As a society, we are far removed from the ages of simplistic smoking. Thanks to stoner ingenuity over the years (also some science, I guess), the cannabis industry now has a plethora of ways of consuming the plant. Here are a few ways of getting high and how they compare to one another.
Smoke (Traditional) High
First on the list is the traditional high associated with cannabis. Humankind has been ingesting cannabis a la smoke for millennia. This high can last anywhere from 1 to 6 hours after the THC attaches itself to the body’s Endocannabinoid System. The masses still favorite the delivery method of smoking cannabis for its nostalgia and long-lasting effects.
Vape High
Next on the list of different highs associated with cannabis is the vaping high. Vaping is currently the most inconsistent way of consuming cannabis. Vaping utilizes a battery pack, atomizer, and cartridge to obtain the desired effects associated with the vaping high. When vaping, the high can be relatively similar to smoking cannabis. Vaping high can last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. These carts are sending cannabis consumers to the hospital due to the cutting agents. Due to the number of counterfeit cartridges plaguing the cannabis industry, be sure to always purchase vaping cartridges from a licensed dispensary where a Budtender can inform you on the ins and outs of the cartridges as well as the vaping high.
Edible High
The second-most famous way of acquiring the effects of cannabis and cannabinoids are Edibles. Consuming edibles has been a way of getting medicated for as long as mankind has smoked them. People are getting the effects of THC and CBD chocolates, pies, cakes, sodas, and even full five-course meals. Edibles can be purchased at a dispensary or made at home with ease. Cannabis consumers will tell you that edibles are bittersweet (pun intended.) This is because it takes longer to obtain an edible high versus smoking. This is due to the edibles being broken down and digested. This is the only way the cannabinoids can effectively interact with our endocannabinoid system or ECS. This means that obtaining the edible high will take as long as it takes to effectively digest a typical brownie, pie, smoothie, meal, etc. However, the high associated with consuming edibles are extremely more intense than its smoking counterpart. This is why cannabis consumers are stoned after ingesting just a single square piece of that 15 pieces THC-infused chocolate bar. This is due to the decarboxylation process when the edibles are made. This will convert the THC into THCA, which in turn will boost the effects of the infused food or beverage. If intense cannabinoid effects are desired, one should consider the edible high.
Sublingual High
This delivery method of getting medicated is only new to recreational cannabis consumers. Medicinal cannabis consumers have how to obtain the sublingual high for quite some time. With this method, ingestible strips are placed under the tongue, hence the term ‘sublingual,’ to achieve the desired effects. These dissolvable strips contain decarboxylated cannabinoids such as THCA. Like the smoking high, obtaining the sublingual high happens almost immediately thanks to the strip’s dissolvable nature. Sublingual is often used by those who suffer from medical conditions and prefer not to indulge in the previously prescribed opioids. Although the sublingual high is not that popular amongst the masses, it is pretty effective for those who need to produce the desired effects quickly.
Suppository (‘Reverse’) High
Lastly, there is the choice of utilizing suppositories to get high. Not everyone can ingest cannabis orally. For these patients, they have the option of using a suppository. Suppositories are medications or devices that utilize the membrane located in the rectum. Scientifically, the high associated with suppositories is quite similar to sublingual. By utilizing a membrane to absorb cannabinoids, patients are able to receive the effects of cannabinoids anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.