If you’re new to cannabis smoking, you may feel a little confused by all of the smoking options available to you and wonder which ones are healthier.
To help you out, here are the most common ways to smoke cannabis and how to do it right.
Vaping
Given the well-known risks associated with smoke inhalation, it is not surprising that many people believe vaping to be a healthier option than smoking. Unfortunately, it’s not that straightforward.
There is growing evidence that vaping can have detrimental impacts on your health. Inhaling vitamin E acetate, a chemical present in many vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is largely the cause of concern.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are thousands of incidents of e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injuries and deaths.
While this is the case, you should note that the risk appears to be limited to vaping concentrates rather than flowers. According to a 2006 study, vaping whole cannabis—as opposed to concentrate—has less of an adverse effect on the respiratory system than smoking.
Beyond lung health, potency is another issue. Regardless of the product’s THC content, vapers claim to get bigger effects from cannabis than they do from smoking. This increases the possibility of vaping excessively or “greening out.”
Joints and blunts
Both options require breathing in smoke. But joints are definitely a better option. This is due to the fact that cigars and their wrappers are extremely toxic, and blunts are created from hollowed-out cigars.
Toxins known to cause cancer, such as nitrosamines, can persist in cigars even after all the tobacco has been removed. Furthermore, cigar wrappers burn less completely than rolling papers because they are more porous, increasing the toxin concentrations.
Another issue is size. Blunts can accommodate far more pot because they are larger than joints. It takes about six joints to smoke a blunt from start to finish.
To roll a joint, use your fingers or a herb grinder to break down the cannabis. Ensure that you eliminate any stems or seeds.
After this, cut out a little piece of thin cardboard (it should fit inside your paper when rolled) and fold it “accordion-style” into a tip if you wish to use it as a filter. To learn how to fold your joint accordion style, visit SMOKEA.
You should then fill the rolling paper with the crushed cannabis while holding it lengthwise, “hot dog style,” and place your filter on either end.
After this, roll the filled paper into a tube or cone form by pinching it between your fingertips.
Finally, light the joint’s end and inhale from the filter.
As you roll your joint, remember that many commercial rolling papers, especially the flavored, bleached, or fast-burning ones, contain chemicals and pollutants that are detrimental to your lungs.
Thankfully, you can reduce your risk of exposure by using rolling papers that are unbleached, unflavored, and unrefined.
Additionally, if you’re extremely concerned about chemical exposure, think about considering smoking with a bong or pipe instead of paper.
Dabbing
Many people report experiencing a “cleaner” high after dabbing, but what does that really mean? Not a lot.
Budder, also known as dabs or marijuana concentrate, has a significant amount of THC—up to 80% more—than other cannabis products.
Since dabbing is still relatively new, experts are unsure of its full effects.
There is proof that prolonged exposure to high THC levels might cause mental health problems like psychosis. Using high-THC products also increases the risk of abuse and addiction.
Additionally, your dabs might not be too pure unless you have advanced lab equipment and extraction expertise.
According to research, dabs contain impurities and leftover solvents that have the potential to be cardiotoxic and neurotoxic.
Dabbing is not a substitute for “smoking,” but it still has an impact on the respiratory system. There have been reported cases of instances of dabbing-related lung injury, so you should be cautious about how you go about it.
Other ways to consume cannabis
The bad thing is that there’s no healthy way to use cannabis, and there is no completely safe way to go about it. The good thing is that there are many ways to use it.
If you don’t want to smoke, these are the primary alternatives available to you:
Edibles: Consuming cannabis won’t have the same negative effects on your lungs as smoking or vaping. While this is the case, you should note that some people find that edibles have a delayed onset of action due to their necessity to pass through the digestive system before entering the bloodstream.
The good thing is that the effects last longer. Additionally, there is an infinite array of options available to you, like cannabutter, baked items, and gummies.
Sublinguals: Although they are sometimes confused with edibles, these are not the same. In contrast to edibles, sublingual cannabis products—such as tinctures, films, and dissolvable tablets—are not ingested.
The benefits of sublingual cannabis are felt more quickly since it is absorbed through the mucous membranes in your mouth and is placed under the tongue.
Tinctures: These are made from cannabis extracts with an alcohol basis, which are packaged in dropper bottles.
Although tinctures can be added to beverages, you can also apply a few drops under your tongue to feel the effects more quickly, depending on how much you want.
Topicals: If you are seeking the medicinal advantages of cannabis without the euphoric effects, there are topicals available. You can reduce pain and inflammation by applying creams, balms, and patches to the skin.
Suppositories: You might wince at the thought of putting cannabis up your butt—or vagina, depending on the product—but it’s a real thing.
The majority of suppositories available on the market are infused with CBD and used therapeutically for conditions like pain or nausea, but some brands have increased their THC level for extra benefits.
Parting shot
As you have seen, there is no healthy way to smoke cannabis, but there are a number of things you can do to reduce the toxicity. For example, don’t hold your inhale. Deep inhalation exposes your lungs to more tar with each breath you hold it in. So, don’t be greedy. You should exhale more quickly.
When rolling your joint, use Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rolling papers. This way, you can be sure that the papers don’t contain harmful flavorings or substances.
