Methods of Cannabis Use

Smoking CannabisHistorically, the most traditional form of ingestion is smoking the dried flowers or leaves of the Cannabis plant. Hash and kief are also ingested this way. Cannabis can be smoked through a pipe, rolled into a joint (or cigarette), or smoked using a water pipe (bong). For most patients, the effects of smoking dried Cannabis are felt almost immediately, but soon begin to diminish. Depending on the individual patient, and the cannabinoid content and potency of the strain, effects wear off almost completely within 90 minutes to 4 hours. Regularly smoking any plant material can have a negative impact and Harborside Health Center recommends patients use vaporizers or edible forms of medicine whenever possible.Cannabis Flowers

Vaporizing CannabisA vaporizer is a device that is able to extract the therapeutic ingredients in the plant material, called cannabinoids, at a much lower temperature than required for burning. This allows patients to inhale the active ingredients as a vapor instead of smoke, and spares them the irritating effects of smoking and its toxic by products. Those patients who are used to smoking may not feel like they are “getting anything” at first because it does not “burn” the throat. It is advised to use caution and wait a few minutes to feel the full effects. Many patients say that half as much medicine will provide twice the effect when vaporized.Accessories

Edible CannabisCannabis can be infused into butter or oil that is then cooked in food. Edibles, as they are typically called, usually take longer to take effect than smoking or vaporizing, often 20 minutes to an hour or more. Doses can be difficult to judge, so it is recommended to eat only small portions of an edible at a time, and wait at least an hour to assess its effects so you do not over-medicate. Edibles will kick in significantly faster if eaten on an empty stomach, rather than after a meal. In general, the therapeutic effects from eating Cannabis last much longer than other consumption methods, often up to four hours or more, and then slowly begin to wear off. Many patients report that this method provides more of a relaxing body effect than the cerebral high that is often accompanied with vaporizing and smoking.Edibles

TopicalsTopical Cannabis medicines are applied directly to the skin or muscles. They include lotions, salves, balms, sprays, oils, and creams. Harborside patients report they are tremendously effective for skin conditions like psoriasis, joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, restless leg syndrome, some spasms, and everyday muscle stress and soreness. However, topicals are completely non-psychoactive—you could take a bath in them, and never get high. View the topicals offered by Harborside Health Center.

TincturesA tincture is a concentrated form of Cannabis in an alcohol solution. Tinctures are highly concentrated and require careful dosage levels, starting out small and waiting to feel the effects before adding more. They can be taken under the tongue or mixed into water or other beverages.Concentrates