How To Smoke Weed

Trying cannabis for the first time can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when it comes to choosing how to consume it. Traditional smoking methods like joints, blunts, pipes, and bongs remain widely used, offering a quick and familiar way to experience the effects.

However, if you're looking for gentler options, smoke-free alternatives such as edibles, tinctures, and vaporizers may be better suited for your needs. Although many enjoy the recreational and therapeutic aspects of getting high, it’s important to recognize that cannabis smoke—much like tobacco—contains tar and chemicals that can irritate the lungs and potentially impact respiratory health.

Whether you're curious about the differences between methods or just figuring out where to begin, understanding the pros and cons can help you make a more informed choice. Here's a breakdown of what to consider.

Blunts

Blunts are similar in construction to joints but are typically larger and burn more slowly. The key difference lies in the wrap—blunts use cigar or blunt wraps made from tobacco leaves, which means they also deliver nicotine. A 2010 study found that nicotine in these wraps led to higher levels of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream, which can cause symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and headaches.

How to Roll and Smoke a Blunt

1. Start by breaking up your cannabis with your fingers or a grinder, removing any seeds or stems.
2. Carefully slice a cigar or blunt lengthwise using a sharp blade, or gently unravel a pre-made blunt wrap.
3. If you're using a cigar, empty the tobacco from the inside.
4. Lightly moisten the wrap to make it more pliable and easier to roll.
5. Evenly spread your ground cannabis along the center of the wrap.
6. Roll the wrap between your fingers, tucking as you go to form a tight, cylindrical shape.
7. Once rolled, light one end and enjoy.

Joints

Joints are among the most common and classic methods of cannabis consumption. They’re made by filling a rolling paper—usually made from rice, hemp, or traditional paper—with ground cannabis. Many people also choose to include a filter or “crutch” to make holding and smoking easier and to avoid burning their fingertips.

How to Roll and Smoke a Joint

1. Begin by breaking up your cannabis with a grinder or your hands, making sure to discard any stems or seeds.
2. If you'd like to use a filter, take a thin strip of cardboard, fold one end in a zigzag pattern, then roll it into a tight cylinder to fit inside the rolling paper.
3. Hold your rolling paper lengthwise and place the filter on one end, then evenly spread the ground cannabis along the center.
4. Pinch the paper and gently roll it between your fingers to form either a straight tube or a cone.
5. Seal the edge of the paper by licking it lightly and pressing it closed.
6. Light the tip, inhale through the filter, and enjoy.

Important Tip: Be mindful of the type of rolling paper you use. Papers that are flavored, bleached, or marketed as “quick-burning” may contain chemicals and additives that could irritate your lungs. Choosing natural, unprocessed papers—such as unbleached or hemp-based options—can reduce exposure to unwanted substances. If you’re concerned about inhaling paper-related toxins altogether, smoke-free alternatives like glass pipes or water bongs may be better options.

Bong

Bongs—also known as water pipes—are devices designed to filter and cool cannabis smoke using water. This cooling effect often allows for deeper inhalation and larger clouds compared to joints, blunts, or standard hand pipes.

A typical bong includes a bowl for holding cannabis and a downstem, a small glass tube that guides the smoke into the water chamber. When you inhale, the smoke is pulled through the water, where it’s cooled and slightly filtered before rising through the neck of the bong and reaching your mouth. While many users believe this method is gentler on the lungs, some research notes indicate that bongs may not significantly reduce toxin exposure.

How to Use a Bong

1. Fill the base with enough water to fully submerge the end of the downstem.
2. Grind or crumble your cannabis, making sure to remove any seeds or stems.
3. Loosely pack the bowl about halfway to ensure good airflow.
4. Place your lips around the mouthpiece.
5. Light the cannabis in the bowl while gently inhaling. Smoke will travel through the water and collect in the chamber.
6. Once the chamber fills with smoke, remove the bowl piece to allow for a clean inhale and draw the smoke into your lungs.

Pipe

Pipes—often called bowls or spoons—are among the most straightforward tools for smoking cannabis. Compact and easy to use, a typical pipe features a bowl for holding the herb, a stem that channels the smoke, and a mouthpiece for inhalation. Many designs also include a carb hole, a small opening near the bowl that allows you to control airflow and clear the pipe of smoke during use.

How to Smoke Using a Pipe

1. Use your fingers or a grinder to break up the cannabis, discarding any seeds or stems.
2. Gently fill the bowl about halfway, leaving enough space for air to pass through. Avoid packing it too tightly, or you may have trouble drawing smoke.
3. Place your lips on the mouthpiece and hold a lighter to the bowl as you begin to inhale.
4. If your pipe has a carb, cover it with your finger while lighting and starting your draw. This traps smoke inside the chamber.
5. Once enough smoke builds up, release the carb to let fresh air in and inhale the smoke fully into your lungs.

Summary

Although cannabis offers numerous potential health benefits, medical experts consistently caution that smoking—regardless of the substance—can irritate the lungs and throat.

“Those with heart or lung conditions may want to explore oral cannabis options, such as tinctures or edibles, to minimize potential risks,” explains Nicolas Schlienz, PhD.

 Emerging research also suggests that cannabis use during early pregnancy could influence birth weight, though further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Smoke-Free Alternatives to Cannabis

Vaping: Vaping heats cannabis flower or concentrates to a point where vapor—not smoke—is produced. “For those who prefer inhalation, vaping offers a less harsh option,” says Woodcock. “It avoids the harmful byproducts created through combustion and is typically easier on the respiratory system.” That said, always purchase from trusted dispensaries to steer clear of unsafe additives.

Topicals: Cannabis topicals are designed for external use and are absorbed through the skin. These products come in the form of balms, creams, oils, patches, and lotions, and are commonly used for targeted relief without producing a high.

Edibles: Cannabis-infused foods, oils, candies, and tinctures provide a discreet and inhalation-free way to consume THC or CBD. Effects from edibles take longer to set in—typically 30 to 90 minutes—but they tend to last much longer, often between 4 to 6 hours.