Smoking vs. Vaping: The Best Way to Consume Medical Marijuana
As medical marijuana becomes more popular, it is easier than ever for patients to get their medical marijuana cards. That lets you see for yourself what the advantages of the cannabis plant are. There are also many ways to consume the plant today. But juices, edibles, lotions, and tinctures are still not as popular as vaping and smoking are.
When you think of using medical cannabis, you may still think about lighting a joint. However, that is not what many medical marijuana patients do. Some choose to vape instead. You might think that vaping can be better than smoking, but there is more to it than that. There isn’t one best way to take medical marijuana, and not everyone should choose only one method and use that forever.
If you are still thinking about which one you would like to try, consider these tips. When it comes to using medical cannabis, you should choose the way that works best for your personal needs, no matter what anyone else says.
Health
Some people believe that marijuana can produce toxins that can harm your lungs when you combust it. Plus, these toxins may also damage your skin cells, making your skin look older. It can increase the visible wrinkles and lines on it. On the other hand, vaping can keep your weed under the combustion point, meaning you will not create any of the toxins. Instead, you will be releasing the oils from the plant, and that can still give you the THC, CBD, and cannabinoids you are looking for.
Of course, both smoking and vaping need more research done on them, so take what you read with a grain of salt. But don’t be afraid to read up on the available studies, as they offer some interesting information.
Cannabinoid Content
Many people who have medical marijuana cards might not realise that there is a difference in what you are inhaling when you are choosing to vape or smoke. When you smoke a joint or use a bong, around 88 percent of what you inhale is just smoke and does not have any cannabinoids in it. The cannabinoids are the active part of the plant, and they are the best for smoking. It is the reason that you are choosing to smoke or vape in the first place.
But when you choose to vape your cannabis, about 95 percent of what you will be inhaling is cannabinoids. Since you are getting more cannabinoids with vaping, they will have more of an effect on your body. If you are concerned about getting the most bang for your buck and saving money, you might want to go with vaping since it can be more efficient.
Consider the Potency
If you want something extremely potent, you may want to go with smoking. A vaporizer can give you more cannabinoids, but often, the effects will not last as long as if you choose to smoke them. That means you might have to vape more often to get the same effects as with smoking.
Discreetness
If you have to use your cannabis when you are out and about, you may not wish to announce to the world what you are doing. Luckily, using a vape pen is a fairly discreet method of taking cannabis. Using a vape pen will give you more discreetness when it comes to exactly what you are vaping. Someone might think it is just a tobacco vaping pen. That way, you don’t have to worry about backlash from others when you are consuming your cannabis.
One reason it is more discreet is that it does not have as strong of a smell. That way, you will not have to worry about having cannabis smoke on your breath, hair, or clothing. You do not necessarily want to have to change your clothes, take a shower, and brush your teeth every time you finish using your medical marijuana. That is especially true if you have important events coming up.
Even if you are just sitting at home, you may prefer to vape. The smell might not be as likely to get into the curtains and other furnishings. Often, smoking can leave an extremely stale smell that can be nearly impossible to completely eradicate, especially if you are doing it for a long period of time. Remember, though, that the smell from a dry herb vaporizer will still be there, no matter what people tell you. It is just a little more muted and does not linger for quite as long.
Level of Convenience
Some people find that vaping is a little easier than smoking a joint. All you have to do is press the button, and you will be ready to go. Of course, it is not always quite that simple. Many vape pens need to be plugged in for a few hours once their batteries die, and you will use a USB for this. If you are out and about and need some cannabis right now, this is not always an ideal situation. A vaporizer also needs to be cleaned regularly, so you do not get a bad taste in the vapor.
Lighting a joint does not have as many challenges when it comes to using it. Rolling a joint or loading your bowl can be done no matter where you are, as long as you have good tools. You also can count on how you will feel after doing it. On the other hand, if your vape pen has a weaker battery, you might not get a very strong hit when you need it the most.
Closing Thoughts
Choosing the best method of using cannabis for you is important. It is usually best to go with your gut feeling. Your body often knows the best method, and it will often respond to one or the other better, many times without an obvious reason. Experimenting is the best way to find out which one works for you.
