Nowadays, you can find cannabis in almost a dozen different forms. From pills and transdermal patches to tinctures and topical creams, there’s a wide range of products available for both recreational and medicinal purposes (and chances are your favorite Boulder dispensary has them all).
Despite the many options, though, inhaling smoke and ingesting edibles remain the most popular. No matter what happens in cannabis culture, these two methods are here to stay because each offers unique benefits. If you’re torn between the two, here’s what you should know so you can choose the best one for your particular needs.
Inhaling Smoke
Smoking cannabis delivers THC into your lungs. Short for tetrahydrocannabinol, THC is responsible for most of the psychological effects associated with cannabis, like euphoria. This is because it stimulates the release of dopamine.
After entering your lungs, the THC makes its way into your bloodstream and then heads to your brain. As such, you’ll typically notice the strain’s effects within a few minutes of inhaling. While the impact can last for up to six hours, it usually peaks within 30 minutes.
Because the effects of smoking come on almost immediately and last for only a short while, it’s ideal for when you want to feel euphoric fairly soon—or to relieve pain and anxiety promptly—but you don’t necessarily need it to last all day.
Ingesting Edibles
Edibles are foods that have been infused with marijuana. Ingesting them delivers the THC into your stomach. Later, as it passes through your liver, it’s converted into a more potent form of tetrahydrocannabinol. This process takes some time, so the effects aren’t typically noticeable for anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours of ingesting. The impact can last for up to 12 hours, and the peak typically occurs within four hours.
Like smoking cannabis, ingesting edibles has mind-altering effects. Since they take a while to come on, though, and then take even longer to dissipate, these effects should be considered carefully before you partake. Edibles are ideal for people who want the impact to last all day (or night) but don’t necessarily need immediate relief. They’re also great for those who don’t want to skip the act of smoking and the lingering aroma that comes with it.
Is Smoking Cannabis or Ingesting Edibles Right for Me?
If you’re still wondering whether you should smoke cannabis or ingest edibles, head to a recreational dispensary in Boulder and chat with the budtenders. After discussing the kinds of effects you want to feel—and when you want to feel them—they’ll give you their recommendations from among the products they offer. Just make sure to follow their advice later, when you actually use the products. It’s especially easy to overindulge when it comes to edibles. Because the effects take so long to kick in, people often take more before their first dose hits them.
Whether you want to try smoking cannabis or ingesting edibles, come on down to Magnolia Road. The best dispensary in Boulder, we’re open 365 days a year. Staffed by friendly budtenders who can help you find the perfect products for your particular needs, we pride ourselves on our huge selection of only the highest quality strains, edibles, lotions, and salves. To get your order started, reach out on our website.
