How To: Consume Different Types of Marijuana Products

Cannabis is a booming industry with a long history and a ton of really great applications. Between smoking, vaping, edibles, and more, there are dozens of ways to get and consume marijuana products. No matter what kind of bud you smoke, delivery can make the effects much more intense, milder, or more practical in your day-to-day life. 

Whether you prefer to smoke, vape, eat or drink your way to elevation, the possibilities are almost endless for marijuana consumption. With legal and medicinal marijuana becoming more and more common, the methods users can employ are growing by the day. 

Here we’ve compiled a list of consumption methods, how to use them safely and correctly, and the effects, pros, and cons of each one! 

Types of Marijuana

There are so many different types of marijuana on the market and so many different ways to consume it. It isn’t as traditional as it once was. Now you have a whole slew of opportunities and choices when you are looking to partake in weed. Which one is right for you and how do you go about using it? That is a bit more complicated, especially since more choices mean more options. It’s not as overwhelming as it may seem though. Plus, deciding which route is right for you is a whole lot of fun.

The great thing about the modern world of marijuana is that your local dispensary will have access to all the different forms listed below. Keep in mind that some are strong than others. When you create a different form of marijuana, you often create a stronger level of THC than you are used to. That means that you will want to gradually enjoy each of these forms. Remember that different forms of weed will provide different highs and experiences. However, keep an open mind because there is a chance you will find your new favorite form of marijuana. 

Flower

While it is true that there are so many more choices when it comes to marijuana consumption today, there is still this time-tested, traditional, old-fashioned approach: flower. Also known as a bud or any other number of 60s-era nicknames, the flower has been popular for decades for good reason: it works and is easy to do. 

Even with all the new types of ways of enjoying marijuana, the flower is still the most popular. Why? Because it is simple to do and there are many different ways to partake in flower. You can smoke a joint, a blunt, a bong, or any other sort of rig that can get you high. But there is more to flower than that. Modern dispensaries provide products such as prerolls: tight, hand-made joints that are crafted by a weed business or employee. This takes all the hard work out of smoking flowers. All you need to do is light up a preroll, the rest is done for you. 

Of course, you can also use a vaporizer, bong, or any other sort of device that has been used for generations now. This means you will need to grind the flower, break it down and load it into the pipe or bong. But that isn’t that hard either. 

In fact, the only tricky part about using flowers is that you need to keep them in good condition. Like any plant, marijuana needs to stay in the right temperature and ideal conditions. If you don’t treat flowers with the utmost care, it isn’t going to last. You need to invest in airtight containers if you want to make this form of marijuana last.

Shatter

If you are looking to enjoy marijuana in its purest and strongest form, you might want to look into shatter. What is shatter? It is a cannabis concentrate created by using a combination of cannabis plants and solvents. Shatter looks unique and different, almost like shattered glass (hence the name), and can provide quite an experience for the user. 

Shatter has a high level of THC in it and that is something to keep in mind because it can be a lot for someone who isn’t very familiar with marijuana and its effects. The best course of action with shatter – and any type of marijuana you dab – is to start small and gradually progress and use more and more over time. Otherwise, your first experience with shatter won’t be a good one.

As mentioned, this brittle form of marijuana is usually best enjoyed by those who like dabbing. That means you will need a dab rig, similar to a bong but built with the strongest material that is capable of withstanding a strong flame. Dabbing enthusiasts will tell you that lighting your rig is a special talent and perfecting that will perfect the taste and flavor and experience of shatter. 

Ironically, heat can be the downfall of shatter. You only want this form of marijuana to get hot when you are actively consuming it. If it gets too hot at any other point, it is not going to work. Therefore, you need to keep shatter safe and sound in containers far away from any extreme heat. You will see that most dispensaries keep a careful eye on their shatter supply. If you keep it safe and cool, you will be able to really enjoy it when the time is right.

Wax

Although it doesn’t have the nicest, most attractive name, wax is one of the best ways to enjoy marijuana. You might not think you would like something referred to as wax, but one time with this form of weed will make you a true believer.

Wax is a potent cannabis concentrate that has been through a process that has crystallized and solidified its oil. It is called wax because, well, it looks like wax. Some forms of wax look hard and solid, almost like shatter, some forms are soft and gooey and often called “budder.” 

Wax is strong, strong stuff. The THC content of wax can range from 60% to 80% and can provide a powerful experience for the user. A little bit of wax definitely goes a long way and is usually recommended for the most experienced smoker. 

Wax is a form of marijuana that you use with your dab rig. But, unlike shatter, wax is easier to use because it doesn’t break apart into smaller shards. The wax stays consistent and in one piece, meaning that it is far easier to load up into your rig and enjoy. 

Others use wax via a vape pen. Pens are becoming increasingly popular lately because they can provide a powerful form of weed in a small package. The pen also gets incredibly warm when you use it, allowing you to take the pleasure of certain forms of marijuana that require high heat. Wax is one of those forms. Therefore, a vape pen is a great way to use wax. 

Live Resin

Most cannabis products are created from dried or cured plant material. That is a common way to create most of the marijuana products on the market. However, that isn’t what happens with live resin. Live resin is called “live” because it is created from a fresh plant that hasn’t been run through the drying or curing process. 

By creating live resin via this method, it is a strong, natural, powerful form of cannabis. Proponents of live resin claim that it is the more authentic way to enjoy marijuana and maintains its full personality, power, and essence. Live resin has a higher proportion of essential oils in it because it doesn’t go through the typical process that so many marijuana forms endure. With these essential oils, the live resin can provide users with different and distinct flavors and aromas. 

Live resin comes in all sorts of different forms, including wax, shatter, sap, sugar, or budder. So it looks like a lot of other different types of marijuana but it really isn’t. 

While live resin will give you a great high and a wonderful, strong experience, it is a bit trickier to store. You need to preserve the quality and potency of live resin but keeping it away from light, moisture, heat, and even open air. That means there are a lot of things to avoid when you want to keep live resin strong. It is best to keep it in an airtight durable container but your local smoke shop should be able to provide that for you. It’s worth it because live resin is a type of marijuana you will want to become quite familiar with. 

Kief

Kief is a great form of marijuana and one that is easy to get a hold of. Why? Because kief is a byproduct of marijuana. If you have weed, you will have kief. It is all about how to collect and use it correctly.

Essentially, kief is just accumulated resin glands. What is that? It is small, sprinkle-like pieces of discarded marijuana. It contains all the qualities and potent terpenes of marijuana because it is marijuana. It’s just the stuff that gets lost and shredded when you are using a grinder.

A grinder is an important part of preparing and using marijuana. When you have one, you will get an excess piece of marijuana in the bottom of the grinder. Most people think of this as trash and discard it. However, that is kief and it is a powerful form of marijuana that should be enjoyed by users. You can sprinkle kief on a bowl of marijuana, joints, blunts, hookah, or even use it in foods that you are baking. Some people use kief to create cannabutter. Others create something called moon rocks or use them in their tea or coffee. The great thing about kief is that it is easy to get your hands on if you have a grinder and it is able to be used in a wide variety of things.

So when you use a grinder, make sure you don’t throw away the kief. There are so many ways you can employ that for future use. Kief should never be tossed in the trash. 

Edibles

Edibles are some of the most self-explanatory but lesser-used means of consumption. Most edible snack items are made with an infused material like butter or margarine, and there’s a bit of a process to complete to produce that effect. 

Edible marijuana is bud to ah has been baked until fragrant, steeped in melted butter or warm oil, and then strained to remove the plant debris. This removes the chemicals from the marijuana and deposits it into the medium that holds it. 

A lot of edible snacks are things like gummy and harder candies, pastries and confections, infused beverages, and other snacks. The possibilities for edibles are only limited by the infusion method used, so anything that uses butter can be made with infused butter and be marijuana edible with the same effects. 

A drawback of edibles is that they can be difficult to dose and keep track of. Some folks might not feel effects for up to 15-30 minutes after eating, leading them to eat more and get way too high. After a while, a frequent consumer will start to learn the signs, but the learning curve can be a bit of a challenge. 

Topicals

Topical marijuana treatments can be found in almost every drugstore across the globe. CBD oil and THC-infused balms can make big differences in a day-to-day user’s life. Oils, salves, bath bombs, lotions, and more are all ways of using marijuana topically. 

One drawback to this method is that not all of them will give you the same high effect. THC is among the most potent chemicals to give that high effect, and topical treatments are meant for muscle pain management and soreness.

Conclusion 

All in all, there are dozens of ways marijuana can be consumed and used. From smoking to oils, the possibilities of marijuana use are growing by the day. It’s important to do your research before you partake and to prioritize your safety and the safety of others before consuming marijuana and marijuana products. 

Keep your equipment clean and your bud safe by choosing the method right for you and your group, and as always ensure that your marijuana use is not overdone.