From traditional joints to high-tech vaporizers, there’s a plethora of ways to consume cannabis. In this article, we breakdown the most popular options.
As marijuana legalization spreads across the United States, consumers have an increasing number of options for how to use the plant. Some methods have been around for generations, while others are the result of newer technology and shifting preferences. Below are the most common and popular ways people consume marijuana today, based on data provided to us by our readers.
Joints
One of, if not the most iconic method, joints are hand-rolled marijuana cigarettes made with rolling paper. Easy to use and portable, joints remain a go-to for both beginners and seasoned consumers.
Blunts
Blunts are similar to joints but are rolled using tobacco-based cigar or blunt wraps. They tend to be larger and burn slower, and the added nicotine provides a different kind of buzz.
Bongs
Bongs are water pipes that filter smoke through water, cooling it before inhalation. This method delivers a strong, fast-acting high and is a staple among more experienced consumers.
Hand Pipes
Compact and convenient, hand pipes—also known simply as bowls—allow users to pack and smoke marijuana with minimal setup. They’re one of the most discreet and widely used smoking tools.
Vaporizers
Vaporizers heat marijuana to a temperature that releases cannabinoids as vapor without combustion. They’re favored for being less harsh on the lungs and often come in portable and desktop varieties.
Dab Rigs
Dab rigs are specialized water pipes designed for vaporizing marijuana concentrates like wax, shatter, or live resin. They produce a potent effect and are typically used by more advanced consumers.
Edibles
Edibles are marijuana-infused food or drink items that are consumed orally. The effects take longer to kick in—typically 30 minutes to 2 hours—but can be longer lasting and more intense.
Tinctures
Tinctures are liquid cannabis extracts that are taken sublingually (under the tongue) or added to food or drink. They offer a smokeless option with precise dosing and a quicker onset than edibles.
Topicals
Topicals are marijuana-infused creams, balms, and lotions applied directly to the skin. While they won’t cause a high, they are popular for localized relief of pain, inflammation, or skin conditions.
Capsules
Cannabis capsules or softgels contain precise doses of THC, CBD, or a combination of both. They’re favored for their ease of use, discreteness, and consistency.
Gravity Bongs
Gravity bongs use water and pressure to pull smoke into a chamber before being inhaled. This method delivers a very concentrated hit and is often used by consumers seeking a powerful experience.
One-Hitters
One-hitters are small, cigarette-shaped pipes that deliver a single inhalation of marijuana. They’re perfect for microdosing and discreet consumption on the go.
Vape Cartridges
Prefilled with cannabis oil, vape cartridges attach to a battery and deliver vapor with the push of a button. They’re easy to use, portable, and available in a wide range of strains and potencies.
Marijuana Beverages
An increasingly popular category, marijuana-infused drinks range from sodas to teas and seltzers. They offer an alternative to smoking or vaping, with effects similar to edibles but often with a quicker onset time.
Moon Rocks
Moon rocks are potent cannabis products made by coating marijuana buds with concentrate oil and rolling them in kief. They’re typically smoked in a pipe or bong and are known for delivering an intense high.
Infused Pre-Rolls
These are joints or blunts that contain not only marijuana flower but also added concentrates like wax or kief. They pack more potency than standard pre-rolls and are becoming increasingly common at dispensaries.
Spliffs
A spliff is similar to a joint but includes a mixture of marijuana and tobacco. Common in Europe, spliffs provide a combination of effects from both substances.
Transdermal Patches
Transdermal patches are applied directly to the skin and deliver cannabinoids steadily into the bloodstream over time. They’re favored for their discretion, long-lasting effects, and medical potential.
Cannabis Nasal Sprays
This delivery method allows cannabinoids to be absorbed through nasal membranes, offering fast onset and precise dosing, often used in medical contexts.
Hot Knives
An old-school method that involves heating two metal knives on a stove and pressing a small amount of concentrate between them to create smoke, which is then inhaled through a funnel or bottle. It’s a DIY technique used before dab rigs became common.
Suppositories
Though less common, marijuana suppositories are used rectally or vaginally to deliver cannabinoids quickly to the bloodstream. They’re typically used for medical purposes and provide localized or systemic relief.
Cannabis Bath Bombs
While not intoxicating, bath bombs infused with cannabinoids are absorbed through the skin and may provide relaxing, localized relief when used during a soak.
Inhalers
Cannabis inhalers are similar in form to asthma inhalers and offer a metered dose of marijuana in vapor form. They’re discreet, fast-acting, and increasingly used in medical marijuana markets.
Marijuana Lozenges
These hard candies dissolve slowly in the mouth, releasing cannabinoids through sublingual absorption. They’re popular for their ease of use and portability.
