’ search can help you find high-quality cannabis you can smoke using either of these methods.
2. Vaping
Cannabis vaping involves using a THC cartridge to consume cannabis through inhalation to receive therapeutic benefits or get high. Cannabis vaporization happens at a temperature lower than combustion, which is experienced when smoking. Vaping doesn’t utilize a flame. It uses heating methods, including conduction and convection, to regulate temperature to ascertain that the cannabis does not burn and generate smoke. The vapour passes on a smoother inhale and a flavour fuller than smoke. There are multiple ways through which you can vaporize cannabis, like:
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Tabletop vapes
Tabletop vapes are large vaporizers you can’t take outside and need batteries or electricity. While these vaporizers come in varieties, they all have a heating chamber, mouthpiece, temperature control, and heating element. Reading a tabletop vape manual can help you learn how to operate it to enjoy your cannabis.
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Portable vapes
A portable vape is meant for use with dry flowers. However, the latest models can be used for concentrate vaporization at different temperatures.
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Vape pens
Vape pens are a popular cannabis vaping method. They’re potent, discrete, affordable, and portable. Regrettably, the illicit market and cannabis prohibition have increased fake vape cartridges (they aren’t regulated or lab-tested). Ensure the vape pens you buy should be from credible producers and licensed dispensaries to ensure they contain harmful substances.
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Dabbing
Dabbing is a cannabis concentrate vaporization method consisting of the use of a dab ring. It involves heating a glass, titanium, or ceramic nail, then applying the concentrate to the heated glass, turning it into vapor for use.
3. Oral ingestion
Cannabis can be consumed orally. The oral ingestion’s onset is slower, and its impact is more potent and lasts longer than when inhaled. Oral cannabis can be consumed in various ways, including:
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Tinctures
A tincture is a cannabis-infused liquid product. The product is made with a solvent such as alcohol to help pull the cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, and terpenes from the cannabis plant. The end product is usually alcohol infused with the relevant cannabis plant components. You consume tinctures by putting drops under your tongue for quick absorption.
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Oils
Cannabis oils are marijuana concentrates usually swallowed or digested in a capsule form or by baking, mixing with foods, or cooking.
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Edibles
Edibles are food items infused with cannabis or baked products. These edibles include brownies, cookies, cakes, gummy bears, crackers, gum, lollipops, chocolate, cereal, ice cream, granola, and more.
- Drinks
Cannabis-infused beverages like teas, sodas, and alcohol alternatives offer a unique way to consume cannabis. For a gentle introduction, try the WYNK starter pack, which provides a balanced, controlled experience.
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Capsules
Cannabis pills or caps, RSO (Rick Simpson Oil), or weed pills are created by putting marijuana wax, oil, or other extracts in medication capsules.
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Drinkables or beverages
Specific daily drinkables are infused with cannabis or combined with oils. The beverages can be sodas, teas, beer, or elixirs. Some teas can be prepared by grinding cannabis, mixing it with fats like butter, and putting them in mix-in tea bags, which are then water-simmered for around 30 minutes.
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Sprays
Sprays are liquids soaked with THC, CBD, or marijuana’s psychoactive component, then sprayed under the tongue for quick absorption. Medical cannabis patients often consume them. Sprays are discrete and convenient and come in various flavors. They can be utilized when covering joints, rolling papers, pipes, and blunts.
4. Topically
Topical products promote cannabinoids’ absorption via the skin. They enter the bloodstream through the skin. Upon reaching the bloodstream, they attach to various cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system. Cannabis topicals may include:
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Creams and lotions
Cannabis lotions and creams can be applied anywhere on the body. They’re mainly helpful for those looking for skin benefits, including beauty treatments. They can also be used on dry body parts like elbows and knees.
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Oils
Cannabis oils can also be used topically.
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Gels
Cannabis gels’ cooling effects make them suitable for relieving sinus pressure or tension headaches.
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Salves
Salves/ balms contain beeswax, making them softer than lotions. These salves can be made with rosin chips – rosin chips are flat discs left over after pressing cannabis flower – that are then suspended in either beeswax or coconut oil. Essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint can also be added to increase the salve’s healing properties. Medicinal salves can provide relief to those with skin disorders like psoriasis.
Endnote
Cannabis can be consumed using different methods. Familiarize yourself with these cannabis consumption methods to choose one that suits you.