Smoking & vaping (inhalation)

Inhaled cannabis — whether smoked in a pipe, bong, or joint, or vaped through a cartridge or disposable — enters the bloodstream directly through the lungs. This is the fastest delivery method available, making it the easiest to control your intake because you can feel effects quickly and decide whether to take more.

Smoking involves combustion — burning the flower and inhaling the smoke. It's the most traditional method and preserves the full terpene profile of the flower, though some volatile compounds are destroyed by heat.

Vaping heats cannabis oil or flower to a temperature below combustion, producing vapor rather than smoke. Vapes tend to be more discreet (less odor), more portable, and feel smoother on the throat than smoke — which can lead people to inhale more than they intended. Start small.

• Onset: 2–10 minutes
• Peak: 30–60 minutes
• Duration: 1–3 hours

Best for: Consumers who want fast onset and a shorter, more controllable experience. Easier to titrate dose than edibles.

Dabbing (concentrates)

Dabbing is the process of vaporizing a small amount of cannabis concentrate — wax, live resin, rosin, shatter, badder, or similar — on a heated surface (called a "nail" or "banger") and inhaling the vapor through a dab rig. The onset is near-immediate and the potency is significantly higher than flower.

• Onset: Near-immediate (seconds)
• Peak: 15–30 minutes
• Duration: 1–3 hours
• THC content: Typically 60–90%

Best for: Experienced consumers with an established tolerance. The equipment (rig, torch, nail) requires setup and practice.

Not recommended for new cannabis consumers. If you're new, start with flower or a low-dose edible. See our Dosing Guide for guidance.

Edibles

Cannabis-infused food and beverages — gummies, chocolates, mints, drinks, and more — are digested and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. The liver converts THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, a more potent compound, which is why edibles often feel more intense and longer-lasting than inhalation even at the same mg dose.

• Onset: 30 minutes – 2 hours (varies by metabolism, food intake, individual)
• Peak: 2–3 hours after onset begins
• Duration: 4–8 hours (sometimes longer at higher doses)
• Dose: Measured in mg THC

The most important rule with edibles: Wait at least 2 hours before taking more. The most common cause of an uncomfortable cannabis experience is taking a second dose before the first has fully kicked in. See our Dosing Guide for detailed mg recommendations.

Best for: Consumers who prefer not to inhale; those wanting longer-lasting effects; people seeking precise mg dosing.

Tinctures

Tinctures are liquid cannabis extracts dispensed by a dropper, most often taken sublingually — held under the tongue for 60–90 seconds before swallowing. The sublingual mucosa absorbs cannabinoids directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and producing faster onset than edibles.

If swallowed directly (added to food or drink), tinctures behave more like edibles — slower onset, longer duration, and potentially stronger effects due to liver metabolism.

• Onset (sublingual): 15–45 minutes
• Onset (swallowed): 45 minutes – 2 hours
• Duration (sublingual): 2–4 hours
• Duration (swallowed): 4–8 hours

Best for: Consumers who want precise dosing without inhalation and faster onset than standard edibles. Popular among those using cannabis for specific wellness goals. Often favored by medical consumers.

Topicals

Topicals are cannabis-infused creams, balms, salves, oils, and patches applied directly to the skin. Standard topicals work locally — cannabinoids are absorbed at the site of application and interact with receptors in the skin, muscles, and nearby tissue without entering the bloodstream.

Because most topicals don't cross the blood barrier, they produce no psychoactive effects — you won't feel "high." Transdermal patches are an exception; they're formulated to deliver cannabinoids through the skin into systemic circulation and can produce intoxicating effects.

• Onset: 15–45 minutes at the application site
• Duration: 2–6 hours (varies by product)
• Psychoactive: No (except transdermal patches)

Best for: Consumers seeking localized relief without intoxication; those who want to avoid inhalation or ingestion entirely.