Consuming Flowers
Cannabis Flowers offers full-plant consumption benefits, which include providing the best flavors as well as the "entourage high." But did you know there are different techniques to consume cannabis flowers? In this post, we'll review how these techniques change the experience as well as how they differ from other popular cannabis forms.
What's in Cannabis?
Depending on the cultivar, cannabis can offer a range of mental (psychoactive) and physical (analgesic) effects. These can address both medicinal and recreational needs.
When you look at cannabis leaves, you'll notice white "crystals," aka trichomes, on them. These trichomes carry the cannabinoid and terpenoid compounds. In general, cannabinoids are responsible for different benefits to the body system, while terpenoids produce aroma and flavor.
When consuming flower, a user converts both classes of compounds in the plant into something capable of absorbtion by the body. This "whole plant" consumption and its resulting effects are coined the entourage effect.
In contrast, other forms of cannabis products, such as edibles or concentrates, break down a flower into individual compounds.
In these cases, a manufacturer transforms the whole plant offering into something attuned to their customer base.
Techniques
There are two main approaches for consuming flower:
Combustion (Smoking) - The use of a tool that ignites flower material, which in turn releases both cannabinoids and terpenoids all at once. Though quick, combustion releases potential damaging toxins like tar and monoxide into the lung.
Convection (Vaping) - The use of a tool that passes hot air across flower material at a user-defined temperature. This method converts cannabinoids and terpenoids into inhalable vapor based on their vaporization temperatures.
Vaping operates at significantly lower temperatures than combustion, and thus releases less harmful levels of toxins. Gradually increasing temperature allows for staggered consumption, and additional levels of control of the high.
Advantages of Smoking Flower
Access the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenoids in a plant
Smell the aromas and taste the flavor profile
Almost immediate effects, making honing adjustments easier
Abundance of flower choices on the market
Can be mixed together to fit your need
Disadvantages of Smoking Flower
May not be potent enough for high-dose medicinal needs
Combustion loss from being passed around or staying lit on the table
Relit joints (roach) can taste terrible
Trichomes are sticky and messy to handle
Degrades in storage, resulting in sleep-inducing effects as CBD converts to CBN
Conclusion
When it comes to cannabis, flowers are the best way to achieve full spectrum results. You have many different choices when it comes to cultivars and each one provides you infinite control over your experience. Tracking what works help you monitor your effects and outcomes so you can get the most from your cannabis flowers and flower blendds. What has been your favorite flower choice so far?