Like most people, my first introduction to cannabis was smoking. It wasn’t until I had been consuming cannabis for many years that I first had the opportunity to try an edible. Almost immediately, though, edibles became a staple in my cannabis routine. Depending on the particular situation, I prefer one or the other.
To help you better decide which consumption method is right for you – here is my complete guide to the pros and cons of edibles vs smoking.
Edibles
Edibles are basically any cannabis-infused product that you consume by eating or drinking. Today there are a wide variety of cannabis edibles – beverages, gummies, chocolate bars, softgels, and even shrimp chips are only a few examples of what’s available in the market today.
Pros of edibles (vs. smoking)
Discrete & portable – Cannabis edibles do not have any smell, and consuming is as easy and discrete as eating a piece of candy. Plus, edibles are easy to pop into your bag for on the go consumption.
Easy to accurately dose – Quality cannabis edibles are infused and cannabinoids are equally distributed throughout the piece. This means you can consume as much or as little as you like by splitting the product into pieces. For this reason, edibles are perfect for microdosing.
Effects last longer –Cannabis consumed orally is absorbed through the stomach and metabolized in the liver. This results in a longer-lasting high when compared to smoking. An edibles high might last 3-4 hours, vs. 1 hour for a high from smoking. If you are trying to medicate for a longer period of time, you may want to choose edibles over smoking
Better on your body – edibles don’t involve inhaling any smoke. Smoke can irritate the throat and lungs, and smoking can be hazardous for those of us with lung or heart conditions.
Cons of edibles (vs. smoking)
Easier to accidentally consume too much – It’s easier to accidentally consume too much when taking edibles. Edibles can take a while to kick in, and sometimes they might take longer than usual to kick in. When this happens, it’s tempting to think you should take a little bit more. This is a recipe for getting more of a buzz than you intended. Also, first-timers who do not know what their preferred cannabis dose is yet might accidentally consume too much at the beginning. If you’re new to edibles, though. You will want to start low and go slow
Less of an experience / ritual – Taking the time to smoke cannabis can be just as much a part of the experience as the high you get. Smoking can also be a social event when shared among friends. You just don’t get that with an edible.
Usually not sprain specific – Edibles are usually made using cannabinoids that have been isolated and extracted from the cannabis plant. This means that when consuming an edible, you will not also be consuming the other cannabinoids and terpenes that are present in different strains of cannabis.
Usually contain sugar – Most edible cannabis products are either chocolates or gummies, both of which contain sugar. If you’re concerned about sugar intake, try a cannabis tea.
Someone might accidentally eat it – most cannabis edibles look just like any other food product. When compared to smoking, it is much easier for someone to accidentally consume cannabis unknowingly. If you are going to consume edibles – make sure to always buy products that come in child resistant packaging.
Other factors to consider (whether they are pros or cons is up to you)
An edibles high feels different than a smoking high – Edibles are processed by the liver, while smoke enters the bloodstream directly through the lungs. As a result, the effects of edibles are slightly different than the effects of smoking.
Take longer to kick in – When you take an edible, it can take about an hour to feel the effects. Depending on the situation, this might be preferable. For example – with edibles you can do things like go to a concert & plan to have the cannabis hit just as the headliner is coming on stage.
Smoking
Smoking is by far the most common way to consume cannabis. Smoking means combusting cannabis in a joint, pipe, or bong, and involves inhaling cannabis into your lungs.
Pros of smoking (vs. edibles)
Smoking can be a relaxing experience – Whether you’re smoking by yourself, or smoking with friends, the very act of smoking can signal to your body that it’s time to unwind. For many, smoking can be part of a ritual and is hard to replace.
You can be strain specific – If you’re smoking cannabis, chances are that you will be able to choose the specific strain that you would like to smoke. Different strains have different cannabinoid and terpenes profiles, and will result in different effects. Over time, you may find that you enjoy some strains more than others. When you eat edibles, you usually don’t have your choice of strain.
No sugar – Smoking cannabis does not involve consuming any sugary foods or beverages
People won’t accidentally consume it – Because cannabis flower does not look like a food product, it’s less likely to be accidentally consumed
Cons of smoking (vs. edibles)
Shorter high when compared to edibles– An edibles high will last about 3-4 hours, while a smoking high will only last for about 1 hour. If using cannabis for therapeutic purposes, the longer lasting effects are generally preferable.
Worse for your body – Smoking cannabis involves inhaling smoke, which can irritate or damage the lungs over time.
Smoking is less discrete – Smoking cannabis involves, well… smoke. And cannabis smoke has a specific and noticeable smell. If you’re looking to consume discreetly, consume in a public area, or consume indoors, smoking cannabis is probably not the best option for you.
Harder to accurately dose. – Unlike with cannabis edibles, it can be hard to accurately dose when smoking cannabis. So, if you’re looking to consume a specific amount (e.g., a microdose to help you better manage stress without feeling impaired), the smoking might not be the right method for you. Even if you’re a pro at drawing the exact same amount of smoke any given time – the cannabinoid content in cannabis flower will vary from strain to strain and harvest to harvest.
Other factors to consider (whether they are a pros or cons is up to you)
Effects are felt immediately – The effects of smoking cannabis come on within 30 seconds – 10 minutes. Depending on the situation or your specific goal, this can be preferable. However, there are many cases in which you may want to time your high (e.g. going to see an action movie and having the cannabis kick in at the climax).
The smoking high feels different than the edibles high – Like I said in the edible section above, the effects are just different. It’s hard to describe the difference between the two. But there is a difference.
TLDR – Edibles vs Smoking: Pros and Cons
For those of us that like to skip the article and scroll all the way to the conclusion, here is a hand Pros/Cons comparison of edibles vs smoking.
You’ll notice that these two charts are almost complete opposites! Ultimately, the right delivery method for you will be a matter of personal reference. Clearly, both smoking and edibles can play a very specific role. Maybe instead of edibles vs. smoking you should be thinking…. edibles and smoking.
CLEO Edibles to Try
If you’re interested in trying cannabis edibles, CLEO has three great products to try.
CLEO edibles are infused, and they come in child resistant packaging. They’re also vegan and gluten free.
Each gummy combines 10mg of CBD and 10mg of Delta-8 to create a unique, full-body lift with a gentle, un-intimidating high. If you’ve never tried Delta 8 products, BLISS is the perfect starting point.
