Introduction

The cannabis industry is quickly gaining momentum across the United States, with the Supreme Court actively working towards federal legalization, 26 states legalized for medicinal use, 18 states for recreational purposes, and several more close behind. Dispensaries and online supply stores are popping up all over the place and despite marijuana’s popularity being on the rise, there’s still quite a stigma when it comes to reeking of pot smoke in a lot of social settings. 

Considering the medicinal benefits in combination with the desire to be discrete in many situations, the different ways to consume marijuana are evolving, and a lot of them don’t actually involve burning or inhaling anything. For non-smokers with sensitive lungs, breathing issues such as asthma, or chronic lung diseases like emphysema or carcinoma, who would choose to medicate with cannabis as long as it didn’t put smoke in their lungs – the expanding number of no-smoke cannabis options is great news!

INGESTIBLE CANNABIS

Edibles

By definition, cannabis edibles are suitable for eating. At the current moment, edibles are the most popular way of consuming cannabis, second to smoking, and that may simply be due to the sheer number of options. From chocolates, fudge, and brownies to rice krispies treats, lollipops, and gummies – the list of cannabis-containing consumables grows every day with the imaginations of marijuana enthusiasts. 

It’s not just classic pot-brownies anymore, however, and the possibilities are quite literally endless. This is because typically, infusing food with THC/CBD is done by using cannabis-infused butter, oil, or honey. Prior to the preparation of the edible, marijuana flower can be cooked into the butter or oil that a recipe typically calls for. Whether it’s used to saute shrimp, dolloped on top of a juicy steak or vegetable side, or baked into a more traditional sweet treat, “cannabutter” can be added to almost any dish.

It should be mentioned that with this method of cannabis consumption, the effects tend to have a delayed start, a stronger intensity, and a longer duration. It can take several hours for an edible to kick in, so consumers are advised to wait an adequate amount of time to experience the effects of the dosage before eating more. Consuming too much in too little time can leave you feeling like you bit off more than you could chew. 

Tinctures/Oils

A tincture is another form of ingestible cannabis and is similar to an “edible” because it’s an infused oil that is usually administered sublingually, or under the tongue. The process uses alcohol to extract cannabinoids from the marijuana flower to create concentrated tinctures or oils that can be taken orally for fast results.

Tinctures can be added to food as well but will act like edibles in that instance and will take longer to have an effect and to wear off. Blood vessels under the tongue quickly absorb the medicinal chemical compounds, allowing for a quick, discrete way of consuming cannabis that skips digestion time. An especially convenient option for non-smokers and low-dosers, tinctures and cannabis oils are easy to gauge and manage proper dosages while avoiding the burn that smoke inhalation can cause. 

Pills/Capsules

Easy to add to a daily vitamin pill routine, encapsulated cannabis is another no-smoke method of consumption that also allows for easy dosage regulation. No smell, no sugar, no devices, no heat. Just a pill, containing either finely ground up marijuana bud or a cannabis-infused oil. 

Tea/Juice

Seeping cannabis into a tea or coffee will not give a consumer as strong of an effect as many of the other means of consumption, but is popular among low-dosers who tend to be more strict when it comes to their diet. As listed before, a lot of edible options involve high amounts of sugar or carbohydrates, but when seeped, strained, and/or juiced into some health-savvy beverages, a non-smoker can also bypass some of the caloric intake. For an active cannabis consumer, a caffeinated beverage with the extra perks of cannabis’ medicinal properties, may be just what they need to get through their busy day. 

APPLICABLE CANNABIS

Topicals

Topicals such as lotions, massage oils, and balms are an option for non-smokers seeking localized cannabis relief. Cannabis-infused topicals can be massaged into the skin for aches and pains, applied for daily hydration and relief for tired feet, or rolled onto the lips to avoid chapping. This form of cannabis will not have an effect on the brain, therefore, should not be considered as a means to get a marijuana buzz. This method is really only beneficial for centralized medicinal concerns.

Patches

Utilizing the same concept as nicotine patches, cannabis-infused patches aim to give the consumer an extended means of administration that is discrete, with no smell or smoke. This method is not very popular at this point in time but as more states finalize legalization, the demand for this easy application may increase. 

SUMMARY

The days of a stereotypical smoked-out room filled with glazed-over eyes are behind us, as the medicinal benefits of cannabis are becoming more understood and commonplace. Concepts like microdosing for medicinal usage of cannabis products allow the consumer to maintain a “normal” day-to-day life while reaping the numerous benefits they offer. As ingestible and applicable forms for cannabis are becoming more and more readily available, the options for cannabis consumption for non-smokers are increasing, too.