Most people who consume cannabis smoke it. But there are other ways of using it
EDIBLES
Edibles are another popular way to bypass some of the issues associated with smoking cannabis.
Edibles are any kind of food made with cannabis or cannabis products. Some of the most common types of edibles include brownies, cookies, and cupcakes, but you can essentially infuse almost any meal with cannabis.
Most edibles are made with either oil or butter which extracts the essential cannabinoids and terpenes from dried cannabis flowers. A basic cannabutter recipe, for example, involves dissolving butter in water before adding cannabis flower buds to the mixture and simmering everything for a couple of hours.
Once you’ve made butter or oil, you can use it to infuse all of your favorite home cooked meals, including everything from pastas and risottos to desserts.
Whereas smoking or vaporizing allows you to experience the effects of cannabis almost instantly, cannabis edibles can take a while to take effect. This is because they essentially have to pass through your entire digestive tract, being absorbed mainly in the intestines.
This effect can take time, (up to an hour if not more) to begin feeling the effects of a cannabis edible. It is however a completely smoke-free way to enjoy cannabis, which is great for anyone looking to avoid the risks of inhaling smoke.
One major downside to edibles is that it can be difficult to calculate your dosage, especially when they are homemade.
TINCTURES
Cannabis tinctures are usually made by soaking cannabis plant matter in alcohol for a period of time to create a concentrated mixture high in cannabinoids. That mixture is then filtered and sometimes heated in order to remove some of the alcohol.
Tinctures are usually administered sublingually (under the tongue) or ingested. Dosage with tinctures is simple as they are usually administered with a dropper. The general consensus is to use 1ml of tincture, wait to feel it’s effects, and then increase dosage as necessary.
When administered under the tongue, the effects of a tincture will usually kick in in about 15 minutes. When ingested, they can take anywhere up to an hour because, just like edibles, the tincture needs to pass through the entire digestive tract before being absorbed into the bloodstream.
There are many benefits to using cannabis tinctures. First of all, like edibles, they are completely smoke free, making them a great alternative to traditional ways of consuming cannabis.
Secondly, they’re low in calories unlike brownies or cookies
Lastly, tinctures are extremely discreet.
TOPICALS
Topicals are creams, oils, and balms made using cannabis extracts. They are applied to the skin and are popular among medical marijuana patients looking to treat pain, soreness, or inflammation.
Cannabis topicals usually contain cannabinoids like THC, CBD, and THCA as well as terpenes. They may also include other essential oils and ingredients.
Topicals generally do not penetrate the bloodstream and therefore do not produce any psychoactive effects, even if they contain psychoactive compounds like THC.
Instead, topicals work by activating CB2 receptors around the body. Trans-dermal cannabis patches, however, are able to reach the bloodstream and may produce psychoactive effects if they contain enough THC.
The market for topicals is relatively new and new products arriving everyday. Whether you simply want some relief after a workout or need to treat a condition like arthritis, there is bound to be a cannabis topical out there for you.
