Blog - What are the Different Types of Devices Used to …

The consumption of medical cannabis can involve a variety of devices, depending on the delivery method and the specific product being used (flower, oil, concentrate, etc.).

Here are the different types of devices and tools used to consume medical cannabis, categorized by the method of delivery:

1. Inhalation Devices

Inhalation provides the fastest onset of effects (typically within minutes) and is a common route for medical patients needing rapid relief.

• Vaporizers (Vaping): These devices heat the cannabis product (flower or concentrate/oil) just below the point of combustion, creating a vapor that is inhaled, which is often preferred for respiratory health.
  
  • Dry Herb Vaporizers: Devices that heat cannabis flower. They can be portable/handheld or larger, desktop/tabletop units.
     
  • Vape Pens/Cartridge Batteries: Small, discreet, and battery-operated devices used with pre-filled cartridges containing cannabis oil or distillate.
     
  • Dab Rigs and E-Rigs: Specialized devices for flash-vaporizing highly concentrated cannabis extracts (like wax or shatter). Traditional dab rigs use a torch to heat a nail, while electronic rigs (E-Rigs) use a battery for heating and temperature control.

     

• Smoking Devices (Combustion): These involve lighting the cannabis flower to burn it, which produces smoke.
  • Pipes and Bowls: Small, handheld devices for smoking flower.
     
  • Bongs/Water Pipes: Devices that filter the smoke through water, which cools and cleans the smoke slightly.

  • Rolling Papers and Pre-Rolled Cones: Used to create joints or cannabis cigarettes.
     

• Metered-Dose Inhalers (MDIs): Specialized pharmaceutical-grade devices that deliver a precise, low, and consistent dose of aerosolized cannabis extract via inhalation, similar to asthma inhalers.

   

2. Oral and Sublingual Devices

These methods offer a longer duration of effects.

• Oral Syringes/Droppers: Used for measuring and administering cannabis oils or tinctures. The product can be swallowed or placed sublingually (under the tongue) for faster absorption.
   
• Capsules/Pills: Cannabis extracts enclosed in a softgel or hard capsule, consumed just like a traditional pill. No specific device is needed other than a glass of water.

   

3. Other Delivery Methods

These methods are for localized or sustained relief.

• Topicals (Lotions, Balms, Creams): These are applied directly to the skin for localized pain or inflammation relief. No device is used for application.
   
• Transdermal Patches: Adhesive patches that stick to the skin and deliver cannabinoids into the bloodstream over a sustained period. No device is used other than the patch itself.

• Suppositories: Administered rectally or vaginally, often for targeted relief for pelvic or gastrointestinal issues. They are typically pre-dosed and do not require a separate device.