Harm Reductive Cannabis Consumption

These days there are more ways than ever to consume cannabis, but not all of them are created equal. Your personal health journey and even your genetics play a big role in how you consume and how effective those consumption methods will be. Whether you're wanting to imbibe in the healthiest way for your own piece of mind, or you just need to give your lungs a little break, this is a great place to explore your options for harm reductive cannabis consumption.

You may be asking yourself "what is harm reductive cannabis consumption?" and while there are a number of ways to interpret that phrase, I like to think of it as a healthiest option. With any plant or substance that you consume there will be risks associated with it, but harm reduction is all about lessening those risks. Generally when people talk about harm reduction as it pertains to cannabis consumption they're referring to not smoking the plant, but there is so much more to harm reduction than the obvious pitfalls. Edibles are a great alternative to smoking, but if you're diabetic or staying away from sweets, edibles could end up causing more trouble for you because they tend to be high in sugar. Every person who uses cannabis has a unique reason for doing so and their body will react in a unique way, so it's important to explore as many options as possible so you can get exactly what you need in a way that won't cause unwanted side effects.

Inhalation Harm Reduction

The most common way that cannabis gets consumed is via smoking. Once the cannabis plant is harvested, it's dried and cured before being packaged and sold. Cannabis flower can be smoked in a pipe, bong or rolled in paper. If you're someone who smokes tobacco leaves or spliffs, then an easy way to reduce harm would be to opt for hemp wraps or omit the tobacco from your spliff. It can be difficult to go cold turkey, so I would suggest making it a gradual switch. If you're used to 3 spliffs each day, then swapping one of those out for a purely cannabis joint would be a great starting point.

If you're someone that is loyal to their glass, then you also have harm reducing options available to you. One of the best ways to ensure that you're keeping risks at a minimum is to always buy flower from a reputable source. Whether you prefer indoor or outdoor flower third party testing is the industry standard so it shouldn't be too difficult to get a clear answer to what's in your bud. If you want to take it a step further, you could choose to only partake in organically grown flower to ensure that you're consuming the best possible product.

Even if the quality of your flower can't be determined, you still have options to reduce harm during your sesh, one of the easiest ways to use a filter. The brand Moose Labs makes filters that can be used with bongs, bowls, prerolls or even blunts. They can help filter out some of the harmful chemicals that accompany consumption via combustion. You can check out their products here: www.mooselabs.us. In addition to a filter, you can also make a change to the way you light up. Hemp wicks have started to emerge in the cannabis industry as one of the many harm reductive innovations. A hemp wick is basically a string that's been coated in beeswax and is used to light your flower. It does require the extra step of lighting the hemp wick, but the distance it puts between your lungs and the chemicals that come from your lighter are worth it for many stoners.

In my opinion the most harm reductive method of inhalation is easily a dry herb vaporizer. Unlike a cannabis oil vape, dry herb vapes use whole cannabis flower and heat it just enough to release the terpenes and cannabinoids. This process means there's no combustion, which preserves the flavors of your weed and has the added benefit of making your sesh smoke free. Brands like Storz & Bickel and PAX are leading the way with innovative dry herb vape technology so that you can have a top tier toke whether you're at home or on the go. If flower is your go-to consumption method, then I would highly recommend trying out a dry herb vaporizer.

Edible Harm Reduction

One of the more convenient methods of consumption, edibles have become the most approachable way to start your cannabis consumption journey. If you're lucky enough to reside within a state that has legalized recreational cannabis use, then you already have an idea of just how many legal edibles are on the market. Whether it's gummies, chocolates or drinks, edibles allow you to discreetly consume your cannabis in a variety of ways and locations. Since edibles are processed through your stomach, liver and finally brain they can take awhile before you feel the high, but they also tend to last longer than the high you get from smoking. This long lasting high can be a blessing if you're ready for it, but it can easily feel like a curse if you've had too much, this is why I always say you should start low and go slow. A microdose would be a great place to start so that you can avoid over consuming, 2.5mg of THC is a nice introductory dose for any type of consumer. If you're brand new to cannabis 2.5mg could provide a nice high for hours, but if you're a more seasoned consumer then you may find that a 5mg dose of THC is a better starting point.

One of the pitfalls of edibles is the amount of sugar they usually have, and if you're someone with a higher tolerance the amount of sugar can compound to very high levels. While you may be able to find sugar free options, another way to avoid sugar when it comes to edibles is by choosing THC tablets or pills. Brands like Level, Breez and Kikoko are making it easier than ever to get a good buzz without all the sweetness.

Another way to avoid sugar is by using tinctures. Technically tinctures are held under your tongue so they enter your bloodstream sublingually and thus, don't fall into the same category as traditional edibles, but for the purposes of this post I'm lumping them in. Tinctures are normally oil based but newer innovations in the cannabis space have seen water based tinctures starting to come out. The oil based ones tend to have a longer shelf life, but the water based ones are absorbed into your body easier, so they both have their benefits.

While this isn't a comprehensive list of harm reduction methods for consuming cannabis, it's the perfect place to start your mindful consumption journey. Keep in mind that every person is different, so your needs may not be the same as someone else, that's why it's important to listen to your body. I also recommend starting a consumption journal to help you figure out which methods and strains work the best for you. If you don't have a consumption journal, you can just get a small notebook and put all of your observations there. You could also check out the Highly Crafty blog post about how to make your own journal here: https://www.highlycrafty.com/post/diy-consumption-journal. Whatever you decide, cannabis can be a powerful tool for your wellness so using it in a way that benefits you is crucial to cultivating a healthy relationship with the plant. I hope this post helps you get the most out of your cannabis consumption.

Happy Toking!