marijuana Archives - Green Market Report

Editors Note: This is a guest post.

Cannabis is a big business. Consumer spending in the US is set to rise by $13bn in the four years from 2018, as legalization hits more states and the medical cannabis sector continues to thrive. Analysis of this booming trade indicates that medical marijuana dispensaries are turning over more money per square foot of retail space than Apple Stores and Tiffany’s.

One consequence of this incredible increase in activity is the innovations and advancements in how marijuana is consumed. These new consumption methods have opened the doors of the marijuana world to a whole new audience, especially those who are consuming cannabis for medicinal purposes. 

For those new to cannabis, and even for seasoned veterans, these new methods can be confusing. As a whole new host of devices and modes of delivery hit the market, they bring new questions. So read on as we breakdown some of the most popular ways to introduce THC into your system.

Vaping

You may already be familiar with vaping and e-cigarettes from the craze that took hold a few years ago touted as a healthy alternative to smoking tobacco and a stepping stone to quitting nicotine altogether. 

Hot on the heels of nicotine vapes are cannabis vaporizers. There are many different ways to vape cannabis and a whole host of devices to match. One of the most popular is the dry herb vaporizer, a device that heats cannabis flower just enough to release THC but not so much that the bud combusts and releases toxin-filled smoke. Brands like Pax continue to push the boundaries of the dry herb vaporizer technology, such is the case with their new Pax 3 which can be seen here. This dry herb vaporizer allows the marijuana to be heated up in just 15 seconds and is roughly the same size as an average cigarette lighter.

Some vaporizers are specifically designed for concentrates like shatter and wax, and some devices use cannabis e-liquid – similar to nicotine vapes. 

Like smoking a joint, the high from vaping hits almost instantly, and many users have reported that the feeling is more crisp and clear than highs from other consumption methods. 

Joints and Bongs

The cannabis industry can develop a million consumption innovations, but joints and bongs are here to stay. Smoking weed in a joint is the most iconic and well-known way to get stoned. A joint consists of ground cannabis flower wrapped in cigarette paper and smoked like a traditional cigarette. They can be made with or without the addition of tobacco – this is down to personal preference. Many cannabis uses love the ritual of sitting down and rolling a joint and the tactile experience it provides. 

The bong is another popular and age-old way of getting a marijuana hit. Sometimes known as a bowl or water pipe, a bong is a device where the user burns the marijuana and inhales through a mouthpiece. The smoke is pulled down through a tube and bubbles up through water at the bottom of a chamber, which cools it down and makes it easier to inhale.

Although both of these methods are as old as they get, they are increasingly thought of as the most unhealthy way to consume cannabis, as many toxins and chemicals are released from the weed when it burns. The high from joints and bongs is instantaneous. 

Edibles

Edibles have exploded onto the cannabis scene in recent years. An edible is a food or drink that has been infused with cannabis. Edibles come in all shapes and sizes, everything from brownies, cookies, chocolate bars, soft drinks, and even potato chips and maple syrup. The opportunities here are endless – anything you can eat can be infused with cannabis in one way or another. 

Edibles are a great alternative to smoking and vaping, as there is no risk of lung damage. They are a common entry point for cannabis newbies as they are seen as one of the softest forms of consumption. Because the food must be broken down in the stomach before the THC reaches the bloodstream, the effects can take anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours to kick in. 

Tinctures and Topicals

Tinctures and topicals are relatively new forms of administering cannabis that have been borrowed from the sister world of CBD. Tinctures are oil dissolved with cannabis extract. The oil can be dropped on food or in a drink or simply applied under the tongue. The effects are not as instantaneous as smoking and vaping, but not as delayed as edibles – usually around 15-20 minutes.

Topicals refer to any method where a product is applied to the skin. Topicals are mainly associated with CBD products designed to give health benefits such as clearer skin, relief from muscle pain, and stronger hair. 

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post.

In the past few years, there has been one major central theme debated heavily by society. That is the legalization of cannabis. The once demonized plant stigmatized to cause delusions and murderous tendencies have been finally revisited and approved by government officials. As the health benefits of cannabis become more prominent, more and more stares are starting to legalize it.

In fact, legal cannabis has been taking over the market and skyrocketing in growth. During its first year of legalization in Colorado, the state earned over 700 million dollars in tax revenue. The number has since grown to more than a billion dollars a year.

The industry is now considered a mega-giant, catering to those who need it for both medical and recreational purposes. However, there is a lot more to be said about this. If you are wondering about the ins and outs of the cannabis industry and how it became such a profitable industry virtually overnight, then here are a few points to keep in mind.

A large market of products

One of the bigger reasons why cannabis has become an incredibly popular resource is the incredibly wide range of products that are available in the market right now. 

Thanks to technological advancements since the advent of legal cannabis, users are no longer only given the choice of a few ways to smoke, such as joints, water bongs and pipes, but can do so if they still choose. Many online head shops, such as Smoke Cartel, still sell water bongs, as well as the accessories needed for them, which can be viewed here. The market is so large that there are even bongs and dab rigs that look like pieces of art, which have now been labeled luxury marijuana products.

Now, there exist state-of-the-art wax vaporizers which are bound to give you a long-lasting buzz from a quick odorless hit. There are also dry herb vaporizers for the people who still enjoy the feeling of smoking.

Even for those that do not smoke, there are many new ways for them to feel the effects of cannabis. For example, cannabis edibles come in all shapes and sizes, such as ChronTella which is an infused Nutella mix, cannabis lollipops, gummy bears, and more traditionally, cookies and brownies.

For those that do not want to eat nor smoke their dry herb, there is also an option for this demographic. Through the use of tinctures, everyone can enjoy the calming effects of cannabis with a single drop of concentrate under their tongue.

With all these new inventions, cannabis is not just about smoking anymore, it is incredibly inclusive to people from all walks of life.

There are a ton of benefits

One of the biggest reasons why cannabis was legalized is because of its anti-cancer properties. However, that is not the only thing cannabis is good for. Almost like a cure all, the plant offers a ton of medical benefits to users. For example, it is well known to reduce anxiety for many people as it offers a calming effect. Medical cannabis is also proven to have properties that combat and treat mental disorders such as Tourette syndrome, PTSD, eating disorders, depression, insomnia and many more.

The vast number of medical benefits makes it incredibly appealing to many people. Because of this, the medical marijuana industry has particularly benefited from this and it has allowed people suffering from various conditions to find relief.

A lot of people smoke

You might be surprised to hear, but a lot of people smoke. In fact, a poll done in 2020 suggests that up to 25% of US citizens have admitted to using cannabis on a regular basis. ¼ of the US enjoys the herb, and if infrequent users are added into the mix, then this percentage goes much higher.

Moreover, the number of users has only been continuously increasing as more and more cannabis dispensaries, lounges and paraphernalia shops are starting to pop out all around the country. Also, as the stigma relating to cannabis has been proven a false lie by the government, it serves as a bolster to further empower many people’s new outlook on the drug.

It is not only about THC

Cannabis is not just about getting high. There is so much more to just THC, namely CBD, which is the main component of cannabis’ health benefits. It is being use in a variety of ways other than treating mental illnesses. For example, CBD is used in skincare products, topicals, creams for sores and much more. Furthermore, CBD is not psychoactive, so it is more widely available than marijuana as it does not necessarily break drug laws.

This past Saturday the 47th Annual NYC Cannabis Parade and Rally attracted an enthusiastic crowd that openly smoked marijuana despite it being illegal in New York state. The rally was excited to have New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon speak to the crowd at Union Square. It was also nice to see the women in cannabis represented at the event by the networking organization Women Grow and women-owned Etain Health.

Statements from other speakers were as follows:

History

The event was founded by the Yippies (Youth International Party) in 1971. It has served as the flagship for the multi-decade mass movement for cannabis legalization and has taken place in various locations around the city over the years, including Washington Square Park, Battery Park and Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. The Event moved to Union Square Park in 2012. The mission of the event is to promote marijuana legalization federally and specifically in the New York Metro area, end discriminatory arrest practices and the mass incarceration of citizens and improve the state’s overly restricted medical cannabis program. The NYC Cannabis Parade & Rally is the founding chapter of the Global Marijuana March, which takes place in hundreds of cities in the U.S. and around the world in May and June.