Different Methods of Cannabis Consumption

OK, so you know we here at DaySavers love a pre-roll. But even more than a pre-roll, we love weed. And we know not everyone is as passionate about pre-rolls as we are.

I mean, you’re wrong and all, but we understand...

We understand that there are times when a pre-roll just isn’t right for the moment, for whatever reason. We also know that different methods of consumption can mean different highs and different ways to enjoy our favorite plant.

There’s smoking and eating and “microencapsulated” and topicals and patches and even suppositories, and they all have their fans and detractors who will swear by their method being the best.

So let’s dive in and take a look at all the fun ways humans have figured out how to consumer cannabis.

Consuming Cannabis Through Inhalation

The most common method of consumption, the one nearly everyone thinks of first, is traditional inhalation or breathing it into your lungs. Inside the lungs, the large surface area of the alveoli (those tiny air sacs that exchange oxygen for CO2) allows for rapid exchange of THC and other cannabinoids to quickly move from the air in the smoke into your bloodstream.

And because this absorption is almost immediate, the high is often felt right away and can last 30-45 minutes, with peak blood THC levels coming at around the half-hour mark.

But there are two main methods of inhalation and, frankly, they are both worth a deeper look.

Smoking Flower or Pre-Rolls

When most people think of consuming cannabis, this is the first thing that usually jumps to mind: smoking pot.

This means literally lighting some of the plant on fire and inhaling the smoke, which contains all of the cannabinoids and terpenes we know and love. This can be done by putting small, ground chunks of flower into a pipe, bowl, water pipe, bong, bubbler, steamroller, apple, bat, chillum or wrapping in paper to make a joint or something thicker to make a blunt.

You can also pack your ground flower into cones to make pre-rolls, which are then lit and smoked like a joint.

And not only does it help get into the system fast, smoking weed also provides a pretty high level of what is called “bioavailability.” Put simply, bioavailability is the measure of the proportion and speed that the THC enters the bloodstream, and it varies depending on the cannabis consumption method.

For smoking, the bioavailability is about 30%.

The problem with smoking is, well, the smoke. It’s just not that great for your lungs and can deliver toxins and the like, as well as irritate the airways and potentially lead to long term complications. But don’t worry, there plenty of other ways to consume cannabis that are alternatives to smoking weed.

Vaporizing Cannabis Concentrates and Dabs

The other primary inhalation method is vaporization, whether using a pen and battery to heat cannabis concentrate oil, dabbing or directly vaporizing flower.

Vaporization heats the flower or oil to just below its burning point, but high enough to transform the cannabinoids and terpenes directly into a gas, or vapor. Because there is no combustion, much less tar, carbon monoxide and carcinogens are produced compared to smoking. Vaporization also preserves more terpenes, providing a cleaner flavor.

Vaping offers the highest level of bioavailability of any cannabis consumption method, with testing showing more than 50% bioavailability, and potentially up to 80%.

The downsides to vaping include lung irritation and a scratchy cough, as well as the potential for getting too high because of the use of high-THC concentrates and the high bioavailability it provides. There are also some concerns about what else might be in your vape (presuming you are not vaporizing flower, of course), though following the vitamin E acetate crisis of 2019 there are stricter regulations as to what can be put into vape cartridges.

Ingesting Cannabis Products

After inhalation, the next most-popular method of consuming cannabis is ingestion. The edible has long been a staple of the industry and the “pot brownie” reached legendary status well before legalization was ever even considered.

But ingesting pot is very different from inhaling it, both in how the THC gets into your bloodstream and how long the effects can last.

Unlike the lungs, where the cannabinoids pass directly into the bloodstream, eating a gummy or a brownie means waiting for it to be digested and make it to your small intestine, where the THC is absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, it is transported to the liver where a process called “first-pass metabolism” occurs and the enzyme called P450 breaks it down into delta-9 THC – what we know of as the standard THC – and what is called 11-hydroxy-THC, which is actually more potent and capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier than delta-9, resulting in a different kind of high than inhalation, with many saying the effects are stronger or more vivid.

However, because the THC must be digested and broken down by the liver, the high takes considerably longer to set in, typically 30 minutes to an hour after ingestion. That said, an edible high can keep you stoney much, much longer than inhaling, with effects sometimes lasting multiple hours for some people.

Edibles have a lower bioavailability of 4-20% due to first-pass metabolism in the liver, but, again, they offer prolonged effects.

Aside from the longer time to take effect (and, for some, a high that won’t go away), the biggest downside to edibles is that, well, they might not work. See, there is a percentage of the population – including me, for example – missing the P450 enzyme and therefore unable to break down the THC. So for us, a pot brownie is really just an expensive chocolate treat, instead of a tasty way to catch a buzz.

The Sublingual Method of Cannabis Consumption

In the modern cannabis world, there are multiple ways to consume, including the sublingual method, which means the product dissolves under the tongue, working its way into the blood from there. This includes tinctures, sprays, mints and dissolvable strips.

Once the product is placed under the tongue, the THC and other cannabinoids diffuse across the mucous membrane directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive tract and liver like other edibles. Because of that, sublingual cannabis products take effect much quicker than traditional edibles, with the first effects usually felt within 10-30 minutes.

However, while the high hits quicker than a traditional edible, the high lasts just as long, often 2-4 hours.

The only thing to remember is to keep it under your tongue for at least 30 seconds to ensure absorption.

Cannabis Consumption Through Topicals

For many medical cannabis users in particular, topicals are often the easiest way to directly address a problem with the healing power of cannabis. Whether lotions, creams, balms or salves that are infused with cannabinoids like THC, CBD, or a combination of both, topicals are designed for direct application to the skin for localized relief—such as pain, inflammation and skin conditions.

Rather than passing into the bloodstream, topicals work by binding directly to the receptors in the skin’s endocannabinoid system. Because of this, the effects are generally localized and do not bring with it the “high” that comes with THC reaching the bloodstream and brain.

The effects of topicals will start to be felt within 10-30 minutes of application and often last for up to 3 hours, depending on the formulation, the amount used and the area of application.

But because the cannabinoids in topicals bind to receptors in the skin, topicals have a very low bioavailability with mostly localized effects. Though because the cannabinoids are just applied to the skin, it does bypass the harms associated with other methods, such as smoking or vaping.

Transdermal Patches for Consuming Cannabis

A transdermal patch is an adhesive-backed patch that has been infused with THC or CBD and is applied to the skin like a band aid to provide a slow, steady delivery of cannabinoids.

They are designed and formulated to allow the cannabinoids to penetrate through all layers of the skin in order to enter the bloodstream. Effects usually begin to be felt at around 10-30 minutes and can often last more than 8 hours, if the patch is left in place.

Transdermal patches have a higher systemic bioavailability than other topicals because they are designed to reach the bloodstream and can cause psychoactive effects, as well as deliver constant dosing.

Suppositories for Cannabis Consumption, Say What!?

For folks looking for something, let’s say cheekier, there are cannabis suppositories, which are designed to be inserted into either the rectum or vagina, where they dissolve, releasing the cannabinoids that are then absorbed through the mucous membranes in those parts of the body.

And there are a lot of mucous membranes in those parts of the body that shepherd the cannabinoids into the bloodstream more directly and rapidly than, say, oral ingestion. The cannabinoids also don’t have to go through the liver, so the effects are felt quicker, often in about 15 minutes.

Rectal suppositories have a wider reach than vaginal suppositories, which are primarily used for localized relief from pain or cramps. And the effects can be felt for upwards of 8 hours, depending on the formulation.

When it comes to bioavailability, it also depends on the formulation. For THC products, the bioavailability usually runs between 15-50%, while CBD products usually land closer to 50%, due to the large number of veins in the area.

Generally, these are for people who can’t swallow or don’t like inhaling, but they are starting to gain wider acceptance. For example, Ashley Manta at CannaSexual says she swears by suppositories and says they not only sensitize the nerves but also helps “smooth out” discomfort by helping the muscles relax without numbing.

So What’s the Best Way to Consume Weed

The only answer here is “whatever way you like best.” You like to smoke? Light up a pre-roll. Prefer a longer ride? Have an edible. Want that ride without the wait time? Sublingual. Need localized treatment for pain or other issues? Topicals, patches and suppositories are the way to go.

But whatever you choose, know that the method of consumption will affect the high in various ways. So we say, why not try them all and figure out which way works best for you?

We know for us, it’s pre-rolls, but whatever method of consumption you find helps you Enjoy Your Day is always welcome in our session!