Trying Cannabis For The First Time
By Chris January 16, 2020

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when trying cannabis for the first time. It’s a drug, after all, and affects your body in myriad ways. Its effects vary from individual to individual, so being prepared is key. Knowing what to expect ahead of time, along with a few other crucial tips, is definitely worthwhile.

 

16. Manage Expectations

Manage Expectations
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Managing expectations is an important part of everyday life. This can include both your expectations, along with those of the people around you. Knowing what to expect when going into a situation is very important. The same goes for trying cannabis for the first time.

 

Doing your due diligence and performing basic research, then, is a solid first step. Know what to expect and how to prepare for any potential issues. Getting in the right mindset is also key.

 

It can be easy for people to not take cannabis seriously. You can’t overdose on it and its effects don’t last as long as many other drugs. This could lead to some people not taking those effects as seriously as they should.

 

This is a mistake that should be avoided. Even though there are minimal risks involved in cannabis use, its effects can be surprising if you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. When you’re ready for any potential outcome, however, you will undoubtedly end up enjoying yourself more.

 

15. Know The Effects of Cannabis

Know the effects
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The effects of cannabis aren’t all that easy to narrow down. Different people react differently to all drugs, cannabis included. You will also notice different effects, both positive and negative, when you try out different consumption methods.

 

Smoking weed is still considered to be the best way to manage your high. Even so, there are a variety of ways to smoke cannabis and each of these will affect your high in different ways. Having a sense of what these effects are will absolutely help you better prepare for your first high.

 

The effects of edibles and tinctures are more difficult to manage than those felt after smoking. Furthermore, edibles will generally kick in slower and last longer. Edibles also offer slightly different effects than smoking does, although the base high is generally the same.

 

14. Choose Your Consumption Method

choose consumption method
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Elaborating on the points we just made, choosing your consumption method can be important. It’s not a massive deal for first time users, but can definitely help personalize the overall experience. Lifestyle also plays an important role as far as your chosen consumption method is concerned.

 

Smoking cannabis in a joint, pipe, bong, or blunt makes managing your high an easier process, but smoking is a killer on your respiratory system. Rolling joints or blunts also has a bit of a skill curve, making it difficult for first time users to tap into. Bongs aren’t all that mobile and pipes tend to have a strong smell after being used, which can easily out you if you’re out in public.

 

Edibles are another popular consumption method, having their own pros and cons. Many people find that accidentally overindulging is easier with edibles. It’s also generally assumed that an edible high can really kick in hard if you’re not careful.

 

You can always adjust your chosen method later on, but thinking about it ahead of time is worthwhile. This lets you look into best practices and lets you plan the kit you need to bring with you – not having a grinder or papers handy, for example, can really put a damper on things.

 

13. Sativas, Indicas, and Hybrids

sativas, indicas, and hybrids
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Choosing your strain is also a crucial step. Each variety of cannabis offers wildly different overall effects. Before getting started, you should take the time to look into what to expect from indicas or sativas. Hybrids are also a solid option, providing a good mix of the two.

 

Indicas are generally associated with sluggishness or couch lock. Indicas usually have more CBD than other strains and are great if you just want to kick back and relax. Indicas are generally reserved for lazy days and are great to use right before bed or to take the edge off.

 

Sativas, on the other hand, offer more of an energetic high. They allow patients to carry on with their day without acting like a total stoner. These strains also help to spark a certain creativity, but can also lead to increased anxiety at times.

 

12. THC or CBD?

THC or CBD
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THC and CBD are the two main cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. There are many others that all affect your body in myriad ways, but THC and CBD are the real heavyweights. Strains are usually classified based on how much THC or CBD they contain.

 

THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid and is attributed to the high that patients feel when they ingest cannabis. Strains with higher concentrations of THC will make you feel more high and experience more of a hallucinatory state.

 

CBD, on the other hand, is the main medicinal ingredient found in cannabis. Its uses are still being determined, but it has already proven itself to be effective at managing a wide range of symptoms. It doesn’t get you high, but can increase the some of the effects of THC when the two are combined.

 

11. Start Low, Go Slow

start low, go slow
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It’s true that you can’t overdose by ingesting too much cannabis, but overdoing it can cause trouble. You can’t put the genie back in the bottle, after all. With this in mind, you should start by ingesting small amounts.

 

Sometimes the effects of cannabis, especially when it comes to edibles, can take an unexpectedly long amount of time to kick in. When this happens, some people will assume that they didn’t take enough and will double down. This is a mistake for first time users and can cause potential issues.

 

Working out what dose is right for you should be approached more like a marathon than a sprint. Starting low right off the bat is a good way to gauge the effects of cannabis without overdoing it. If you decide that your initial dose was too low, you can always try more next time.

 

10. Not Getting High?

take your time
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Another thing to keep in mind is that some first time users of cannabis don’t feel any effects. The science behind why this happens is still largely unknown. It could come down to a number of factors, including a patient simply not inhaling properly. If this happens to you, it’s not that big of a deal in the long run.

 

We feel that we should point out that if you don’t get high the first time, you shouldn’t simply ingest more the next time. This isn’t a matter of tolerance or a miscalculation as far as dosing is concerned; it’s just one of those things that happens from time to time. Everyone reacts differently to cannabis, so just try to keep at it.

 

There’s also no need to rush things. Chances are good that the next time you indulge in cannabis, you’ll end up feeling its effects properly. So don’t get discouraged or force things if you don’t get stoned. You’ll have plenty more chances to try out the effects of cannabis in the future.

 

9. Inhale Properly

inhale
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This isn’t a huge point, but is worth mentioning. Many first time users aren’t used to inhaling smoke or vapour. When it comes to enjoying cannabis, it’s worth getting it right.

 

You don’t need to hold in the smoke as long as you can to get high. In fact, this isn’t really recommended. Instead, focus on filling your lungs and then exhaling normally. If you aren’t getting all that high when you smoke, it could be due to you not inhaling enough.

 

8. Keep Hydrated

stay hydrated
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Cottonmouth is a standard side effect when using cannabis. It can be distracting, to say the least, and generally isn’t a great feeling. In order to counteract this problem, make sure you have a lot of water handy. If water isn’t your thing, you can hydrate any way you like, but keep in mind that caffeine and alcohol should be avoided.

 

7. Stay Well Fed

eat somthing
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Another side effect of cannabis is what’s generally known as the munchies. Cannabis tends to make its users feel hungry, so keeping snacks on hand is worthwhile. Food can also help slow down the rate at which you ingest edibles.

 

Eating ahead of time is usually a good call. This will help you avoid the urge to eat everything in sight when you’re high. Eating both before and after you get stoned can also help minimize negative side effects like anxiety. At the end of the day, having food on hand will make for a much more enjoyable experience.

 

6. Clear Your Schedule

clear your schedule
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Even though a cannabis high is relatively short-lived, effects can still persist for a few hours to the better part of a day. How long your high lasts pretty much comes down to your dose and tolerance levels. If you have something important to do, consider avoiding getting high until you’ve cleared your schedule.

 

This will help you avoid feeling anxious during your experience. It also frees you up to really make the most of your high. The effects of cannabis can really be affected by your environment. Being relaxed and having no pressing issues to take care of will always lead to better results. Plus, it’s a real pain having to focus on important matters when you can’t really focus on much of anything, which does tend to happen when you’re baked.

 

5. Know Your Crowd

know your crowd
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Speaking of your environment, being around the right group of people is paramount. If you aren’t totally comfortable with the people you’re around when you get stoned, it can make things uncomfortable. Instead, make a point of surrounding yourself with people who you can simply be yourself around with no judgements.

 

You should also always know exactly what it is that you’re ingesting. If you’re around new people you can’t really be sure that what they have rolled up is just cannabis. Some people like to mix other drugs in their joints, which can go badly if you’re unprepared. You should also be aware that potency can be an issue. Knowing how strong a specific strain is can be tricky if you don’t know the person offering you a hit.

 

4. Location, Location, Location

location is key
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Location is another thing that you should pay attention to. Being in a familiar environment can help minimize your stress levels if you start to spin out. This will always ensure you’re as comfortable as possible.

 

Furthermore, you don’t want to find yourself in a high stress environment at all if you want to enjoy yourself as much as possible. Unfamiliar surroundings can make you feel more uncomfortable when it comes right down to it. You should also know what the laws are in your area to ensure that you don’t get yourself in trouble by indulging in a public place.

 

Cannabis use is generally acceptable in private these days, but openly using cannabis in public can end up causing problems if it’s against the law where you happen to be. On this note, be sure to look into the local laws before sparking up because it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry.

 

3. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine

avoid alcohol and caffeine
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Alcohol and caffeine don’t normally mix well with cannabis, especially in larger amounts. Drinking alcohol will increase your chances of spinning or greening out. Caffeine can also lead to issues because it can kick your anxiety into high gear.

 

Even seasoned cannabis users make this mistake from time to time. Consuming small amounts of alcohol or caffeine isn’t the worst thing you can do, but it’s still best to avoid them. This is especially true when you’re just starting out.

 

2. This Too Shall Pass

just wait
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Overindulgence happens from time to time and it’s not usually a great feeling if you happen to green out. You can find yourself spinning if this happens and it can be a trying experience for newcomers. The best advice we can give you if this happens to you is that you should try to relax.

 

While the effects of ingesting too much THC can be uncomfortable, there’s nothing life threatening to worry about. The worst that can happen is that you’ll feel awkward for a few hours and maybe feel sluggish for the rest of the day. This hangover of sorts can even last until the next day in varying degrees.

 

More importantly, however, is that this feeling will pass and that you’ll be back to your regular self soon enough. A lot of people get stressed if they start to green out, which can cause them to panic. This isn’t helpful to anyone, especially yourself. There are plenty of things you can do if you green out. The biggest point to keep in mind is that you should try to relax to avoid spiralling any further.

 

1. Stay Safe and Know Your Limits

stay safe
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As with all things, staying within your limits is crucial. Succumbing to peer pressure and overindulging is something to be avoided. There’s no harm in calling it when you start to feel too high. Most seasoned pros won’t make fun of you for staying within your limits and those who do aren’t worth keeping around. Knowing yourself and staying within your limits is probably the most important tip to keep in mind when you’re getting used to cannabis.

 

It’s also worth reiterating that you should always double check the local laws pertaining to cannabis in your area. Staying within the bounds of the law will both keep you safe and keep you out of trouble. You should also avoid driving a vehicle or operating heavy machinery after using cannabis because it does, in fact, impair your reaction times and decision-making abilities.

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