Ways to Consume Cannabis

Legal marijuana consumption is becoming more popular than ever. By 2025, legal marijuana sales will reach $25 million. 

If you’re a new cannabis user, you may be confused about several factors — including how to consume cannabis. Even if you’re an experienced marijuana user, you likely only used one or two consumption methods.

Are you looking to expand your knowledge of cannabis? Or are you interested in trying a new cannabis consumption method? Here are different ways to consume cannabis and how to use them.

Vape

Vaping is a fairly recent consumption method, but it’s gaining popularity. Unlike smoking, vaping is easier on your throat and lungs. However, we still don't know about any possible vaping dangers.

While you can vape flower, most users decide to vape concentrate. Whether you decide to vape psychoactive cannabis or use CBD vape, the cannabinoids are concentrated and the effects will be stronger.

There are now more ways to vape. Here are a few of the most popular methods.

Vape Pens

Vape pens are exactly what they sound like. They’re small electronic devices that are usually long and thin, having the appearance of a pen. Vape pens are discreet and are easy to carry.

Some vape pens can support cannabis flower, but most are made for concentrates. Depending on the pen you use, you can place the concentrate directly on the pen’s coils or you can choose a vape pen that uses cannabis cartridges.

Using a vape pen is easy. After you insert the cannabis, simply turn on the vape pen and inhale.

The only issue with vape pens is how easy it is to find low-quality pens or knock-offs. Make sure you always buy your vape pen from a reputable seller.

Vaporizers

Vaporizers are more complex than vape pens. While vaporizers come in different shapes and sizes, they all have different appearances and designs. While many vaporizers are larger, you can find small and portable ones.

The most important aspect to know about vaporizers is they all have the same components: the heating chamber and the mouthpiece are the most important ones to know.

Like the vape pens that don’t use cartridges, you’ll just add the concentrate to the heating chamber and inhale through the mouthpiece. Some vaporizers also support flower but make sure you know the specifications of your vaporizer before using it.

Dabbing

Dabbing is a method that uses what’s called a “dab rig.” You’ll light the piece of concentrate using a heated nail (a structure made of either ceramic, glass, or titanium). This causes the concentrate to turn into vapor.

From here, you can use a cylinder to inhale the vapor.

Pipes

Pipes have been one of the most popular cannabis consumption methods for years. Pipes are always at your disposal and come in different shapes, sizes, and functions.

The two most popular pipes are hand and water pipes.

Hand Pipes

Hand pipes are the most popular option of pipes. They’re portable, small, and easy to use. Hand pipes are commonly made of glass. Most pipe makers use their own artistic expression, painting the pipe in different colors and featuring different designs.

Most hand pipes have the same shape — “spoon shape.” The pipe lays on a flat surface, with a large hole on one side. This makes the pipe look like a spoon. But you can find hand pipes in various shapes, such as in various geometric shapes and even in the shape of a flower or animal.

Most hand pipes are made for cannabis and CBD flower, though you can sprinkle some concentrate on top of the flower for heightened effects.

Using a hand pipe is easy. Break up the cannabis and pack it into the large hole. All hand pipes feature a smaller hole on the side called the “carb.” Place your thumb on the carb. With the other hand, light the cannabis directly with a lighter.

Once the cannabis is ignited, inhale. As you inhale, you’ll usually see the cannabis burning more (called the “cherry” since it’s red). When you think you got a good hit, release your thumb from the carb and inhale the smoke.

Water Pipes

Water pipes are what they sound like, pipes that you fill with water. There are different variations of water pipes, but you can break them down into two different types: bubblers and bongs. Both are extremely similar, but bubblers tend to be smaller than bongs.

Water pipes come in different shapes and sizes, but also have similar components. The main components of water pipes are the mouthpiece, the bowl, downstem or carb, and the base. Some water pipes also have a percolator, which is a filtration system.

Why use a water pipe over a traditional hand pipe? The water chills the smoke, making it easier on the throat. Some people use extremely cold water or even ice to cool down the smoke even more. Keep in mind, this doesn’t necessarily mean water pipes are safer.

To use a water pipe, you first add water. You can do this by pouring water down the mouthpiece so it accumulates in the base. Make sure there’s enough water to submerge the downstem, but don’t fill up the pipe with too much water.

Fill up the bowl with cannabis. Like a hand pipe, you light the cannabis directly with a lighter. Inhale. As you inhale, the water will start bubbling.

Most water pipes have a downstem, but some have a carb like a traditional hand pipe. If your water pipe has a carb, use it the same way as a hand pipe. But if your bong has a downstem, you’ll want to remove the bowl from the stem when you’re ready to inhale the smoke.

Homemade Devices

Most people won’t make a smoking device themselves unless they have nothing else to smoke out of. But these are classic and deserve a mention.

Homemade devices are what they sound like — smoking devices you make with simple objects and ingredients you have at home.

The apple pipe is the most famous; you cut three holes in an apple, one for the mouthpiece, one for the cannabis, and the third for the carb. Follow the same instructions you use for a hand pipe.

Joints and Blunts

Joints and blunts are extremely similar — you grind cannabis and roll it up in the paper. Whether they’re called blunts or joints depends on the paper; “joints” use traditional rolling papers while “blunts” use cigar wraps.

Most users roll their own joints and blunts. You can also find pre-rolled traditional and CBD joints if you can't roll one yourself.

After you roll the paper, simply light it and inhale from the opposite side.

While this used to be the classic smoking method, joints and blunts are becoming less popular. The smoke is harsher and many think it’s challenging to roll a joint/blunt.

Edibles

Edibles are marijuana in food-grade form. Most edibles involve a baked good or other food/beverage that’s infused with cannabis. However, edibles have other forms. Cannabis pills, tinctures, and digestible oils are becoming popular consumption methods.

You can find marijuana edibles in both psychoactive and non-psychoactive forms, like CBD edibles. As an alternative, you can make your own!

There are many benefits to taking edibles. First, you avoid any smoke from reaching your lungs. Second, more cannabinoids enter your bloodstream, resulting in heightened effects.

Here’s more information about the different edibles.

Food-Grade Edibles

Food-grade edibles infuse cannabinoids in a way that you can digest. They’re typically added to different foods and beverages.

Most cannabis edibles are made with butter or olive oil — anything with a lot of fat. As long as you can make cannabis into butter or oil, you can cook a variety of dishes with marijuana.

Tinctures, Pills, and Oils

There are various other ways to ingest cannabis. Tinctures, pills, and oils are other popular options.

Tinctures and oils are similar. The cannabinoids are extracted using a solvent, converting the cannabis to liquid form. However, the way you administer them is different.

Tinctures are sublingual, meaning you drop the liquid behind the tongue. CBD tinctures are the most popular example.

Oils are digestible, meaning you can swallow them like any type of oil. There are many medical-grade oils that are psychoactive and non-psychoactive, as well as water-solvent oils to mix in different products.

You can also take the oil in pill form. All you have to do is properly dose the pills and swallow them,

Topicals and Lotions

Topicals are more popular with CBD products as opposed to psychoactive products. CBD topicals are usually made as a balm, though CBD lotions and skin care products are becoming more popular.

When you apply the topical, your skin absorbs the cannabinoids. This helps heal your skin or even pain in that specific area.

Suppositories

Cannabis and CBD suppositories look similar to traditional cannabis pills; however, you insert these into either the rectum or the vagina.

This is the least commonly used method but is popular among those who use medical marijuana. There’s little research done on suppositories, but many suggest it’s extremely safe and still produces potent effects.

Which One Will You Choose?

There are many ways to consume cannabis, but we suggest consuming cannabis edibles. Don’t want to buy any? You can make your own! Take a look at our products and see how we can help you make the best cannabis edibles.