Different Cannabis Products and How to Choose What's Right for You

Whether you’re new to the world of cannabis or a seasoned stoner, finding the product that’s right for you can feel overwhelming. With so many products on the shelf, it can be especially difficult to navigate the shelf and decipher what is what and which products will do what you want them to the way you want them to. From flower and pre-rolls to tinctures and edibles, and everything in between!

Here at Sesh, we value knowledge about cannabis and believe in sharing that knowledge whenever possible. We want you to walk into a dispensary feeling confident and prepared to make the right purchase for your desired use.

Types of Cannabis Products

Flower

The most basic and recognizable cannabis product is flower. Also referred to as bud, it’s arguably the most common form of cannabis consumption, largely because before the legal market, it was the easiest form of cannabis to find. It is the most raw, least processed form of cannabis. Flower doesn’t require any fancy machines or equipment, making it the easiest to produce in comparison to concentrates, edibles, or tinctures.

Another big reason flower is so popular is because this form of consumption gives you an immediate high, whereas other consumption methods take time to kick in. Plus, there’s a certain ritual that comes with smoking flower—sitting down, smelling the flower, grinding it up, packing it yourself. It’s a routine special and unique to flower smokers, and one that you won’t necessarily get with other forms of consumption. Many find the routine to be meditative; a ritual of sorts with every sesh.

You can smoke flower out of a pipe, or you can use papers or pre-roll cones and roll it into a joint or blunt.

Joints and Pre-Rolls

Joints are a classic way to consume cannabis! They consist of weed rolled into smoking papers and are usually fashioned with a filter. Nowadays, it’s becoming less and less necessary to know how to roll a joint, thanks to the introduction of pre-rolls in the legal market!

Pre-rolls are synonymous with joints – but you don’t have to roll them! Pre-rolls can be found on dispensary shelves already filled with cannabis and ready to light up. Or, if you prefer to grind and use your own flower, pre-rolled cones are a great option! Easily pack pre-roll cones with the flower you have, and they are easy to take on the go and are more discreet than other smokable consumption methods!

Joints and pre-rolls are an easy, fast, and simple option for smoking flower. And their generally low price tag on the shelf makes them perfect for trying new strains and brands without having to commit to a large quantity. Their convenience and portability is also a huge plus – all you need is a lighter!

If you roll or pack a joint yourself, you’ll need papers or cones (usually available in rice, hemp , or natural brown paper) and maybe a filter or tip. This makes pre-rolls perfect for sharing or bringing on the go.

Infused Pre-Rolls

An infused pre-roll is a pre-roll that has been infused with kief and/or a cannabis concentrate of some sort. Both concentrate and kief are more potent than regular flower, so be aware that they pack a punch! Novice consumers should consume with caution. These are incredibly popular with veteran smokers with high tolerances.

You’ll find infused pre-rolls with oil-infused flower on the inside, and you’ll also see them coated in oil on the outside and rolled in kief. Either way, expect a potent hit.

Blunts

One of the oldest forms of consuming weed is smoking a blunt. Similar to a joint, a blunt is flower rolled up in a wrap, and good for a slow, steady burn. The difference between the two comes down to the wrap itself.

Blunt wraps traditionally contain tobacco, which can add a different buzz and energy to your high. These days, however, there are other options on the market for those who don’t want to consume tobacco, including hemp , cocoa , hibiscus, and sage blunt wraps. These allow you to still enjoy a slow burn without the buzz or harmful side effects of tobacco.

Key Takeaways:

• Flower is great for consumers looking for a variety of options and availability, and those on a budget.
• The high from smoking flower sets in immediately.
• This type of high can be shorter-lived compared to other products, lasting anywhere from 1-4 hours.

Concentrates

Concentrates, also referred to as oil, are a purer form of THC. They’re made by removing excess plant material and any impurities from the plant, leaving only a strong concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes.

The most common way to consume concentrates is to dab them. Dabbing usually involves using a glass bong and heating a quartz banger with a torch – your budtender can probably show you an example of a dab rig, and YouTube has some great tutorials to walk you through the process!

Because concentrates contain only the cannabinoids and terpenes that have been extracted from the plant, they are very high in THC content, seeing as high as 90% THC – compared to the 15-25% THC found in flower. This potency makes dabbing popular among people who have been smoking for a long time who have a higher tolerance than novice consumers. And remember – a little goes a long way!

There are several types of concentrate you’ll see on the shelf – wax, budder, SHO, sugar, and more. The main difference between each of these types of oils is the way they were extracted from the plant. We’ll go into more detail on that.

Wax

Wax is extracted by using butane or other hydrocarbon solvents to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. This form is soft and waxy—hence the name—but you can also find it marketed under the names butter, cake icing, sugar, or honeycomb, among others. Wax can be dabbed, vaporized, or added to a bowl or pre-roll. Solventless Hash Oil (SHO)<./

For this type of concentrate, no chemical solvents are used. Instead, cannabinoids and terpenes are extracted by heat and pressure. This is a great product for anyone concerned about residual solvents in their concentrates, as you won’t find any here. The final product is usually very light in color and is typically top-shelf in quality and price.

Vapes/Cartridges

Vaping is a great stepping stone for those who want to experiment with concentrates but aren’t ready for the heavy hitters listed above. This form of inhalation is easier on the lungs and more discreet than traditional smoking, but it still provides immediate effects.

To vape, you need to buy a c-cell battery. Then, at the dispensary, you will purchase a cartridge that screws onto your battery, and you’re good to go! They resemble tobacco vapes and don’t have a strong or lingering cannabis smell, making them especially discreet.

Key Takeaways:

• Because of their potency, concentrates are best for experienced cannabis consumers. Those that are newer should try vaping first before other concentrates.
• The high from concentrates sets in immediately.
• Like smoking, this high can last anywhere from 1-4 hours.

Edibles

Cannabis-infused food and drink are quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of consumption. They’re discreet—no obvious smell or smoke—and they’re easy to dose because they’re manufactured with precise THC/CBD doses (when purchased from a dispensary). Edibles can come in many forms, but some common ones you’ll see include chocolates, candies, baked goods, and beverages.

Be careful when consuming edibles. They take the longest to kick in out of all methods, and they can be incredibly potent. After you eat one dose, wait a couple of hours. The worse mistake a new stoner could make is to think they haven’t kicked in yet and eat more, only for it all to kick in at once. This often results in a poor experience; if the user gets too high, they become anxious and uncomfortable, and it might even be enough to make them swear off cannabis for good. So take it slow! If you don’t get high from one dose, try two the next time.

Key Takeaways:

• Edibles are great for those with an aversion to smoking, those who want more of a body high versus a head high, and those who don’t have/don’t want to invest in the tools needed for other consumption methods.
• Edibles can take anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours to kick in, so don’t consume more if you’re not feeling anything right away.
• The high from edibles can last 4-12 hours, so they’re not ideal for anyone wanting a quick buzz.

Tinctures

A tincture is a solution created by steeping cannabis in alcohol to remove its therapeutic compounds. Those compounds then get added to a carrier oil, like MCT or hemp oil, for you to consume. To do so, put your dose under your tongue and hold it there for as long as you can before swallowing. This allows most of the compounds to be absorbed by the blood vessels under your tongue. From there, they go straight to your bloodstream.

This is an easy option for those who don’t want to agitate their lungs. Be aware—some consumers have an aversion to the taste, and for those with food allergies, it’s important to know the carrier oil used.

Tinctures are incredibly popular with CBD products, but there are a lot of THC-heavy tincture options on the shelf as well!

Key Takeaways:

• Tinctures are great for consumers looking for a discreet, on-the-go option or those that don’t like inhaling cannabis.
• Tinctures can have a prolonged onset time, depending on how long you hold your dose under your tongue and how much you swallow. Expect anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.
• Similar to edibles, these will impart a longer-lasting high.

Topicals

Topical CBD and THC products are infused lotions, balms, salves, and sprays that are applied directly to the skin. CBD topicals are generally more popular and available, as CBD is federally legal and better absorbed by the skin than THC.

These products will not impart a high. They’re meant to treat a localized, specific pain point.

Key Takeaways:

• Topicals are great for those who don’t want to get high, and newbies who want to experience cannabinoids in their body before fully diving into cannabis.
• Onset time for topicals varies case by case. Some people get immediate relief, while others report them taking an hour or so to kick in.
• Topicals usually provide relief for a few hours. It’s okay to reapply as needed, as you won’t experience an intoxicating high.

Decisions, Decisions…