Are cannabis edibles safer than smoking? Here's what some experts say

Inhaling cannabis smoke or ingesting edible cannabis products can have different effects on the body in terms of safety and intensity.

As cannabis faces an ever-changing legal landscape on the state and federal level in the United States, products made from the plant — considered to be important for medicinal use by a significant number of people over the years — are becoming more widely available in multiple forms, and legally. 

The DEA has been mulling over the decision to change how cannabis is scheduled with the agency too. 

But, these rules seem to largely center around public safety, and with more acceptance over its use, some may be wondering which form of cannabis is considered the safest.

Is the edible form of cannabis — and the many products that fit into this category — safer, overall, than smoking it?

The Canadian Center on Substance Use and Addiction says eating or ingesting edible products that contain THC appears to be less harmful to the user's lungs than smoking. The CDC says oils and concentrates that are used in vaping or dabbing have highly concentrated forms of THC and could contain additives.