Marijuana highs in flowers, edibles and other

Every journey is unique… but here are some differences between high-flower marijuana, edibles, and other

More and more people are leaning towards cannabis and rejecting alcohol. The marijuana of the 60s and 70s has given way to the marijuana of the 2020s. More and more people are comfortable with its use and a majority believe it should be legal. But many are still trying to figure out how to use it. There are differences between marijuana highs from flower, edibles and others (dabs, concentrates, hash).

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Getting high for fun is a very personal experience and can vary from person to person. There are a few similarities you can be sure of, and the “type” and duration of the high with different methods is one of them. Convenience and portability have become a factor in the way people consume. Vapes and gummies have become a major choice as they are portable and have little to no odor, making them discreet in public. Medical marijuana has also become even more mainstream, with dispensaries advising on consumption methods that will provide the best benefit.

The strain will affect the high whether it's smoked, vaped, or ingested through a food or drink. Try to know the strain before consuming so you know what to expect. Sativas produce a more active, creative high that can cause anxiety in high doses and in rare cases. Indicas make you sleepier, can trigger cravings, relieve pain, and in high doses cause couch lock.

The traditional method of ingesting cannabis is smoking flower. Rolling the plant, stuffing a pipe, filling a bong, or vaporizing has always been the original hit. Cannabis smoke or vapor delivers THC, the chemical that gets you high, to your lungs, where it goes straight into your bloodstream and then to your brain. It's an easy way to control your high, as you can monitor how much you ingest, how long you hold it for, and how many hits you take in a row.

Edibles, including the popular gummy bears, can take up to 90 minutes to fully kick in, and sometimes it feels like time stands still while you wait for the effects to kick in. Edible Cannabis travels first to the stomach and then to the liver before entering the bloodstream and brain. This can lead the uninitiated or overly bold to consume more. The high from edibles is intense and lasts for several hours, sometimes up to 6-8 hours. Edibles consumed in larger doses can also cause mild hallucinations and paranoia. Eat half if you haven't built up a tolerance yet, and wait about an hour before increasing the dose if you feel you should.

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Concentrates and dabs are for experienced users. They produce some of the strongest highs. You'll know almost immediately whether or not you should increase your concentrate dosage. Dabs, in particular, go straight to the head. Concentrates are more potent than regular cannabis. Dabbing can get you high instantly. It bypasses the slow buildup that usually comes with smoking joints. The potency of dabs and their high THC concentration mean they also have much stronger side effects and are potentially far more dangerous than regular weed.

Vaping concentrate with a pen is a much smoother way to ingest the smoke. Even though you're taking in less THC per hit, you have more control over how high you get and how quickly you reach that headspace.