Getting Started: A Beginners Guide to Cannabis Products
For someone just starting out, getting into the cannabis space may feel a little intimidating. There’s a lot of different types of products that affect people in many different ways, all with different ways to consume them.
If you are looking to get into weed, and don’t know where to start, we’re here to help, with a comprehensive starter guide to the different types of cannabis products.
Flower
The first type of cannabis product that you’re probably going to encounter is Flower. Flower is one of the most basic forms of cannabis and requires the least amount of processing after it’s harvested.There are two main ways that people consume flower, either smoked in a rolled product (like a joint or blunt) or in a pipe/bong.
Smoking a joint is probably the most common way to consume cannabis, which involves grinding and rolling the flower into the joint, lighting and inhaling it, as one might do to a cigarette or cigar.
You could also smoke cannabis in a blunt, which is similar to a joint but is wrapped differently. Whereas a joint is typically wrapped in a rolling paper specially designed for cannabis, blunts are usually wrapped in a cigar wrapper, which contains tobacco. The tobacco content in a blunt affects the flavor, smell and even the high you get when smoking it.
People may also choose to smoke it out of a pipe or a bong. This involves placing the ground flower into the bowl of pipe or bong, igniting it and inhaling it through the mouth piece. Each apparatus works slightly differently, with a pipe allowing you to inhale the smoke directly, whereas a bong filters the smoke through water.
Concentrates
Another form of cannabis that you’re likely to come across is concentrates. Concentrate, as the name suggests is a concentrated, highly potent form of cannabis that isolates desirable compounds like THC and CBD.
You can find concentrates in many different forms but the main ones you will usually see are distillate, rosin and resin.
Distillate is one of the purest forms of cannabis concentrates available, with it usually containing over 90% cannabinoid content (typically THC). It’s also virtually tasteless and odorless, which makes it extremely versatile to use in many different products.
Rosin is made by applying heat and pressure to the flower, causing the cannabinoids and terpenes to ooze out. It’s also solventless, which makes it easy to produce at home.
Live resin is made from freshly harvested and flash-frozen cannabis plants. This process preserves the plant’s terpenes, resulting in a concentrate with a strong flavor profile and aroma.
Concentrates can be consumed in a multitude of different ways, one of the most popular being dabbing. Dabbing involves heating a small amount of concentrate on a surface and inhaling the vapor through a dab rig.
Concentrates can also be used to manufacture a number of other types of cannabis products.
Learn More: A Starter Guide to Concentrates
Vapes
Vaporizers, mostly commonly known as Vapes are a very common type of cannabis product. They consist of a pod or a cartridge that contains a concentrated form of weed that is then heated until it vaporizes, allowing someone to inhale it.
There are a few different types of vapes that you may come across. Disposables are common, which are essentially a non-refillable cartridge or pen that contains the concentrate that can be thrown out after it’s finished.
You can buy cartridges on their own and attach them to a battery or you can purchase an all-in-one which comes with the battery already attached.
If you don’t want to go the disposable route, you can purchase your own carts and refill yourself using whatever concentrate you like.
Edibles
Another way that you could consume cannabis is edibles. Edibles are basically food or beverages that are infused with cannabis extracts. These can come in the form of brownies, cookies, chocolate, gummies, and more.
You can also find tinctures, which are liquid extracts that can be placed under the tongue or added to other foods and beverages.
Additionally, edibles are known to cause a more prolonged and intense high than other forms of cannabis and as such, one should be cautious when taking edibles for the first time. It can also sometimes take longer to feel the effects of edibles so it’s also a good idea to be conservative with your edible consumption until you know how it will affect you.
Topicals
Topicals are another popular form of cannabis product. Unlike other products that we’ve seen, topicals are not consumed but are, like the name suggests, applied topically to get the desired results.
Cannabis infused creams, lotions, salves and oils can be applied to the skin for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons can include pain relief, inflammation reduction, relaxation stress reduction, and more.
Topicals are popular because you’re able to get localized relief to the area that you need it. Topicals also don’t not produce a high which makes them popular to use in everyday life.
Navigating the world of cannabis products can seem intimidating at first, with a diverse array of choices that cater to individual preferences and needs. So whether you’re looking for relaxation, pain relief, or a recreational experience, the diverse landscape of cannabis products has something for everyone.
NatureMed is here for you as you embark on your cannabis journey. Remember to consume responsibly and be mindful of dosages. Here is a link to our online menu and our specials page to see the ways you can save.