Part of the downer is definitely dealing with the illegality here in Oz. Some readers might remember what that was like in their own country/State before enlightenment. LE aren't likely to kick your door down here for hitting the herb unless someone's snitched on you or your plant(s) have been seen over the back fence, but the world beyond your property is a full of traps set to punish users, beginning with driving.
Not sure how your LE deals with drivers who may have Cannabis in their system, but they take no prisoners here. Random roadside breathalyzer testing is routinely buddied with some form of saliva test hunting out Cannabis and Amphetamines effected drivers. While most of us have learned to be sensible with drink-driving, the zero tolerance for Cannabis sets no low bar or measure of sobriety. And, given our geography, taxis or public transport are sometimes not an option so getting behind the wheel is often what we have to do. Negotiating this routine necessity is a constant source of stress and tends to dull whatever good times you aimed on having.
As for different ways to consume Cannabis are concerned, waxes, oils, and other kinds of extracts are really thin on the ground here. Again, we don't have dispensaries and can't import these products. Dabbling in them locally is understandably very low-key. I've always preferred bong hits as I can pack one, burn it and re-stow it almost without breaking step. The effects are fast and elevating to a point, but besides a background buzz 10 minutes in there's not much 'highness' going on. Skinning up a spliff takes too long and the slow come-up is not really my thing. Ironically, I scored some high-assay Polish vodka (Everclear also hard to get here) and used the Golden Dragon tincture recipe on an ounce of bud that didn't live up to its hype. I'm slowly evaporating the alcohol off atm, but snuck a 5ml+ syringe of solution into a morning coffee and must say that the result was promising. On an empty stomach the effect was noticeable in 10-15 mins and ticked over in the background for an hour+ before I bolstered it with a cone. Then I thought about driving into town for some stuff I needed and paranoia about the risk stopped me in my tracks. I still have to work and must drive to do so, so the niggling thought of life as I know it being destroyed by some poxie rule is a real drag. And a shitload of fellow Aussie's are in the same boat.