Marijuana can help in boosting wellness. That’s why more patients consider it as a natural alternative to opioid medications, anti-anxiety medications, and sleep pills.

Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 33 US states. To use it medically in a cannabis legalized state, you require a medical marijuana card. In many states such as California, you need to renew MMJ card every year.

For managing your symptoms completely, you should use the herb right. Of the many factors influencing marijuana’s’ effects, the delivery method is one. In other words, how you deliver cannabis compounds into the body.

Let’s learn how to consume marijuana compounds through vaping , smoking and more.

Related- 6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Using Cannabis

Smoking

When it comes to cannabis consumption, the majority of people think about smoking. It’s the fastest method of using marijuana. Just crush the flowers, light them up to generate the smoke, and inhale the compounds. When you smoke, cannabinoids reach the bloodstream directly, thus providing instant relief.

There are many ways to smoke marijuana. You can make a joint of flowers, light it up, and enjoy. Many use blunts for smoking cannabis. They are like joints, but the cigar papers are used instead of rolling papers. The cigar papers are made from tobacco plants. So, the consumers can have the flavor of both marijuana and nicotine.

Additionally, you can use pipes or water pipes. A pipe has a bowl-shaped surface for holding flowers, and the consumer inhales the smoke through the other end. It’s very easy. Just burn the flowers and inhale through the mouthpiece. In a water pipe, the use of water is for cooling the smoke, thus creating a smoother inhaling experience. Many believe that the water filtration process also removes nasty toxins from the smoke.

Vaping

Also called vaporization, vaping is preferred by moderate to experienced cannabis users. Since it doesn’t burn cannabis at a high temperature, it’s safer than smoking. A vaporizer heats the herb at a low temperature for extracting cannabinoids, thus releasing fewer harmful toxins. In other words, vaping reduces the health risks associated with smoking.

There’s a wide range of vaping devices, called vaporizers, available in the market. So, you have plenty of options to choose from in design, functionality, size, etc. The modern technology vaporizers come with temperature control settings. This helps the consumers to set the desired temperature to have a customized vaping experience.

Dabbing is a form of vaporization, which involves heating the cannabis concentrates using the nail, thus generating the vapors. The vapors are then trapped in a closed glass container and are inhaled through the mouthpiece. A recent study by Forensic Science International suggests that dabbing is the most efficient method of delivering active compounds such as THC, compared to joints or pipe bowls. Researchers found that dabbing delivers more than 75 percent of the THC into the lungs.

Edibles

Edibles are candies, brownies, chocolate bars, and beverages, which contain cannabis compounds. Thus, you can ingest marijuana to obtain health benefits, such as anxiety relief, pain relief, boosting appetite, etc. At a medical dispensary, you can find a wide range of cannabis-infused edibles by the levels of compounds such as THC and CBD.

Unlike smoking or vaping, edibles don’t kick in instantly. After consuming an edible, you have to wait for 30 minutes to 1 hour to experience the medicinal effects. This is because edibles don’t reach directly in the bloodstream. They are processed through the digestive system instead. However, the onset time depends on various factors, such as dosage, the concentration of cannabinoids, body chemistry, etc. Additionally, what have you eaten right before taking edibles matters. If you eat in an empty stomach, the compounds will get absorbed quickly. So, for beginners, we recommend eating something before eating edibles.

Related- Tips For People Consuming Cannabis For The First Time

Additionally, the dosage is important when using edibles. This is because they take longer to kick in, so chances are more that you end up consuming more THC. Cannabis overdose can lead to health issues, such as cognitive impairment, psychosis, anxiety, vomiting, nausea, fast heart rate, etc.

Edibles last longer, usually 6-8 hours. So, they are perfect for anxiety, chronic pain, and insomnia patients.

Many consider combining marijuana edibles with alcohol. But, this can result in some unpleasant side-effects, so we don’t recommend it.

Oils & Tinctures

Tinctures are extracts containing marijuana compounds. They come with droppers for measuring the dose. So, they are often preferred by patients looking for dosage control to minimize the health risks of cannabis overdose. 

You can smoke or vape cannabis concentrates. Depending on the type of concentrates you want to consume, you can select the consumption method. You can use handheld or pre-filled vape pens for generating vapors by heating concentrates. Other ways of consuming concentrates are dabbing and topping.

Additionally, cannabis oils can be ingested orally for instant effects. Just put a few drops of a marijuana tincture using the dropper under the tongue, and keep them for a few seconds. The chemical compounds in the herb will get absorbed quickly.

There’s a wide range of cannabis oils and tinctures with varying levels of THC and CBD available at medical dispensaries. For instance, CBD tinctures don’t cause psychoactive effects. So, you can consume them for instant relief without worrying about cannabis high. According to the Farm Bill, hemp-derived CBD products (containing less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal across the United States.

Topicals

Topicals contain cannabis compounds, and they are for external use. They can be applied directly to the affected areas to get relief from pain and aches. The 2018 Civilized Culture Poll says that the marijuana topical market is all set to explode.

These marijuana products work by attaching to the cannabinoid receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. The naturally occurring compounds endocannabinoids activate these receptors. The major health benefits of topicals are pain and inflammation relief, psoriasis, arthritis, skin infections, and cancer chemotherapy side-effects.

Most topicals penetrate into the skin, thus providing relief without reaching the bloodstream. However, transdermal patches deliver cannabinoids into the bloodstream, so they can lead to psychoactive effects associated with THC.

Here are some quick tips to use topicals-

• Determine the location to apply marijuana topicals. The common sore areas are—elbows, shoulders, back, feet, neck, and wrists.
• Clean the surface completely. Scrub properly using a wet towel to remove bacteria and contaminants.
• Apply the topical without putting too much pressure. You may require multiple applications for managing your symptoms completely.
• Wash your hands using soap and water to remove unwanted flavors of citrus or pepper, which aren’t good for nose and eyes.

Key Takeaways

How you consume marijuana greatly influences the kind of effects, onset time, duration, etc. When you smoke or vape, the compounds are delivered directly into the bloodstream, thus providing instant relief. Edibles, on the other hand, don’t kick in immediately. They are processed by the digestive system and then reach the bloodstream. Cannabis tinctures allow patients to control dosage with droppers. For localized pain or inflammation relief, topicals provide the best results. You can apply cannabis-infused patches on the affected areas, such as shoulders, neck, elbow, wrists, etc.

Talk to our licensed doctors for quick or for renew MMJ card services.