Medical marijuana is becoming increasingly common as more doctors and patients alike recognize the benefits that it can bring.
However, there is still a lot which remains unknown about medicinal cannabis and how to consume it for the right effects.
Research has shown that cannabis offers a host of therapeutic properties, many of which are unable to be replicated by pharmaceutical alternatives, and since it produces minimal side effects.
It’s no wonder that more people are going down this road.
So, if you’re ready to start using medical cannabis, you’re probably wondering what is the best and healthiest way to use it?
Smoking Cannabis
This is the obvious way to consume cannabis.
It’s the method that people have used for years and it works just as well for medical use as for recreational users.
All you need to do is pack some dry cannabis flower into your rolling paper, bong or pipe and hold your flame to the flower until it burns.
You then inhale from the joint or pipe.
There are several pros to using this method:
- The relief is instant
- It’s quite easy to regulate the amount you use
- Affordable
On the downside:
- Smoke could harm your lungs
- If you have pulmonary damage, smoking may not be right for you
- The odor of the smoke could be a problem
Vaping Marijuana
This is a simple way to inhale cannabis vapor. You need a vaping device such as a vape pen.
You will fill the chamber with dry flower or concentrate then heat it to the desired temperature, activate the device then inhale.
Although the cannabis won’t be burned, it will be heated sufficiently so that the medical compounds will be released.
There are lots of types of vaporizers out there, so you can choose the right one for you.
The benefits of choosing this method include:
- Instant relief
- Less unwanted odor
- Less damaging to the lungs
On the downside:
- Some vaping devices are costly
- Battery operated units need recharging
- The device needs time to heat up
Edibles
Edibles are a popular choice because they offer complete discretion.
There are lots of medicated foods out there from ice cream to chocolate bars, so there’s sure to be something to suit you.
The advantages of this method is that:
- The relief is long-lasting
- Ideal for people who don’t want to inhale
- Tasty treat
On the downside:
- Takes a while for the effects to be felt, around two hours
- Dosage may be hard to work out
- Could be dangerous around pets and children
Sublingual Sprays And Tinctures
These are made by mixing extracted cannabinoids with an MCT oil, glycerin, or alcohol solution.
These products are then applied under the tongue where they are absorbed through the mouth’s thin tissues.
The benefits of this method include:
- Won’t hurt the lungs
- Controlling the dose is easy
- Mild tasting
On the downside:
- It’s expensive if you need a high dose
- It works faster than an edible but not as rapidly as inhaling
Topicals
Topicals are tinctures that are applied to the skin. They have no psychoactive effects.
They include lotions, sprays, ointments, and salves and are good for use on arthritis, muscle pain, swelling, joint pain, chapped skin, tendonitis, and eczema.
They are very easy to apply to the skin by just rubbing them in.
On the upside:
- Topicals won’t make you high
- They’re great for pain and skin problems
- The pain relief is localized
On the downside:
- They won’t treat all conditions
Dabbing
Dabbing involves inhaling the vapor produced by heating up marijuana concentrates.
You can do this with a nail and a butane torch or by using a modern eNail device.
The upsides of this method include:
- Fast relief
- Powerful relief
- Economical
On the downside
- There is a steep learning curve
- Effects may be too powerful for beginners
- Not a portable method
As you can see, there are pros and cons to each method of cannabis consumption for medicinal purposes.
What’s trending now is that there are hotels and other accommodations in the US that allow you to smoke cannabis in the rooms like the 420 friendly cabins in Colorado. So if you’re a smoker, traveling in Colorado is now less of a hassle.
At the end of the day, it’s all about what works well for you, so try a few different options to find out which you think works best to give you the relief that you seek.
