Marijuana has come a long way from the olden days where you could only smoke it. Today we have vape pens, edibles, different strands and so much more. These different options have introduced a whole different demographic when it comes to weed. This article will show the differences between smoking weed and edible weed so that you can choose with knowledge.
What is the difference?
Smoking it requires rolling the weed in special paper and inhaling the smoke. Popularly known as smoking a joint. Edibles on the other hand means baking weed into food like cakes, cookies, capsules, chocolates and so on. You eat the food product baked with weed and once digested, you feel the effects.
How does it work?
Both methods have the same end result but work differently. Marijuana has a cannabinoid named THC. THC(delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is what connects with the brain to make you ‘high’. This THC is transmitted differently through smoking and edibles.
When smoking, the THC travels directly to your lungs then through the bloodstream into your brain. This means you will start to feel the effects almost immediately. 5-10 minutes after you smoke. After 2-3 hours the effects will start tailing off unless you smoke another joint.
Edibles work a bit differently. When you ingest it, the THC travels to the stomach first for digestion then to the liver. Just like normal food. The delta 9 is then transformed into a much potent THC called 11-hydroxy-THC and then to the brain. This means it will take about 2 hours to start feeling the effects but then they last for about 5-6 hours. Talk about being high.
Advantages of smoking vs edibles
Smoking
You can control the high. If it is too low you can smoke another joint, too high and you can lay it off for a while.
Fun because you can smoke with a bunch of friends and pass it around. The banter adds to the fun (puff puff pass)
Time-saving. You can smoke one quickly and be on your way to do other activities.
Edibles
Long-lasting. The effects take longer to manifest but take even longer to end. 5-6 hours of pure ‘high’
Private in that nobody needs to know that the cake you baked has weed in it. Consume it as normal.
All-round cleaner because you don’t have to deal with rolling paper and smoke. Eat you cake and await the fun.
How to choose?
Choose the method that is more effective for you. If you are chilling with your friends, smoke and pass it around. If you need to work in a few hours, smoke so the effects will come and go quicker and you are ready to go.
Choose edibles on a lazy day, in your free time or if you don’t like smoke. Some prefer to mix the two depending on the day.
These two options give us a plethora of ways in which we can get that ‘high’. Choose wisely. Remember that the quality counts. First get that quality bud and then choose your method.