No-smoke marijuana

It’s no surprise that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration discourages smoking marijuana. The agency claims a cannabis cigarette contains more than 400 different chemicals, including more than four times the amount of tar found in a tobacco cigarette. The agency further points out that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved of any meds that are smoked. However, even marijuana advocates are increasingly encouraging alternative methods of ingesting the herb.

Americans for Safe Access (ASA) lists these alternatives:

Vaporizing: Using a vaporizer allows for inhalation of cannabis without smoke.

Eating: Typically, cannabis is mixed into butter used in baked goods such as brownies and cookies. ASA cautions to eat only small amounts when determining the correct dosage.

Drinking: The herb can be made into tea. ASA recommends steeping it for about an hour and a half for best results.

Tincture: Oral method with similar effect to eating, but with a quicker onset.

Topical: Compresses or salve for pain relief.

For more info, including recipes, visit www.safeaccessnow.org.