At our north Portland marijuana dispensary, Greeley Gallery, we pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality cannabis products for our customers. From dried marijuana flowers to infused beverages and everything between, we know choosing between products can be intimidating for new users.

For instance, even though you’re technically consuming cannabis, whether you smoke or eat it, the way it affects you depends on the method you choose. So, this week, we’re going to talk about the pros and cons of edibles and smoking to help determine which is right for you.

Smoking Cannabis

The traditional, or old-school, way of consuming marijuana is to smoke it. There are plenty of methods to choose from, though some of the most popular are via a joint, a glass pipe, or a bong. (All of which you can find at Greeley Gallery.)

Pros:

• • Active compounds such as THC are absorbed into your bloodstream fast when you smoke cannabis, meaning you feel the psychoactive high within minutes of smoking.
  • Depending on your tolerance, the high you feel from smoking marijuana can last from 1 to 3 hours. However, it can last up to eight hours if your tolerance is low and consume multiple bowls or even an entire joint.

  • You have more control. There’s no reason to finish a joint if you don’t want to. Smoking allows you to take one or many puffs, depending on the result you’re hoping for.

Cons:

• • Smoking marijuana also means smoke potentially irritating eyes and leave a lingering smell if smoked indoors.
  • Although the smoke isn’t as harmful as cigarettes, any smoke still irritates our lungs. So, anyone who’s prone to illnesses such as bronchitis or asthma may want to consider an alternative method.
  •  The high you get from smoking cannabis may wear off before you want it to. Going for a hike while high can be downright amazing, but it could become annoying if it wears off too soon. Plus, be extra careful about embers starting fires if smoking in nature.

Edibles

Edibles made their way to the cannabis scene as marijuana has become increasingly legalized in the States over the last decades. Today the variety of edible options is wide and nearly endless — everything from fruity gummies to fizzy beverages. There’s an edible for every need. Greeley Gallery offers a great selection of edibles varying in strength and preferences. Please chat with our staff to find the perfect one for you.

Pros:

• • Edibles are delicious. The sheer variety to choose from offers an edible for every occasion. A decadent THC-infused chocolate bar tastes much better than a mouth full of smoke to some.
  • It’s discrete. Sometimes, we don’t want the people around us to know we consume marijuana. Perhaps they don’t approve, or we want to calm our nerves. Whatever the reason, edibles allow you to consume cannabis without announcing it to the world.

  • The high from edibles last longer. This might make it a better option for those long hikes mentioned before. Digesting cannabis gives a high that can last the entire day.

Cons:

• • Edibles can take up to two hours before you feel anything. Since edibles need to pass through your digestive system, it takes time before you feel its effects. Since it takes longer to kick in, and the high lasts hours longer than smoking, you might want to make sure you don’t have anything important planned.
  • It’s harder to dose with edibles because every batch is a little different. You can start small, but since it takes a couple of hours to feel the effects, it will be a while before you know if you took too little or too much.

  • It’s easy to consume too much and become overwhelmed by the resulting high, which lasts longer than smoking. Please read our previous post about 5 Ways to Combat a Bad Weed High if you consume too much.

Final Thoughts

There are pros and cons to everything in life, including when it comes to consuming marijuana. Choose the method that’s right for you, and of course, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask the knowledgeable staff at Greeley Gallery’s recreational marijuana dispensary.

One of the great things about weed is the vast options to choose from. Smoke it today, eat it tomorrow; you really can’t go wrong. We pride ourselves on providing only the very best cannabis products for our customers, and we look forward to seeing you soon.