Oh Canada! We are the first developed country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis. With our second year of legal sales wrapping up, we have more ways than ever to enjoy weed in Canada. 

If you don’t have a lot of experience with weed in Canada, where do you get started? Sure, you can roll a joint or pack a pipe, but these days the big wide world of cannabis offers a lot more than that. In Canada, there are weed vapes, dab rigs, tinctures and edibles for you to explore

Smokable Blunts and Joints

Blunts and joints are the old standby. It’s how most of us were introduced to cannabis, long before the days of legal weed in Canada. 

Joints are essentially marijuana filled cigarettes, rolled as small or as big as you want. A perfectly rolled blunt is a thing to behold, and it’s no wonder why so many people continue to love the ritual of rolling a joint.

Most of the time, joints and blunts contain ground-up bud. But of course, weed smokers are a creative bunch. You can also sprinkle in hash or kief or a dab of concentrate in your blunt before lighting up. Others have a habit of rolling a “spliff” that includes tobacco with weed— although there are health repercussions with this combination. 

Pipes, Bongs, and Bubblers

Another highly smokable method relies on a pipe, a bong, or a bubbler. These are glass, metal, or ceramic tools that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The simplest include a mouthpiece, a chamber, and a bowl. 

First, pack ground flower into the bowl, place your mouth around the end. Second, light the bowl with a flame and slowly inhale.

Pipes and bongs deliver bigger hits of cannabis smoke than is possible with a joint or blunt. Depending on the size of the chamber, it could mean massive hits. Again, you can also sprinkle in some added treats, like hash, kief, or a concentrate.

Vaporizers, Big and Small

A decade ago, you’d be happy if you found a Volcano, the first tabletop vaporizer. Now, there are hundreds of vaporizer devices available. From stationary vaporizers like the Arizer Extreme or the Arizer V-Tower to the handheld portal options, like the Da Vinci IQ and the Pax, the world is turning to vaping in a big way.

Vaping uses temperature control to target cannabinoids and terpenes. By hitting lower temperatures, vaporizers aim to evaporate these compounds into a vapour instead of smoke. According to the research, vaping is healthier for your lungs than smoking. It also is a tastier experience because it preserves the terpenes.

Vaporizers work with flower, with some also designed to work with cannabis concentrates. These devices are refillable, rechargeable but come at a steeper price tag than Canada’s weed vapes.

Canada’s Magnificent Weed Vape Pens

Love the benefits of vaping, but need something that’s more affordable, smaller, and less of a hassle? THC Vape pens are the solution. These are small vaporizers which come prefilled with the concentrate of your choice. 

Each vape pen has two distinct parts, the battery pack and the cart. Some weed pens are disposable, but as we are all trying to cut down on waste, look for rechargeable options with refillable carts. 

Weed pens appear in two categories: CBD vapes and THC vapes. Within these categories, you’ll find many different types of concentrates, depending on your preference. 

Do you want a smooth vapour with delicious flavour? Look for live resin products, which come packed full of terpenes. More interested in potency over flavour? Stick with shatter pens and distillate pens. These contain very high concentrations of THC (or CBD).

Dabble in Dabs

Dabs are a relatively new way to get big hits of medicine. Dabbing requires a dab rig, a dabber, a dab nail, and a dome. You’ll also need a torch. Cannabis concentrates are the ideal candidate for dabbing. Thicker concentrates, like waves, crumbles, and shatters, are easier to handle than those with a looser consistency, such as live resin and terp sauce. But, ultimately, any concentrate will work.

Dabs are perfect for taking big hits efficiently. But, what is dabbing: smoking or vaping? For a long time, dabbing was thought to vaporize cannabis concentrates, but because dabbing relies on extremely high temperatures, we now know better. The high temperatures do burn some of the material. One dab will likely contain some marijuana vapour, and some smoke. 

Tinctures and Oils

A more medicinal approach to cannabis comes in a liquid format: THC tinctures and CBD oils. These require no inhalation and absolutely no risk to your respiratory tract. Producers extract valuable cannabinoids and terpenes into a carrier oil. Extractions are combined in a carrier, like MCT oil or alcohol. Tinctures and oils make dosing easy, discreet and predictable.

Tasty Cannabis-Infused Edibles

Finally, one of the most popular legal options for weed in Canada is cannabis-infused foods. Edibles travel through the digestive tract instead of through the respiratory system. Thus, the effects are sometimes slow to come on, but they are powerful and last for hours longer than anything smoked.

These days, edibles come in a million different formats, like gummies, chocolates, baked goods, and beverages. If you can dream it, it’s already gotten the edible treatment. Edibles make dosing easy, although newbies can easily overdo it. Stay low, and go slow with edibles.

Weed in Canada, Welcome to a New Frontier

Whether you are a big fan of Canada’s extensive vape pens or hooked on the powers of edibles, the weed world has a lot going on right now. 

According to surveys’, smoking weed is still the preferred method of consumption. But, in our opinion, this likely won’t be for long. 

We find that the beauty of cannabis comes down to the options. There are unlimited flavours, potencies and strain profiles. There are also incredible new routes of administration that didn’t exist in decades past. All these options help you build a fun, uplifting and personalized experience.