Cannabis has been a debatable subject for a long time, and people are still wondering about its use and safety. The truth is that the hemp plant has a long history, being used for its multiple benefits since ancient times.
More and more people worldwide have started to consume cannabis, and this is also shown in numbers: according to Forbes, U.S. cannabis sales are estimated to reach $72 billion by 2030. Various cannabis products, from tinctures, oils, and vapes to toothpaste and gummies, abound on the market. But since there are so many ways to consume marijuana, it can be challenging to figure out which one would be the best for you. Remember that different methods also imply different kinds of experience. So, if you’re a newbie to cannabis consumption, you may want to get more insight into what each method has to offer.
Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place – here, you’ll find an ample guide to cannabis consumption ways and how to enjoy them. Keep reading!
Smoking
Perhaps the most widespread consumption method, smoking remains the favorite of many users. Smoking weed implies lighting the cannabis flower and inhaling the smoke, which is quite simple compared to other consumption methods. Depending on the strength of the cannabis, you can feel its effects within 5-10 minutes. The “high” feeling can last up to 3 hours, which is maybe one of the most significant advantages of this intake method.
Some of the most popular ways to smoke the cannabis flower include pipes, joints, and blunts. Each method comes with its particularities so that joints are made by rolling cannabis into rolling papers, while pipes come in a specially designed form that allows smoke to travel from that bowl-shaped area to the mouthpiece so that you can make the most of the experience. These are probably the most popular options when it comes to cannabis smoking, which is thanks to their compactness, but there are also worth-trying methods like water pipes, also known as bongs. They filter and cool the smoke through water, the reason why many people believe this method to be the healthiest smoking option.
You can also grow your own cannabis and forget about always buying it. As long as you comply with the law and plant your cannabis flowers in a space that is not visible from a public place, you can grow cannabis at home. Make sure you use autoflower cannabis seeds, especially if you’re a beginner, because you don’t have to adjust lighting with seasonal changes.
Vaping
Although some people mistake vaping for smoking, they’re very different concepts. While smoking, as its name also suggests, produces smoke that then reaches your lungs, vaping consists of heating cannabis below the point of combustion, which can reach 370 degrees Fahrenheit. This way, the smoke is transformed into vapors that are inhaled and distributed to the bloodstream. This method is believed to be more lung-friendly and have stronger effects because less THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is lost in the process.
As in the case of smoking, there are several ways to vape cannabis, some of the most popular being vape pens, vaporizers, and dab rigs. Vape pens are the last innovation in terms of cannabis inhalation-related devices, being one of the top choices among consumers. And there’s no wonder why: they come in the size of discrete items that can easily fit in your pocket without drawing too much attention.
Edibles
Moving from smoking and vaping to oral methods might seem a little too much, but you need to know that more and more people opt for this kind of consumption method. With so many cannabis products released on the market lately, it would be a pity not to take advantage of the variety of forms in which cannabis can be taken.
Ingesting cannabis in the form of edibles has gained ground due to various products you can choose from. From baked goods and beverage shots to chips and gummies, you can opt for the option that best suits your needs. Don’t forget that ingestion is different from smoking and vaping in the sense that the active phytochemicals responsible for the “high” take the digestive tract to reach the brain and bloodstream, not the respiratory one. That means the cannabis effects have a delayed onset, taking up to 3 hours to appear, but the good news is that you can enjoy them for up to 12 hours. With so many cannabis seeds on the market, you can grow your own marijuana and prepare delicious recipes like cannabis-infused chocolate cookies and brownies, cannabutter, and pasta. You can find various cannabis seeds on the market, including autoflowering, feminized, and regular seeds. If you’re a collector, that’s great because now you have the possibility to grow your own mini plantation.
Tinctures
Tinctures are made by soaking the cannabis flower or leaves in alcohol, which makes their absorption through the blood vessels better take place sublingually. Now, how many drops you’re going to use is only up to you. We recommend putting 2 or 3 drops and then waiting for the cannabis to be absorbed to get the full effect. If there will remain cannabis extract under your tongue, don’t worry; the rest is going to be ingested so that no drop is wasted.
Cannabis oils are also widely used, and for a good reason: they help with unmanageable pain, psychological issues (for example, PTSD) , arthritis symptoms, and epilepsy syndromes.
Topicals
Being rather a delivery method than a consumption one, topical cannabis is also worth trying. You’ve probably heard that cannabis helps with issues like anxiety, but did you know that it’s also a great pain reliever? It helps with inflammation and muscle soreness, thus making pain more manageable. When it comes to topicals, you have a myriad of variants to choose from: creams, oils, lotions, balms, sprays, and salves. So, if you decide on this way of using cannabis, there are plenty of choices. You can also reap this popular plant’s skincare benefits, choosing products containing cannabis as one of the main active ingredients.
However, it’s worth knowing that you won’t get “high” when using cannabis topicals because this is only possible when it’s ingested, smoked, or vaped, which means it has to reach your bloodstream. By topical application, you only absorb cannabis through the skin.
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