Edibles vs Smoking: What’s The Healthier Way to Get Your Buzz On?

IMG: https://unsplash.com/photos/b2haCjfk_cM

Edibles versus smoking is one of those classic cannabis debates. Which is the healthier method of cannabis consumption, and how can we know for sure?

The research into the health effects of edibles as well as smoking cannabis is still very new. However, there are some important things that we already know about these two different ways of enjoying THC.

Knowing the health benefits, and the health risks, of different ways of enjoying weed is an important first step for people getting into cannabis.

Edibles

IMG: https://unsplash.com/photos/wQHkAn4cVCw

Let’s start off with edibles.

Edibles are made by creating an extract of cannabis flower that contains THC, other cannabinoids, and even terpenes to add flavor. Edibles can come in the form of classic pot brownies or more modern concoctions like sodas and the popular edible gummy.

The Benefits of Edibles

One of the biggest benefits of THC Edibles is that they do not involve inhaling anything into your lungs.

Edibles simply have no risk of damaging your lungs. This is especially important for individuals with conditions like asthma or emphysema who are looking to enjoy medical or recreational Cannabis, but want to take the strain off of their lungs.

It’s often easier to control your dosing with edibles. Most edibles have a clearly labeled dose allowing you to know exactly how much THC you’re getting. It’s a bit more of a guessing game when it comes to cannabis flower.

Edible Risks

Many people consider edibles to be the healthy alternative to smoking, but they do come with a few unique risks.

Edibles can take somewhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in. They also have a stronger potency than smokable cannabis. The effect of edibles can also last several hours longer than smoked weed.

These factors combine to create a unique risk for taking too many edibles. It’s very important to pace yourself when using edibles.

Edibles also contain a wide range of additional ingredients like sugars, flavoring agents, and even potential allergens like nuts. Individuals with food sensitivities need to be extra cautious around Edibles especially when the ingredients are clearly labeled.

Smoking Cannabis

IMG: https://unsplash.com/photos/KdC5agsz6ik

There’s a lot of knowledge and culture around smoking cannabis. You can find guides on how to hit a dab, or advice for how to keep your weed fresh. Smoking is also the earliest method of cannabis use, dating back thousands of years ago, so there’s more information on its effects.

Types of Smokable Cannabis

There are countless ways to smoke cannabis. You have a wide range of options from the classic joint to the modern electronic vape.

Here’s a quick rundown of a few of the common ways to smoke weed.

• Cannabis flower in bongs, joints, or blunts
• Dabs like budder, shatter, or other concentrates
• THC vapes
• Vaped cannabis flower

Each of these has a unique profile when it comes to their potential risks.

Benefits of Smoking Weed

It might surprise you, but they’re actually some health benefits to smoking weed.

Smoking weed has a very quick hit. This means you’ll experience the effects of cannabis in typically less than 15 minutes after you take a toke.

This quick onset of effects is very beneficial for individuals looking for the medicinal benefit of weed. It can also help you better pace yourself. You’ll know the effects of the weed you’re smoking right away as compared to the uncertain wait time of edibles.

The effects of smokable weed also dissipate quicker than with edibles. If you experience a side effect like anxiety, you can rest assured that it will dissipate in a few hours when smoking weed.

Cannabis flower also comes with other cannabinoids and terpenes. These include popular cannabinoids like CBD. These cannabinoids are currently being researched to study their own medicinal benefits.

Cannabis Flower Risks

There are some risks that come with smoking cannabis flower. It’s important to note that researchers are still looking into these risks and the science isn’t quite clear yet.

Smoking cannabis flower does agitate the lungs. This can be especially risky for individuals with conditions like asthma. If you’re looking to avoid any potential airway irritation, it might be better to try edibles than smoking weed.

There might also be long-term risks for people who smoke a lot of cannabis flower. The research on this is very inconclusive, but there is the potential for long-term health impacts for people who smoke a lot of cannabis flower.

Vape Risks

Vapes and other concentrates like dabs are the least well-studied of the ways of enjoying cannabis.

We do know that vapes can agitate the lungs in ways that are very similar to smoking flower, but we know even less about their long-term health impact.

One vape risk that we do know about comes with counterfeit vapes.

These are often made with low-quality ingredients that pose a greater health risk than the real deal. Always make sure you’re buying your vapes from a reputable store to avoid the risk of accidentally getting a counterfeit vape.

Edibles vs Smoking: What You Should Know

At the end of the day, every way of enjoying cannabis comes with its own risks. These risks exist for medical users as well as recreational users.

You need to look at the pros and cons of each different way of enjoying cannabis and make an informed decision. Overall, the risks of cannabis are very mild.

Did any of the facts in today’s article surprise you? Let us know in the comments and make sure to check out our other blogs about cannabis flower, edibles, and vapes.