In recent years, many states have legalized medicinal (and, in 19 states, recreational) use of cannabis. At the same time, laws restricting smoking have increased and there is becoming a greater awareness of the many negative health effects of smoking.

Smoking is still the most popular way to use cannabis, however, an increasing number of cannabis users are looking for other options that are healthier. But just what are the alternatives to smoking cannabis? This post compares five of them.

Vaping

Vaping is less harmful to the respiratory system than smoking due to the lack of heat and the lack of carbon monoxide. It does still cause lung damage, but the risk of damage isn’t quite as high as when you’re smoking a joint or blunt. 

You’ll find a huge range of different cannabis e-liquids on the market including all kinds of strains. Many people find the high to be more potent when vaping, so you should be careful with e-liquids containing a lot of THC. CBD e-liquids are available for those that want the stress-relieving and pain-relieving properties, but not the high.

Edibles

Cannabis can be mixed into various foods, which are known as edibles. You can make your own edibles (check out a range of recipes here at Autostraddle.com or buy pre-made edibles. Edible products include everything from cakes to gummy sweets.

Ingesting cannabis is much healthier for the body than smoking – there are little to no physical health risks. The problem with edibles is that they can take hours to take effect, so you need to be patient. Too many people assume that they’ve had no effect and then end up consuming more edibles, only for the high to kick in. Edibles are known for producing a long and potent high – those who don’t have a high tolerance should be careful as to how much they consume.

Tablets

You can also take cannabis in tablet form. Standard tablets that you swallow can take the same amount of time to take effect as edibles. Dissolvable tablets are meanwhile able to be absorbed directly into your mucus glands and can have a much faster effect.

There are few to no health risks with tablets. They are less favored largely because they do not allow users to enjoy the taste. Some can be quite potent, so you need to do your research before buying cannabis tablets. CBD tablets are an option for those that don’t want the high.

Tinctures

A growing number of cannabis dispensaries such as Apothecariumpa.com sell cannabis in tincture form. This is essentially oil that you can consume orally in small amounts. Alternatively, you can add it to food.

Tinctures can provide more flavor than a tablet and can be incorporated into edibles in a more subtle way than raw leaves. The strength of tinctures can vary, so as with other methods you need to do your research. CBD tinctures are also popular. 

Topical creams

Cannabis is also available as a topical cream. This is typically applied to achy areas of the body such as joints or muscles where it is absorbed. Due to the presence of CBD, cannabis creams can be effective for some people at reducing inflammation and relieving pain. 

Topical creams cannot get you high. They are simply a form of pain relief. If you experience any kind of bodily pain, it could be worth trying these creams.