Ways to take it

Rolling papers make the joint, still the default for most, and the one with the most ritual to it (see the deep dive below). But it isn't the only way in, and increasingly isn't the only default. A pipe is the fastest route, no paper, no waiting, a direct hit that burns hotter and harsher on the throat. A bong cools the smoke through water first, producing a smoother, larger hit, and because more reaches your lungs per pull, the effect can land harder than the size of the hit suggests. A vaporizer heats cannabis just below combustion, releasing the active compounds as vapour instead of smoke, less smell, less harshness, and often described as a cleaner, more flavourful high. Edibles skip inhalation entirely and work through the liver instead, slower to arrive, heavier and longer once they do (see entry 28 for timing). Most coffeeshops carry all four; ask which fits what you're after.