If you haven't been living under a rock for the past several years, you've probably realized that marijuana is being legalized bit by bit across the country. Some states have legalized cannabis for medical purposes, others for both medical and recreational. And as this wonder drug becomes more and more available, people are starting to take notice. People like you.
Maybe you live in California, or Vermont, or in some other state whose cannabis legalization laws just went into effect this year, and you'd like to give it a try. Or maybe you're living in a state like Colorado, where weed has been legal for years, and the only reason you haven't tried smoking is because your former job did random drug testing. Whatever your reasons for starting at now, Leafbuyer is here to help.
When it comes to smoking pot for your first time, we want to make sure you're well prepared with the information you need to make safe, practical choices, speak the language, and have the best possible experience.
Table of Contents
Consuming Cannabis for Your First Time
There are many ways to consume cannabis: smoking, vaping, eating, and even topical application. Regardless of your preferred method of consumption, you should be aware that using marijuana for your first time is not an experience to be taken lightly. As with alcohol, your tolerance will likely be very low if you've never tried it before.
Please take this recommendation to heart: Take your time.
Marijuana is known for having psychoactive effects (hence "getting high"), and if you go past your tolerance levels, it can be a very uncomfortable experience. That's why we highly recommend indulging for your first time with people that you know well, who will look out for your best interests in any situation.
I mean, think about it. Who would you rather try smoking pot for your first time with than a group of your closest friends?
If you do end up consuming too much, don't worry – you won't die. Just try to find an inner calm and let it wash over you. Feeling overwhelmingly sleepy? Go to sleep. Feeling extra paranoid? Distract yourself with a comedy special. Feeling jittery? Go for a walk with some friends. Remember, it's important to be in a safe environment when using marijuana, and that includes the people you surround yourself with.
If the hash hits the fan, you want to be with people who know and care about you.
Smoking Flower
So you've decided to go with a classic: grinding up some bud and smoking it the old fashioned way. Nice choice! But that's not all you'll have to decide on. You have several different options on how to approach smoking pot for your first time, like rolling a joint, packing a bowl, or prepping a bong. You also have lots of strains of marijuana to choose from.
We recommend starting with a hybrid strain that doesn't overdo the brain or body high, like Blue Dynamite. If you're smoking from a joint or a bowl, take it one relatively small hit at a time. Your body reacts quickest to marijuana when you smoke it, usually within a couple of minutes. Take your time to notice what effects are kicking as you pass the pot around. You may start to feel more relaxed, more creative, or an onset of the giggles. Acknowledge these effects and let them in!
If you're thinking about using a bong for your first time smoking pot, take a moment to reconsider. Bongs are somewhat confusing to figure out, and even with proper 'training' from your favorite potheads, it can take a couple of rips to really get the hang of it.
Unfortunately, that means the first hit or two off of the bong can be way too much, or even too little. It's unpredictable if you don't know what you're doing, and it can be very unpleasant if done incorrectly (think too much smoke in your lungs, coughing uncontrollably, getting too high too fast).
If you're thinking "Shut up, Daphne, I've got this," then at least try it out a few times without weed in the bowl. Go through the motions with a seasoned veteran helping you learn how to pull, when to remove the bowl, and how strongly to inhale on the rip. Your lungs will thank you!
Dabbing With Concentrates
Looking for a way to smoke that isn't quite so… smokey? You may want to give concentrates a try. Concentrates are cannabis extracts that are, big surprise, highly concentrated. A little is all it takes with these colorful heavy-hitters. While many people add concentrate to their flower in a regular bowl for an extra kick, we're guessing if you are smoking pot for your first time, you may be interested in consuming slightly lower THC levels than that.
If that's the case, your best bet is to use a rig that has a special bowl for concentrate. But that's not all you'll need – using a butane torch is the best way to get your bowl hot enough to melt the concentrate you're about to inhale. You'll heat up the specialized bowl (often referred to as a dab nail) first, then bring your concentrate into the mix using a toothpick or some type of handle to avoid touching the (now very hot) bowl. Inhale while swirling the concentrate around the nail, and it will begin to vaporize and make the journey toward your lungs.
Like the bong, this way of consuming cannabis is a bit complex for a first-timer. We recommend saving this for a later date, when you're more comfortable with how regular, un-concentrated marijuana affects you. If you do plan to take this route, remember what Mom always used to say about toothpaste:
A little dab will do ya!
Consuming Edibles
Okay, so you're not totally convinced that smoking pot for your first time with MaryJane is the best way to consume it. Whether you're uncomfortable with getting smoke in your lungs for health reasons or you hate the smell of burning weed, edibles are a solid alternative. They can be purchased at just about any recreational or medical marijuana dispensary, and they come pre-sorted into doses that are easy to track. We recommend taking them a little bit at a time: start with 2.5mg to 5mg of THC, then slowly (seriously, slowly) work your way up to around 10mg (no more than that for your first time). This might take a long time, but it's better to be safe than way too high.
A word to the wise: edibles can be confusing, and produce a much different high than smoking. They might kick in after 30 minutes, or they may take a couple of hours to creep up on you in their full effect. Because of the delay in the onset of effects, you may be tempted to try a little more before you're feeling the high, which could lead to getting way too high later.
Since this is going to be your first time using marijuana, we recommend starting elsewhere. But if you do choose to go with edibles, and you end up eating too much (they're usually freaking delicious, so it can be hard not to), don't worry. You'll be just fine if you follow this advice.
Think edibles are right for you? Here are some of our favorites to consume.
The Fine Print
If you're smoking pot for your first time, be sure you're feeling 100% before you get started. Have a good meal, drink lots of water, and most importantly, pay attention to your body. You're the best person to know you when you've had enough. Remember, the point of getting high is to have a good time!
Relax, take a hit, and enjoy.
Note: You are the best person to make a decision like using marijuana. If at any point you change your mind, it's okay to back out. Do what makes you comfortable, and surround yourself with people who respect your choices.
