A Guide to Cannabis Consumption Methods
We’re living in a pretty magical time right now. Legalization has brought about a treasure trove of new weed products and consumption methods that weren’t readily available even 15 years ago, giving cannabis newbies and veterans alike the opportunity to explore the plant in all kinds of new ways. (Or at least more dialed-in ways…edibles haven’t always been so easy to dose.)
So even though smoking is still the number one way to use weed in general, it no longer has to be your number one way to use weed. With the different ways to use weed that are available at your neighborhood dispensary, you can try vaping it, dabbing it, eating it, applying it topically, even soaking it in with a cannabis bath bomb.
All the options can be a little overwhelming, so we put together this cannabis consumption method guide for you. But before diving into it, ask yourself one very important question: what are you trying to accomplish by using weed? Are you looking for a recreational buzz? Mood boost? Determining the goal of your next sesh will help you narrow down exactly what cannabis consumption method is right for you.
Once you have your why, read on to dig into the how.
Smoking Weed
Smoking is the traditional way to use weed because it’s easy and one of the quickest ways to feel its effects. You can smoke out of a small hand pipe (usually just called a bowl), a water pipe (AKA bong), or something rolled like a joint or blunt. (And in desperate times, a handmade pipe out of an apple or aluminum can will do the trick.)
When you smoke, the cannabinoids from the plant—like THC—travel to your lungs. Your lungs are lined with millions of alveoli, which are little air sacs where gas exchange occurs. They absorb the THC and other compounds and send them directly to your bloodstream. And boom, you feel buzzed within a matter of seconds.[1] Expect the high to last anywhere from one to four hours depending on your tolerance level, the THC content of your flower, and how much you smoke.
Smoking weed can be a little harsh on your throat and lungs, especially if you’re not used to it. The smoke is hot, and it takes practice to learn to let it cool in your mouth for a second before fully inhaling it. One way to ensure a smoother hit is to buy high-quality weed, like what you’ll find on 253’s curated flower menu.
SMOKING
Onset: < 1 minute
Duration: 1-4 hours
Vaping Weed
Another way to enjoy the magic of your alveoli’s direct access to your bloodstream is by vaping weed. Vaping hits a lot smoother than smoking, particularly because it’s not so hot.
Vaping tends to have the same onset and duration as smoking, but it may get you a little higher than smoking, depending on what you’re working with. If you’re using a vape pen, you’re inhaling a more concentrated form of the plant, so you’re consuming less plant material and more cannabinoids.
If you’re putting flower into a tabletop vaporizer, the temperature is what makes the difference. Tabletop vaporizers burn flower at a lower temp than a lighter does, so more cannabinoids “survive” the journey. With a lighter, you burn off quite a bit of the plant’s therapeutic and psychoactive properties before you even inhale.
Of course, this is all assuming you’re using a high-quality vape product. There are a lot of counterfeit and poorly made vape carts and disposable vapes out there that may work the first few hits but then quit on you. Avoid that frustration by buying your vapes at 253—we only carry quality goods.
VAPING
Onset: < 1 minute
Duration: 1-4 hours
Dabbing Weed
Dabbing weed is a more intense way to inhale your cannabis and probably not where you want to start if you’re at the beginning of your cannabis journey.
When you do a dab, you’re essentially flash-vaporizing a cannabis concentrate. Concentrates are extremely high in THC content, anywhere from about 65-80%. For perspective, flower averages about 18-30% THC. (And that’s before you burn some away with your lighter.)
“Old fashioned” dabbing requires a blowtorch and a rig with a nail. (A rig is basically a water pipe and a nail is basically a flat-bottomed bowl.) You use the blowtorch to heat the nail, and then drop your concentrate in and inhale. This requires a lot of patience and practice to get right because you have to dial in just how long to heat your nail for. Too much and you risk burning your throat with a hot inhale. Too little and you risk wasting your concentrate by not getting it hot enough to totally vaporize.
Nowadays you can make the process easier and more precise with an enail. Enails let you set the exact temperature so you can guarantee a proper dab every time.
Whether you prefer the traditional torch route or want to dial it in with an enail, 253’s got you covered on all dabbing accessories and cannabis concentrates.
DABBING
Onset: < 1 minute
Duration: 1-4 hours
Edibles
If inhaling cannabis isn’t your favorite, consider giving edibles a try. These days, there are way more options to choose from than the usual pot brownie or cookie. Edibles have expanded into all types of foods like gummies, chocolates, sauces, jams, drinks, drink mixes, and even cannabis capsules that you swallow like a pill. And with advances in science and technology, their THC content is precise, so you can dose out your edibles in a much more intentional way than in the past.
Even though dosing is easier, you should still follow the old adage to start low and go slow. Eating an edible sends the THC through your digestive system before it makes it to your bloodstream, so there’s a wait time before you start to feel the effects. And when you do feel the effects, they’re usually much more intense than what you experience from inhaling cannabis. That’s because when THC is routed through your liver, it’s metabolized and changed from delta-9-THC to 11-Hydroxy-THC. This version has much stronger effects than delta-9-THC.[2]
Sending the cannabinoids through your liver also creates more of a body high than inhaling cannabis usually does. When you inhale, most of the high is in your head. When you eat an edible, you’ll feel it in your head, but you’ll also feel it throughout your body. Be wary, sometimes this can make you feel sleepy and sluggish.
The onset and duration of your edibles will depend on your metabolism, tolerance level, how much THC you consumed, and whether or not you started on an empty stomach. No matter what, you can usually expect effects to last longer than inhaling cannabis.
Check out 253’s edibles menu for some quality options, and if it’s your first time consider starting with a 1:1 CBD to THC option so you can get a feel for edibles in your body without getting too high.
EDIBLES
Onset: ~30 minutes-2 hours
Duration: 3-12 hours
The different ways to use weed open a lot of doors for those who are curious about the plant but not sure how to get started. (Or for those who might’ve been burned on their first weed experience…) It can be intimidating to try to figure out the first step of your cannabis journey, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. At 253 Farmacy, our expert budtenders understand the differences of each consumption method and how they can apply to your specific cannabis goals, so swing by or give us a call when you’re ready to get started!
SOURCES:
- https://hightimes.com/health/effect-weed-lungs/
- https://weedmaps.com/news/2018/08/edibles-waiting-for-thc-to-kick-in/