Choosing your cannabis product — oils vs flower vs edibles
A comparison of the main product formats — what each is good for, how they differ in onset and duration, and how they fit into the legal framework.
Cannabis products come in several formats, each with different onset times, duration, and dose-control characteristics. Choosing the right format matters as much as choosing the right strain or brand.
Oils and tinctures
Best for: consistent, precise dosing — especially for daily use. Dropper-based products let you measure doses to the milligram, which flower and edibles can't. Onset: 15–30 min (sublingual) or 45–90 min (swallowed). Duration: 4–8 hours.
Non-prescription CBD oils fall under the Section 22A(9) consumer exclusion. Medical THC or high-potency tinctures are S4 / Section 21 medicines; see the medical tinctures category.
Flower
Best for: rapid onset (vaporised), traditional format for patients who prefer it, lowest per-mg cost. Onset: 5–15 min (vaporised), near-immediate (combustion — not medically recommended). Duration: 2–4 hours.
In South Africa, cannabis flower for medical use sits in the S6 / Section 21 category. Non-medical flower sales are not part of our range. See medical flower.
Edibles
Best for: long duration, discretion, non-inhaled consumption. Onset: 1–2 hours. Duration: 4–8 hours. Dose control is harder than with oils — take the label dose and wait the full onset before redosing.
Edibles can surprise new users because the onset is so delayed — many people take a second serving at the 45-minute mark and end up over-dosed. If you're new, start with half a label dose and wait at least 2 hours before taking more.
Vapes
Best for: fast onset without combustion products, portable, discreet. Onset: 5–10 min. Duration: 2–3 hours. Dose per pull varies with device and cartridge strength.
Topicals
Best for: localised relief — sore muscles, inflamed joints, skin. Onset: variable, often gradual. Duration: 2–4 hours, site-specific. Topicals do not cross into the bloodstream in meaningful amounts — no systemic effect, no intoxication.
Accessories
Grinders, papers, glass filters, rolling accessories — non-prescription consumer goods. Ship same-day via the accessories category.