One of the greatest things about medical marijuana is its versatility and the different ways you can easily incorporate it into your daily life. It doesn’t matter if you want to smoke medical marijuana, vape medical marijuana, eat it, or drink it. The number of different delivery methods continues to rise as innovation sweeps across the cannabis industry.
Latest estimates put the number of people using medical marijuana in Florida at well over 500,000 people. That’s a lot of people who are going to be using medical marijuana this summer.
In the following article, we’re going to take a closer look at five of the most popular ways that people worldwide are using medical marijuana this summer and the pros and cons of different medical marijuana delivery methods.
First, we need to explain how marijuana and other cannabinoids interact with your Endocannabinoid System (ECS) to better understand how different delivery methods affect your condition.
What Is The Endocannabinoid System, and How Does It Work?
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a complicated signaling system found in the body. Regardless of whether or not you have ever tried cannabis, you still have an ECS. The ECS is made up of a series of receptors (CB1 and CB2) that are spread throughout the body and linked together.
It’s the way that these receptors are linked together and spread out which enables different medical marijuana delivery methods to be effective. The ECS was first discovered in the early 1990s and is believed to regulate bodily functions such as sleep, mood, memory, reproduction, and appetite.
Our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids, but when our ECS is functioning correctly, phytocannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can perform similar roles.
5 Ways To Use Medical Marijuana and The Pros and Cons
1. Smoking Medical Marijuana
Smoking marijuana is one of the traditional ways many people use marijuana. You have various options, including rolling it in joints or papers, pipes, and water pipes or bongs. Smoke containing cannabinoids enters the lungs, where the cannabinoids are absorbed into the bloodstream via the thin tissues of the lungs.
There are several advantages to smoking marijuana, including the rapid onset of effects and also the price. The effects of smoking marijuana will be felt within about 15 minutes. Smoking marijuana through a pipe or joint is also one of the cheapest ways to use medical marijuana because it doesn’t require a large investment in equipment.
However, smoking marijuana is also one of the unhealthiest ways to consume medical marijuana. While there may not be as many carcinogens as smoking a cigarette, there is still combustion, and you are still inhaling some carcinogens in marijuana smoke.
2. Vaping Medical Marijuana
While vaping marijuana hasn’t been around as long as smoking, it’s rapidly becoming one of the most popular and widely used methods for using dried medical marijuana. In addition, it’s one of the popular smokeless ways to use marijuana.
Vaping involves heating medical marijuana to the point where the cannabinoids and terpenes turn into vapor but below the point of combustion. Like smoking, cannabinoids and terpenes enter the bloodstream via the thin tissues in the lungs.
The advantage of vaping marijuana is the rapid onset of the effects, usually within about 15 minutes, avoiding many of the carcinogens from smoking marijuana, and getting more from your medical marijuana because you aren’t losing any due to combustion. Many people that vape marijuana believe that it is also a more flavorful way to experience everything that medical marijuana has to offer.
The disadvantage of vaping is the cost. However, every day we’re seeing more and more affordable dry herb vaporizers entering the market.
3. Medical Marijuana Edibles
Marijuana edibles are an easy and effective way to use medical marijuana this summer. When you consume marijuana edibles, the cannabinoids first get broken down by the digestive system before being distributed through the bloodstream.
The benefits of marijuana edibles are that they require no additional equipment or experience, and you can consume as little or as much as you like. Always take it low and slow with edibles until you fully understand your tolerances.
The disadvantage of edibles is that their effects can be unpredictable, and it can take between 30-60 minutes for the full effects to be felt.
4. Medical Marijuana Tinctures or Oils
Oils and tinctures were among the first medical marijuana products released and still extremely popular due to their ease of use. Like edibles, cannabinoids enter the body via the digestive system before being broken down and distributed via the bloodstream.
The advantage of tinctures and oils is that they are extremely easy to use and also discreet. Once you have the correct dosage, you can take your oils or tinctures quickly and easily.
The disadvantage to any tinctures and oils is the efficiency. As much as 50% of the cannabinoids could be lost as they are broken down by the digestive system. In addition, it has one of the lowest bioavailability scores of any of the delivery methods. Another disadvantage is taste and texture. Not all cannabis oils and tinctures taste the greatest, with the terpene flavor and cannabinoid flavor quite off-putting to some clients.
5. Dabbing Medical Marijuana
Dabbing is one of the newest ways to consume medical marijuana and involves heating cannabis concentrates to extreme temperatures and then inhaling these concentrates.
The advantages and disadvantages of dabbing are the extreme strength. Cannabis concentrates are extremely potent, and dabbing isn’t recommended for novice users. Also, dabbing equipment can be quite expensive. However, if you have been using medical marijuana for a while and are looking for a potent dose of medical marijuana, then cannabis concentrates could be perfect for you.
Schedule Your Risk-Free Medical Marijuana Evaluation Today
Hopefully, now you have some great ideas on different ways to use medical marijuana this summer. If you have a qualifying condition and are looking to get your Medical Marijuana Card, we encourage you to book a 100% risk-free evaluation with one of our compassionate board-certified Marijuana Doctors.
At MarijuanaDoctor.com we have helped over 50,000 patients with over 2,500 5-star reviews. With over 22+ Marijuana Doctor offices in Florida and patient care available 6-days a week, we pride ourselves on providing the most compassionate, convenient, and affordable care for you. Schedule your appointment now at www.marijuanadoctor.com or call Marijuana Doctor at 844-442-0362. If a patient does not qualify for a Florida medical marijuana card, the patient doesn’t pay for the evaluation.
