For anyone who is ready to try cannabis for the first time or has taken a break for many years, ok360 can help make your experience more enjoyable. Despite rumors about the strength of weed today, it’s not as intense as you may think. NY Times columnists have had positive experiences with smoking weed and recommend it to others in their articles. If you’re wondering where to start, look no further! Our guide will provide you with all the information needed on how to smoke weed safely so that your first experience is a great one.
You’re looking for a pleasant buzz if you’re not seeking therapeutic advantages, which is why we’ve included our CBD content. You’re undoubtedly searching for a pleasurable high. As simple as that sounds, the cannabis market has evolved dramatically in recent years, and the choices may be overwhelming. This article will assist you in selecting the best strain, dosage, and method of consumption for an enjoyable first time experience.
Understanding the Basics
Although it’s tempting to simply eat a weed brownie, we strongly advise against it. The consequences that come with consuming cannabis this way- such as a delayed reaction and intense high that can last for hours- are not worth the risk.
Consumption Method
Novice users are advised to either smoke or vaporize cannabis for easier dosage control compared to other consumption methods. Smoking cannabis is the more traditional option that involves inhaling the heated buds’ released smoke.
There are several smoking accessories to choose from, including a one hitter pipe or a joint. Another alternative is a bong, which will result in the cleanest hit since smoke passes through water before inhalation, however beginners should avoid the intensity of a bong hit. If you find that smoking cannabis is too powerful, try vaporization as a gentler option.
If you’re worried about the respiratory problems that could come from smoking, we think vaporizing is a great way to start consuming cannabis. A vaporizer heats up cannabis buds and/or concentrates to a lower temperature than combustion, which causes the beneficial compounds like THC and CBD) stored in plant trichomes to turn into gas. In our experience, this method of consumption provides a milder high that is more manageable and forgiving than smoking Cannabis.
Strain Selection
If you’re satisfied with your vaporizer path, the photo above may leave you perplexed. Simply keep in mind that the golden liquid in your vaporizer cartridge is simply a concentrated, extracted form of the original cannabis buds, and it should be classified Indica, Sativa, or hybrid at the very least.
Cartridges containing only one strain are less common than those with multiple strains. Similarly to how every wine has a history, every cannabis plant related strand does as well. Some dispensaries even have garden blends; where they mix different plants together to create a more unique flavor profile. In order to understand this battle between Indica and Sativa, you first must grasp an understanding of the two major species of the cannabis plant and how they can induce such different effects..
It is important to distinguish between Indica and Sativa types of cannabis when selecting your desired effects. A Sativa-dominant variety is best for those looking for a lively, focused, and creative experience. An Indica-dominant strain, on the other hand, is ideal for individuals seeking sedative, relaxing, and appetite-inducing effects. A hybrid strain (one that mixes elements from both the Indica and Sativa species during breeding) should be tried by persons seeking a great anytime smoke with a more balanced high (for additional information, see our strain selection guide or delta-8 tutorial).
Dosage
One or two inhalations is all it takes for first-time users to feel THC’s powerful effects. We advise waiting 15-20 minutes after smoking before taking further inhalations because the effects can become more intense during this time. As you become more confident with your preferred dosage, you may take additional puffs for a stronger impact.
If you don’t want to finish your entire bowl or joint in one sitting, no problem! You can always come back to it later. If ingesting cannabis is your only option, we recommend starting with a dose of 5mg of THC. However, keep in mind that everyone’s metabolism reacts differently to edibles, so it important to WAIT after ingestion for up 2 hours before assessing how you feel. With time and experience, you will get better at gauging your ideal dosage.
How to Light a Joint Properly
There is no right or wrong way to light a joint, but there are definitely some tricks of the trade that can help you achieve an even burn with a powerful cherry. Here are some of our favorite methods:
Some cannabis users prefer traditional lighters (hello, old-fashioned Bic!), while others choose hemp wick over inhaling fuel for a more natural experience. Personal preferences aside, we can assist you in properly lighting the slowly burning joint you spent so much time creating.
Do
Even the most carefully rolled joint can be jeopardized by impulsive lighting! To light a smoking joint quickly and regularly, start by igniting just the tip and slowly rotating it in your hands.
The goal is to produce a cherry (the portion of the connection that is actively burning) at the end of the joint that will burn down the length of the joint uniformly. Be patient! Creating a cherry without breathing in typically entails more direct heat and time than smoking a cigarette.
To round and even it out as needed, once the cherry is off to a strong, consistent start, you may use a combination of inhalation and additional flame application (at separate times — not at the same time!) to smooth and perfect it.
The joint in the photo below is evenly lit, meaning it will keep burning properly after the first few hits.
Don’t
Applying flame to the joint tip while breathing in may seem like a good idea due to the resemblance to how cigars and cigarettes are smoked. However, we’re talking about cannabis, not tobacco here; therefore, the procedure doesn’t apply to joints.
We don’t suggest lighting while drawing on the joint during ignition because it frequently leads to an uneven cherry and a greater chance of canoeing, the dreaded run of fast-burning herb that can ruin a good connection.
Different types of cannabis concentrates can present unique problems, especially when making twax joints or blunts. If you don’t take care while igniting the BHO, it can ruin all your hard work by burning out of control. To learn more about how to safely make your own dabs or hash oil at home, follow this guide.
A lighter is essential for smoking weed; without one, you’re out of luck. You might think that this goes without saying, but we can assure you that more than one joint-rolling session has been stopped in its tracks by a missing lighter.
However, in high winds (an uneven cherry is preferable to no cherry at all), the cigarette method is certainly viable. Rather than a go-to, it’s a last-minute solution. There are several more efficient choices than the one-hitter, such as for example using a whole pack instead of just one butt end.
Pro Tip
One-hitter pipes are long tubes with tiny bowls that are ideal when you don’t have a joint on hand, or smoking one isn’t an option. To fill it, use a grinder card, and then take the classic ciggy-style pull!
The pipe’s size ensures that you’ll never waste herb, and it’s much easier to light without burning your fingers. If you’re looking for the perfect one-hitte.
Joint Smoking Etiquette
Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or just curious about the latest trends, it’s critical to keep up with your joint etiquette – no one wants to be “that guy.” You’ll avoid embarrassment the next time you’re given a joint if you follow the code of conduct below.
Consider it a dance lesson for couples who smoke together – use these suggestions to keep your invitation to the smoke circle.
Respect Rolling Seniority
While you don’t have to be the best joint roller or have the fanciest rolling papers, it’s good to know where your skills lie in comparison to others. If someone else can roll better than you and you’re both aware of this fact, then let them take charge. However, there’s no harm in practicing! You never know when you might become the most experienced joint roller around, and we would be more than happy to help improve your skills for when that day comes.
Don’t Expect to Hit it without Contributing
It’s easy to become the person who always asks others for a hit off their joint but never offers anything in return, and believe me when I say nobody wants to be that guy. If you want to remain welcome in the smokers’ circle, it’s important to offer something of value even if you don’t have any weed – whether it’s cash, food, or anything else they might need. Those who are generous with their ganja will take notice of your thoughtfulness, and you’ll score an open invitation to future smoke sessions.
He Who Rolled Shall Light
The person who rolled the joint has the right to be the one who lights it and hits it first. While this may not seem like a big deal, you would probably be upset if the joint you just spent time rolling was carelessly lit by someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. The roller can offer this privilege to someone else, but they have full control over when it is lit.
Puff, Puff, Pass
This is the one and only rule of joint smoking: take two puffs and then pass it on! Don’t monopolize the smoke or you might be asked to leave the smoking circle for good. If you have a different rule than your friends, that’s fine — however, in most cases, adhere to “puff, puff, pass,” unless otherwise directed.
Ash Before You Pass
Pass an un-ashed joint to the next person, and you’re risking being responsible for ruining their favorite piece of clothing or furniture. To avoid that, it’s best to ash before passing. It’s a simple concept – nobody likes receiving an ashed joint, so don’t put them in that position.
The Joint is Not a Microphone
When people use cannabis together, they often feel closer to one another. A social activity like sharing stories is encouraged while using cannabis, but please don’t hog the joint! Remember rule #5?
No one appreciates it when you hold a joint and let it go out before taking a hit. The joint is not the Talking Stick, so please don’t treat it as such!
Stick to the Original Rotation
The order should be maintained even if you’re not actually standing in a circle. The person who rolled the joint should light it and pass it to their left. It will continue being passed to the left until everyone hits the joint once, then ‘the circle’ is completed. If done correctly, this method makes for a more relaxing experience since no one has to worry about whose turn it is or if they might accidentally skip someone.”
Keep Your Exhale to Yourself
This is a typical blunder, but be cautious with how you breathe out your hit. Nobody likes to get hit in the face with a cloud of smoke. When exhaling, a small upward or downward tilt of the head can help. If you inadvertently exhale right into someone’s face, own up to it; then try not to do it again if possible. On rare occasions, you might get tripped up by a breeze or fan, but it should not happen too frequently.
Don’t Pass the Roach
It’s bad manners to pass a joint that has burned out. It implies there will be two more hits if you’re on the giving end of one…unless it’s a roach. Not great. If the marijuana is gone, put it out—there’s no need to pass the roach. It’s similar to getting a gift-wrapped box with nothing inside of it. When it’s time to let go, do so promptly.
How to Smoke Weed Without Coughing
Most people have never been taught how to breathe in the classic sense, which is one of the first things you do right out of the gate and which is usually assumed to be under control from there. Breathing is an automatic function that takes place 20,000+ times every day.
The way you breathe can have a significant impact on how you feel and how efficiently you inhale smoke.
No one likes choking and coughing every time they smoke, that’s why we’re dedicated to spreading the information you need to learn how to inhale properly – using these techniques will help you cough less and get higher on each hit!
If you’re new to hitting a bong or taking pulls off joints, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with dozens of techniques on how to smoke without coughing, regardless of your consumption method preference. You’ll learn how to take smooth hits and exhale calmly like a pro in no time!
Use a Grinder
Most people know this, but in case you didn’t: the coarseness of your cannabis grind directly impacts the quality of your smoking experience – no matter if you’re using a bong, blunt, or vape. Grinders are key because they ensure an even burn with good airflow that smooths out “hot spots” which can ruin a bowl or clog it up.
Draw Into Your Mouth First
It’s important to draw the smoke into your mouth before breathing it in when smoking joints, spliffs, or blunts. Doing so helps the cannabis roll burn more evenly and smoothly, producing a nicer hit. The procedure is similar to that of smoking a cigar; use your cheeks to bring the smoke into your mouth first.
The first thing we must discuss is diaphragmatic breathing, which is also known as belly breathing or deep respiration. The technique is designed to help you use your diaphragm appropriately when inhaling and exhaling.
The diaphragm is the neglected yet crucial muscle that lies below your lungs and contracts them to draw in and expel air. The majority of people underutilize their most important organ! Developing muscle memory for efficient breathing
Until it becomes second nature, there are a few exercises you can do at home. One of the simplest is to put your hand on your stomach while resting in either a sitting or lying position. Inhale slowly and feel your belly fill with air as it expands. Afterward, when you’re ready, exhale slowly as you concentrate solely on breathing and focus specifically on how your belly moves. Do this process for several minutes total.
Prior to smoking, take 10 deep breaths following a 4-2-4 counts. Inhale for four seconds, pause for two seconds, then exhale gently for four seconds. Do this three times per day to program your subconscious mind with this new pattern. Whenever you get the urge to smoke thereafter, simply recite the breathing sequence to yourself and follow along.
It’s simple to check if you’re inhaling smoke correctly- just think about the suction. Is it coming from your mouth (like with a cigar) or going directly into your lungs? Both are right, but they’re usually used for different ways of consuming. No matter how you like to consume though, we’ll teach you how effectively.
Slow and Steady, like Yoga
You do not need to inhale with force, speed, or aggression. The lightest breath will bring the smoke into your lungs. Consider the breaths you’ve taken throughout yoga class, meditation, or prayer. Allow the smoke to fill your lungs gradually and gently as you milk the bong until you’re ready to clear it away.
Don’t Hold it
Many people think they need to hold the smoke in their lungs to get the full effect, but this is not true. The second you inhale, the cannabinoids are absorbed by your body. Holding your breath will not make it work better – in fact, it can actually be harmful. The increased “rush” felt by people who hold their hits is due to oxygen deprivation, not improved absorption of THC. So breathe it in and out, and enjoy!
Release at the Same Pace
As you inhale, let your exhale be just as soft and gentle. Practice this breathing pattern before you have your next smoke and tell us how it goes! You should find that without trying to hold the smoke in, you can better control your exhale.
Coughing has always been a difficult problem to resolve, and new research suggests that it may be one of the most intractable. In our experience, those who struggle with coughing generally do one of two things: they hold the smoke in for too long or they don’t provide fresh oxygen with each puff. Keep in mind that the above suggestions also apply to smoking CBD-rich strains. Raw organic hemp flower, while not producing a “high” like cannabis flower, can offer strong, fast-acting pain relief from a variety of issues in a full-spectrum whole-plant format similar to cannabis consumption.