7 Products That Have Changed The Way We Consume Cannabis
- 1. Vaporizers
- 2. Cannabis vape pens
- 3. Dabbers
- 4. Cannabis edibles
- 5. Cannabutter machines
- 6. Decarboxylating machine
- 7. Cannabis skincare and cosmetics
- 8. The bottom line
The wild world of weed is changing fast. How people use marijuana has evolved quite a lot ever since its beginnings, with newer and more complex forms of consumption that come along with newer technologies.
As cannabis gains approval for its use all through the world, new doors are open for exploring new avenues of consumption. While, yes we still do and always will engage in the use of the traditional joint, bong or pipe, there are some newer gadgets and products that have changed the way people consume marijuana.
These new products that have changed the way we smoke and consume weed include:
- Vaporizers;
- Smoking pens;
- Dabbers;
- Cannabutter machines for making your own edibles,
- and more.
Let's check out the newest and craziest products that have spiced up the cannabis consumption game.
1. Vaporizers
Of course, vaporizers are the first innovation to pop up on this list because they’ve completely changed the way we consume marijuana.
The popularity of vaporizers has skyrocketed over the past couple of years because they can lower many of the risks associated with smoking cannabis. Since vaporizers heat cannabis up to 210-220°C (390-428°F), combustion doesn't take place, which reduces the amount of toxins and other harmful substances that we ingest when combusting plant matter.
Vaporizers tend to produce less smell than joints or blunts, which is a great option for consumers looking to be low-key. Vapes also enhance the flavor of your buds, in case you're using dry herb vaporizers; and they provide an overall cleaner high. Along with flower, you can vaporize concentrates like rosin, offering a uniquely flavorful, potent cannabis experience. Popular vaporizers, like the Storz & Bickel Volcano or the Puffco Peak, have revolutionized cannabis.
2. Cannabis Vape Pens
Another great gadget for consuming marijuana is the cannabis smoking pens. These products are another form of vaporizer, only they're much smaller and more discreet than the standard cannabis vaporizer full of buttons and different smoking presets.
Marijuana smoking pens have widely changed the way we consume weed because they give off almost no odor at all, they are small as the size of a pen, and they offer a wide range of variety in terms of flavor and dosage options.
AdviceMake sure you buy vape pens and their cartridges from trusted stores and brands, given poor quality products of this type may be dangerous for your health. Look for rosin vape pens, as opposed to cannabis oil that is made with propylene glycol, also known as PG, a common ingredient in e-liquids and vaping products like e-cigarettes. If you have a high-quality vape pen, they are a brilliant, discreet method of consuming weed.
Unlike dry herb vaporizers, smoking pens work with cannabis concentrates such as rosin or distillate. These are super potent varieties of cannabis usually testing upwards of 60% to 80% THC. No wonder vape pens are beloved– this is a popular type of new cannabis product at legal dispensaries. Among young adults, the prevalence of vape pens has more than doubled in recent years, increasing from 14.4% in 2017 to 34.6% in 2020.
3. Dabbers
Dabbers have been on the rise.What's a dab? Much like cannabis vaporizers or vape pens, a dabber is another method of consuming concentrated cannabis.
These highly concentrated cannabis products are made of THC or other cannabinoid extracts. These extracts can be made using solvents, such as butane ethanol or carbon dioxide, which as a result turn into wax, butane hash oil (BHO), shatter budder, and more. There are also other healthier dabbing options that aren't made with any solvents or chemicals, such as rosin, kief, or ice water hash. Hash isn’t new– it’s one of the oldest forms of cannabis consumption that dates back to the 12th century.
Dabbing isn’t quite suitable for the newbie stoners given they can be quite much stronger and the process of dabbing can be a tad tricky itself. To dab, you'll need to get specific tools such as a dab ring, e-nail, and torch, or a device like the Puffco Peak.
The best aspect about dabbing is the clean and high potency dose of pure cannabinoids, which is a great consumer option for pain relief, sleep aid, and more.
4. Cannabis Edibles
Another form of cannabis consumption that has changed the modern weed experience is edibles. Weed edibles feel different from cannabis because they’re processed not through our lungs and the respiratory system, but through our liver when eating and digesting the plant.
This means that the effects will change, too, offering an overall mind and body high, which starts to take effect anywhere between half an hour and two hours after you eat an edible. At the same time, the edibles' high normally lasts longer than the usual high we get from a joint or blunt. Edibles tend to be much stronger, so watch out for the doses.
We know though, that edibles aren't much of a novelty, given they're among the first methods of marijuana consumption to emerge. Modern edibles, as we know them today, are a whole different story. Consumers can indulge in anything from baked goods, such as brownies, cakes or cookies, to candies, smoothies, sauces, tinctures, and any other recipe you can think of. The possibilities are endless.
In fact, the cannabis world now includes entire restaurants, bars, and cafes that serve cannabis-infused food. Where weed has already been legalized, and in many countries where it’s decriminalized, infused dining options are becoming more prevalent.
5. Cannabutter Machines
Alongside the rise of weed edibles, cannabutter machines came to change the way we approach making these special edibles. While cooking marijuana edibles might seem like something fun to do, the process may be slightly tricky for beginners, especially when it comes to making the butter. The cannabutter machine is one solution for weed chefs.
Making cannabutter without the cannabutter machine is possible, but challenging.We don’t want to risk ruining our buds. This is where the cannabutter machine comes in handy. A cannabutter machine consists of all the tools necessary for making it: a botanical extractor, a blender, a digital thermostat, and a heating unit. Most machines on the market, including the Magic Butter and the LEVO oil infuser, take around 2 hours to produce a ready-to-use cannabutter.
One step in making cannabutter is to decarboxylate your weed. While some high-tech cannabutter machines decarboxylate your weed, with others, you'll still need to decarboxylate your buds in advance. This brings us to the next product on our list: decarboxylators.
6. Decarboxylating Machine
To activate the cannabinoids in weed requires an essential step, decarboxylating your buds. What is decarboxylation? It’s a process of heating the weed in order to activate the compounds present in the buds. When you decarb cannabis, it will produce the desired effects.
During the decarb process,the acidic form of cannabinoids turns into the compounds that give us a high feeling. For instance, decarboxylation turns CBDA into CBD, and THCA into THC. If we didn't decarb our buds, we'd feel none of the beneficial effects of weed including pain relief, reduced inflammation, and high/euphoric feeling, among others. Learn more about decarboxylation here.
The decarb process isn't hard, but it can lead to dramatic results: burnt buds. Therefore, decarboxylating machines came to save the day and make our lives easier. How do they work? It's easy! You simply drop your dry buds or kief inside, press a button, and wait about 30 minutes.
7. Cannabis Skincare and Cosmetics
One last form of marijuana that has changed the way we consume the plant are cannabis-based skincare and cosmetics. In the beginning, weed was meant to be smoked, eaten or used in any form that provided us with the typical cannabis high.
However, ever since marijuana gained popularity for its diverse benefits, not only medically speaking to treat different illnesses but as a great stimulant for our skin and muscles too, cannabis-based topicals started to emerge.
When it comes to cosmetics made with cannabis, the options are infinite. You can find products such as lotions or balms that work as pain relief topicals. Other topicals that provide strong effects such as transdermal patches, enter through our skin and into our bloodstream.
At the same time, you can even make your own personalized cosmetics and employ them in any way you'd like to give you the benefits you're seeking. Lip balms, perfumes, massage oils, facial creams, and many more are just examples of cosmetics you can make based on marijuana.
8. The Bottom Line
The world of cannabis is expanding at an exponential level. What once consisted of just the traditional joint, bong or pipe, which we still cherish and adore, has evolved into a high-tech world of trustworthy consumer products.
So don't just sit there comfortably in the same old and try out some of the newer forms of marijuana that the future is bringing. Who knows, perhaps you discover a new favorite way to consume your favorite plant.
Don't forget to comment on what are your favorite ways to consume cannabis!
