There’s no time like the first time – if you get it right, of course!
Getting started in the world of cannabis is like setting off on a great adventure. Either it can be a transformative experience that will forever change your life, or nothing can happen.
If you are a first-time cannabis smoker, here are 8 tips to make the experience memorable.
1. Stay calm.
If you are having a marijuana panic attack, don’t worry. It happens. Just make sure that you have someone you trust with you on that maiden voyage.
Here are five things you can do to avoid freaking out on pot:
- Fight back with cannabidiol (CBD).
CBD is an anxiety-fighting compound that comes handy when it comes to fighting pot jitters.
- Fight back with black pepper.
Both pot and pepper affect the body’s endocannabinoid system. The phytocannabinoid-terpenoid effect not only kills anxiety, but it also helps with addiction, depression, as well as pain.
- Don’t panic!
You can’t overdose (OD) and die on weed. What hospital Emergency Rooms (ERs) are reporting is increased panic attacks and anxiety reactions, not overdoses. No one is suffering systemic organ failures, or losing their lives because they ingested too much pot.
- Be smart on dosing.
When starting out, limit yourself to only 10 milligrams of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and note how it affects you. If smoking it, you’ll know within a few minutes how high you’re going to get. If using edibles, wait at least an hour.
2. Don’t overdo the edibles.
Smoking marijuana and eating edible have quite different effects from how these are absorbed into the body, to the high that these cause.
When ingesting the edibles, start out with a very small amount. This is because these are more potent than smoking as they are metabolized through the gut. Besides having longer-lasting effects, edibles also cause some super-euphoric body high responses.
If you want to know about different ways of consuming marijuana, read our: Guide to Ingesting Marijuana - Different Consumption Methods.
3. Know your limits.
Know your limits and act accordingly. Feel free to pass on the joint in the rotation if you are stoned out of your mind after one hit. Your aim is to get high, not to melt your whole face off.
4. Be around people you trust.
This applies to pretty much everything you do in your life, but it’s especially true when it comes to cannabis smoking. When starting out, do it with friends you can trust. Avoid being around people you don’t know and in an environment that’s not familiar.
5. Hydrate like an athlete.
Of course, drinking enough water is important for your overall health, whether you are smoking weed or not. But you definitely don’t want to make the mistake of getting high and failing to stay properly dehydrated.
When you get high, the receptors on the floor of your mouth temporarily stop producing saliva. For this reason, it is extra important to chug water if you don’t want your whole mouth to dry up and stay dried up the day after you smoke.
6. Gain control over your breathing.
According to a study, frequent cannabis smokers had more outpatient medical visits for respiratory problems than their non-smoking counterparts did. That’s why it pays to gain good control over your breathing when smoking.
Here are some tips to help you in this regard:
- Like yoga, use rhythmic breathing patterns.
Use a simple 4-2-4 count. Inhale softly for 4 seconds, stop shortly for 2 seconds, and breathe out gently for 4 seconds. You can create a new breathing pattern in your subconscious by repeating this sequence 10 times, 3 times a day.
- Inhale directly into lungs.
If smoking out of a bong, bowl or anything with a carb, you can inhale the smoke directly into your lungs.
- Don’t hold it longer.
After your 2-second pause, let the smoke go.
Your first time smoking weed shouldn’t make you nervous! If you are a first-time weed smoker, these 6 tips can surely create the perfect first-time experience.