Cannabis Consumption Methods Explained: How To Choose The Best Way To Get High

Smoke, Vape, Or Eat? A Comprehensive Guide To The  Best Cannabis Consumption Methods

Is it better to smoke, vape, or eat your daily dose of weed? There are several cannabis consumption methods, each with its unique benefits and drawbacks. So, which is best for you?

Weed has had a long history of consumption for both recreational and medicinal purposes. Traditionally, cannabis was consumed through smoking, with some cultures making edible weed items.

In the last few years, Canadians have developed an interest in the potential benefits and other advantages that cannabis products offer. And as research on the benefits of weed evolves, so too do the ways to use cannabis.

In this guide on how to consume cannabis, we take a look at some of the most common cannabis consumption methods, examining the benefits and drawbacks of each and the unique experiences they offer.

This guide will also introduce you to DispensaryNearMeNow.co, the leading online weed dispensary in Canada known for offering premium cannabis products at the lowest prices. Read on to learn more.

Why It’s Important to Understand Cannabis Consumption Methods

In the early days of weed, there wasn’t much of a debate on how to consume cannabis. You either smoked or consumed edibles. 

But in today’s cannabis scene, there are a lot of ways to use cannabis, which may get confusing for the average stoner looking to order weed online. So, what is the best cannabis consumption method?

Many beginners usually have lots of questions regarding the different cannabis consumption methods. Some wonder how long edibles take to kick in, the fastest way to feel cannabis effects, or which is the most convenient.

Some people also prefer a particular method. As you will find out later in this how to consume cannabis guide, each way has its pros and cons, and what one person may consider to be the best may now work for you.

To choose the best cannabis consumption method, you need to understand that different methods have varying onset times; in some methods, effects last longer, and the overall experiences may differ. 

For example, in the inhalation vs ingestion methods, inhalation techniques such as smoking and vaping provide almost instant effects. Ingestion, on the other hand, is slow to kick in, but the effects last longer than smoking and vaping. 

As such, to choose between edibles vs smoking is to decide whether you want fast relief or long-lasting relief. If your question is how to consume cannabis for therapeutic effects, you may lean more towards the long-lasting effects.

Different methods also offer varying experiences. When comparing dabbing vs smoking, due to the potency of the products, dabbing will always provide a stronger experience than smoking, whereas old-school consumers may prefer smoking.

If you are on the lookout for how to consume cannabis for beginners, methods such as edibles are more straightforward than dabbing, which requires elaborate rigs. 

Finally, there are the health considerations. Medicinal cannabis consumers prefer smokeless, non-inhalation consumption methods as they are unlikely to hurt the lungs and the other respiratory organs. That said, you must consider quality and safety when you buy cannabis products online in Canada.

For high-quality, safe products at low prices, buy weed online in Canada at DispensaryNearMeNow.co, the leading cannabis store in the country.

How to Consume Cannabis: Different Methods Explained

In this section, we’ll take a look at the most popular ways used by consumers at our cannabis dispensary to deliver THC into the body. We’ll discuss them briefly, stating their advantages and drawbacks, and where to buy cannabis products online in Canada.

1. Inhalation Cannabis Consumption Methods

These are the most common cannabis consumption methods. As the name suggests, they involve inhaling the cannabinoids into the lungs, where they are absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to the brain, where they induce their effects.

Inhalation methods are the fastest way to feel cannabis effects. They include smoking and vaping.

Smoking Cannabis

This is the most popular method among enthusiasts and beginners learning how to consume cannabis. This method involves lighting dried cannabis flower and inhaling the smoke, which contains cannabinoids, into the lungs.

Many enthusiasts prefer smoking weed as it provides the old-school cannabis feel and promotes social bonding. Products involved include joints, blunts, bongs, pipes, and cannabis flower.

Advantages of Smoking

• Fast Effects: Smoking cannabis for beginners delivers almost immediate effects as the cannabinoids are delivered directly into the bloodstream via the lungs.
• Full Spectrum Experience: Enthusiasts claim that smoking provides an ‘authentic’ cannabis experience that encompasses all elements of the plant, including flavour, aroma, and the effects.
• Social Bonding: Sharing a joint during a sesh is regarded as a social ritual that helps promote a sense of community.

Drawbacks and Considerations

• Health Considerations: While current research shows weed smoke isn’t as harmful as tobacco, inhaling smoke of any kind is harsh on the lungs and carries potential respiratory risks.
• Odour: Smoking is not a discreet cannabis consumption method, and some may find the smell of weed to be off-putting.
• Hard to Dose: It’s also very challenging to precisely measure how much THC you are consuming, which is problematic if you are after consistent effects.

Vaping Cannabis

This is the second, more modern of the inhalation cannabis consumption methods. It’s also considered cleaner and a more discreet cannabis consumption method than smoking. 

Vaping cannabis, too, delivers immediate effects. However, for safety, buy vapes at a reputable cannabis store that doesn’t take shortcuts or use harmful cutting agents. Here are the advantages and drawbacks of vaping cannabis:

Pros

• Immediate Effects: Like smoking weed, vaping cannabis for beginners delivers immediate effects as the cannabinoids are delivered directly into the bloodstream via the lungs.
• Cleaner Technology: Vaping doesn’t involve combustion and is smokeless. As such, it is considered ‘cleaner and smoother’ than smoking, but that’s only if you order vapes at a reputable online dispensary in Canada.
• Precise Control: Some vapes offer temperature controls that allow you to personalize your vaping experience.

Cons

• More Expensive: The upfront cost of high-quality vapes is high. For premium vapes, order weed online at DispensaryNearMeNow.co and save some money.
• Vapes Require Regular Maintenance
• Learning Curve: Beginners may need to spend some time learning how to consume cannabis via vapes.

Dabbing Concentrates

Dabbing cannabis consumption methods involve vaporizing a cannabis concentrate using a dab rig. A dab rig is a bong-like apparatus with a nail heated using a torch or electronically. 

The concentrated ‘dab’ is introduced to the hot surface, vaporizing it. You then inhale the vapour through the mouthpiece.

Pros

• Immediate Effects: Like other cannabis concentrates, dabbing delivers cannabinoids directly to the bloodstream via the lungs.
• Super Potent: This is the primary advantage of dabbing vs smoking. The concentrates involved are super potent, containing up to 4x the amount of THC in regular flower.

Cons

• Not beginner-friendly: Dab rigs require careful handling to avoid injuries. This may take some time for a beginner to master.
• Very Intense: The potency of the concentrates makes for a very intense experience, which may overwhelm a beginner.

2. Ingestion of Cannabis Consumption Methods

Ingestion methods involve consuming cannabis orally. Ingested products to consider when you buy weed online at our cannabis dispensary include edibles, cannabis tinctures, and capsules.

Edibles and Beverages

Weed edibles are food items that have been infused with cannabis extract. Edibles are consumed orally, just like their regular counterparts.

As such, the THC and other ingredients undergo digestion before they are absorbed in the stomach. The absorbed cannabinoids are also metabolized in the liver in a process called ‘the first-pass effect’ before they are released into the bloodstream.

This takes time and delays the effects. So, how long do edibles take to kick in? It takes 30 minutes to 2 hours for you to feel the effects of cannabis consumed through edibles. 

Advantages

• No Smoke: One advantage of edibles vs smoking weed is that edibles don’t produce smoke. As such, they are considered healthier.
• Effects Last Longer: While they take longer to kick in, they last longer. Consumers may experience benefits for more than four hours, with residual effects for up to 12 hours.

Drawbacks

• Take Longer to Kick in: One of the reasons some consumers prefer inhalation vs ingestion cannabis consumption methods is the time taken to kick in. Edibles take between 30 to 120 minutes to kick in.
• Easy to Overdo: Due to the long time it takes edibles to kick in, some consumers may think they have a faulty product and take more, leading to overwhelming effects. 

If you are in the market for precisely dosed edibles, order cannabis at our online dispensary in Canada today.

Capsules, Softgels, and Pills

These are products that deliver a precise dose of THC or CBD. They are typically in softgel or capsule form. 

They are easy to dose and consume and, for these reasons, are preferred for medical purposes.

3. Sublingual Cannabis Consumption Methods

These cannabis consumption methods involve cannabis tinctures and oils that are administered under the tongue. The cannabinoids are absorbed into the bloodstream via the dense network of blood capillaries under the tongue.

Pros

• It’s a discreet cannabis consumption method
• Easy to dose
• Easy to administer
• One of the fastest ways to feel cannabis effects, with an onset of between 15 and 30 minutes.

Cons

• Some cannabis tinctures have an off-putting ‘herbal’ taste

4. Topical Cannabis Products

Cannabis topicals are weed products designed to produce localized relief through the skin. These won’t make you high unless the product is transdermal.

Some of the most common cannabis topicals include salves, balms, and lotions. They are one of the most preferred ways to use cannabis for relief, just below the skin.

Advantages 

• Provide Local Relief: Cannabis topicals are much more effective at providing local relief than other products at an online weed dispensary. 
• Doesn’t Make You High: Cannabinoids in topicals rarely get into the bloodstream and, therefore, are very unlikely to get you high. This is beneficial if you are only after the relief.

Drawbacks

• Very Low Bioavailability: Only a small percentage of the cannabinoids in cannabis topicals are absorbed. 

Choosing the Right Cannabis Consumption Methods for You

There are several ways to choose the best cannabis consumption method for you. We recommend identifying the effects you are after and then narrowing down the options.

If you require localized relief near the skin, the best cannabis consumption methods are using topicals like balms and salves. If you need full-body relief, then you have to compare inhalation vs ingestion ways to use cannabis. 

For consumers after fast relief, inhalation techniques such as smoking and vaping weed are the top options. But if you are more interested in the duration of effects, edibles vs smoking weed, edibles take the win.

Discretion is also an important consideration. The best discreet cannabis consumption methods involve taking edibles, beverages, capsules, topicals, and all products that don’t produce smoke.

For the weed, buy cannabis products online in Canada at DispensaryNearMeNow.co. Our online weed dispensary is known for offering premium products at the lowest prices in the market.

Where to Buy Cannabis Products Online in Canada

Cannabis consumption methods matter. How you consume your weed significantly impacts the overall experience, how long the effects last, and how fast they kick in.

The weed products themselves also contribute to the overall experience. We recommend buying safe, high-quality, and effective products online at a reputable dispensary like DispensaryNearMeNow.co.

At DNMN, we offer the highest quality of weed at the lowest prices. Whether you are an experienced consumer or a beginner learning how to consume cannabis, we’ve got you covered.

Ready to try a new way to experience cannabis? Explore our full lineup of premium products, from edibles to vapes, at DispensaryNearMeNow.co today.