With so many cannabis products available it can be hard to know where to start — especially if you’re new to medical cannabis or trying something different for the first time. At Local’d, Washington DC’s trusted medical cannabis delivery service, we want every patient to feel confident about what they’re ordering. Here’s a breakdown of every product type we carry, who it’s best for, and when to use it.
Know Your Goal
Before choosing a product, it helps to think about why you’re using cannabis. The right product for pain management looks different from the right product for anxiety relief or recreational enjoyment. Here are the most common reasons our DC patients use cannabis:
- Pain management — chronic pain, back pain, muscle soreness, inflammation
- Anxiety & stress relief — unwinding after a long day, managing anxiety
- Sleep — falling asleep faster, staying asleep longer
- Recreational enjoyment — social use, creative pursuits, relaxation
- Focus & productivity — low-dose daytime use
- Appetite stimulation — nausea, lack of appetite
Keep your goal in mind as you read through each product type below.
Flower — The Classic Choice
Flower is the dried cannabis bud in its most natural form — the traditional way most people think of cannabis. It’s smoked using a pipe, bong, or rolled into a joint.
Onset time: 1-5 minutes Duration: 1-3 hours
Best for:
- Patients who want fast, immediate relief
- Experienced cannabis users comfortable with smoking
- Recreational enjoyment and social use
- Pain flare-ups that need quick relief
Things to consider: Flower gives you the most direct, fast-acting experience of any product type. The effects are felt almost immediately, making it easy to control your dose. However smoking isn’t ideal for patients with respiratory sensitivities — in which case vapes or edibles may be a better fit.
Pre-Rolls — Flower Made Easy
Pre-rolls are simply cannabis flower that’s already been rolled into a joint — ready to go straight out of the packaging with no preparation needed.
Onset time: 1-5 minutes Duration: 1-3 hours
Best for:
- Patients who want the flower experience without the preparation
- Social settings and sharing
- Convenient on-the-go use
- First-time flower users who aren’t sure how to roll
Things to consider: Pre-rolls offer the same experience as flower with maximum convenience. They’re a great starting point for new patients curious about smoking cannabis for the first time.
Edibles — Long-Lasting and Discreet
Edibles are cannabis-infused food and drink products — think gummies, chocolates, beverages, and more. The cannabis is absorbed through the digestive system rather than the lungs.
Onset time: 30 minutes to 2 hours Duration: 4-8 hours
Best for:
- Patients managing chronic pain who need long-lasting relief
- Sleep support — take 1-2 hours before bed for best results
- Patients who prefer not to smoke or vape
- Discreet use without any smell or visible consumption
Things to consider: Edibles are the most common choice for patients new to cannabis who don’t want to smoke. The key is patience — because they take longer to kick in, it’s easy to accidentally take too much by assuming the first dose isn’t working. Start with a low dose, wait at least two hours before taking more, and increase gradually. The golden rule: start low, go slow.
Vapes — Smooth and Controlled
Vape products heat cannabis oil or concentrate to produce a vapor that’s inhaled — delivering fast effects similar to flower but in a smoother, more discreet format.
Onset time: 1-5 minutes Duration: 1-3 hours
Best for:
- Patients who want fast relief without smoking flower
- Discreet use — minimal smell, compact and portable
- Patients with mild respiratory sensitivities who still prefer inhalation
- Precise dosing — easy to control how much you consume per puff
Things to consider: Vapes are one of the most popular choices among Local’d patients for good reason — they combine the fast onset of flower with a smoother, more controlled experience. They’re particularly popular for anxiety relief and daytime use where discretion matters.
Tinctures — Precise and Versatile
Tinctures are liquid cannabis extracts typically taken by placing a few drops under the tongue — a method known as sublingual absorption. They can also be added to food or drinks.
Onset time: 15-45 minutes sublingually, up to 2 hours if added to food Duration: 2-6 hours
Best for:
- Patients who need precise, consistent dosing
- Anxiety and stress management
- Sleep support
- Patients who want a smoke-free, discreet option
- Microdosing — very easy to control exactly how much you take
Things to consider: Tinctures are one of the most underrated products in the cannabis world. They offer much faster onset than edibles when taken sublingually, but with the same smoke-free convenience. They’re an excellent choice for patients who are methodical about their cannabis use and want maximum control over their experience.
Concentrates — Potent and Powerful
Concentrates are highly potent cannabis extracts that contain significantly higher levels of THC or CBD than flower. They’re typically consumed using a dab rig or a compatible vaporizer.
Onset time: Immediate Duration: 1-4 hours
Best for:
- Experienced cannabis users with a high tolerance
- Patients with severe chronic pain who need stronger relief
- Patients who haven’t found sufficient relief from other product types
Things to consider: Concentrates are not recommended for new or casual cannabis users due to their potency. If you’re just getting started with medical cannabis, we’d recommend building experience with flower, vapes, or edibles first before exploring concentrates.
Quick Reference Guide
| Goal | Best Product | Why |
| Chronic pain | Edibles or Tinctures | Long-lasting relief |
| Acute pain flare-up | Flower, Pre-roll or Vape | Fast onset |
| Anxiety relief | Vape or Tincture | Fast, controlled, discreet |
| Sleep support | Edibles or Tincture | Long-lasting, taken before bed |
| Recreational enjoyment | Flower or Pre-roll | Classic experience |
| Daytime focus | Low-dose Tincture or Vape | Controlled, discreet |
| Severe chronic pain | Concentrates | Maximum potency |
| New to cannabis | Edibles or Pre-roll | Easy to start with |
Not Sure Where to Start? Local’d Can Help
If you’re still not sure which product is right for you, don’t worry — that’s completely normal. The best approach is to start with a low-potency product in a category that feels comfortable, see how your body responds, and adjust from there. Everyone’s endocannabinoid system is different and finding your perfect product may take a little experimentation.
Browse the full Local’d menu to explore everything we currently carry — all products are lab-tested and sourced from trusted DC producers. Have questions before you order? Visit our FAQ page or reach out via our contact page or use our website’s live chat — our team is happy to help point you in the right direction.
