Every stoner begins as a novice, and learning how to inhale weed is usually the first step of their journey. Since breathing is a natural process that occurs thousands of times per day, it's strange to contemplate "how to inhale." Nevertheless, all first-time smokers start somewhere, and proper breathing techniques are essential to maximizing the cannabis experience.
If you're new to smoking cannabis, learn how to properly inhale it to avoid coughing and a rough inhalation so you can make the most of every cannabis hit.
How to inhale weed properly
Most first-timers hit their joints like they're smoking a cigarette without actually breathing the smoke into their lungs. If the smoke isn't fully inhaled into the lungs, it will only travel into the throat and nasal passages, which don't absorb a lot of THC, thus wasting precious cannabinoids. This is why many first-time tokers fail to get high.
Proper inhalation techniques stem from the same basic principles and vary slightly depending on whether you're smoking a joint, hitting a bong, or using a vaporizer. When lighting up flower, you're burning cannabis to the point of combustion and inhaling the smoke to deliver cannabinoids into your bloodstream.
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Smoking can be painful for the lungs, so it's important to take slow, measured draws to minimize irritation. Start with shallow inhalations and draw more deeply as you progress and become more comfortable. After your first toke, consider waiting 5-10 minutes to observe the onset of effects and then deciding whether you need more.
A handy technique to ensure your lungs absorb the maximum amount of THC is to slowly inhale about two-thirds of your hit and follow up with a deep, inhaled gulp of air. The fresh air pushes the cannabis smoke deeper down into the lungs and should improve THC absorption. There's no need to hold your inhale for long—THC and other cannabinoids may act as bronchodilators, which means they increase airflow, speeding absorption.
How to avoid inhaling too much
Some cannabis consumption methods are more harsh than others. Blunts and spliffs include tobacco, which damages the lungs. Joints and pipes, which contain cannabis only, may be less harmful. Similarly, smoking weed out of a bong or bubbler cools the otherwise harsh cannabis smoke by filtering it through water.
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Start slow as you pull through your pipe or bong, gulping a breath of fresh air after you clear the chamber. The gulp helps you absorb the THC fully. You can always take deeper hits as you become more comfortable and understand how to control your dose.
How to inhale cannabis from a vaporizer
Vaporizing weed is less harsh on the lungs than smoking, but many cannabis consumers report a more intense high with this method. Cannabis vaporizes at a much lower temperature than when burned, thus preserving the cannabinoids and terpenes otherwise lost in combustion.
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When vaping cannabis, whether in oil or flower form, it's better to take shallower hits and hold them for slightly less time than you would hold cannabis smoke. Take time between hits to assess how you feel and decide whether you'd like to consume more.
Written by Lesley Nickus | Featured image by Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
