The Healthiest Ways to Consume Cannabis
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There isn’t enough evidence to conclusively determine which is the healthiest method of cannabis consumption. At this time, this lack of data makes it difficult to decide which methods are definitively healthy or otherwise.
That said, a growing number of studies and anecdotal evidence have given the public a loose understanding about which are the healthiest methods to consume cannabis.
Samuel Meyers, a Cannabis Researcher for the hemp company Glacier Wellness, told Nugg that two major factors should be considered: the avoidance of negative effects which may be present and bioavailability, or “how much of a given substance is absorbed by the body and accessible for systemic circulation.”
In other cases, respondents cited past articles from reputable sources as the basis of their opinions.
Like much of the cannabis consuming public, our subjects’ healthy consumption choices are all based on science-backed evidence. To what extent, however, varies by the opinion. While the market inches closer to definitive conclusions, uncertainty still remains.
Some of the healthiest ways to consume cannabis:
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Vaping
Meyers explained that the combination of the two significant factors is why vaping is so widespread today. He added, “In practice, vaporizing heats up cannabis close to its combustion point which effectively skyrockets its bioavailability and circumvents many of the harmful consequences of smoking.”
Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard College and Harvard Medical graduate, now runs InhaleMD Health and Wellness. Dr. Tishler also noted that vaporizing can be a safer alternative to others.
Nevertheless, not every consumable is the same. She said that flower heated to 350°F allows for little to no combustion.
With oil cartridges, however, vaporization could be harmful. Dr. Tishler pointed towards additives from polyethylene glycol to terpenes to MCT oil that all could pose health risks.
In addition to additives, the lack of accurate heating temperatures was also a potential concern.
As such, Dr. Tishler considers flower the healthiest option.
“Clearly vaporizing flower is the safest alternative…Between vaping oil and smoking, it’s unclear which is safer, but why would you do either when you can vape flower?”
Edibles
Edibles are a popular choice among medical and recreational users.
The effects aren’t felt until the body has digested and metabolized the food, often taking 30 to 90 minutes. Those seeking a prolonged, higher potent relief benefit from these effects.
However, they can also lead to overdosing if a consumer is impatient and consumes additional doses.
Amanda Winn Lee, the creator and host of A Mom’s Guide to Cannabis, tells Nugg that all kinds of cannabis consumption is safe.
After years of using herself, as well as eight collective years in cancer research, Winn Lee recognizes the benefits of edibles while acknowledging the risks.
“Sometimes [edibles] take up to 2 hours to kick in, and people get tired of waiting and ingest more.”
She adds, “It’s physically impossible to overdose on cannabis to a point of death, but it can make you really sick if you ingest too much.”
Tinctures
Tinctures are the strained end result of cannabis flower being soaked in strong alcohol. These alcohol-based cannabis extracts are some of the more popular choices among users seeking smoke-free alternatives.
They can be ingested on their own or be paired with a number of foods and beverages.
Aside from the standard adverse side effects of using cannabis, tinctures have no large-scale health concerns to date.
Pills
Decarboxylized pills have seen a sharp rise in popularity in recent years. Consumers choose pills for their discretion as well as their accurate dosing. Doctors also appreciate accuracy when it comes to prescribing cannabis.
“Capsules offer an element of simplicity, allowing healthcare practitioners to prescribe an exact milligram amount to a patient,” Dr. Kishan Mahabir told The Growth Op last year.
Pills provide accurate dosages and similar effects as edibles. Unlike edibles, though, a pill ensures that the consumer knows what dose they are taking.
Smoking
Cannabis smoke and cigarettes may appear the same. However, they seem to be quite the opposite when in our bodies.
Dr. Tishler explained that “We know that cannabis smoke, like tobacco smoke, contains enormous numbers of carcinogenic chemicals that would seem best avoided. However, empirical evidence seems to point to cannabis smoke being somehow different from tobacco smoke.”
She cited Donald P. Taskin’s decades-long study of recreational users which found that “habitual use of marijuana alone does not appear to lead to significant abnormalities in lung function when assessed either cross-sectionally or longitudinally.”
While most studies appear to agree that cannabis smoke presents little or no harm, its side effects can still present issues one would want to avoid.
In their 2015 article, Mallory Loflin, MA and Mitch Earleywine, PhD noted:
“Smoking marijuana does not harm lung function as dramatically as smoking tobacco does. Links between smoking marijuana and actual lung cancer are weak and difficult to replicate. Nevertheless, the habit clearly increases symptoms of respiratory irritation such as tightness in the chest, wheezing and coughing.”
They went on to explain that stronger cannabis extracts, often used in dabs, may cause more problems, but additional studies would be needed to find a definitive answer.
Solvent or Solvent-Free?
To create concentrates for dabbing, smoking, eating and other applications, a producer must extract the oil from the plant. This is done using a variety of methods. Some methods involve solvents like butane, alcohol and several others.
However, DIY heat plate technology and bubble hash extraction allow for products to be consumed without any chemicals involved.
Solvent extractors often rely on the removal of the solvents in their final products. Meanwhile, detractors point to chemicals being used in the process at all. At this time, while concern still abounds, solvents have not been found to be dangerous to a person’s health.
What Do I Choose?
We can’t definitively say which consumption method is the healthiest. While there are possible health risks to any method, nothing is certain.
Some may love vaping while others fear it could give them popcorn lung. Smoking flower is fine to most, but the effects of combustion are a concern to others.
Meanwhile edibles and pills provide time-released relief, both can be overdosed by impatient consumers.
Regardless of the negatives, each of the methods above has myriads of positives. For that reason, the choice has to come down to you, the user.
You have to determine which is the optimal way to consume and feel your best. If you want to avoid mildly questionable methods, pills or tinctures may be best. In other cases, the unconfirmed notions surrounding smoking and vaping aren’t enough to change your preferences.
It’s always best to stay informed and use the most recent and reputable findings to understand the evidence. Consider your own preferences and feelings as well.
While the industry builds itself up into the informed powerhouse it will become, all consumers can do is make the best decisions based on the knowledge they have.
Absolute Xtracts Review: Vape Pen, Cartridges, Soft Gels, Oil & Honey Straws
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Need a new vape pen or looking for something edible? Keep reading this post ad you’ll find a detailed AbsoluteXtracts review covering each of the company’s many medical cannabis offerings.
What you'll learn in this post:
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Company Background
AbsoluteXtracts (ABX) is a flourishing NorCal cannabis company that prides itself on providing patients with pure, potent, and safe cannabis concentrates. Their diverse range of products are fully lab tested, labeled, and come “doctor recommended,” although it’s best to take such a statement with a grain of salt.
As with any marijuana concentrate, the extraction process starts with the cannabis plant. With ABX, all their plants are grown and closely tended to in greenhouses and on small family owned farms across Northern California. They’re tested for viruses, bacteria, molds, and pesticides before being dried, cured and processed. The company uses high pressure CO2 to extract the cannabis oil and meticulous techniques to protect the cannabis terpenes, giving each strain its own unique smell, taste and effects.
Below is a detailed examination of their product line, we hope it’ll help you find a remedy for what ails you.
Vape Pen
This portable vaporizer pen is simple to use and supplemented by a huge array of vaporizer cartridges available for purchase. Each cartridge touts organic oils that contain no additives or preservatives and only local, lab tested, high-quality cannabis.
Price:
The ABX vape pen is sturdy and retails for $20-$30, but lightweight enough to carry in your pocket or purse. It even comes in a durable padded soft or hard case, depending on your aesthetic or practical preference, with cushioned pockets for the charger, battery, and a single cartridge. You can throw or toss it almost anywhere without worrying about breakage or leakage!
How to Use It:
Plus, the ABX pen is super easy to use. The auto-draw feature allows for quick and easy activation; simply press down and inhale as the small red lights flash and enjoy! Just be aware, it’s best to take lighter, more frequent pulls than to take long, heavy hits that can cause an irritated throat.
The pen operates on a 510 thread battery (industry standard) that can be used interchangeably with many other vape cartridge brands if needed. Once fully charged, the battery provides almost 400 hits, which makes it perfect for out-and-about extended usage. But just so you know, each ABX vape cartridge typically gives ~200 hits, so you’ll need to carry two cartridges with you to max out the battery life on this bad boy!
Vape Cartridges
Let’s take a second to talk about the ABX cartridges since they’re what makes the real magic happen.
How It’s Made:
Every ABX cartridge is pre-loaded with 100% pure CO2 oil that contains 70% active THC, making it one of the highest THC concentrations available for cartridges. Not only that, but each cartridge is made with metal and superior plastic, making it significantly more durable and less prone to leaking than other brands. They’re available in eighteen distinct, delicious strains to help with almost any medical ailment or mood without sacrificing quality for quantity.
Price:
ABX Vape cartridges retail for anywhere from $35-$65, and sometimes vary by that much solely based on the strain held within. This is the time to use Nugg’s search function to find and compare prices for AbsoluteXtracts at your local dispensaries.
Flavors/Strains:
- Grape Stomper: a sweet sativa-dominant hybrid.
- Blue Dream: a euphoric sativa-dominant hybrid.
- Sour Diesel: an energetic sativa.
- Green Dragon: a sweet, piney indica.
- Blackberry Kush: an earthy, berry indica.
- OG Kush: a mellow, woody hybrid.
- Cherry Pie: a fruity indica-dominant hybrid.
- Girl Scout Cookies: a sweet hybrid.
- Chem Dawg: a pungent hybrid.
- Blue Jaw Way: fruity, spicy indica with high CBD content.
- ACDC: an earthy indica also high in CBD.
- Gorilla Glue: a pungent hybrid that’s quickly risen to become one of America’s favorite strains.
There are two newer strains created in collaboration with Emerald Cup Extracts Group: Berry White, a sweet hybrid, and Royal Kush, a citrusy, earthy hybrid.
Sleek, discreet, and simple to use, the ABX vape pen and cartridges are perfect for anyone who’s watching their wallet without sacrificing quality or flavor, enjoys the ease of using a vaporizer over traditional smoking methods, and seeks medical benefits for a variety of ailments.
Soft Gel Capsules
If you don’t like smoking, vaping, extra calories, or are simply on the go, ABX Softgels are the perfect remedy for you. Each bottle contains 24 capsules, available in 10mg ($50), 25mg (around $70) and 50mg (about $100) THC doses. I’ve seen the price disparity fluctuate so use Nugg to find the best deal near you.
They also include tasty organic coconut oil to improve absorption, making sure your body harnesses their full effect. Simply pop a nondescript pill, wash it down with any non-alcoholic drink, and wait at least two hours for it to take full effect.
While some say it’s best to ingest on an empty stomach (for more dramatic effects), I recommend having a full belly beforehand, as an empty stomach could induce queasiness and even vomiting—a waste of great medication and money.
I’d start with one 25mg pill then, depending on your degree of pain, re-medicate every three to five hours. The price might seem steep, but it’s well worth it for their simplicity, effectiveness, and reliability. Highly recommended.
Oil Extract
Available in indica and sativa, these extract syringes contain a whopping 500mg (0.5mL) of CO2 extracted pure cannabis oil in an already measured, easy to squeeze syringe for exact dosage, so you don’t have to worry about under or over medicating.
Unlike the vape cartridges, this versatile oil is best utilized for dabbing, cooking, baking, and applying topically on any unsightly bruises, cuts or sores.
When cooking be sure that the ratio is exact and applicable to the size/amount of the dish you’re making or baking. For topical application simply rub the oil into the affected area three times a day and bandage; you should see a noticeable difference, depending on the wound’s severity, in anywhere from a few days to a week.
These syringe-style extracts retail at just $25-$30, so I recommend buying one of each; that way you get more bang for your buck and can do a lot more kitchen and first-aid experimentation.
By the way, ABX is one of the first brands we’ve seen reported by users as having healing properties when applied topically to injuries (although that may be because of it’s easy topical application, not the oil itself).
Sublingual Spray
If you’re a consumer who appreciates convenience, speed, and being discreet with your cannabis consumption, look no further than ABX’s line of sublingual sprays. They’re powerful, fast acting, and great for on-the-go medicating.
Dose Amount & Price:
Available in both sativa and indica strains, the spray bottles come in 15mL (90 sprays) and 5mL bottles (30 sprays). The 15mL bottles retail for about $40, while the 5mL go for about $20. But again, prices vary from dispensary to dispensary, so do your research (or just use Nugg) to compare prices at different dispensaries near you.
How to Use a Sublingual Spray:
Remember to always shake the bottle beforehand, as the ingredients will separate quickly, then simply squirt under the tongue (sublingually) and hold for about a minute before swallowing. About three to fifteen minutes later you should begin to feel its soothing effects, which are advertised to last 1-2 hours.
While some sprays require frequent dosing to compensate for lack of strength, you only need two sprays from an ABX sublingual to produce a mild high. It’ll make you more focused and aware—perfect to truck through the work day without distraction or fatigue.
Should you need higher dosage, three to four sprays will create a more relaxing body high, while five sprays can spark euphoria (and sometimes paranoia)—probably not the best option for a day at the office. Remember, it’s always best to start small when considering your cannabis dosing.
Honey Straws
Honey that gets you high? And looks like a Pixie Stick? Count me in!
Dose Amount:
These oil infused straws are made with local, organic honey, 100% pure cannabis oil and coconut oil. Available in 10, 20, and 40mg doses of indica or sativa, they contain the same 70% active THC (like all ABX products).
Price:
They cost anywhere from $7 to $10, but if you have a high tolerance it’s likely you could probably find a way to get more bang for your buck with a different product. After all, it’s really the convenience and novelty you’re paying for here.
How to Consume:
Enjoying an ABX Honey Straw is as easy as shooting it straight out of the straw into almost any food or drink—or directly into your mouth! For the best experience, I recommend adding it to tea, yogurt, milk, fruit salads, shakes—pretty much anything that could use an extra kick!
These travel size straws are also perfect for public consumption without drawing unwarranted attention; just take off the label and medicate. Nobody will know, they’ll just think you have a sweet tooth!
The effects should be noticeable in anywhere from a half-hour to two hours, depending on your tolerance, so regardless of the dosage don’t suck down this nectar in one sitting. Take your time, enjoy the flavor and one of the most creative ways there is to medicate.
Grow for Vets Charity
In addition to creating an affordable line of potent, quality and diverse cannabis products, AbsoluteXtracts also sponsors the non-profit Grow For Vets’ “Save a Million Vets” program. This nationwide tour focuses on helping millions of our troubled American veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), to leave war behind and get back to normal life.
For every vape cartridge sold AbsoluteXtracts will also donate an extra $2 to the tour. So remember, purchasing ABX products means helping our boys, so we should all do our part.
To Recap
Well, there you have it, a complete AbsoluteXtracts review detailing the brand, products, and user’s actual experiences with AbsoluteXtracts.
As always, it’s best for you to decide for yourself if AbsoluteXtracts products are right for you. You can find them on the shelves of most dispensaries, or simply visit Getnugg.com, the GrubHub of medical marijuana delivery, and have Absolute’s cartridges, honey straws, gel caps and more delivered at your door in about an hour.
Nugg delivery is available in over 60 California cities, and provides online research and thousands of products from local cannabis dispensaries, with 24/7 customer service and no cost to you. Register now for free home delivery!
