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Edibles vs Smoking: Is There a Difference?
Edibles vs smoking – is there really a difference?
There are many ways you can consume cannabis, from vaping to smoking to ingesting cannabis edibles, and all of them deliver various and substantially different effects.
We’ve all heard stories of overzealous cannabis enthusiasts overdosing themselves into a stupor, but is one consumption method really better than another? Will smoking a joint help you control your dose better or are edibles the way to go?
You are in luck! Today, we will be discussing two common ways of consuming cannabis: eating edibles and smoking. We will also outline the differences between these two methods of consumption and the benefits of each!
Smoking vs Edibles – An Overview
To understand the differences between these two consumption methods, you first need to know how they work and how your body processes them differently. While both these methods can make you high and deliver the desired effects, they still are, well, different!
So, why is understanding these differences important? Let’s find out by learning how these two methods work.
How Smoking Works
Smoking is one of the most popular ways of enjoying cannabis. It supplies almost instant effects and is a great way to get social with other people.
To smoke weed, tokers use various smoking devices such as bongs, pipes, or fresh cannabis flower to roll joints and blunts. That being said, you can also buy pre-made stuff if you don’t want to get your hands dirty or simply don’t know how to roll a joint.
How does the process of smoking weed work?
Once you inhale cannabis smoke, the active compounds found within cannabis, including THC, CBD and various terpenes, travel to your lungs where they are absorbed into your bloodstream and your endocannabinoid system.
Once the THC is distributed throughout your body by your ECS, you’ll start noticing the effects almost immediately – sometimes in a matter of minutes or even seconds.
This is a great benefit for those who want to feel the effects fast and hard. For example, people with chronic pain or similar medical conditions who need relief fast benefit significantly from this consumption method.
What’s also great about smoking cannabis is that users can stop smoking once they have had enough. In addition, the effects of smoking cannabis tend to fade after around 30 to 60 minutes, making this method appealing to those who don’t want to be intoxicated for the whole day.
How Cannabis Edibles Work vs Smoking
Contrary to smoking weed, edibles can’t be smoked or vaped, which is also the main reason why people use edibles.
When you smoke marijuana, there’s no getting around the fact that you’re smoking something. If you’re concerned about lung irritation and potentially inhaling harmful toxins and carcinogens, then edibles might just be for you.
Eating an edible is as simple as going to a grocery store and buying a protein bar. All you have to do is select your edible of choice, choose a dose that works for you and enjoy!
They are also great when it comes to discretion. Since edibles look like your regular sweets, capsules or beverages, they can be enjoyed in public whenever you want. They don’t produce a strong smell and definitely won’t leave a plume of smoke.
Now, to the process!
When eating cannabis edibles, edible marijuana travels to the stomach and then the liver. Now, we want to bring your attention to the liver because this is where all the magic happens.
When THC gets to the liver, it metabolizes it into 11-hydroxy-THC, which is more potent than the compound’s original form. 11-hydroxy-THC is also the reason why edibles supply stronger effects than smoking weed.
That being said, given that your liver needs to metabolize THC, it also takes longer for cannabis compounds to reach the bloodstream and your brain. On average, the edible high lasts longer than when you smoke cannabis. It can take up to two hours to affect and last from 4 to 6 hours.
Check out our guide, “How long do edibles last?” for more information on how edibles are absorbed and how our bodies metabolize and absorb THC.
Edibles vs Smoking – Which Method of Consumption is Better?
Both smoking cannabis and eating an edible have their own unique benefits, which make them more appealing to a specific person. However, if we need to decide the best one of the two, we would choose edibles. Here’s why:
Ingestion
If you are looking for a safer way to enjoy your cannabis, edibles are your go-to option. They don’t require combustion, are healthier on your lungs and can be administered wherever you want. This also leads to our second point.
Discreetness
Cannabis edibles are one of the most discreet ways to use cannabis.
For example, our Sugar Jack’s gummies look like your regular sweet candies. Made with flavourless THC distillate and fun flavours, our gummies don’t produce a strong smell and can be enjoyed in public.
On top of that, you will know exactly how much THC you are consuming and won’t need to gauge your marijuana intake.
Stronger Effects
While smoking weed requires you to toke more and more in order to get where you want to be, edibles supply the desired effects right away.
So, if you want your cannabis experience to be stronger and last longer, cannabis edibles are a great option.
Edibles vs Smoking – Now You Know the Difference
Both smoking cannabis and eating edibles are great options to medicate, unwind and reap the benefits of marijuana.
As we have learned, users absorb THC through their lungs to their bloodstream and later to their brain by smoking weed. This consumption method delivers instant effects and is great for those who are looking for quick relief.
On the other hand, cannabis edibles are ingested and directed through the digestive system, which takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours to supply the effects that can last up to six hours. In addition, cannabis edibles are discreet, healthier and easier to use than smoking weed.
If you decide to give edibles a try, check out Sugar Jack’s massive selection of edibles on our vendor’s website. We offer various THC-packed gummies made with Manuka honey and cane sugar, sweet cookies and CBD sweets for those who want to medicate with cannabis without psychoactive effects.
Enjoy!