Ask a Vail, Colorado Budtender: What’s the Best Cannabis Consumption Method for Me?

Pro: An affordable and accessible consumption method, pipes widely available and simple to use.

Con: Because they’re often made of glass, pipes can break easily, making them a poor choice for on the go consumption.

Pro: Much easier than rolling your own joints, pre-rolls are increasingly popular for their variety and ease of use.

Con: Because someone else rolled it for you, pre-rolls are difficult to customize.

Pro: Bigger hits means more psychoactive impact, so you can enjoy a one and done smoking experience.

Con: Hits can be too strong for new cannabis users and may feel overwhelming.

Pro: Blunts burn slowly, offer a nice draw, and make for a more premium smoking experience.

Con: Blunt rolling papers may contain tobacco.

Pro: Create a premium vaping experience with a higher level of control.

Con: Because they’re reusable, vaporizers often come at a higher cost.

Pro: Affordable and easy to enjoy on the go, vape pens offer a discrete experience.

Con: If you’re eco-friendly, the waste vape pens create will likely be a concern.

There are a number of dabbing products to choose from, including cannabis extracts, resin, shatter, wax, budder, and crumble. While they can be differentiated by texture and flavor, they share similar pros and cons:

Pro: Dabs offer a super concentrated, high-impact experience.

Con: The equipment needed for dabbing can be challenging for beginners to master.

When we say edibles, we’re describing a growing category of products way beyond your college roommate’s lumpy brownies! The edibles on the market today include chocolates, gummies, baked goods, drinks, capsules, tablets, hard candy, and dissolvables. Here are the major pros and cons of edible consumption:

Pro: Edible consumption is a safer option for people with health conditions who are uncomfortable with inhalation. Get the benefits of cannabis while enjoying a tasty treat! What could be better? 

Con: The effects of edibles can take some time to kick in, so if you’re the impatient type it’s easy to overdo it. Plus, many edibles are fairly high in sugar.

The perfect consumption method for people who don’t want the sugar edibles often contain, this type of product can be applied under the tongue sublingually, so your body absorbs the active ingredients without digestion. Here’s what you need to know about sublingual consumption:

• Tinctures

This category includes both sublingual products and unflavored tinctures you can drop into your favorite drink, including a glass of water. Tinctures are an easy way to get cannabis into your bloodstream with no fuss.

Pro: Simple to use and easy to measure, tinctures provide an effective dose of relief when you need it most.

Con: While some people love the effortless nature of tinctures, the medicinal feel can feel less fun than more hands-on consumption methods.

Pro: Soothing and often incorporating botanicals, cannabis balms are profoundly relaxing.

Con: For some people, the sticky texture of balm before it soaks into the skin can be an issue, especially if you’re not a balm fan in general.

Pro: Perfect for massages and dry brushing, topical cannabis oils provide a spa day experience.

Con: Oils are fun, but they can get messy too! Make sure you allow them to soak completely into the skin, or you’ll have to deal with the clean up.

Pro: A cannabis lotion is a great way to effortlessly incorporate cannabis into your shower routine.

Con: Like balms, the texture of lotion can be an issue. If you don’t like lotion in general, adding cannabis won’t help.

Pro: Transdermals are a great way to target relief where you need it.

Con: Because they’re so focused, transdermals don’t offer a whole body cannabis experience.

Pro: Excellent for self-care, cannabis bath products offer a truly indulgent experience.

Con: Don’t like the lengthy spa day experience? Soaking takes too much time to work for some people.