Medical Cannabis Consumption Methods
Cannabis is a multi-purpose, natural medication, treating everything from headaches to insomnia, to cancer. While the traditional method of consumption is smoking hand-rolled “joints”, there are several other ways to ingest this beneficial medication, and the best consumption choice generally depends on the condition or symptom the patient is hoping to treat.
This article will explore four different ways to consume medical marijuana, and the benefits of each method.
Smoking
Smoking cannabis is a fast and efficient way to put to work the medicinal properties of the plant. Because the medication is inhaled in the form of smoke, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream through the tissues of the mouth and lungs. The bloodstream carries therapeutic cannabinoids to the rest of the body, and the brain. Most users will feel the effects of a “hit” (a single inhale) from a joint within a minute or two.
Smoking is a great way to treat fast-onset issues like migraines – symptoms that come on without much warning. The method also provides quick relief from depression, stress, and anxiety.
Though cannabis lacks most of the dangerous additives found in cigarettes, a smoker is still breathing foreign matter into the lungs, which can be problematic. Smoking marijuana can cause coughing, chest pain, and headaches.
Any side effects will pass quickly, but if this is the best method for your personal condition, try using a high-THC strain so you need only one or two draws on the joint or bong (seek your Farmacy budtender’s advice on dosage), or include a filter – used to catch small particles of burnt plant matter as you inhale – at the base of your joint.
If smoking just isn’t the method for you, but you still require quick relief, vaporizing is an excellent alternative.
Vaporizing
Vaporizing is another quick-absorption method that involves heating cannabis at a lower temperature, encouraging the dried plant or concentrate to vaporize rather than combust and turn to smoke. Gentler on the lungs, vaporizing enables you to breathe in the medicinal cannabinoids from the cannabis without any of the potentially harmful plant matter, carbon monoxide, and tar.
Like smoking, vaporized cannabis is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream, and the effects are immediate. Also like smoking, it is important to be cognizant of how much THC you are ingesting each time you inhale; a Farmacy budtender can help you with dosage, or you can take a look at our article on the topic.
For treating pain and mood disorders, headaches, and many other conditions, vaporizing is a safe and effective consumption method.
Topicals
While technically not a consumption method, topicals offer one more way to benefit from medical marijuana.
Topical, or transdermal, treatments come in a variety of forms, from balms and lotions to essential oils; tinctures can also be used topically. When rubbed on problem areas, topicals alleviate burns and muscle soreness, swelling, arthritis, and skin conditions. The cannabinoids in the medication are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, and can quicken the healing process.
Though you’re unlikely to feel the effects of a topical treatment as a mental or body “high”, studies have found that cannabis products begin to work at the site within minutes of being applied to the skin, and the effects generally last for one to two hours.
Edibles and Oils
While smoking and vaping will let you feel the effect right away, Edibles and Oils will take a lot longer. Up to 2 hours later even. It’s important that you have a good insight in the products’ strength before you start eating or dripping. Many make the mistake of taking to much, because they don’t feel the effect right away.
Whatever your ailment and consumption preference, there is a medical cannabis delivery method for you.
