Now that cannabis is becoming widespread, more people are trying it for the first time. However, for the uninitiated, smoking weed can seem a bit daunting. Fortunately, edibles are pretty widely available, so people have options when they want to get high.
That said, what’s the difference between smoking and consuming cannabis? Is there a noticeable shift between the effects? Let’s dive in and find out.
How Cannabis Enters the Bloodstream
If you’re somewhat familiar with marijuana, you know that THC is the primary ingredient that delivers a high. However, depending on how you take your cannabis, the THC has to go through different pathways.
When smoking, THC enters the bloodstream directly through the lungs. Since your lungs have billions of capillaries, you can get high pretty quickly. One or two hits from a joint, and you should be feeling the effects.
With edibles, THC has to be digested before it can enter your bloodstream. However, while your liver is designed to filter out toxins, it actually makes the THC stronger and more potent. On average, it takes between 30 minutes and two hours to feel the effects of edibles, depending on your metabolism.
Duration of Your High
Because the THC is so much more potent with edibles, the high feeling lasts much longer. Typically, you’ll feel the peak effects of smoking after about 30 minutes. With an edible, it can take up to four hours before you’re feeling something.
On average, you’ll start to return to normal about six hours after smoking a joint or doing a bong hit. With edibles, you can stay high for up to 12 hours. In both cases, though, lingering effects can be felt for up to 24 hours.
Side Effects
Smoking weed has the unfortunate side effect of damaging lung tissue. Even breathing vapor from a weed bong can harm your lungs since the steam is hot and may be tainted with other ingredients. Remember, your lungs are designed to absorb oxygen and nitrogen from the air, so if there’s anything else, it can collect as residue.
Edibles don’t have the same effect on the lungs because they go through your digestive system. However, cannabis oil and butter are the most common forms of edible ingredients. So, you might have to worry about calories and a higher fat intake.
Another danger of consuming cannabis is that you might take more than you expect because it takes so long for the effects to hit. So, you might eat a lot before you feel anything and then get a super potent high a few hours later. As a rule, you should take a little bit and see how long it takes to feel it. Then, you can take a little more as you want.
Get Your Cannabis From Foothill Wellness
Whether you want to smoke or ingest your weed, you need high-quality cannabis plants. We offer a wide selection of strains and options to suit your needs. Contact us today to place your order!
