Now that medical marijuana is legal in many states, the benefits are becoming better known via the media. And yet. The stereotype of the dreadlocked, bell-bottomed, tie-dye dawning, joint-in-one-hand, munchies-in-the-other remains. We take no issue with that lifestyle, but we do point out that it wasn’t ever the majority, not even in the ’60s and ’70s — it just got a lot of press. That which is different, even counter-culture, has a way of garnering media attention for the very reason that it is not mainstream.

But medicine that really works? Now that’s got to be mainstream.

Part of bringing medical marijuana to the masses means not only legalizing it, but providing a means to use it that suits a variety of desires. Not everyone wants to smoke, and even if they do want to smoke, they might not desire all of the effects of smoking marijuana.

Thankfully, there are a myriad number of ways to ingest marijuana for medical benefit in ways that work for a majority of people. Here’s a list of the 7 popular forms of ingesting marijuana without smoking it.

Disclaimer: This list is introductory. Be sure to ask your licensed dispensary about the specific dosage recommended for your situation, or about other possible means of ingestion.

1. Oral Drops. Either mixed with alcohol for a tincture, or prepared as aningestible oil with infused glycerin or coconut oil. Easily dispensable and dosage-controlled, this method is often used for children as well as adults, and may or may not produce a psychedelic effect.
2. Topicals (Creams, oils, gels and the like). No high here, just relief from skin, joint, and muscle ailments.
3. Vapors. Ever use a vaporizer when you’re stuffy? It’s the same idea, only with cannabis plant inside. There are specific vaporizers to use for cannabis, and you will get a high from it. Relief is pretty much instant.
4. Suppositories. Whether vaginal or rectal, these provide muscular pain relief. But they can also get you high, especially the rectal ones because they reach the gut.
5. Raw. Like all raw foods, the idea is that cooking or drying the plant might lose some of its benefits. Usually blended into a smoothie in order to avoid the bitter taste (otherwise known as “juicing”), there’s no high with this form.
6. Edibles: Nowadays, walk into your local dispensary, and you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store: Branded chocolate bars, peanut butter crunches, and gummy candies, all carrying the cannabis ingredient. Nice. In addition, there are countless homemade recipes beyond the ubiquitous pot brownie.
7. Infusions. Four o’clock tea, anyone? Relief from infusions can take up to a few hours to take effect, and you will get a high.

So you see? The average person on the street, who can benefit from medical cannabis, has options for using it well beyond the stereotypical use of joint in hand. Picture a business-suited, tablet-carrying CEO who rubs on his hemp lotion for carpal tunnel before entering a meeting. Or a parent administering an epileptic child cannabis drops to prevent seizures during her school day. Or a grandmother drinking a Mary Jane smoothie to help with incessant shoulder pain. Pick your marijuana method — as long as you’ve got your health!

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