Smoking is the first method people think of when they hear a word ‘marijuana.’ For the last decades, smoking has become a popular way to consume cannabis and ‘get high.’ Nowadays, smoking marijuana itself raises health concerns, so it gets gradually replaced by ‘safer’ methods.
Smoking is the inhalation of smoke that produced by combustion or heating the cannabis’ flowers, leaves, or extracts. The heat releases THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) that is the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana. It gets absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs, and come right into the brain. Smoking became so popular because of fast and predictable effects it delivers.
Marijuana can be smoked in different forms: joints, blunts, bowls, or bongs.
To become psychoactive, THC needs to undergo a process known as decarboxylation. In the raw marijuana, THC is present in the form of THCA, an acid with the attached carboxylic group. Only when this group is removed, THC becomes active. Smoking induces the release of THC while the hot air is drawn through the joint or pipe to the unburned material.
The amount of THC that comes to the body through smoking can differ. Some researchers estimate that 20-37% of THC directly consumed in a joint. Pyrolitic destruction takes 23-30% of THC, and 40-50% goes to a sidestream smoke. This research does not take in account CBD and terpenes.
The average joint contains around 700 milligrams of cannabis flower. So, 20% level of THC means that 140 mg of THC is directly consumed through a joint. If we apply numbers above to this average amount, we'll see that around 28-52 mg goes of THC goes right into your lungs.
The short and frequent puffs are more efficient than longer and deeper draws. They deliver more cannabinoids to the body and make you high much faster. It happens because short inhalations ensure that joint is burning, and decarboxylation keeps going with THC regularly releasing.
The most efficient way to smoke marijuana is vaporizing. We covered it in the separate article, but here are the facts: it is healthier (you do not get tar), it delivers more cannabinoids to your body, and it may last longer than usual joint. Bongs are less efficient, and there is a question if they deliver all the cannabinoids a consumer may desire.
Some studies show that self-titration plays a role in consuming marijuana. Titration means dosing, and self-titration refers to the adaptation of smoking behavior for getting desired levels of THC through a chosen delivery method. It is proven for nicotine intake and, as well, fair regarding marijuana consumption.
There are many ways of smoking cannabis. Each of them has its benefits and risks. Let’s see how you can roll.
A joint is a cigarette simply filled with cannabis. Some consumers in Europe prefer to make spliffs, which means a mix of tobacco (or other herbs) and marijuana. A joint can contain hashish that needs to be heated and crumbled before rolled into paper. Nowadays, consumers use specially manufactured rolling paper, but recycled brown paper and even newspapers are still used among avid smokers in the developing world. An average joint consists of 250-750 mg of cannabis and fillers.
Blunt is a cigar filled with cannabis. It is a marijuana rolled into tobacco leaf. It works like a joint, but it is thicker and long-lasting.
A pipe is a special device designed to smoke cannabis. It comes in a variety of shapes and materials (glass, metal, ceramic, wood, etc.) Pipes are often called bowls or pieces. There are different types of pipes: one-hitters, chillums, corn cob pipes, or standard hand pipes. They consist of a bowl where one put marijuana, a tube (or stem), and mouthpiece, through which air is drawn and to keep content in the bowl burning.
A bong is a device similar to a pipe. The only difference is a chamber for water through which smoke passes before inhalation. Also, it is furnished with a wide mouthpiece to facilitate inhalation. Different modifications of bongs exist, such as a gravity bong or waterfall bong. They have similar components but improved ways to heat and deliver smoke to a consumer.
Users fill the bong with water. Some patients add ice to cool the smoke and make it more comfortable to inhale. Also, it increases an amount of consumed cannabis eliminating the heat from combustion. After smoking, the bowl and stem are disassembled allowing air to circulate and clear the smoke chamber. The bongs decrease an amount of harmful substances that are usually consumed through joints or pipes.
Bubblers are in between of a bong and a pipe. They consist of a chamber for water and stem, directly connected to the bowl.
Dabbing is a relatively new way to consume marijuana. It utilizes concentrates (e.g. BHO, butane hash oil) that are heated with a help of special torch for producing smoke. To ensure safe smoking, consumers use ice to decrease the temperature of smoke.
Patients need to remember about solvents that are used in the production of BHO. Butane burns hot and fast, releasing a big amount of gas that can cause headaches and irritation of mucous membranes.
Results are coming almost immediately, compared to other ways to use marijuana. It takes about 10 minutes to feel the effects. Depends on the strains you choose, you can feel body-high or head-high. Released THC hit the lungs and with blood come to the brain where they affect neurons and cause psychoactive and relaxing effects.
Results are coming almost immediately, compared to other ways to use marijuana. It takes about 10 minutes to feel the effects. Depends on the strains you choose, you can feel body-high or head-high. Released THC hit the lungs and with blood come to the brain where they affect neurons and cause psychoactive and relaxing effects.