Introduction to Consumption Methods

Different Ways to Consume Cannabis

According to sales figures from MJ Biz Daily, smoking flower is still the most popular method of consuming cannabis. Consumers speak with their wallets. Pre-rolled joints and 8ths of flower seem to consistently sell the most at dispensaries.

However, the top spot of the popularity of cannabis flower may soon change. Over the last few years, edibles, infused beverages, and vaporizing concentrates are seeing significant sales increases. There are also topical products like creams and salves to discuss as well, for those consumers seeking cannabis skincare. This guide will inform you about all of the ins and outs of the above-mentioned consumption methods.

How Much Cannabis Should I Consume?

How much you should eat tends to change based on what the meal is that you’re eating; The same is true for how much cannabis you consume. This depends entirely on what you’re consuming, and how. For instance, if you’re eating a 25mg edible, you’re going to feel differently than if you are smoking a pre-roll, or using a wax pen.

Time of Onset

Other things to think about when choosing a consumption method is how fast it’s going to hit you and how long the effects will last. Using inhalation forms like smoking or vaping will cause you to feel the effects almost instantaneously because the active compounds are being absorbed right in the lungs. This rapid response can be helpful for people to gauge their dose because they can simply take a puff, wait 10 minutes, and then either take another puff or decide their good for the moment. The rapid onset can also give some people anxiety because the effects can all be felt at once.

Other methods like infused drinks and edibles need to be processed by the body first so it will be longer until you feel something (about an hour), and the effects last much longer as well.

Level of Discreetness

Cannabis is LOUD, meaning it is typically very smelly and difficult to hide. If you step outside of a restaurant to smoke a joint, everyone outside and inside will know exactly what you’ve been up to. Smoking flower is definitely the LEAST discrete out of the consumption methods. With other methods like vaping or edibles, it depends on how they are made. Many products are made with distillate or THC isolate so it is almost completely THC and has very little smell (THC has no smell). If those same products are made with full-spectrum extracts rather than distillate they may also be stinky like flower.

What We Learned: Introduction to Consumption Methods

There are many ways to consume cannabis, with a handful of those ways being the most prevalent. Here’s what we learned in our brief Introduction to Consumption Methods chapter:

• Smoking flower is still the most popular method of consuming cannabis.
• Over the last few years, edibles, infused beverages, and vaporizing concentrates are seeing significant sales increases.
• The time of onset for smoking and vaping is much faster than edibles.
• Smoking flower is not discrete, so make sure you’re in a safe space before consuming.
• Products made with refined cannabis (distillate/isolate) are much less stinky compared to flower and are more discrete for public consumption.
• You’ll learn more about how much to consume in our individual chapters of the Consumption Methods Guide.

A common theme on the HashDash platform is that every consumer is different. A great thing about being a curious or newbie consumer is that you get to try these methods of consumption for yourself and decide which ones you like best.

To continue your journey of learning about cannabis, answer the below question correctly and then just click next! The wide world of cannabis consumption awaits you.