Quick answer: The most popular ways to consume marijuana are smoking (joints, pre-rolls, pipes, and bongs), vaping, dabbing concentrates, edibles, infused beverages, tinctures, capsules, topicals, and transdermal patches. Inhalation methods kick in within minutes and last 2 to 3 hours, while edibles and capsules can take 30 to 90 minutes to take effect but last 6 to 8 hours. The right method depends on how fast you want to feel effects, how long you want them to last, and whether you prefer to inhale, swallow, or apply your cannabis.
The media usually shows marijuana being smoked out of a bong or joint, but those are only two options on a much longer list. The legal cannabis market now includes more than a dozen ways to consume marijuana, each with its own onset time, duration, intensity, and use case. If you want a fast-acting hit before a hike or an all-night body buzz from a gummy, there’s a format for it.
Below is a complete guide to the most popular cannabis consumption methods, compared side by side and explained in detail. Pick the right one for your goals, tolerance, and lifestyle.
Cannabis Consumption Methods at a Glance
Here’s how the most common ways to consume marijuana compare on the three things that matter most: how fast you’ll feel it, how long it lasts, and what kind of experience to expect.
| Method | Onset | Duration | Intensity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joints & Pre-Rolls | 1 to 5 min | 1 to 3 hrs | Moderate | Social use, classic experience |
| Pipes & Bongs | 1 to 5 min | 1 to 3 hrs | Moderate-strong | Solo sessions, bigger hits |
| Blunts | 1 to 5 min | 1 to 3 hrs | Strong | Group sessions, longer smoke |
| Vape Carts & Disposables | 1 to 5 min | 1 to 3 hrs | Moderate | Discreet, on-the-go use |
| Dry Herb Vaporizers | 1 to 5 min | 1 to 3 hrs | Moderate | Flavor & efficiency |
| Dabs & Concentrates | Seconds | 1 to 3 hrs | Very strong | Experienced users, high tolerance |
| Edibles | 30 to 90 min | 4 to 8 hrs | Strong & long | Long-lasting effects, no smoke |
| Cannabis Beverages | 15 to 45 min | 2 to 4 hrs | Mild-moderate | Social drinking, faster than edibles |
| Tinctures (Sublingual) | 15 to 45 min | 2 to 6 hrs | Adjustable | Precise dosing, discreet use |
| Capsules & Pills | 45 to 90 min | 6 to 12 hrs | Strong & long | Daily routines, exact dosing |
| Topicals | 15 to 30 min (localized) | 2 to 4 hrs | Non-intoxicating* | Targeted skin application |
| Transdermal Patches | 20 to 60 min | 8 to 12 hrs | Steady & strong | Long-lasting steady effects |
*Standard topicals do not cause a “high.” Transdermal patches do enter the bloodstream.
1. Smoking Cannabis: Joints, Pre-Rolls, Pipes, and Bongs
Smoking is the oldest and still the most popular way to consume marijuana. Combustion releases the cannabinoids and terpenes from the flower almost instantly, so effects kick in within a minute or two and peak around 10 to 30 minutes in.
Joints and pre-rolls are simply ground cannabis flower rolled in thin paper. A standard joint delivers 15 to 20 inhales, enough for one to two people. Pre-rolls are the same thing, just rolled for you by the dispensary, which is great for anyone who hasn’t mastered rolling the perfect joint yet, or who just wants convenience.
Pipes (including spoons, one-hitters, and bubblers) are reusable and travel-friendly. Pack the bowl, light it, and inhale. Bubblers add a small water chamber that cools and filters the smoke.
Bongs (water pipes) use a water-filled chamber to cool the smoke before it hits your lungs. Hits are bigger and smoother than a pipe, which is why bongs are a fan favorite for solo sessions.
Blunts swap rolling paper for a hollowed-out cigar wrap, usually made of tobacco leaf. They burn slowly, hold more flower than a joint, and pack a stronger kick that comes partly from the larger dose and partly from the tobacco.
Trade-off: Smoking is fast, social, and lets you titrate one puff at a time. The catch is that combustion produces tar and other byproducts that aren’t ideal for your lungs.
2. Vaping Cannabis: Carts, Disposables, and Dry Herb Vapes
Vaping heats cannabis just enough to release cannabinoids and terpenes as vapor, without combustion. It’s discreet, has less odor than smoking (though it’s not odorless. Here’s what vaping weed actually smells like), and many people find it smoother on the throat.
Vape cartridges and disposables are the most popular vape format. A cart is a pre-filled tank of cannabis oil that screws onto a rechargeable battery. Disposables are an all-in-one version, with the battery, oil, and atomizer in a single throwaway device. They’re discreet, easy to carry, and the effects hit within minutes. (If you use carts regularly, you’ll want to know how long vape carts last and how to make them last longer.)
Dry herb vaporizers heat ground flower instead of oil. The result is closer to a smoking experience but cleaner, with stronger flavor and more efficient cannabinoid extraction. Higher upfront cost, but flower lasts longer.
Trade-off: Vaping is convenient and produces no ash or smoke. The trade-off is that hardware quality matters. Buy carts only from licensed dispensaries to avoid unregulated, untested products.
3. Dabbing and Cannabis Concentrates
Dabbing is the consumption of concentrated cannabis. These products can run 60% to 90%+ THC, compared to 15% to 30% in flower. It’s the fastest, strongest inhalation method available, with effects landing in seconds.
Common concentrate types include shatter, wax, badder, budder, crumble, live resin, rosin, live rosin, and THC diamonds. Each has a different texture, flavor, and extraction process. (Curious what’s behind one of today’s most popular options? Here’s what rosin is and why dabbers love it.)
Dabs are usually consumed with a dab rig (a specialized water pipe with a “nail” or “banger” heated by a torch) or an electronic dab pen, which is more portable and beginner-friendly. There are also infused pre-rolls, which are joints rolled with concentrate inside or coated outside. They’re a hybrid between smoking and dabbing.
Trade-off: Dabbing is extremely potent and efficient, but it’s not a beginner’s method. Start with a small amount, about the size of a grain of rice, until you know your tolerance. If flavor and potency are your priorities, check out our breakdown of the best concentrates for flavor and potency.
4. Edibles
Edibles are food and candy infused with cannabis. Common forms include gummies, chocolates, baked goods, hard candies, and mints. They’ve become one of the most popular ways to consume marijuana because they’re smoke-free, discreet, easy to dose, and last much longer than inhaled cannabis.
When you eat cannabis, your liver converts THC into 11-hydroxy-THC, a compound that’s stronger and longer-lasting than the THC you inhale. That’s why a 10 mg edible can feel dramatically different (and stronger) than smoking the equivalent amount of flower.
Onset is the main thing to plan for: most edibles take 30 to 90 minutes to kick in, and effects can last 4 to 8 hours. New users often make the mistake of taking a second dose 30 minutes in because they “don’t feel it yet,” and then both doses hit at once. Start with 2.5 to 5 mg THC, wait at least two hours, then decide whether to take more. For more on dialing in your experience, see our guide to the best edibles for a smooth and enjoyable high.
5. Cannabis-Infused Beverages
Cannabis drinks have become a popular option for people who want a social, alcohol-free alternative. You can find them in just about any format: seltzers, sodas, teas, coffee, mocktails, and even THC-infused beer.
Beverages technically count as edibles, but they tend to kick in faster (15 to 45 minutes) because liquids absorb more quickly than solid food. Effects usually last 2 to 4 hours, shorter than a gummy and longer than a vape pull.
Look for low-dose options (2 to 5 mg THC per can) if you want a drinkable buzz that mimics a beer or glass of wine. Higher-dose beverages exist, but they’re for experienced users with a tolerance built up.
6. Tinctures and Sublinguals
Tinctures are cannabis extracts suspended in alcohol or oil, sold in small dropper bottles. You place a few drops under your tongue, hold for 30 to 60 seconds, then swallow.
Used sublingually (under the tongue), tinctures absorb through the blood vessels in your mouth and start working in 15 to 45 minutes, much faster than swallowing them outright. Effects last 2 to 6 hours. The big win with tinctures is precise dosing: every dropper is marked, so you know exactly how many milligrams of THC or CBD you’re getting.
Tinctures are a great fit if you want a smoke-free, calorie-free option with adjustable dosing for anyone who wants precise control or finds edibles too unpredictable.
7. Cannabis Capsules and Pills
Capsules and pills are exactly what they sound like. Each one contains a measured dose of cannabis (often as oil or distillate) inside a swallow-friendly capsule. They behave like edibles: 45 to 90 minutes to onset, 6 to 12 hours of effect, processed through the liver.
The appeal is consistency. Every capsule is identical, so you can build a daily routine around an exact dose. They’re flavorless, discreet, and easy to integrate with other supplements. If you’re comparing options, our breakdown of the pros and cons of THC pills vs. edibles goes deeper.
8. Cannabis Topicals
Topicals are cannabis-infused balms, lotions, salves, and creams applied directly to the skin. Unlike other formats, topicals aren’t designed to produce a high.
Standard topicals don’t cross into the bloodstream, which means they won’t make you feel intoxicated. That makes them an easy entry point for people curious about cannabis but uninterested in the psychoactive effects.
Topicals are typically applied directly to the area you want, as often as you’d like.
9. Transdermal Patches
Transdermal patches look like nicotine patches. They’re small, stick-on patches that release cannabinoids steadily through the skin and into the bloodstream over several hours. Unlike standard topicals, transdermals are systemic, so they can produce a mild high if THC-based.
Onset is around 20 to 60 minutes, and a single patch can deliver effects for 8 to 12 hours. A single patch can deliver consistent effects through the day without re-dosing.
10. Hookah and Other Novelty Methods
For the curious or the experimental, marijuana can also be consumed in less conventional ways. People have layered it into a hookah bowl with shisha, smoked it through a homemade fruit pipe carved from an apple or pear, or even worked it into a gravity bong. These methods are more about the experience than efficiency, but they’re a fun occasional change of pace.
One caution: novelty methods are harder to dose and clean, and they’re not designed for regular use. Stick with proper glassware and tested products for everyday consumption.
How to Choose the Best Cannabis Consumption Method for You
There’s no universal “best” method, just the one that fits what you’re trying to do. Here’s a quick framework:
If you want fast effects and short duration: Smoke a joint, pre-roll, or pipe, or take a few pulls from a vape. You’ll feel it in minutes and be back to baseline in 1 to 3 hours.
If you want long-lasting effects: Reach for an edible, capsule, or transdermal patch. Plan for 6 to 12 hours of effect, and don’t drive or make plans you can’t postpone.
If you want precise dosing: Tinctures and capsules are your best bet. Each dose is measured to the milligram.
If you don’t want to get high: Topicals don’t cause intoxication. CBD-dominant tinctures and edibles are another option.
If you’re new to cannabis: Start low and go slow. A low-dose edible (2.5 to 5 mg THC), a single puff of flower, or a small pull from a vape pen is the right starting point, not a dab. Choosing between flower and pre-rolls? Here’s how to pick: pre-rolls vs. flower for your next session.
If you want to time it to your day: Strain choice matters here too. Sativas tend to be more energizing and daytime-friendly; indicas tend to be more relaxing and evening-friendly. We break it down in our guide to the best time of day to use sativa or indica.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are smoke-free ways to consume marijuana?
If you want to skip smoke entirely, the most popular options are edibles, tinctures, capsules, beverages, topicals, and transdermal patches. Vaping is another non-combustion option, it heats cannabis without burning plant material.
What is the strongest way to consume cannabis?
Dabbing concentrates produces the most intense and immediate high because of THC concentrations of 60 to 90%+. Edibles can feel stronger overall because the THC converts to 11-hydroxy-THC in the liver, producing a longer and often more intense body experience, but it builds slowly rather than hitting all at once.
How long does a high last with each method?
Smoking and vaping typically last 1 to 3 hours. Dabbing is similar in duration but more intense at the peak. Edibles, capsules, and patches can last 6 to 12 hours. Tinctures last 2 to 6 hours. Cannabis beverages usually last 2 to 4 hours.
What is the best consumption method for beginners?
A low-dose edible (2.5 to 5 mg THC), a single pull from a vape pen, or a small puff of flower are all reasonable starting points. Avoid dabs and high-dose edibles until you’ve built up a feel for your tolerance. Whatever method you choose, wait the full onset window before taking more.
Can you consume cannabis without getting high?
Yes. Standard topicals (excluding transdermal patches) don’t enter the bloodstream, so they don’t cause intoxication. CBD-dominant products, tinctures, edibles, and topicals with little to no THC, also won’t get you high.
How fast do edibles kick in?
Most edibles take 30 to 90 minutes to take effect, depending on the product, your metabolism, and whether you’ve eaten recently. Cannabis beverages tend to kick in faster (15 to 45 minutes) because liquids absorb more quickly than solid food. Always wait at least two hours before taking another dose.
What’s the difference between vaping and smoking cannabis?
Smoking involves combustion, burning the dried flower. Vaping heats cannabis just hot enough to release vapor without burning the plant material. Only purchase vape products from licensed dispensaries to make sure they’ve been properly lab-tested.
Find Your Perfect Method at Cannabis & Glass
If you’re a longtime flower fan, an edibles enthusiast, or just starting to explore concentrates and beverages, our knowledgeable budtenders can help you find the right product for what you’re trying to feel.
Cannabis & Glass is the largest recreational dispensary in Eastern Washington, with three convenient locations: Spokane North, Spokane Valley, and Liberty Lake. We also have a location in Ontario, OR. Browse our menu or stop in today, and our team will help you pick the consumption method that fits your lifestyle.
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.