Beginners Guide to Using Marijuana
Thinking about trying marijuana for the first time but don’t know where to start? Then keep reading to learn more about the beginners guide to smoking marijuana! Everything you need to know about marijuana!
Before you do anything for the first time, it’s always good to know what to expect and trying marijuana for the first time is no different.
As the legalization of marijuana expands around the world for both recreational and medicinal reasons, it makes sense that more people are interested in trying marijuana for the first time.
For many people, trying marijuana for the first time can be quite intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. For people that tried cannabis 10, 20, or even 30 years ago, things have changed quite a lot.
What Are the Effects You Can Expect from Marijuana?
Marijuana can be a mind-altering substance depending on the strength, variety, and strain you choose. If you know what to expect the first time you try marijuana, the whole experience will go a lot smoother.
It’s often the fear of the unknown which can make some experienced worse than the actual experience itself.
Everyone is different, and everyone will react in different ways the first time they try marijuana. Also, different strains of marijuana have different strengths and different effects, and how much you use plays a big part in how it affects you.
The chemical compounds in marijuana are known as cannabinoids. There are over 100 cannabinoids in marijuana, but the two main ones are cannabidiol (CBD), and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
It’s THC which gives you the stereotypical ‘high’ that many people experience when they consume marijuana. THC mimics an endocannabinoid which is produced by our bodies, anandamide.
The THC binds to the receptors in the brain, blocking the anandamide resulting in a euphoric experience. CBD is non-psychoactive and won’t get you high but can make you feel relaxed and calm. Strains of marijuana which have higher levels of CBD are usually used for pain relief and their anti-inflammatory properties.
Choosing the Type of High You Experience
Along with choosing different strains of marijuana with different strengths, higher and lower amounts of THC and CBD, you can also choose the type of high you experience.
There are three main types of marijuana, Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. Indica strains of marijuana are more likely to make you sleepy and give you a bigger body high or couch lock. Indica strains of marijuana are better for treating pain, sleep problems, and anxiety.
Sativa strains of marijuana are more high-energy. When you consume Sativa strains of marijuana you’re more likely to have more energy, be more creative and perky.
Hybrids are combinations of the two types, indica and sativa hybrids.
How Much Marijuana Should You Use?
When it comes to any new medications you try, taking it slowly is a good idea. No two people are the same, and the amount of marijuana one person can consume is always going to be different than what another can use.
The easiest way to start smoking marijuana is slowly! If you’re vaping or smoking, just take a few puffs, to begin with. Wait about 20-30 minutes and see how you’re feeling. If you don’t feel much, then have a little more, and so on.
If you’re eating marijuana edibles, the effects can take much longer to become apparent. It’s good to wait about 30-60 minutes before eating more as the effects of edibles are stronger and can take longer to become apparent.
What Are the Different Ways That You Can Use Marijuana?
As the trend in using marijuana continues to grow, it is fueling innovation across the industry which is resulting in a variety of different ways people can consume marijuana.
The four best ways that you can consume marijuana is smoking, vaping, eating, and dabbing. Each of the different methods has their own advantages and disadvantages.
- Smoking Marijuana – One of the most common, and traditional, ways to consume marijuana is via smoking it. There are several different ways that you can smoke marijuana, pipes, rolling papers, and water pipes or bongs. Smoking marijuana can be quite harsh on your lungs and result in some coughing. The effects of smoking marijuana are fast, and you’ll usually begin experiencing the results within 5-10 minutes.
- Edibles and Eating Marijuana – For some people, eating a gummy or brownie that is made with marijuana is preferable than smoking or vaping. When you marijuana products, the marijuana enters your bloodstream via your digestive system. It can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes for the effects to become apparent. The high you experience when eating edibles is a lot different than the high you experience when you vape or smoke marijuana.
- Vaping Marijuana – One of the new ways to consume marijuana is via a vaporizer. The high from vaping can be similar to smoking, but there is no combustion of the marijuana when you vape. The marijuana is heated to an optimal temperature, and the vapor extracted contains the CBD and THC. The vapor is then inhaled into the lungs where it’s absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. Vaping is a more efficient way to consume marijuana and is healthier than smoking.
- Dabbing Marijuana – Even newer than vaping, dabbing involves the use of cannabis concentrates like shatter, waxes, butter, and oils. These marijuana concentrates are concentrated forms of marijuana and are much more expensive and stronger than dry herb. Dabbing involves heating the concentrates and smoking them through a dab rig or e-nail.
Like anything new, it’s important to take it slowly, and smoking or consuming marijuana for the first time is no different.
Try small amounts and then work your way up to stronger strains and consuming more marijuana.
Over time you can build up a tolerance towards marijuana and particular marijuana strains.
So, it’s a good idea to change up your strains every now and again. If you have any questions about trying marijuana for the first time, don’t hesitate to ask.
If you would like to share your first experiences consuming marijuana, then comment below! We’d love to hear stories about your first time trying marijuana.
