Smoking flower is the oldest way to use cannabis, but it's nowhere near the only one. Edibles, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates, tinctures, topicals. Each one feels different, comes on at its own speed, and suits a different kind of person.

Here's a plain rundown of the main options, what to expect from each, and where someone new should probably begin.

One method isn't better than another. They're tools for different moods, tolerances, and situations. The trick is matching the tool to the moment.

The classics: flower and pre-rolls

Flower is the bud you smoke, whether you grind and roll it yourself or pack a bowl. A pre-roll is that same flower already rolled into a joint for you. No gear, no prep, just light it and go.

The real advantage is control. Effects show up within a few minutes, so you can feel where you're at and stop the second you've had enough. That fast feedback makes flower one of the easiest ways to find your limit without overshooting.

It doesn't overstay its welcome either. Most people feel it for one to three hours, then it fades out. Easy in, easy out.

It's also the most social of the bunch. A joint gets passed, a bowl gets shared, and it's the format most people already know how to handle. The one trade-off is smell. Smoking is fragrant and it lingers, so it's the least discreet option here. For plenty of people that's half the ritual, not a drawback.

Edibles: slow, strong, and worth respecting

Edibles are gummies, chocolates, drinks, anything you eat or sip. They work in a totally different way from smoking, and this is where people get themselves into trouble.

The onset is slow. Anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours before you feel much of anything. And when it finally lands, it tends to hit harder and last longer than smoking. Four to six hours is normal, sometimes more.

The golden rule is start low and wait. Take 5mg or less, then leave it completely alone for a full two hours before you even think about a second dose.

Do not eat more because nothing's happening yet. That's the classic mistake. The first dose is still on its way. Seriously.

Give it the time it needs and edibles are genuinely great. Long, smooth, no lighter required. Rush them and you're in for a rough few hours you didn't sign up for.

Dosing is easier than it sounds. Most edibles are scored and labeled by milligrams, so a 100mg bar is usually twenty 5mg squares. Take one piece and put the rest away so it isn't staring at you during the wait.

Two things nudge the timing. An empty stomach tends to bring it on faster and stronger, and a full one softens and delays it. Neither is wrong. Just know which one you're working with before you dose.

Vapes, concentrates, tinctures, and topicals

Past flower and edibles, the shelf opens up. A quick tour of the rest.

• Vapes and concentrates. Higher potency and a fast onset, a lot like smoking but more intense. Vapes especially are discreet, low on smell, and easy to use in a puff or two. A little goes a long way, so ease into these.
• Tinctures. Liquid drops you hold under your tongue for a bit before swallowing. The onset is moderate, quicker than an edible but slower than smoking, and the marked dropper makes it easy to measure an exact dose. A quiet, precise option with no smoke at all.
• Topicals. Lotions, balms, and salves you rub onto your skin. These do not get you high. They stay put where you apply them for localized relief, which makes them the pick for anyone who wants the benefits and none of the head change.

Where to start

If you're new to all this, keep it simple. Flower or a pre-roll gives you the most control, since the effects come fast and you can stop early. A low-dose edible, 5mg or under, is a fine choice too, as long as you honor the wait.

Leave the concentrates and heavy vapes for after you know your tolerance. There's no prize for jumping straight to the strong stuff.

Setting matters as much as the method. Whatever you pick for a first go, do it somewhere comfortable with nowhere you have to be, ideally with someone around who's done it before. A good first time usually comes down to a low dose and a low-stress afternoon.

Flower Boy stocks all of it. Flower, pre-rolls, edibles, vapes, concentrates, and more, at everyday prices. Browse the menu to see what's in right now, or come in and tell a budtender how you'd like to take it. If you want to read up on the flower side first, our strain guides cover what's on the shelf. We'll point you to the right one.