The menu at any modern dispensary is really a menu of formats, not just products — the same cannabinoids delivered in completely different ways, each with its own onset time, duration, and feel. Picking the right format for the moment matters as much as picking the right potency. Here is how every major category actually compares.
| Format | Onset | Duration | Intensity Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower | 0–10 min | 1–3 hrs | Adjustable, hit by hit |
| Pre-Rolls | 0–10 min | 1–3 hrs | Adjustable, hit by hit |
| Vape Cartridges | 0–5 min | 1–3 hrs | Adjustable, hit by hit |
| Edibles | 30–120 min | 4–8 hrs | Fixed per piece — plan ahead |
| Tinctures | 15–45 min | 2–5 hrs | Adjustable by drop |
| Concentrates | 0–5 min | 1–3 hrs | High — small amounts go far |
| Topicals | 15–30 min | 2–4 hrs | Localized, non-intoxicating |
Inhalation: flower, pre-rolls, and vapes
Smoking or vaping delivers cannabinoids through the lungs directly into the bloodstream, which is why effects show up within minutes. This makes inhalation the easiest format to dose in real time — you feel the effect start before you take another hit, so you can stop exactly where you want to be. It is the most forgiving format for a first try because the feedback loop is nearly instant.
Edibles: the slow, deceptive one
Edibles have to pass through the digestive system and liver before reaching the bloodstream, which takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on your metabolism and whether you have eaten. This delay is the single biggest cause of edible overconsumption — people take a low dose, feel nothing after 30 minutes, take more, and then both doses hit at once. Edibles also convert THC into a different, often stronger-feeling metabolite (11-hydroxy-THC) through the liver, which is part of why they can feel more intense than inhaled THC at the same milligram amount.
Tinctures: the adjustable middle ground
Held under the tongue for 30–60 seconds, tinctures absorb partly through the mouth's blood vessels (faster) and partly through digestion (slower), landing onset somewhere between inhalation and a swallowed edible. Because they are dosed by the drop, tinctures offer some of the most precise, adjustable control of any format on the menu.
Concentrates: small amount, big effect
Wax, shatter, and rosin are cannabis flower with everything except cannabinoids and terpenes stripped away — often testing at 60–90% THC. A little goes a very long way, which makes concentrates a poor choice for beginners but a favorite for experienced users seeking maximum potency in minimal volume.
Topicals: all the benefit, none of the high
Lotions, balms, and salves applied to the skin interact with local cannabinoid receptors but generally do not cross into the bloodstream in meaningful amounts, meaning no intoxicating effect. They are popular for localized, targeted relief without altering how you feel or function.
Need something fast and controllable before an activity? Reach for flower or a vape. Want something that lasts through a full evening without reapplying? An edible dosed conservatively is the better tool. Dealing with a sore muscle and nothing else? A topical does the job with zero intoxication.
Explore every format on the live menu
Flower, vapes, edibles, tinctures, concentrates, and topicals — all lab-tested and priced with tax included.