Marijuana is a powerful and beneficial plant that has been used for medicinal and recreational purposes for centuries in the areas of the globe where the plant originated.
For many decades, the war on drugs has used harsh punishments for marijuana violations, particularly for the oppression and suppression of minorities. It has meant that marijuana has been illegal and unregulated for much of its history.
But today, marijuana legalization efforts mean there are many ways to consume marijuana legally in many states throughout the United States, both recreationally and medically.
Two of the most popular consumption methods are marijuana edibles and vape pens. If you’re new to the marijuana scene, you may not know which method is right for you — they have different effects and can impact people differently.
After reading this article, you’ll know a little more about which method of consuming marijuana is right for you.
What Are Marijuana Edibles?
Marijuana edibles are some of the most common, popular, and variable ways of consuming marijuana. A marijuana edible is any type of marijuana meant to be consumed by eating. Edibles can come in many forms. Here is a list of some popular types:
- Capsules
- Gummies
- Candies
- Baked Goods
- Cooking Oils
Consuming marijuana edibles is a very popular way for people to use marijuana and appeals to many people because it does not require inhaling any smoke.
What Are Marijuana Vapes?
Another alternative to smoking marijuana is hitting a marijuana vape pen. There are several types of marijuana vapes, disposable and reusable, available in all shapes and sizes for all types of vapers.
Vaping involves inhaling vaporized cannabis oil with THC, sometimes with CBD or exclusively CBD. THC is the chemical compound in marijuana responsible for the high feeling some people report when using marijuana, while CBD is another cannabinoid that can affect consumers.
What Are the Effects of Consuming Marijuana?
Marijuana can cause many different effects depending on various factors. These factors include things like:
- The amount of marijuana you consume
- Your experience with marijuana
- Your height, age, weight, and sex
- Other drugs you have consumed
- Your physical location
- Who you are consuming it with
- Emotional factors in your life
- The strain of marijuana
- The THC content and cannabinoid profile of the marijuana you have consumed
- The method of consumption
With all of those different impacts, it is no surprise that marijuana has a wide variety of sometimes contradictory effects on different people in different situations. That is why we are going to give you a breakdown of the effects sometimes associated with marijuana use before breaking down the differences to expect between vaping and edible consumption.
Supports Energy and Joy
The most commonly felt and most popular effect of marijuana consumption is feelings of energy and joy. The intense feeling of pleasure you may feel is because of the THC interacting with your endocannabinoid system. These effects can support feelings of happiness, joyfulness, amusement, and greater hope and optimism for the future.
Heighten Feelings of Restlessness
In some people, some inexperienced users, and users who consume too high of a dose, marijuana can heighten feelings of restlessness instead of helping you wind down. This often comes with feelings of a racing heart, shallow and quick breathing, and sometimes feelings of overwhelm. These sensations can be soothed by consuming marijuana with higher levels of CBD and by making sure you are using marijuana when in a comfortable location, with friends, and are in a good mental place.
Supports Natural Relaxation
Another commonly cited effect of marijuana is feelings of relaxation and calmness. Marijuana can make you feel slow, sluggish, tired, comfortable, sleepy, calm, and other similar feelings — this is particularly true of Indica strains.
Enhances Sensation
When you are on marijuana, your natural senses can feel heightened due to supported dopamine production in your brain. This means you may find more pleasure in activities like sex and eating.
Soothes Discomfort
Many doctors prescribe marijuana in states where it is legal for medical purposes to soothe discomfort. Soreness, tension, and aches can feel less intense or severe to some users of marijuana.
What Are the Differences Between Marijuana Edibles and Vapes?
Now that you know what the general effects and impacts are of marijuana, we can now dive into the more subtle differences that arise when you consume edibles or vape weed. We’ll give you a brief explanation of each type of consumption, followed by a summary of the differences and similarities to expect between the two.
What Do Marijuana Edibles Feel Like?
Many people have their first marijuana experience by consuming an edible. If you have only tried marijuana once or twice, it was likely in the form of a brownie that somebody made at a party that tasted awful and got you so stoned you saw stars — this was technically an edible. But don’t you worry, the edibles of today's legalized pot world are nothing like the brownie that still haunts you.
As we mentioned earlier, marijuana edibles come in many delicious forms. Edibles also typically come packaged with an exact THC and CBD content, if applicable, and an amount per serving and serving size.
When you consume the edible, you may not begin to feel the effects for an hour or two. This is because the THC has to reach your bloodstream, which requires digestion when consumed by eating.
Be careful of taking a larger dose if you don’t feel something after 30 minutes with edibles. You should feel effects within the first hour or two, which will continue to intensify for up to two or three hours before peaking and decreasing over the next hour to two.
What Does Vaping Marijuana Feel Like?
When you choose to vape marijuana, your experience will look a little bit different from what an edible trip will be like. You may notice a very different feeling if you have never vaped before.
If you are vaping flower or oil, you will also have a different experience with your vaping. Either way, you will notice that the vapor is often denser and less hot and harsh than when smoking from a cigarette, pipe, or blunt.
When you inhale marijuana with THC, it will be absorbed into your bloodstream directly via your lungs, which means you can expect to feel the effects start to kick in within minutes. The effects will start to be felt within 15 minutes and should peak around 30 minutes after inhaling. Depending on other factors, you should expect to come down within one to three hours of vaping.
Differences Between Vaping and Edibles
After that brief overview of the effects of edibles and vaping, here is a summary and closer dissection of the differences between vaping and edibles.
- Time Until Effective
The biggest difference between vaping and edibles is the time until you feel the effects. Edibles can take up to two hours to hit and another two to peak, while vaping can be felt in seconds to minutes and gives you a high that peaks in about 30 minutes.
- Length of High
Another important dimension where edibles and vaping will change your experience of marijuana is the time you spend high. You may spend hours high after taking an edible, while you can come down from a vaping high in an hour or two, depending on the amount consumed.
- Dosing
Another difference between vaping and edibles is the dosing concerns. When consuming an edible, you can know pretty closely the exact THC content of your edible. When vaping, you can’t be sure exactly how much you consume with each puff. This additional dosing accuracy with edibles (perceived or real) gives some new users comfort when starting marijuana.
- Intensity of High
When consuming an edible, you may experience a stronger, longer-lasting, or otherwise more intense high than vaping. This is because the marijuana is metabolized in your stomach and then put into your bloodstream, which takes longer for your body to process than through your lungs.
There are a few other differences, but these are the most crucial ones to understand when deciding which one is right for you.
Should I Eat Edibles or Vape?
To decide whether vaping or taking edibles is the right choice for you, you should ask yourself these questions:
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How much time do I have to be high? If you only have an hour or two, vaping might be smart, but if you have all day, an edible could be a good idea.
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How soon do I want to feel the effects? If you want to feel the effects of marijuana in a few minutes, go with your vape. Take an edible if you don’t want to feel the impact for an hour or two.
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How intense do I want my high to be? While you can adjust the intensity of vaping and edibles to your desires, edibles tend to hit harder than vapes. This is different for everyone and is worth exploring.
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What is your personal preference? The final question to ask is what you prefer between the two. There is nothing wrong with choosing one or the other simply because you like one type better.
Edibles vs. Vape: Takeaways
While you may find the choice between marijuana edibles and vaping difficult, it doesn’t have to be such a struggle. The truth is that the effects and benefits of marijuana will be similar regardless of your method of ingestion. What is most important is what you prefer and enjoy the best.
If you are looking for a new vape pen or are interested in getting started with vaping marijuana, check us out at California Honey Vapes.
We offer nicotine and nicotine-free disposable vapes and rechargeable batteries with chargers. These batteries fit 510-size cartridges for marijuana, CBD, nicotine, and other vape liquids. Try them today, and you’ll never go back to another vape brand.
Sources:
Marijuana for pain: The best strains for chronic pain relief | MDT