How to Use CBD: A Comparison of All Methods

The Seven Methods, Compared

The table that sums it all up

The durations are approximate: they vary greatly depending on the person, the dose, and the product.

The general rule: what passes through the lungs acts quickly but for a short time. What passes through the stomach acts slowly but for a long time.

Vaporization

This is the method we recommend, by far.

A vaporizer heats without burning. The active compounds are released as vapor—without combustion, tar, or smoke.

Temperature is key. Between 170 °C and 210 °C, you preserve the terpenes—that is, the flavor. Above that, they evaporate before being inhaled, and little remains of what makes a good resin so special.

Its real advantage: it’s the only method where you can truly perceive the product’s aromatic profile. A resin from the Rif and a Swiss indoor strain are worlds apart when vaporized—whereas when brewed as a tea, the difference fades.

Its limitation: the effect is short-lived, and you need a device suited to the type of product.

How to Vaporize Resin Properly

This is the point that almost no one explains, and it makes all the difference.

Hash isn’t a flower. It’s dense, it melts, and it runs. If you put it as-is into a vaporizer chamber designed for flowers, it sticks, clogs the screens, and burns unevenly.

Three precautions:

• Use a carrier. A metal capsule, a steel pad, or a concentrate ball, depending on your device. Never place it directly on the screen.
• Crumble it while cold. Resin straight out of the refrigerator crumbles cleanly. At room temperature, it crumbles into a paste and becomes impossible to measure accurately.
• Start at a low temperature. Around 170 °C for the first few puffs, then gradually increase the heat. You’ll capture the aromas first, followed by the rest.

Properly vaporized resin reveals aromas that no other method can bring out.

Infusion

A gentle, pleasant method—and one that very often goes wrong.

The key point to remember: cannabinoids do not dissolve in water. They are fat-soluble—they need fat.

Steeping in water alone will yield virtually nothing, no matter how long you steep it.

The right method:

1. Heat whole milk, cream, or a high-fat plant-based milk
2. Finely crumble your flower or resin
3. Add it to the hot liquid ( but don’t let it boil)
4. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes
5. Strain

The effects take longer to kick in than with vaporization, but they last significantly longer.

Sublingual oil

Place a few drops under the tongue and hold for 60 to 90 seconds before swallowing. Absorption occurs through the mucous membranes, which accelerates the effect compared to traditional ingestion.

Its advantages: consistent dosing, high discretion, and no odor.

Its limitations: many people dislike the taste, and quality varies greatly from one product to another depending on the extraction method and the carrier oil used.

We do not produce these. If you purchase them, apply the same standards as you would elsewhere: comprehensive batch analysis, origin of the raw material, and the absence of undeclared isolates.

Capsules and Edibles

CBD passes through the digestive system, which explains their two characteristics: a delayed onset —often one to two hours—and a long duration of effect.

Their benefits: a consistent dose with each intake and complete discretion.

The downside: you lose the entire flavor profile. At this stage, it doesn’t matter whether the raw material is exceptional or ordinary— you won’t be able to taste it.

E-liquids

Designed for e-cigarettes, they take effect quickly but last only a short time.

⚠️ An important clarification: a CBD e-liquid is nothing like CBD oil. The two are not interchangeable. Never vape sublingual oil —it’s dangerous for your lungs.

The flavors are artificially added. You’re not tasting the plant; you’re tasting a food-grade flavoring.

Cosmetics

Balms, creams, and massage oils are applied to the skin. The effect is localized: the substance does not enter the systemic circulation.

This is a cosmetic use, regulated as such. No therapeutic claims are permitted for these products —neither in France nor in Switzerland.

What about smoking?

Let’s be honest, since that’s what many people do.

Burning destroys a large portion of what you paid for. Terpenes—the most volatile and interesting compounds—are the first to go. What remains are the combustion byproducts—the same as those found in tobacco.

If you choose this route anyway— without tobacco, using natural hemp or a plant-based substitute.

But if you invest in high-quality resin just to burn it, you’re paying a lot for something you destroy before you even consume it.

How to Choose, in Practical Terms

Three questions are all it takes.

Do you want to smell the product? Vaporization. It’s the only method that preserves the aromatic profile.

Do you want a lasting effect? Infusions, capsules, or edibles. Slower to kick in, but much longer-lasting.

Do you want discretion? Capsules or sublingual oil. No smell, no equipment.

What the law allows

In Switzerland, products containing less than 1% THC are not considered narcotics and are sold over the counter to anyone 18 and older, labeled as tobacco substitutes.

In France, the threshold is 0.3% THC in the finished product. Flowers and leaves have been authorized for sale since the Council of State’s decision in January 2023.

⚠️ A product purchased legally in Switzerland may therefore be illegal in France. Always check the lab report before traveling.

→ Swiss, French, or European CBD: The Real Differences

Caution and Common Sense

Regardless of the method:

• Take it slowly, especially with edibles, whose effects take time to kick in. A common mistake is taking another dose before the first one has taken effect.
• If you’re taking medication, talk to your doctor. CBD can affect how your body metabolizes certain drugs.
• Do not drive immediately afterward. Both Switzerland and France enforce a zero-tolerance policy for THC while driving.
• We do not publish dosages in milligrams. We are producers, not healthcare professionals.