Irritation of the throat and lungs is one of the most obvious adverse effects to the marijuana smoker, as is the inevitable cough upon inhaling. The cough is the body's reaction to the irritation of the numerous constituents of the smoke. The lesser coughing, the safer the smoke. The fewer puffs the better. For these reasons, and to reduce harm to the user, it is better to use the more potent flower tops of cannabis than leaves.
Vaporization is even better.
Any way to decrease exposure of the throat and lungs to products of burning reduces harm to the cannabis user. Dosage and Route of Administration Starting with a small amount and gradually increasing the dose is the key to avoiding unwanted mental side effects. This is called self-titration, where the dosage is adjusted by the user depending on his or her needs. Mental Effect Being impatient, and consequently overdosing, with oral cannabis is the most frequently mentioned abuse of the drug in the medical literature of the 1800's. Overdosage of oral cannabis is much more intense and longer lasting than that of inhalation.