When most people think about consuming cannabis, the first, and sometimes only, method that comes to mind is by smoking it. However, smoking isn’t for everyone. Some people have never smoked anything a day in their lives and don’t wish to start now. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean they have to give up on the idea of using medical cannabis to meet their needs. In fact, there are many ways you can consume cannabis, so you can enjoy the many benefits without having to smoke it.
Vaping
Vaping has recently gained popularity as a safer alternative to smoking. Without many of the negative aspects of smoking a cannabis joint, the vape provides individuals with the smoking experience with a lot fewer risks. In fact, those who have been unable to completely give up smoking have often made the switch to this tactic instead, making it an excellent alternative for those who use cannabis for medical purposes and don’t want to cause further problems by taking up smoking.
Edibles
Another popular method of consuming cannabis is by using it as an ingredient in some foods you eat. There are a vast number of options today that allow you to eat your daily allotment of cannabis, including gummies, chocolate, cookies, suckers and even drinks. However, it’s important to be careful how much you consume because these typically take longer to take effect and it can be easy to consume too much.
Tinctures
If you’re looking for a much faster effect from your cannabis, tinctures are the way to go. The active compounds found in cannabis are extracted via an alcohol soak. These tinctures are then applied directly under the tongue. Because you aren’t ingesting the cannabis normally, it is soaked up directly into the blood stream where the blood vessels run close to the surface under your tongue. This provides a much faster effect than many of the other methods of consuming cannabis.
Oils
Similar to consuming cannabis through edibles, the use of oils can take a little longer to take effect and will often produce a much stronger effect than smoking or vaping can provide. Cannabis oils come in a variety of forms, including in pill form and in plastic applicators. Simply take the product orally and wait for the effects to kick in. Oil can also be infused into some foods, depending on your preferences. It’s important to be mindful of how much you take because it won’t work right away and can have devastating effects if you end up taking too much.
Lotions
If you’re not comfortable eating or taking cannabis into your body orally, there are lotions that can produce many of the same effects and offer you the benefits of cannabis. When these lotions are applied to the skin, the cannabis is absorbed into the blood stream and distributed throughout the body to provide the medical benefits you’re looking for. This option is best suited for those who are using medical cannabis as a method to relieve physical pain, whether it’s caused by an injury or an illness. This is due to the anti-inflammatory properties of the cannabis.
There are many reasons individuals would rather not smoke cannabis, whether they have respiratory issues, don’t want to be judged by others or simply have no desire to smoke. Regardless of the reason, the good news is there are plenty of alternative methods to take advantage of all the benefits of medical cannabis.