How to Consume Cannabis: Inhale, Ingest, or Apply? Here’s What Works Best
How to Consume Cannabis: Top 6 Popular Ways To Get The Maximum Weed Benefits
Learning how to consume cannabis can help you get the maximum value out of the products.
Understanding the methods of consuming cannabis is crucial for anyone new to weed or looking to explore it mindfully.
With so many different products at cannabis stores and more coming out now and then, new consumers may find themselves overwhelmed. Cannabis is now more than just rolling a joint or popping a brownie into the mouth and chewing it.
Today, there are over seven methods of consuming cannabis, each with its tips and tricks for getting the most benefits.
Wondering how can cannabis be consumed safely? You are in the right place.
In this article, we discuss how to consume cannabis like a pro. We present all the main methods of consuming cannabis, outlining their pros and cons and how they stack up against each other.
Read on.
The Top Methods of Consuming Cannabis in Canada
There are many different ways of consuming cannabis, some of course more popular than others. Ingesting edibles, for example, is considered the healthiest way to consume cannabis because it is smoke-free and doesn’t involve inhaling.
However, for most people who buy weed online in Canada, smoking is what comes to mind when we think of how to consume cannabis.
Research information shows that while other methods are becoming more common, smoking remains the most popular.
Data from Health Canada on cannabis consumption trends shows that over 69% of weed consumers smoked in the year 2023/24.
This is, however, a decrease from 89% in 2018, showing more consumers are shunning smoking and switching to other methods of cannabis consumption.
The next most popular way to consume weed was ingestion. Over 57% of consumers ate or drank weed in 2023/24, an increase from 43% in 2018. Vaping also increased from 33% in 2018 to 37% in 2024.
So, how can cannabis be consumed safely? And why is ingesting considered the healthiest way to consume cannabis?
The cannabis consumption trends at our online weed dispensary also reflect the data from Health Canada.
We see that more consumers who order weed online are switching from smoking to edibles, presumably because it’s smoke-free.
However, the cannabis concentrates section is also growing as more consumers seek more intense highs and benefits.
Consumers at our online dispensary in Canada are also utilizing sublingual applications for faster onset of effects.
Before you buy weeds online at a cannabis dispensary, it’s important to note that there is no ‘best’ way to consume weed as it mostly comes down to personal preference.
In this article, we present all the popular ways to consume cannabis, with their effects and onset times, to help you find the best option for your lifestyle.
How to Consume Cannabis Like a Pro: The Top 6 Methods Explained
So, you have gotten the weed you ordered at an online marijuana dispensary. How do you consume it effectively to get the most value out of the product and the cannabinoids it contains?
Here are the top methods of consuming cannabis explained:
1. Smoking Cannabis
Onset time: Immediate
Duration of Effects: 2 to 4 hours
If you buy Canadian weed online, you may have noticed that most of the products at cannabis stores are smokables. This is because smoking is the most popular way to consume weed.
It is also the most classic method. There are four ways to smoke weed: you can either use a joint, spliff or a blunt, or you can smoke weed through a bong or bowl.
If you are like most Canadians, you probably started your cannabis journey with a joint. But before we get into the differences between joints, blunts and spliffs, let’s first discuss what smoking weed entails.
Smoking involves lighting dry and cured cannabis flower and inhaling the smoke via a joint, blunt, pipe or bong. The effects of smoking are immediate. By the time you pass the joints, the high will have started.
Now, on how to consume cannabis through smoking, the most popular way is through a joint. A joint is a slender marijuana cigarette rolled in rolling papers.
While rolling a joint may require some getting used to, it is the most preferred method.
You can also use a blunt to smoke weed. A blunt is a roll of cannabis that, instead of rolling papers, is made out of thick cigar papers or a tobacco leaf.
The tobacco leaf delivers some nicotine, which adds an energizing heady effect to the cannabis high. A spliff, on the other hand, is a mixture of cannabis and tobacco made with rolling papers.
Spliffs are more popular among tobacco smokers as they offer a more intense nicotine hit. The other ways to smoke weed are via glass pipes, bongs and bowls.
These have a bowl where you pack ground flower and apply heat directly as you inhale from the mouthpiece.
Pros of Smoking Weed
- It’s easy to do
- Relatively cheap
- Produces immediate effects
Cons of Smoking
- Cannabis smoke, while less harmful than tobacco smoke, still contains byproducts and compounds that may harm your respiratory health.
- It is banned or frowned upon in many areas
2. Ingesting: The Healthiest Way to Consume Cannabis
Onset: 30 min to 2 hours
Duration: 4 to 6 hours, residual effects up to 12 hours
Consuming edibles is one of the most popular methods of consuming cannabis.
It involves consuming weed-infused food items such as gummies, brownies, chocolates, candy, or beverages such as teas, coffees and sodas.
People new to medical weed wondering how can cannabis be consumed safely are often directed to try out ingestion.
Ingestion is considered the healthiest way to use weed because it doesn’t produce smoke or impact your respiratory system.
That being said, you should only buy weed online at a reputable cannabis dispensary if you want an enjoyable edibles experience.
Weed shops that cut corners may sell you poor-quality edibles or contaminated products, which, at the very least, may cause stomach discomfort or even food poisoning.
There are many ways to ingest weed. Most people ask how to consume cannabis gummies because they are the most popular at the moment, but you can also take brownies, cakes, cookies, hard candies and beverages.
Learning how to consume cannabis gummies is crucial as it has two onsets: one when chewing the gummies and one after digestion.
Ingesting has a slower onset because the cannabis has to go through digestion. The THC is absorbed in the stomach lining and intestines and subjected to metabolism in the liver.
This process is known as the first-pass effect, which further delays the effects. But once they kick in, the high is more potent than other methods of consuming cannabis and also lasts longer.
Due to the delayed onset, we recommend starting with a low dose when learning how to consume cannabis gummies and waiting for two hours before taking more.
Pros of Ingesting
- The effects last longer
- Stronger effects than smoking
- The most straightforward way to consume weed
- Smokeless, and therefore, healthier
Cons of Ingesting
- Delayed onset of effects
- Easy to overconsume
3. Vaping: How to Consume Cannabis Distillates
Onset: Immediate
Duration: 2 to 4 hours
Wondering how to consume cannabis vapes? Vaping is now one of the most popular methods of consuming cannabis, right after smoking and ingesting edibles.
Vaping involves heating a cannabis concentrate and vaporizing it without combustion. You inhale the vapour into your lungs.
Are you a fan of inhaling weed but don’t want to smoke? Learning how to consume cannabis through vaping allows you to experience the immediate onset of smoking without the harmful compounds found in cannabis smoke.
If you are wondering how to consume cannabis distillates, vaping is the best option.
However, we recommend ordering vapes and vape refills at a reputable cannabis Canada dispensary to avoid poor-quality vapes that may hurt your lungs.
Some cutting agents, such as propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, vitamin E, and PEG, are harmful to the lungs. Ensure you carefully examine the products you choose when you buy weed online in Canada at any other cannabis dispensary.
Order weed online at a reputable cannabis store to avoid low-quality vapes and vape refills.
So, what are the benefits and drawbacks of learning how to consume cannabis distillate through vaping?
Pros of Vaping
- Smokeless, so considered healthier than smoking
- Immediate effects
- Devices offer more control over the experience
- Better flavour
Cons of Vaping
- Not allowed in some settings
- Products with select cutting agents may harm your respiratory health
4. Sublingual Application
Onset: 15 to 45 minutes
Duration: 4 to 6 hours
Sublingual application involves taking a cannabis extract, such as an oil or a decarboxylated concentrate, by applying it under the tongue and holding it there for some time.
The THC and cannabinoids are absorbed directly into the bloodstream via the dense network of blood capillaries under the tongue.
If the oil is swallowed, there may be a second onset when the remaining THC is absorbed during the digestion process. But can you learn how to consume cannabis concentrates sublingually?
Cannabinoids can be absorbed sublingually, but they must be in their active form.
Most concentrates at an online dispensary in Canada are not decarboxylated and, therefore, can’t be consumed sublingually.
Pros of Sublingual Consumption
- Easy to consume
- Relatively faster onset of effects
- Effects last longer
Cons of Sublingual Application
- It can only be used with decarboxylated extracts
5. Dabbing: How to Consume Cannabis Concentrates
Onset: Immediate
Duration: 2 to 4 hours
Dabbing is flash vaporizing a small amount of cannabis concentrates on a hot surface and inhaling the vapour. Wondering how to consume cannabis concentrates? This is the fastest way.
Dabbing methods of consuming cannabis require a dab rig or a dab pen. To dab, heat the dab rig nail until it’s red hot and wait for twice as long as you have heated it.
Using a dab tool, drop the concentrate onto the nail as you inhale from the mouthpiece. This method produces extremely potent effects and is best left for experienced consumers.
Pros of Dabbing
- Extremely potent effects
- The effects start instantly
Cons of dabbing
- Steep learning curve
- The hot nail and blow torch may cause injuries if not careful
6. Topicals
Onset: 10 to 45 minutes
Duration: Varies by product
Topicals are cannabis-infused products that are applied directly to the skin to provide localized relief and other benefits of cannabinoids. They include products such as balms, salves, and lotions.
Topical products are non-intoxicating, even if they contain THC, as the ingredients don’t often make it to the bloodstream. However, they interact with receptors of the ECS in the skin to provide relief from pain and inflammation.
We offer a wide range of topical products at our online dispensary in Canada, formulated to provide maximum penetration and benefits.
Pros of Topicals
- Target localized symptoms better
- No intoxicating effects
Cons of Topicals
- They only offer localized relief
Ready to Explore the World of Cannabis?
Weed is a wonderful addition to your wellness and recreational routine, but only if you know how to consume cannabis effectively.
Whether you prefer a joint or a topical, cannabis is a versatile plant, and there is a method that fits your lifestyle.
Whatever methods of consuming cannabis you prefer, we recommend starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it.
Additionally, only order products from a reputable online weed dispensary to avoid receiving poor-quality items.
Browse our online cannabis store for premium marijuana products at the lowest prices.