I felt guilty as I ground the bud to dust between my fingers. It was perfectly trimmed, you see, a showcase cola that had obviously been intended for smoking, and here I was smashing it to bits and drowning it in Ever-clear.
Normally, I wouldn’t make tincture out of top shelf bud, but these are not normal times. I crushed away until my beautiful quarter ounce was reduced to sludge at the bottom of a mason jar full of booze.
I had two goals in mind:
- Use up my stash before it went stale
- Eliminate my temptation to smoke pot
According to a study by The Chinese Medical Journal, smokers infected with the corona virus are 14 times more likely to develop serious complications. The FDA confirms that smoking increases risk, which is kind of a no brainer considering that COVID-19 is a pulmonary disease.
These studies pertain to cigarette smoke, but cannabis smoke is no joke either. Dr. Mitchell Glass, a pulmonologist and spokesperson for the American Lung Association, explains, "Marijuana burns at a much, much lower temperature than a commercially made cigarette.
Because of that, the person is inhaling a certain amount of unburnt plant material.This irritates the lungs, much in the same way that tree pollen aggravates people with allergies.
Unless you’re taking a bong rip every five minutes, you’re probably not inhaling as much smoke as your typical nicotine addict. But weed smokers tend to inhale harder and hold the smoke for longer.
Which is one of the reasons that we stoners are prone to bronchitis. And even if you never develop COVID-19, these awkward times for a chronic cough. So it’s time to put down that jay and think about smoking alternatives. Because, get real, we need pot to get through this.
What Is A Cannabis Concentrate?
Concentrate is an umbrella term for a potent product derived from cannabis. From hashish to kief, concentrates have been around for a long time. But new technologies have created a dizzying array of options: shatter, wax, live resin, sauce, diamonds…Dabbing is the most popular way to consume concentrates.
A general term for heating and inhaling a cannabis concentrate, dabbing has a mixed reputation.
One popular method involves heating a nail with a blow torch and using the nail to liquify a cannabis concentrate for inhalation.
Nails and blowtorches may sound hardcore, but it’s an efficient way to get high and thus a viable option in the era of COVID-19. Although dabbing does impact the lungs, one inhalation may suffice, which means less stress to the lungs.
Will Vaping Increase My Risk Of Getting Covid-19?
Vaping, or the act of inhaling the heated THC or CBD-laden aerosol produced by a vape pen or other device, has long been considered a more healthful alternative to smoking. Until recently, when adulterated vape products caused a string of deaths. However, this scandal has increased awareness of adulterated products and created more oversight.
When it comes to Covid-19 safety, the FDA originally lumped smoking and vaping into the same category, but in a statement to Bloomberg News (April 14, 2020), they modified this stance saying “E-cigarette use can expose the lungs to toxic chemicals, but whether those exposures increase the risk of Covid-19 is not known.”
So vaping is not the perfect solution, but it’s likely better than smoking and it’s an appealing alternative if inhaling and exhaling is an important part of your cannabis ritual.
If you’re going this route, you’ll want to invest in a high-quality vape pen (like a Pax 3) and buy your cartridges from a regulated dispensary. Talk to your bud-tender to confirm that you’re getting a product that’s free of harmful additives like Vitamin E acetate.
THC and CBD edibles
Edibles, or cannabis-infused food, are a fun and tasty way to get high. Pot brownies are the classic, but these days you can find all manner of THC and CBD-infused goodies at your local dispensary--from gummy bears to cake pops.
And if you’re haunted by some hazy memory of getting too messed up on a pot rice crispy treat in college, never fear!
If you buy edibles at a dispensary, dosages are easy to manage. Start low (say 2.5 mg of THC) and work your way up to your perfect high. Just be sure to keep some other snacks on hand in case you get the munchies. (You don’t want to make the rookie mistake of munching on your own supply.)
Some of our favorite edibles are Wyld gummies, Gron chocolates, and Mr. Moxey’s Mints. Here’s more reviews and recommendations.
Will Topicals Get Me High?
The short answer is no. In this context, a topical is a lotion, oil, or cream made with cannabis. Typically high in CBD, topicals absorb through the skin for pain relief and relaxation.
They will not get you high, but they could be a useful part of your self-care arsenal.
Is Weed Tincture Safe?
Cannabis tincture is a safe alternative to smoking, provided that you’re careful about your dosages.
A tincture is a concentrated herbal extract made by dissolving a plant in alcohol.
CBD tincture is available over-the-counter or online, but the more potent (and regulated) product is the full-spectrum stuff you can find at a licensed cannabis retailer, which also sell THC tinctures. Or make cannabis tincture at home with high-octane booze, an amber or blue mason jar, and your own stash!