Don’t you like smoking? Here are 8 more ways you can enjoy cannabis

Cannabis has been consumed in different parts of the world for millennia for its health benefits. Modern science and medicine have rediscovered its effectiveness in treating inflammation and chronic pain, and have found new ways to use the plant.

One of the most common methods of extracting the active chemical compounds from cannabis, CBD and THC, is smoking. The legalization of marijuana for medical (and in some cases even for recreational use) in multiple jurisdictions has led to an increase in cannabis users.

Unfortunately, many people are reluctant to smoke it mainly due to the stereotypes ingrained in their minds of cannabis users. Others, like people with respiratory problems, cannot consume cannabis by smoking.

Smoking also carries risks for people in good health, including respiratory, head and neck cancer, and long-term lung diseases like bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD.

What if you still want to get all of the benefits of cannabis without all of the risks? Believe it or not, there are many other ways cannabis can be consumed. Check out 8 of these below.

1. Edibles

Of all the possibilities, this is probably the most fun. Remember, cannabis can be added to almost any recipe. Stews, soups, wines, snacks like nachos, even baked goods like cookies, cakes and brownies. If you want to consume cannabis in your favorite chocolate chip or brownie recipe, there are a few things you need to know first.

First, if you add raw cannabis to your batter, you won’t be releasing enough CBD or THC to have any beneficial effects. The raw cannabis needs to be decarboxylated. Decarboxylation is the chemical process by which CBD and THC are released. You can heat or cure your raw cannabis to start the decarboxylation process. After that, you can add your decarboxylated cannabis to butter.

It is recommended that you use cannabis-infused butter in your baked goods. You can easily make this butter by hand or with a cannabutter machine, as the manual process can be time consuming. After that, you can add this to any of your cannabis-baked good recipes that call for butter.

If you’re not a fan of home cooking, you’ll be surprised by the list of prepackaged cannabis goods available either in brick and mortar stores or online.

When cannabis is eaten, it takes longer to get into the system. Once there, the effect is felt more strongly than when it is absorbed through the lungs and lasts much longer.

2. Vaping

Aside from edibles, vaping is probably the second most popular way to consume cannabis. This involves combining CBD and / or THC with a carrier oil in a small machine called a vaper.

The oil is heated until it turns into steam. This vapor is then inhaled into the lungs. The thin membranes of the lungs ensure that the effects of CBD and / or THC quickly enter the bloodstream and can be felt almost immediately.

This is a good method for people struggling with chronic or severe pain and needing quick relief.

3. Dab

This is similar to vaping, but it is less common and potentially more dangerous.

Dabs are highly concentrated forms of CBD and THC, usually in wax. This wax is heated with a nail. Once heated, it is inhaled using a device called a dab rig. The main advantage of this form of consumption is that the cannabis user can feel the effects of the active cannabis compounds almost immediately.

4. Pills, capsules and tablets

These are possibly the easiest forms of cannabis to consume. They come in several formulations. You have pills, capsules, and tablets that contain only CBD or THC or combine both.

These forms of cannabis are usually digested in the same way as edibles and can be long-lasting and strong depending on the dosage.

5. Cannabis powder

The technology behind powdered cannabis is still being perfected, but it borrows from the process used to make powdered alcohol. Something called cyclodextrin is combined with THC. Cyclodextrin and THC combine to form a highly concentrated powder that dissolves easily in water.

The powder has a number of uses, including adding to juices, teas, and other beverages, as well as being used in recipes that require cannabis.

Since most powdered cannabis is made from THC, users can be confident that they are experiencing the plant’s psychoactive properties.

6. Tinctures

Tinctures, on the other hand, consist mainly of the other active ingredient CBD from cannabis. The CBD is combined with alcohol and water to be effective. Tinctures are placed under the tongue a few drops at a time.

People who cannot consume alcohol can use tinctures made from glycerin or vinegar. The CBD for tinctures is usually extracted from hemp.

7. Transdermal patches

Transdermal patches have a technology similar to that used in other patches, such as nicotine and contraceptive patches. Like these patches, cannabis transdermal patches can contain CBD, THC, or a mixture of both.

The patch also contains other active ingredients that help the cannabis compounds get through the skin and be absorbed into the bloodstream, making them more effective. Cannabis transdermal patches are good for those who have problems with the other methods of cannabis ingestion listed above.

8. Topics

Cannabis compounds aren’t just good for chronic pain. They’re also great for treating inflammatory conditions, especially CBD. Because of this, it has been used in the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, which are believed to be fueled by inflammatory reactions in the body.

Topical treatments such as creams, balms, and ointments generally tend to work on the surface layers of the skin and reduce the itching and discomfort associated with these skin conditions. Topicals have also been shown to be effective in reducing joint pain associated with arthritis.

These aren’t the only topical agents that cannabis compounds are added to. Because of the anti-aging properties of cannabis, manufacturers have added it to cosmetic and beauty products.

So you don’t have to smoke to get the benefits of cannabis. These are 8 ways you can take advantage of the anti-inflammatory and pain relieving effects of cannabis.