How To Take Cannabis

One thing that many people get confused about when it comes to cannabis is how to take it. There are many different administration methods, so no wonder that people get confused. In this article we go over a couple of the main administration methods, along with pros and cons for each method.

1. SMOKING

Everyone knows about smoking cannabis. It’s the main way that people consume cannabis, or the way that they know most about. There are several different types of ways to smoke cannabis. You have the typical rolled joint, which is probably what you’ve heard of the most. You also have different bongs and joints and pipes, along with pre-rolled Products. Which of these is the best?

That really comes down to personal preference. A lot of people really enjoy pre-rolls because they are very simple and easy to use. Rolling your own joint can be tricky and take some practice. Pipes can be another good option, but with so many different types of pipes, it can be a little overwhelming. We are always happy to help provide guidance if you need help. 

A lot of people really look down on smoking cannabis because of the health concerns. It is true that smoking cannabis does produce carcinogens that can be harmful to your health. But it’s also important to look at what the research has said. What is amazing is that smoking cannabis has been proven to be much less harmful compared to smoking cigarettes. In fact certain studies have shown that smoking cannabis does not lead to lung cancer or COPD, unlike Cigarettes. You can read more about this in our FAQ page linked here.

Another reason people don’t like smoking is because of the smell. And that’s totally understandable.

2. VAPING

Another very highly recommended option is vaping cannabis. A lot of people have heard of vaping but they don’t know what it really is. Essentially, vaping is a way to inhale cannabis without the use of combustion and smoke, which is what causes the smell. Vaping is a much healthier and cleaner way to consume cannabis.

One of the biggest benefits to vaping is that you don’t have the smell because there is no smoke. It’s also important to note that vaping cannabis can be a preferred method of consumption due to the fact that it takes effect much more quickly. This can be especially helpful if you were trying to treat certain symptoms or conditions. 

For example, if you have a headache, you want the effects of your medicine to take quickly, and not over a period of several hours. Inhaled cannabis can take effect as quickly as 5 to 10 minutes. One of our most recommended vaping products is the PAX 3 vaporizer pen. We really like this product because it has great technology that can be very helpful for patients, such as a way to measure consumption. It’s also a very versatile, since you can actually use raw flower.

Most vaporizers use cartridges. Cartridges have cannabis concentrate, or oil‘s, which have pros and cons. We will go over the specifics of cartridges at another time in the near future. But studies show that using whole plant medicine (such as the entire flower) can be a better way to receive therapeutic benefit from cannabis.

3. EDIBLES

Most everyone has heard of edibles, but there are many many different types of edible products, and not all are the same. Edible products are probably one of the leading causes of people having a bad experience with cannabis. The reason for this Is that it can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours before you feel the full effects of an edible. 

So as you can guess, what happens to most people is they take an edible and after 20 or 30 minutes they don’t feel anything, so they take another. Two hours later, they’re having the worst trip and experiencing some adverse side effects that they were intending on.

This happens so often to the first time.  It can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours before you feel the full effects of an edible. So our biggest advice with edibles is to start low and go slow. That means you start out with 2.5 mg of THC equivalent, and you only take that one dose the first try. If you don’t feel much with 2.5 mg, bump it up to 5 mg the next day. By starting with low doses, and going slow, you can avoid having a bad experience.

So what kind of edible products are there? There really are many different edible products available. What’s important is that the products are high-quality, which means that they are consistent and reliable regarding the dosing per each item. Not all companies do a good job of precisely dosing their products. However, here at doctor Z leaf we make an extra effort to carefully and responsibly source our edible products to make sure that they are high-quality and will provide a great experience for patients.

4. TINCTURES

Tinctures are another great option. A tincture is simply a dropper that you use  sublingually, or basically you just put a couple drops under your tongue and let it sit there for about 30 seconds.They are easy to use, easy to dose, and discreet. Tinctures are also great because they take effect quickly like inhaled cannabis, but can last several hours like an edible. No smell as well! 

5. TOPICALS

 Topicals are just what they sound like, a cream is that you applied to the skin in a specific area that you’re needing relief. Topicals can be great for several reasons. Number one- you cannot get high from using topicals. Number two- they are great for localized pain, or specific sore spots or sore joints.

It’s also very easy to apply topicals. We noticed that some people experience great relief from topicals, and other people don’t. So this is something you really just need to try out and see if it works for you. If people have severe pain, they may have to consume cannabis through inhalation or an edible to receive enough pain relief.

OK, so we covered some of the most popular and widely available ways to take cannabis. There are other ways to administer cannabis, and we will cover these other administration options in another article.

Please let us know if you have any questions, comment below and tag a friend that you think would find this information helpful. As always, we’re here to help answer any questions. Thanks guys!