Edibles vs Smoking vs THC Drinks

So, you want to get high, but how?

With so many advancements in legislation around cannabis and hemp, it is easier than ever to walk into a store and buy cannabis products or order them online.

The question is what method is best suited to you?

Do you want to eat cannabis gummies, nibble on a brownie, smoke a fatty, or casually sip on a THC seltzer?

Each of these methods has its benefits and drawbacks which we’ll discuss in this article.

What Are Legal Edibles?

Edibles are what we call any kind of cannabis product that you can eat. Be it a brownie, cookie, chocolate bar, gummy, or whatever else they are adding THC to, these products are ingested and usually take between 30 minutes and two hours to feel the full effects.

We consider “legal edibles” to be ones derived from hemp which is now federally legal and available in most US states. So if you want to buy edibles online legally, make sure that they are hemp-derived and check your local state restrictions.

Dosages can vary a lot between different brands. Legal gummies normally have a stated dose on the pack of the combined amount of THC and an individual gummy can contain anything from 10 to 25mg of THC. Cookies can contain anything from 100 to 400mg, a chocolate bar usually contains between 100 and 200mg and a brownie about the same.

Simply put, THC edibles are generally considered to contain a high dose and are tasty, making it easy to get a bit too high because you’ll want to eat more before the sensations really kick in. (Even worse if they are strong edibles!)

What is Cannabis Flower?

Let’s face it, we love this thing. The cannabis plant is an immensely diverse and magical plant that can be used to produce commercial and industrial products¹—like clothes, shoes, food, paper, bioplastics, and biofuel—and it can also be smoked!

Just to be clear, the cannabis plant is designated into two categories by law. Hemp is cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, and marijuana contains 0.3% THC or more according to the Farm Bill of 2018. Using hemp is how manufacturers can make THC gummies legal in most US states and the type of THC used creates categories like delta 8 or delta 9 edibles.

When we think of smoking cannabis flower it’s usually marijuana, but there is also a growing culture for THCA flower which is technically legal. That’s because THCA on its own is not a psychoactive compound meaning that it doesn’t abide by the same regulations.

The reason why it has become so popular is because when you heat THCA, it transforms into the psychoactive delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). So if you smoke it or cook it, you can get the same effects as regular old weed – although people claim the high is a bit milder.

What is Cannabis Infused Water?

Cannabis water, THC seltzer, cannabis-infused water, even “weed water” – we don’t like that one much. THC drinks are soft drinks and seltzers that contain delta-9 THC which is normally derived from hemp.

Thanks to the Farm Bill, hemp was effectively legalized meaning that hemp—a source of THC—could be used to make THC beverages. Different products tend to vary in their strength with some being as low as 5mg per can (like our Delta Light flavors) and some with a stronger 20mg dose (like our Delta Cannabis Water.

There could be some upcoming amendments to the Farm Bill²that may see states increasing their regulation of hemp and hemp products, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it should ensure higher quality products for consumers.

The good thing about THC-infused drinks is that they usually contain very little or even no calories and are normally sugar-free. They offer people a great alternative to alcohol and the effects kick in much quicker than edibles. Plus, because it’s a drink, you can easily control your dose by taking one sip at a time.

Are Edibles Cheaper Than Flower?

While we at Drink Delta are working hard to change it, edibles and flower are the two most popular ways to consume cannabis. And for good reason, the cost is a big influencer in how people choose to get high.

Costs do vary from state to state but cannabis is usually available for about 25$ per gram and premium flower can cost up to $250. The average cost of edibles can also vary in price based on factors such as quality and THC concentration but you should be able to get a bag containing 500mg of THC for between $30 and $40. So in a typical 10-pack, the edibles cost about three to four dollars each.

So gram for gram, edibles are normally more expensive than cannabis flower.

But what about THC-infused drinks?

Our Delta Cannabis Water contains 20mg of THC and costs $4.99 each… discounts are available too! We designed this to be a stronger single-dose drink for experienced smokers.

We also have a lighter option for social occasions. Our Delta Light range contains 5mg of THC meaning you can drink more than one in more of a social way throughout the day or night. (similar to drinking Beer)

So yes, while edibles are technically the cheapest per serving out of all the options, they have one small drawback. Because most edibles are white-labeled products, there is little quality control over how much is contained in each THC gummy. So one bite could send you to the moon, and the next do absolutely nothing.

At Drink Delta, all our cans are 3rd party batch-tested for quality and consistency. That means each can contains the stated dose and each delicious sip is a perfectly measured dose of THC and CBD.

Is Smoking Weed Bad For Your Health?

We can’t talk about cannabis flower without mentioning the elephant in the room – smoking.

We all understand that smoking any substance will inflame and damage your lungs and airways. The chemicals in smoke come into direct contact with your lung tissue which is not as tough as you might think.

Even if you’re smoking a pure cannabis joint, it can still cause damage to your lungs. Why? Because of how you smoke a joint.

That usually means holding the smoke deep in your lungs longer than a cigarette, increasing your lung’s exposure to smoke and the toxins it contains.

The complicated part about this question is that it is hard to research as many weed smokers—between 40% and 54%—also smoke cigarettes. It also takes a very long time to conduct a study into lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because it normally takes decades to develop in people.

One 2022 study into long-term cannabis use on the lungs states that it may even be more damaging than tobacco smoke for your lungs. Considering that many people are now turning to cannabis to improve their health and well-being, we would suggest it’s healthier to sip a delta THC drink or eat an edible vs smoking.

Are Edibles Better Than Smoking?

Legal THC gummies are a huge step forward from smoking cannabis in terms of being good for your health as well as the potential mental health benefits, but they often contain high amounts of sugar and are heavily processed.

THC infused beverages take things one step further because they are normally sugar-free and contain little or no calories making it a great addition to your wellness routine. Plus, they are significantly easier to dose than edibles because the effects are felt quicker (like smoking) and you can take them one sip at a time.

Feeling curious? Why not try out our Delta Light range which contains a lower dose of 5mg THC and is ideal for people starting out with cannabis or if you want to have more than one can per session.