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A Beginner’s Guide to Cannabis Consumption Methods

Cannabis consumption is the way that cannabis is absorbed by the body, whether this is through smoke or vapor inhalation, digestion, or topical absorption. As a beginner to the world of cannabis, you may be wondering where to start, what products to use, and what else you will need. There is no one right way to approach cannabis consumption. Whichever mode of consumption you choose is completely up to you and your unique situation. With the plentiful options of smoking, bongs and bubblers, dabs, edibles, or topicals, you will likely find the best option for you based on your personal preferences.

Cannabis for Delivery in San Jose

Canna Culture, Silicon Valley’s premier legal cannabis dispensary, is located in San Jose and has been open since 2010. Our trained and knowledgeable budtenders are ready to help you in your introduction to cannabis and provide meaningful recommendations based on your lifestyle, goals, and preferences. If you cannot make it to the store, we deliver to most of Silicon Valley and Santa Clara County. If you would like to place an order, or if you have any questions at all, you can call us at (408) 264-7877 or fill out our contact form.

At Canna Culture, we also have a VIP Rewards Program, where members of the program enjoy additional discounts, priority notifications, and special deals if they bring friends and family. If you would like to stay up to date on cannabis news, visit our news blog.

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About Cannabis Consumption

There are many different ways to consume cannabis. All methods are unique in the way that the work and the effects they will produce. Some methods are effective immediately, and others can take hours to develop. (1) Some have different concentrations of THC and CBD, which can also impact the qualities of the effects. Similarly, every client is different in how they will experience cannabis consumption, and you may want to try a few different methods if you are just starting out, in order to determine which works best for you and your needs. It may take some time to figure out which cannabis consumption method provides you with the best experience.

Smoking

Cannabis is commonly consumed by smoking, with the differing methods of flower or vape (concentrates). Cannabis flower can either be smoked in the form of a rolled joint, or the flower can be vaporized and breathed in with a vape device–a vape pen vaporizes cannabis flower or oil by using heat. Depending on your situation, our budtenders may recommend vaping for your introduction to cannabis because of its hassle-free nature and non-abrasive vapor. The effects are also immediate or occur after a few minutes, so smoking is a good introduction to the effects of cannabis and how it works for you. (2)

At Canna Culture, we have prerolls–singles or packs–that are ready to smoke. If you would like to roll your own joint, we also have a wide variety of flower at our store, as well as papers. It may also be helpful to get a roller to make things easier. As for vapes, we have many different cartridges to choose from that can be attached to the corresponding vape device.

Bongs and Bubblers

A bong, which is also known as a water pipe, may also be used to consume cannabis. The first step is to use a grinder to grind the cannabis flower down to a smaller size. Then, place this flower into the bowl-shaped part of the bong that is detachable from the front, packing it slightly. After lighting this flower, you will inhale the smoke through the tube section of the bong. As you inhale, you will notice that bubbles form in the water chamber of the bong. The smoke passes through the water, which filters out impurities and makes for a smoother, less irritating smoke inhalation experience. A bubbler is smaller and more compact, but it works in a very similar way involving water. At Canna Culture, we carry different types of bowl parts and additions.

Dabs

Dabs, or concentrates, use thicker cannabis substances–like wax or shatter–that have a higher THC concentration. (1) The main difference between a dab pen and a vape pen is that a dab pen vaporizes these thicker substances, while a vape pen vaporizes oil. (1) Also unlike vapes, dab pens do not use cartridges; instead, a coil inside the dab device heats the cannabis concentrate so that it becomes inhalable. Canna Culture carries a variety of different dab concentrates, or extracts, that can be used with almost any dab device. Because dab substances are more concentrated, the effects can be more pronounced and more immediate. The effects may peak within 30 minutes and the overall effects may last a total of 1-3 hours.

Edibles

Edibles can come in many different forms, and some beginners appreciate edibles for their simple nature. Edibles are also a great option for people who have asthma or other respiratory issues, as the consumption process does not involve inhalation. They can come in the form of gummies, tablets, mints, and chocolates. Edibles are not confined just to solid foods, either; You can try cannabis-infused teas, lemonade, or seltzers. Or, you can try enhancing your favorite recipes by incorporating cannabutter or infused honey. Tinctures, on the other hand, are a more concentrated liquid that you can drop underneath the tongue or swallow.

It is important to note that the absorption time for edibles will take much longer than other forms of cannabis consumption–clients may not start to feel the effects for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The full effects may not be felt until around the 4-6 hour mark, and overall effects can last for around 12 hours or longer. (2) Tinctures are one of the faster-acting forms of edibles.

Topicals

Cannabis topicals are used via external application, meaning you use this product on your skin instead of inhaling or eating it. Topical usage of cannabis may have different effects than other modes of consumption because of the way it is absorbed through the skin. At Canna Culture, we carry a topical face serum and a multi-purpose salve. Cannabis-infused salves strive to offer some relief to any painful areas on the body, while face serums provide moisturization and radiance.

How Will Cannabis Affect Me?

The benefits of cannabis use will most likely apply to everyone a little differently. The effects of cannabis may also vary depending on what method of consumption you choose, and what kind of cannabis is involved in the consumption. However, clients for cannabis often report feeling more relaxed, amongst other benefits. For people with a lack of appetite or certain types of pain, cannabis has also been reported to help relieve some aspects of these symptoms. (2)

If you are interested in trying cannabis for any reason, whether it’s to reduce stress, decompress, alleviate chronic pain, or stimulate an appetite, you are probably a good candidate for cannabis consumption. If you have any questions or concerns, our budtenders can help you address them. You must be at least 21 years old or older to purchase cannabis in California. Clients 18 and older are eligible if they have an official physician’s recommendation. You should not use cannabis if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. (2)

Come and Meet Our Budtenders!

At our San Jose location, our Canna Culture budtenders are here to help you figure out what method of cannabis consumption would be best for you if you are just starting out. They will listen intently to what you hope to get out of your experience and provide you with excellent recommendations. These recommendations will be highly personalized. Our team will work to tailor your cannabis experience to your unique needs!

Getting Ready

To prepare for first-time cannabis consumption, you should free up an afternoon or an extended amount of time. This is so you can enjoy your experience and will not have to drive anywhere. Driving after cannabis consumption is illegal. It is important to keep in mind the lengths of time different cannabis product effects may last. If you do end up having to go somewhere, you must have a person who did not consume cannabis be the designated driver. Our budtenders will most likely suggest you begin your cannabis consumption with small amounts, regardless of the mode of consumption. This will give you a good idea if you like this method, or if you would prefer to try a different one. Prepare to store your cannabis products in an area that cannot be reached or accessed by any animals or children.

Cannabis Delivery in San Jose

Our delivery radius is wide, offering residents of San Jose, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and beyond a top-notch service. Give us a call at (408)264-7877, or inquire using our contact form. VIP Rewards Members receive special discounts and alerts when sales or events are happening. You can sign up for the VIP Rewards Program on our website today.

  • Canna Culture delivery hours: 9 am – 9 pm
  • Free delivery in San Jose and Santa Clara County
  • Walk-ins and curbside pickup available!

References

  1. Meacham MC, Paul MJ, Ramo DE. Understanding emerging forms of cannabis use through an online cannabis community: An analysis of relative post volume and subjective highness ratings. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2018;188:364-369. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.03.041
  2. Turner AR, Agrawal S. Marijuana. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430801/