The Healthiest Ways to Consume Cannabis
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There isn’t enough evidence to conclusively determine which is the healthiest method of cannabis consumption. At this time, this lack of data makes it difficult to decide which methods are definitively healthy or otherwise.
That said, a growing number of studies and anecdotal evidence have given the public a loose understanding about which are the healthiest methods to consume cannabis.
Samuel Meyers, a Cannabis Researcher for the hemp company Glacier Wellness, told Nugg that two major factors should be considered: the avoidance of negative effects which may be present and bioavailability, or “how much of a given substance is absorbed by the body and accessible for systemic circulation.”
In other cases, respondents cited past articles from reputable sources as the basis of their opinions.
Like much of the cannabis consuming public, our subjects’ healthy consumption choices are all based on science-backed evidence. To what extent, however, varies by the opinion. While the market inches closer to definitive conclusions, uncertainty still remains.
Some of the healthiest ways to consume cannabis:
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Vaping
Meyers explained that the combination of the two significant factors is why vaping is so widespread today. He added, “In practice, vaporizing heats up cannabis close to its combustion point which effectively skyrockets its bioavailability and circumvents many of the harmful consequences of smoking.”
Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard College and Harvard Medical graduate, now runs InhaleMD Health and Wellness. Dr. Tishler also noted that vaporizing can be a safer alternative to others.
Nevertheless, not every consumable is the same. She said that flower heated to 350°F allows for little to no combustion.
With oil cartridges, however, vaporization could be harmful. Dr. Tishler pointed towards additives from polyethylene glycol to terpenes to MCT oil that all could pose health risks.
In addition to additives, the lack of accurate heating temperatures was also a potential concern.
As such, Dr. Tishler considers flower the healthiest option.
“Clearly vaporizing flower is the safest alternative…Between vaping oil and smoking, it’s unclear which is safer, but why would you do either when you can vape flower?”
Edibles
Edibles are a popular choice among medical and recreational users.
The effects aren’t felt until the body has digested and metabolized the food, often taking 30 to 90 minutes. Those seeking a prolonged, higher potent relief benefit from these effects.
However, they can also lead to overdosing if a consumer is impatient and consumes additional doses.
Amanda Winn Lee, the creator and host of A Mom’s Guide to Cannabis, tells Nugg that all kinds of cannabis consumption is safe.
After years of using herself, as well as eight collective years in cancer research, Winn Lee recognizes the benefits of edibles while acknowledging the risks.
“Sometimes [edibles] take up to 2 hours to kick in, and people get tired of waiting and ingest more.”
She adds, “It’s physically impossible to overdose on cannabis to a point of death, but it can make you really sick if you ingest too much.”
Tinctures
Tinctures are the strained end result of cannabis flower being soaked in strong alcohol. These alcohol-based cannabis extracts are some of the more popular choices among users seeking smoke-free alternatives.
They can be ingested on their own or be paired with a number of foods and beverages.
Aside from the standard adverse side effects of using cannabis, tinctures have no large-scale health concerns to date.
Pills
Decarboxylized pills have seen a sharp rise in popularity in recent years. Consumers choose pills for their discretion as well as their accurate dosing. Doctors also appreciate accuracy when it comes to prescribing cannabis.
“Capsules offer an element of simplicity, allowing healthcare practitioners to prescribe an exact milligram amount to a patient,” Dr. Kishan Mahabir told The Growth Op last year.
Pills provide accurate dosages and similar effects as edibles. Unlike edibles, though, a pill ensures that the consumer knows what dose they are taking.
Smoking
Cannabis smoke and cigarettes may appear the same. However, they seem to be quite the opposite when in our bodies.
Dr. Tishler explained that “We know that cannabis smoke, like tobacco smoke, contains enormous numbers of carcinogenic chemicals that would seem best avoided. However, empirical evidence seems to point to cannabis smoke being somehow different from tobacco smoke.”
She cited Donald P. Taskin’s decades-long study of recreational users which found that “habitual use of marijuana alone does not appear to lead to significant abnormalities in lung function when assessed either cross-sectionally or longitudinally.”
While most studies appear to agree that cannabis smoke presents little or no harm, its side effects can still present issues one would want to avoid.
In their 2015 article, Mallory Loflin, MA and Mitch Earleywine, PhD noted:
“Smoking marijuana does not harm lung function as dramatically as smoking tobacco does. Links between smoking marijuana and actual lung cancer are weak and difficult to replicate. Nevertheless, the habit clearly increases symptoms of respiratory irritation such as tightness in the chest, wheezing and coughing.”
They went on to explain that stronger cannabis extracts, often used in dabs, may cause more problems, but additional studies would be needed to find a definitive answer.
Solvent or Solvent-Free?
To create concentrates for dabbing, smoking, eating and other applications, a producer must extract the oil from the plant. This is done using a variety of methods. Some methods involve solvents like butane, alcohol and several others.
However, DIY heat plate technology and bubble hash extraction allow for products to be consumed without any chemicals involved.
Solvent extractors often rely on the removal of the solvents in their final products. Meanwhile, detractors point to chemicals being used in the process at all. At this time, while concern still abounds, solvents have not been found to be dangerous to a person’s health.
What Do I Choose?
We can’t definitively say which consumption method is the healthiest. While there are possible health risks to any method, nothing is certain.
Some may love vaping while others fear it could give them popcorn lung. Smoking flower is fine to most, but the effects of combustion are a concern to others.
Meanwhile edibles and pills provide time-released relief, both can be overdosed by impatient consumers.
Regardless of the negatives, each of the methods above has myriads of positives. For that reason, the choice has to come down to you, the user.
You have to determine which is the optimal way to consume and feel your best. If you want to avoid mildly questionable methods, pills or tinctures may be best. In other cases, the unconfirmed notions surrounding smoking and vaping aren’t enough to change your preferences.
It’s always best to stay informed and use the most recent and reputable findings to understand the evidence. Consider your own preferences and feelings as well.
While the industry builds itself up into the informed powerhouse it will become, all consumers can do is make the best decisions based on the knowledge they have.
Here Are 5 Ways to Consume Cannabis
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Doctors have only recently begun to publicly recognize the medical benefits of cannabis. From treating debilitating diseases in humans to easing pain in pets, there are countless applications for this remarkable plant.
But many people still don’t know what it really means to consume cannabis. Sure, you might be able to spot the difference between a joint and a bong, but there’s so much more to be aware of, like knowing the difference between a 100mg and 1,000mg edible. Yeah, we’re talking about that time in college you and your roommate ate the whole thing and found yourselves on planet Zargab (not a real planet).
So let’s get meducated! (No, that’s not a typo and, yes, you can give us credit for the word).
What you'll learn in this post:
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Smoking Cannabis Flower
A lot of people choose smoking as their main way of consuming cannabis. The effects are pretty much immediate and the dosage is relatively easy to control. Depending on a strain’s THC & CBD content, effects from smoking cannabis can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 2-4 hours.
In its flower form (as it’s most commonly found), cannabis can be smoked plenty of different ways. You can use a pipe, bong, blunt, bubbler, piece of fruit (apples are highly-recommended) or just about anything else with a spot to put your herb and a hole to smoke it through.
Not sure where to start? You could just go with the classic joint; or the bit more fancy blunt. Granted, the better you filter the smoke, the better it is for your body.
HINT: Smoked marijuana can cause throat and lung irritation, so have some water nearby and first inhale small and slowly!
Want to learn how? Click here for our easy instructional video! (under 2 minutes long)
Vaporizing Flower or Extracted Oils
“Vaping” (the act of vaporizing) is arguably the future of cannabis consumption. It’s become popular with medicinal/recreational users and experts/doctors alike because it’s discreet and produces a smoother, tastier and healthier hit, free of the toxic chemicals and tar consumed when smoking cannabis.
A vaporizer electronically heats up cannabis flowers and extracted oils to a low enough temperature that’ll release their beneficial compounds without the potentially harmful combustion. They come in many shapes and sizes, but almost all require a power source (either battery or wall plug) to use.
This process causes cannabis’ active ingredients, mainly CBD and THC, to be “cooked” off and turned into vapor which is then inhaled. Depending on CBD & THC content in the oil you’re consuming, effects from vaping may take 5-10 minutes to hit and can last up to 4 hours.
HINT: There are tons of companies that offer vaporizer products, so the best place to start is with a simple online search, but watch out for fake reviews!
Want to learn how? Click here for our easy instructional video! (under 2 minutes long)
Eating Edibles: Foods, Desserts, Drinks & More
For may, cannabis and tobacco are all the same—dangerous. The fact is, smoking just comes with a negative stigma (we’re trying to change that), which is why some cannabis users purposely avoid smoking and the stigma associated with it by turning to edibles—THC infused foods and beverages.
Caution is extremely advised for the first time edible consumer. Remember factors such as body weight, height, fat, and external stimuli, like how recently you’ve eaten or how active you’ve been, can affect your reaction to an edible.
Most will take 45min-1 hour to take effect but can sometimes take as long as 3 hours, so don’t make the mistake of thinking your first dose was a dud then scarf down brownie number two. You’ll regret it! Depending on its THC & CBD content, an edible’s effects can last anywhere from 3-8 hours.
Because marijuana is very fat soluble, it can easily be infused into either oil or butter for baking. Types of edibles include (but are not limited to) brownies, cookies, gummy bears, lollipops, chocolate bars, pizza, ice cream, honey, and even the occasional birthday cake.
Craving a sweet treat? Find any and all delicious cannabis-infused treats on California’s top online MMJ marketplace, Nugg! And just between us, we’re notorious for throwing in free snacks of our own (just not cannabis-infused)!
HINT: if taking an edible for the first time, be in a comfortable environment under the supervision of a friend and start with just one small dose.
Want to learn how? Click here for our easy instructional video! (under 2 minutes long)
Dabbing Concentrates
Although most concentrates are technically “smoked,” they fall under their own form of consumption known as “dabbing.”
Cannabis concentrates produce the strongest form of medicating. Effects are immediate, and last 1-4 hours depending on relative THC vs CBD content. Many individuals in the medical cannabis community prefer concentrates such as oils, shatter, and wax for their intense pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.
How does it work? Dabbing requires a water bong with an attachment known as a “dab nail,” typically made from quartz or titanium. Also known as a dab rig, you heat the dab nail with a torch to ~900°F, then “dab” your concentrate onto the hot nail while simultaneously inhaling the resulting vapor through a pipe or bong.
HINT: Just like an edible, try and be with someone experienced if dabbing for the first time, and start small.
Taking Tinctures
Tinctures are liquid cannabis concentrates made by extracting cannabinoids from the cannabis plant using high-proof grain alcohol. Peak effects are felt within 20 minutes and are steady and rather mellow.
These THC tinctures can be administered simply by putting a few drops from the bottle’s droopper under the tongue (we recommend 1-2 drops for first time users), allowing for easy dosage control. Effects are almost immediate and peak effects be felt within 20 minutes and last 1-3 hours.
HINT: Anyone medicating with cannabis should do so in a safe environment, and is strongly advised not to drive, operate machinery or participate in dangerous activities.
In a follow-up post, we’ll talk about some things to know when it comes to knowing how much cannabis to consume.
If there’s one thing you HAD to know about cannabis, what would it be? Leave a comment!