Hey – wanna sip some weeeeeed? That’s right, I said sip. The days of smoking from a hollowed-out apple and tripping on mysterious pot brownies are over.
It’s 2024 now, and cannabis is legal in the majority of states. That means folks from all walks of life are trying cannabis for the first time, and finding it brings them relief from pain, anxiety, provides restful sleep, or maybe just puts a smile on their face.
In turn, modern cannabis companies are bringing innovation and creativity into finding new ways to consume, there are now more ways than ever incorporate this magical plant into your daily life.
That means more ways to calmer days, restful sleep, and better connections with your friends and family.
But it also means a whole lot of dispensary overwhelm.
Maybe you’ve asked yourself, “What can I use CBD or THC for?
How do I take it?
How do I dose an edible?
What is ‘sativa’ vs ‘indica’?
What is dabbing?
Are vapes safe?
Which products are healthiest?”
IT’S A LOT!
I’m here to help you. Whether you are:
New to cannabis looking for step-by-step instructions and advice on products, or
A seasoned pro looking to expand your weed repertoire,
You’ve come to the right place.
Here I’ve listed 24 exciting ways to use cannabis in 2024, along with super-detailed how-tos and a stash list of everything you’ll need to get started.
This section may feature affiliate links, read our disclosure policy.
Long-Lasting Effects. Both THC edibles and CBD edibles last for 4-6 hours, a great choice when you need to feel long-lasting relief.
Discreet. No smoke, no smell, easy to consume.
Lots of options: Some THC gummies are great for day (take a hike, stroll a museum, enjoy a football game) others are great for night (fall asleep and stay asleep)! CBD edibles are most often made for relaxation and sleep.
How to Use THC and CBD Gummies
Plan ahead! THC and CBD gummies take 1-2 hours to feel, and can last 4-6 hours. So take it BEFORE you want to feel it, make sure your schedule allows for the long high.
Start Low and Go Slow. The mantra of using THC gummies for the first time (or the 15th time).
“Start low” means start with a low dose, 2-5 mg is good for beginners. “Go slow” means wait the full 1-2 hours for the THC gummies to hit before you take more.
For LOTS more tips on how to skip the bad edibles experience and make edibles your friend, check out my post THC Gummies for Beginners.
Stash List: What You’ll Need to Use THC and CBD Gummies
Stand in front of a mirror to accurately count your drops for your individual dose (this saves you $$!).
Gently squeeze recommended number of drops under your tongue.
Hold dose under tongue for 2 minutes to help absorption, then swallow.
Stash List: What You’ll Need to Use CBD Tinctures
My favorite CBD tincture from HealerCBD. This is one of the few CBD tinctures on the market that is physician-formulated, by endocannabinoid doctor Dr. Dustin Sulak. HealerCBD products are more effective than other brands at smaller doses (which saves you $$!)
Low cost. Joints are the least expensive option for using cannabis.
Portable. Stick your cannabis joint in a plastic or glass tube and take it wherever you roam!
Whole plant medicine. Cannabis is most effective in its natural, whole flower form.
You can use either CBD flower or THC flower.
CBD flower is great for daytime focus and relief from aches and pains. THC flower is great for a mood boost, and that special elevated feeling.
THC flower must be purchased from a state-licensed dispensary. You can use a site like Weedmaps or Leafly to help you find one near you.
How to Roll a Cannabis Joint
Grind it. Essential for a smooth and easy smoking experience. I love this grinder because it’s easy on my hands and has a consistent grind.
Pack it. Rolling the perfect J is a stoner art form all its own. But if you’re too busy to learn, you can start by using a cone. Drop your ground cannabis in there, leave ~½ inch empty at the tip. Twist the paper tip to seal.
Light it. No hemp wick needed here. Just use a lighter on the twisted end and inhale for 3-5 seconds.
Stash List: What You’ll Need to Roll a Cannabis Joint
Instant relief. Just like smoking a joint, the effects of smoking cannabis with a water pipe come on within 1-10 minutes.
Easy on lungs and throat. Unlike smoking a joint, the water in the pipe breaks up the smoke before it hits your lungs and throat, creating a smooth smoking experience.
Low cost. Water pipes like bongs and bubblers are inexpensive and widely available.
How to Use A Cannabis Water Pipe
Grind it. Grinding is essential for a smooth and easy smoking experience. I love this grinder because it’s easy on my hands and has a consistent grind.
Pack it. Put the ground cannabis in the bowl of the pipe. Like a stoned goldilocks, you don’t want your bowl packed too tight or packed too loose. Shoot for the density of tea in a tea bag.
Light it. Use a hemp wick to light just a small bit of the bowl, saving tasty greens for later. You light the wick, and wick lights the cannabis. Or you can go old-school and just use a lighter.
Cannabis! You can use either CBD flower or THC flower.
GOOD TO KNOW
Cannabis flower contains nearly 400 active compounds in addition to THC and CBD.
Research shows that cannabis is most effective when these compounds are all present and working together, like a symphony with many instruments. This is referred to as the “Entourage Effect.”
Using whole cannabis flower is the best way to experience the Entourage Effect.
High potency. Great if your pain or anxiety require a high dose of cannabis. If you’re new to cannabis, use caution with this method. It packs a punch.
Inhaling vapor instead of smoke.
Better cannabis flavor profile than traditional smoking.
How to Dab
Dabbing requires a dab pen or dab rig and a cannabis concentrate.
“Concentrates” are high-THC or high-CBD extracts from the cannabis plant. They come in many forms: rosin, wax, shatter, crumble, budder, and more.
Start with a rice-sized piece of concentrate. Heat the rig or pen per its instructions, start with a low temp and increase as you get used to dabbing.
Inhale for 1-2 seconds, exhale. There is no need to hold in the vapor for long, it is absorbed quickly.
Your skin is your largest organ, and there are endocannabinoid receptors all over it. Soaking in a CBD bath bomb delivers the medicine to your whole body.
Nurtures sore muscles and joints.
Helps you relax into deep sleep.
Easy to add to your self-care routine.
How to Use CBD Bath Bombs
Once your bath is warm and full, drop the CBD bath bomb in.
Be fully present while it dissolves: watch it bubble, listen to the active fizz, inhale its soothing scents.
Relax and enjoy.
Stash List: What You’ll Need to Use CBD Bath Bombs
Eco-friendly! Hemp uses 1/20th the amount of water from seed to shirt compared to cotton
Durable. Hemp fabric is 4 times stronger than cotton, which means you can wash and wear for longer.
Stylish. Gone are the days of jute-colored hemp backpacks in headshops as your only hemp option. Whether it’s from hipster brands like Jungmaven, or gear-tech giants like Patagonia, hemp is a clear winner when it comes to stylish but sustainable clothing choices.
How to Use Hemp Clothing
Wear it like any other clothing, with the knowledge that you’re making an environmentally-sustainable choice.
Cannabis is Medicine. For those of use who rely on cannabis as a daily medicinal tool, traveling with weed becomes a necessity.
Patchwork of legal states. THC products are legal in some states but not others. Keeping your weed with you is critical if you’re not able to buy at your destination.
Check out this map for the most current legal status of cannabis in each state.
How to Travel with Weed
Airtight storage. An airtight, smell-proof locking stash box is the best way to transport your cannabis.
Know before you go. If you’re driving, note that it is illegal to cross state lines with THC-containing cannabis, but not with CBD, and different states have different approaches when it comes to searching vehicles.
Calming. Cannabis rollers usually contain a combination of CBD or THC in oil, and soothing essential oils.
May help ease pain and increase mobility of arthritic or painful joints.
Self-care anywhere. Your cannabis roller can sit on your desk, ride along in your purse, or live in your car. Super easy to use anytime you need a moment of calm.
Smells great.
How to Use a cannabis roller
Rub gently on your pulse points or painful joints throughout the day.
Inhale deeply as you apply, taking note of the present moment without judgement.
Stash List: What You’ll Need to Use a Cannabis Roller
A cannabis blunt uses a combination of cannabis and tobacco, and is wrapped in a tobacco or hemp leaf wrap.
Slow burn. Blunts are bigger than joints and the wrap burns more slowly, allowing for a longer sesh with more friends.
Blunts provide a relaxing combination that mellows out the high from using THC flower.
If a joint and a blunt had a weed baby, it would be a spliff. A spliff has cannabis and tobacco on the inside, but is wrapped in joint rolling paper or cones on the outside.
How to Roll a Cannabis Blunt
The instructions are almost identical to rolling a cannabis joint earlier in this article, but you will swap out some portion of your CBD flower or THC flower with natural tobacco, and instead of using rolling papers you will wrap in a tobacco leaf or hemp wrap.
Stash List: What You’ll Need to Roll a Cannabis Blunt
Cannabis! You can use either CBD flower or THC flower.
CBD flower can be shipped right to your door! I love Tweedle Farms, a family-owned, organic CBD farm in Oregon.
THC flower must be purchased from a state-licensed dispensary. You can use a site like Weedmaps or Leafly to help you find one near you.
Alright, I admit this one is a stretch! But I’m including it to point out that the cannabis plant has thousands of uses that are not medical. Industrial Hemp is a sustainable alternative to paper, plastic, fuel, steel, and even concrete.
Environmentally friendly! Hemp is an annual plant that requires very little irrigation or pesticides to grow. Every part of the hemp plant can be used – the leaves, flowers, seeds, stalk and roots!
Economy-boosting. The USDA reported in 2021 that the value of hemp production total $824 million.
How to Use Industrial Hemp
If you work in any type of construction or manufacturing sector, explore whether you can swap hemp for plastic, steel, or textiles.
If you’re building a house, ask your contractor if using hempcrete or hemp steel are options.
Stash List: What You’ll Need to Use Industrial Hemp
Soothes skin irritation, itching, and inflammation.
Speeds recovery of your skin after tattooing.
Use long term for deep moisturization, keeping ink vibrant.
CBG, or cannabigerol is often referred to as “the mother cannabinoid,” because all cannabinoids start as CBG before differentiating into their final forms of CBD, THC, CBC, many more.
How to Use CBG Balm on Tattoos
Gently rub CBG balm over your tattoo, spending a little extra time rubbing it in so that it can penetrate deeply into the skin.
Stash List: What You’ll Need to Use CBG Balm on Tattoos
Cannabis is a flowering herb, it’s closest plant relative is hops. It was first domesticated 12,000 years ago, and can be found in use around the globe.
It’s flowers make medicinal compounds including cannabinoids like CBD and THC and terpenes like myrcene and pinene. Its stalks, leaves, roots, and seeds can make thousands of useful, environmentally sustainable products from textiles to paper to biofuel to bioplastics, and more.
I invite you to see cannabis through the lens of a plant that is here on earth for us to use.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that it’s a dangerous drug, some unnatural and toxic substance that will ruin your life.
But the truth is, cannabis is as natural as it gets.
It grows from the ground. It grows around the globe. The human species has been using it safely for thousands of years.
Through that lens, you can see it as a plant ally that can heal us, and open your mind to the possibilities of the ways in which you can incorporate it into your daily life for optimal health and wellness.
How Can Cannabis Benefit You
Cannabis has the incredible capacity to treat a host of diseases and symptoms, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia, chronic pain, nausea, and more.
How can one little plant do so much?
By interacting with the most critical system in your body that you’ve probably never been taught about: your endocannabinoid system, or “ECS.”
Your ECS maintains homeostasis, or balance, within your body.
Within your ECS, your body makes chemical compounds that are nearly identical to THC and CBD, called endocannabinoids (“endo-” meaning inside the body, “cannabinoid” meaning cannabis compound).
When your body experiences inflammation for example, your homemade endocannabinoids come to the rescue, float over to the right spot inside your body, and restore balance.
When you consume cannabinoids from the cannabis plant, you’re merely supplementing the system that already exists, taking in compounds identical to what your body already makes to balance itself.
This is why cannabis works on so many disparate symptoms. Because it’s working in harmony with our bodies!
Cannabis is ancient, but the modern cannabis industry is not. While it is full of exciting, innovative new ways to consume this magical plant, it can be overwhelming to those of us who are new to cannabis.
In this article I’ve given you 24 exciting ways to use cannabis in 2024, along with detailed instructions and a stash list of everything you’ll need. No excuses – get started!
I truly hope that you take what you’ve learned from this article and are able to go confidently into the modern cannabis market – be that your local dispensary, natural health store, or online search – and find your favorite ways to consume cannabis that bring you that special elevated feeling every day.
