Cannabis Flower Vs. Edibles Vs. Concentrates: Which Is Best?

Luke Sholl

Veteran Cannabis Journalist & CBD Expert

Luke Sholl

Last updated: 30 March 2022

Walk into any legal cannabis establishment today, and you'll be bombarded with an array of cannabis offerings far beyond the traditional spliff. If the recent resurgence in cannabis culture has taught us anything, it's just how versatile this plant is. From flower to tinctures to concentrates to topicals, cannabis and its cannabinoids have been infused into just about every consumable product imaginable.

CANNABIS COMES IN A VARIETY OF FORMS

While cannabis is itself a plant, there are several ways you can choose to enjoy it. Whether you’re a cannabis connoisseur or are investigating marijuana for the first time, it’s crucial to understand that each ingestion method has its own level of potency and effects.

The three major players right now are:

• Cannabis flower: a joint or bong full of the green stuff, bud, mary jane. The OG of getting high.
• Edibles: lollipops, gummies, space cakes, pot brownies, cannabis infused-pasta. Cakes like the cool mums used to make.
• Concentrates: potent forms of cannabis mainly consumed through vaporizers and dab rigs.

CANNABIS FLOWER VS. EDIBLES VS. CONCENTRATES

If you’re wondering what the crucial differences are between these, you’ll soon see it comes down to two main factors: what you enjoy doing, and what you hope to achieve by doing it.

We’ll lay it all out for you.

CANNABIS FLOWER

The cannabis flower refers to the smokable part of the female cannabis plant, and is probably what most people imagine when they think of getting high.

The flowers are typically enjoyed by smoking—either through a joint, spliff, or blunt. What’s the difference between the three? Traditionally, a spliff contains tobacco and weed, creating a cigarette–joint hybrid. A joint contains just cannabis (although the definition does vary by location) and usually features a paper filter. A blunt is a larger roll-up made using cigar/cigarillo papers, making it a dark brown colour.

It’s also possible to smoke cannabis flower through a pipe or bong. A bong is something you’d typically use at home, whereas a pipe is an excellent fuss-free way to smoke. Most pipes are made of glass, but some are ceramic, metal, wooden, or silicone. You can also enjoy cannabis flower with a vaporizer, which is thought to be safer and healthier than smoking.

When it comes to popularity, smoking cannabis is king because it’s the easiest way to enjoy getting high without having to invest a lot of money upfront. It’s also quick and convenient.

ONSET AND DURATION

• Effects kick in within seconds.
• Peaks after about 30 minutes.
• Overall experience lasts for around 1–3 hours.

PROS

• Fast onset of effects.
• As it’s the most popular form, it’s easier to source.
• Cost-effective in comparison to other forms.
• Simple and doesn’t require lots of bells and whistles.

CONS

• Smoking has a stigma surrounding it.
• Smell tends to linger on hair and clothes.
• Smoke and lighter fluid chemicals contain carcinogenic compounds.
• Smoke can actually cause pain or aching in the throat.

EDIBLES

The most famous of the cannabis edibles are, without a doubt, pot brownies. However, today’s market has expanded hugely. Now, practically any dish can be infused with cannabinoids.

Whether you like gummy worms or lollipops, or are hoping for a comforting cup of tea, there are plenty of ways to get high. Best of all, you can enjoy cannabis edibles containing CBD.

When it comes to taking edibles, it really is as simple as eating food or drinking. The impact on your system is going to be controlled predominantly by your metabolism, so if you’re an absolute beginner, the important thing is to go slow and start with a low dose. It takes much longer for your body to process edibles, and the high can last much longer as well, so don’t assume if you’re not feeling anything immediately that you won’t feel anything at all.

ONSET AND DURATION

• If you have a fast metabolism, edibles take around 30–45 minutes to kick in; however, it can take as long as two hours.
• On average, the high will last for around 4–6 hours.
• In some cases, you may find it can last up to 12 hours, depending on the dose.

PROS

• No smoking or associated smells.
• Discreet and great for travelling. 
• Lasts considerably longer.

CONS

• Like real food, there are plenty of calories, fats, sugars, etc.
• Getting the right dose is a little trickier, as you’re working with a delayed reaction.

CONCENTRATES

A cannabis concentrate is exactly that; a concentrated form of cannabis created by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plant matter. How potent is a concentrate? While high-grade marijuana flower contains around 20–30% THC, concentrates can range between 40–99%. As you might expect, a little bit of cannabis concentrate goes a long way.

Concentrates—which go by many names, including honey oil, budder, wax, and dabs—are mostly inhaled via a vaporizer or dab rig. With an appropriate vaporizer, cannabis concentrates can be enjoyed in their smoothest, most flavourful form. When using a dab rig, extreme heat must be applied using a blowtorch. Alternatively, you can use a smart rig (with electronic nail) that does not require an external heat source.

The high is fast and impressive, however, if you’re just starting out on your cannabis journey, you may find the cost of investing in the equipment a little prohibitive.

ONSET AND DURATION

• Incredibly fast-acting, concentrates only take a few seconds to work after inhaling.
• In general, effects peak after about 30 minutes.
• All told, the duration is about 1–3 hours.

PROS

• Instant effects.
• Dabbing or vaping concentrates doesn’t involve smoke.
• The vapor is much more discreet than smoke from cannabis flower.
• Often considered to taste better than smoking.

CONS

• Some vapes are expensive or require hours to recharge.
• Dab rigs can seem intimidating.
• It’s easy to overdo it when dosing.
• You lose the “earthy” cannabis experience.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CANNABIS FOR YOU

If you’ve made it this far, you might find that your head is reeling a little bit, but don’t worry. The truth is that there is no right way to enjoy cannabis—you just need to find out what works for you, and that can take some experimenting. The good news? That experimentation can be really fun.

Fundamentally, it’s important to work out your personal preferences and the reason you want to enjoy cannabis.

Of course, you might find that mixing works for you, but as a beginner, we recommend you try them individually before taking on a mix-and-match approach.

And always remember the golden rule: LOW (doses) and SLOW (consumption).