Budpost is a cannabis opinion column that may include mentions of weed and other drugs. Reader discretion is advised. Please use responsibly.
Marijuana used to be simple. You either smoked it, got hungry and fell asleep, or you didn’t. Now, weed has turned into an entire menu of options, and somehow, everyone has become an expert overnight.
From joints to gummies to vape pens that never seem to leave someone’s hand, the way people consume marijuana has become almost as important as the high itself.
Let's be honest: people act like weed is some casual hobby, like knitting or journaling. But marijuana isn’t just weed anymore; it’s basically a full-on lifestyle industry. The problem is, some people are treating THC like it’s a vitamin supplement.
There’s flower, the most notable form of indulgence, as well as carts, edibles, concentrates, drinks and whatever else the dispensary made up in the back room to make people feel like productive members of society.
I’m not judging, really, I'm not, I’m just saying we should probably admit the way you consume weed says a lot about you. Like, a lot.
Let's start with the tried and true: flower. Smoking a joint or packing a bowl is the old reliable. It’s the “I don't need anything fancy” option when it comes to marijuana. You light up, you get high in a few minutes, you vibe, you snack, then you stare at your ceiling fan for an hour like it’s giving you life advice.
A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on marijuana use concluded that of the 138,625 respondents, 79.4% cited smoking as their most prevalent use of marijuana. Don't get me wrong, smoking flower is iconic, and my preferred method, but it comes at a cost.
Though offering a rapid high due to direct absorption into the bloodstream, taking just minutes, the effects peak quickly and don’t last as long as other intake methods. This makes the complementary skunk perfume often not worth it.
Although smell can be a turnoff, bigger issues can emerge from choosing to smoke marijuana. If you are smoking daily, your lungs are definitely clocking your actions.
The coughing, the throat burn and the wheezing when you laugh too hard, it’s not just “a part of the experience,” that’s your body begging you to chill. No one should be hacking their soul out of their body every time they take a hit.
If coughing up your lungs doesn't sound like fun to you, there is a new wave of devices that have taken over the market. Don’t worry, though, it still makes you cough, but you can play games on them, so it makes up for it.
Vape carts are the new modern menace taking over the smokers' lifestyle, and are made for people who want to get high the way that they check their phone, constantly and without thinking.
The “pen” is always in the pocket, always within reach and always getting hit like it owes you money. What makes carts so dangerous is the fact that marijuana grown for THC distillation uses up to 66 pesticides and thousands of other unauthorized chemicals.
Carts also mess up your tolerance, or at least mine does. One minute you are taking a hit and giggling with your friends, the next minute you are hitting it ten times in a row just to feel something.
The high from carts can be weird too. Instead of relaxing, I just feel mentally scrambled. The use of THC in carts and weed vapes can lead to increased feelings of anxiety and depression when all you wanted was a high with your five friends.
Carts are like that toxic situationship. Convenient? Yes. Worth it? Depends on how much you like suffering.
Then we have the chaos queen of marijuana: edibles. Edibles are either for people who have self-control or absolutely don’t: there is no in-between.
Suddenly, you’re sweating, your heartbeat feels like you're standing under the speakers in Red Brick's basement and you're convinced that your friends hate you. Congratulations, you have entered the edible dimension.
The problem with edibles is they don’t just get you high; they get you so high to the point you question if gravity has a personal vendetta against you. But once you are there, you're stuck for hours. Smoking gives you a quick rise and fall, an enjoyable high, but edibles lock you in and there is nowhere to go.
It’s never just “let’s take an edible and chill,” it’s always “pop this and let’s go out into the world and interact with people.” Some people can handle it, but others end up in the bathroom at Bob’s Bar, having a spiritual crisis.
I’m not saying weed is automatically a good or a bad thing; it’s just not as innocent as people act like it is. The culture surrounding marijuana used to be simple: you smoked, you got high and you went on with your life.
But now it feels like there is a product for every personality type, every mood and every occasion. People are indulging as part of their routine.
If you want to indulge, then indulge. But at least know what you are signing up for because weed isn’t just weed anymore. It’s a menu, and some of you are ordering as if you’ve never heard of moderation.
BudPost is a cannabis opinion column that does not reflect the views of The Post. Have thoughts? Email the Editor in Chief at editor@thepostathens.com
