- As with any new experience, trying cannabis for the first time may give you new and surprising sensations that you’ll need to learn to handle.
- It may seem surprising, but it’s true: there are a few basic safety rules that must be followed when someone wants to try cannabis.
- In this article, we’ll give you the best tips to ensure that your first steps into the world of cannabis are enjoyable—and not the opposite.
Any new experience brings with it some doubts and anxiety about the unknown—all of which is completely natural, normal, and, above all, human. That’s why we think it’s important to share some tips that will help you be as prepared as possible when you use cannabis for the first time, whether for recreational or medical purposes.
It’s important to ask yourself a number of relevant questions to ensure that you’re in the best possible position to have a good time. Otherwise, you run the risk of having experiences that will leave you with bad memories—often unfairly—because of certain key factors that weren’t properly considered.
That is why we believe it is important to provide you with a quick guide to using cannabis buds while avoiding any risk of addiction and the consequences that might result.
There are simple things that don’t necessarily come to mind when someone isn’t familiar with the different aspects of our beloved plant. It may be wise to start by trying strains with a moderate THC content (between 10 and 15%), and also to explore strains with varying THC-to-CBD ratios, including hybrids with different ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, etc.).
In any case, it will be beneficial, because even in small amounts, CBD can significantly reduce the potency of any strain.
It seems perfectly natural and logical that growers who have spent long weeks of hard work cultivating their favorite varieties from high-quality seeds would have high expectations for the quality of their harvest.
This is completely understandable, since it requires the use and purchase of the appropriate supplies, such as seeds, soil, fertilizer, pots, water, and a wide variety of other tools. On top of that, there are high electricity costs if the plants are grown indoors.
We must also give due consideration to all the work carried out over the course of several weeks, as well as the interminable wait during the flowering stage. This is followed by the drying period, which lasts about one month, in order to obtain thoroughly dried buds with an optimal aromatic profile and potency clearly demonstrated by a high THC content.
However, this point of view is completely understandable when considering all the points mentioned above, even for a beginner grower; however, if we consider a healthy person’s first pleasant and well-managed experience, things are quite different…
Is this the perfect time in your life to try cannabis?
It is essential to feel comfortable with yourself in order to have this kind of experience, especially for recreational purposes. When it comes to therapeutic use, the situation is different and more challenging, as you will naturally be concerned about your impaired health.
So let’s get back to the idea of experimenting with cannabis for recreational purposes. If you feel you’re going through a difficult period in your life, or if you’re preoccupied with various problems, it’s best to put it off for now. The same goes if you’re feeling extremely tired or aren’t eating well at the moment.
It’s important to maintain a good overall balance to ensure a positive experience. Cannabis acts as an emotional amplifier for anyone of normal constitution—no more, no less. That’s why it’s important to proceed gradually, step by step.
If you have important things to do during the day—whether in public, institutional, or professional settings, or simply in situations that require a serious demeanor—it would be best to avoid using cannabis. Your state of cannabis intoxication—let’s call a spade a spade—with red eyes and an altered, slowed-down perception of reality, will not help you in any way with your various tasks; quite the opposite, in fact.
You’ll only reinforce the stigma and the negative views held by those who are most opposed to cannabis. It would be like drinking alcohol before doing those same things—you’d give people you meet a negative impression of you, and rightly so. As they say, everything should be done at the right time.
This would play into the hands of the plant’s many critics, as it would reinforce their preconceived notions about the risk of addiction and its overall health consequences. These people might mistakenly think that you are unable to control your use.
We must realize that, in the eyes of the world—or at least of those who are unfamiliar with our industry—the very act of growing cannabis plants from high-quality seeds is perceived by the vast majority of them as something evil and criminal.
You might say that this is certainly a cultural issue, which is certainly true in our society; however, even though this is likely to change gradually and for the better in the coming years, the stigma surrounding this plant is still very much a reality around the world today.
Am I in the best place for my first experience with cannabis?
Another situation that’s quite different but is also strongly discouraged is when you find yourself in an unfamiliar, anxiety-inducing environment—such as an unpleasant place where you don’t feel entirely at ease, surrounded by strangers. In that case, it’s best to postpone your experience.
This is a situation that typically occurs among teenagers or young people who overlook what seem to be minor details but which, in the end, are not. The psychoactive effects of THC, it’s worth noting, are a new experience for these first-time users, who may be unpleasantly surprised by the effects they feel in such an unsuitable environment.
This is what’s known as “set and settings” in English— the importance of one’s state of mind and the surrounding environment for this kind of experience. It’s an underlying aspect that younger people are often unaware of.
Even though smoking some delicious buds from certain strains of weed in a good joint while you’re hanging out, or heading off to work when you’re young, might seem “cool” or “fun”—as if it were a fantastic, hilarious experience—in reality, it’s not at all, for many reasons.
You might think that way when you’re young, but the reality is quite different. First, if you show up to work “high,” you’ll give a bad impression of yourself. And second, imagine that—without your knowing it—the company you’re working for at that moment, and perhaps even for weeks to come, might offer you an interesting career opportunity because it’s in a booming industry and is growing steadily.
Do you honestly think you’d make the best impression on your superiors with a view to a potential job offer? Clearly not, and when you’re young, you don’t immediately think about these kinds of details, which can be of major importance. This could therefore directly hinder your future career advancement.
Second, not all jobs involve the same risks, because a person working in an office, sitting in a chair at a computer, will not be exposed to the same hazards as someone who works in construction, for example.
Physical exposure is in no way comparable, because the consequences of an accident on a construction site could potentially be much more severe. Certain trades involve many proven hazards, so it’s important to exercise caution and act responsibly, even when you’re young and carefree.
This may seem perfectly logical and make perfect sense, but if you’re expecting a baby, for example, it stands to reason that you naturally shouldn’t smoke cannabis buds until after you give birth. Everything that passes through your body during this time will have a direct impact on your baby’s health. Therefore, it would be better to postpone this new phase of exploration until a more appropriate time in your life.
As we mentioned earlier, there are very different consumer profiles, but these consumers also have varying levels of knowledge about the different varieties of “seeds” available on the market—and, of course, about the specific characteristics of each one. It doesn’t take extensive research to realize and understand that the expectations of experienced growers are in no way comparable to those of someone who simply wants to try one or more cannabis products for the first time.
The expert in this field is truly passionate about his craft and attaches great importance to every stage of cultivation—from germination, through the growth phase, and throughout the entire flowering period—before finally yielding the long-awaited harvest of heavy, resinous, high-quality buds. It’s important to keep in mind that he goes to great lengths to achieve this goal, investing money and dedicating a great deal of time to the task.
This connoisseur typically grows year-round, whether indoors or outdoors. He strives to grow using his own method, aiming for perfection at virtually any cost. Generally speaking, these growers know the properties of each cannabis strain like the back of their hand. It therefore stands to reason that their ultimate expectations will vary.
The possibility of experiencing no effects at all
The intensity of the effects produced by cannabis depends directly on your biochemical makeup. We are not all the same in this regard, and rigorous, in-depth scientific studies still need to be conducted on this topic.
That’s why the effects experienced can vary greatly from one person to another, and it’s even possible for someone to feel nothing at all when they use cannabis for the first time. Furthermore, this phenomenon may seem strange, but it isn’t actually unusual. Many more people than we realize frequently experience this situation. But keep in mind that in most cases, the effects become noticeable with subsequent uses.
A first step—starting by smoking a CBD joint rather than an Indica-dominant strain with a 30% THC content—is an excellent way to discover the smell and taste of cannabis without experiencing any of its effects. At that point, you’ll already have a初步 understanding of certain properties of the plants or strains that you might come to enjoy later on.
Avoid taking multiple drugs at the same time
We strongly recommend that you avoid mixing different drugs together under any circumstances, as this could create a truly harmful cocktail for your body. During your first time trying it, mixing different substances could simply lead to such a bad experience that you would never want to repeat it—to the point of (wrongly) turning you off cannabis.
Yet this is exactly what happens to many people, who directly blame cannabis, when in fact it is their own lack of knowledge and misuse that are the main causes of this adverse reaction.
Even though all cannabis products are considered drugs in their own right—since they come from an illegal plant with psychoactive effects—their potential for physical and psychological dependence is actually quite low, and this is in no way comparable to what can happen with hard drugs (cocaine, heroin, crack, etc.).
If these cannabis products are used properly and in moderation, you will have excellent, very pleasant experiences. Even though the threshold for addiction to a substance varies drastically from one person to another—for the simple reason that we all have different biochemical makeup—this is a reality that is reflected in a general trend among populations around the world.
You must avoid mixing alcohol and cannabis at all costs. A very common bad experience is drinking a fair amount of alcohol and then using cannabis. In most cases, the result will be terrible—you’ll experience nausea and vomiting, and you’ll want to lie down as soon as possible.
What’s more, this doesn’t just happen to beginners; regular cannabis users are also affected. If you try the same thing with “harder” drugs or prescription medications, it will be even worse—so you should avoid it entirely.
Variable Distortion of Reality
Both alcohol and cannabis alter your perception of reality. This is something you shouldn’t overlook, because all your usual sensations will seem strange to you—and that’s perfectly normal. Your five senses will experience things quite differently—whether it’s sight, hearing, taste, smell, or touch. Your perception of space and time is also altered, which is something to keep in mind.
When using cannabis for the first time, we may feel as though we are rediscovering a place we already know well, and the passage of time may seem much slower than usual. Of course, this should be taken with a grain of salt, as it depends on each user’s tolerance, their overall condition at the time, and the quality and quantity of the cannabis consumed.
Other temporary effects that also occur in many people include red eyes and short-term memory loss. The way cannabis heightens our senses is expressed through the discovery of new and very pleasant sensations when we listen to music, watch a good movie, enjoy a delicious meal, or make love with our partner, for example.
The cannabis plant offers the potential to significantly enhance all of these sensations in humans. However, to remain completely objective, it’s also necessary to point out that if all the factors at play are not favorable, then the resulting experience can only logically be negative. For all these reasons, it’s important to listen to both your body and your mind before engaging in this type of experience with any psychoactive substance, whatever it may be.
The effects you're experiencing don't match your expectations
You may notice that your friends have a fairly positive reaction when they use cannabis, but that doesn’t mean you’ll experience a similar effect. As we mentioned earlier, every user has a unique biochemical makeup that reacts significantly differently.
This is something to keep in mind, regardless of how you’re feeling right now. It may simply be your natural disposition; it’s entirely possible that the effects of cannabis aren’t beneficial for you, causing some physical lethargy but nothing more on a mental level.
Other people may also experience anxiety, paranoia, or even delirium in the most severe cases; in such cases, it is best to stop using cannabis—or any other psychoactive substance—immediately. The cause of the problem may be a temporary condition or may reveal a deeper underlying issue in the individual concerned.
In some cases, this is a warning sign that the individual should consult a healthcare professional who specializes in this area. It could be a concrete underlying symptom of an obvious psychological or psychiatric disorder that has not yet been diagnosed in this person. This is a situation that requires a particularly responsive approach; otherwise, there is a risk that this behavior will persist over the long term.
Another useful tip for anyone wanting to try cannabis for the first time is to practice microdosing so you aren’t caught off guard by the intensity of the effects, or to experiment with a CBD strain. Using this method, you can always gradually increase the amount of cannabis you consume.
Learning to Enjoy It by Starting Slowly
No matter which method of consumption you’ve chosen to take your first steps into the world of cannabis, the key is to do everything you can to make your experience as enjoyable as possible.
If you want to eat a cannabis-infused treat, for example, start by eating a small piece and wait at least 45 minutes to 1 hour to allow the effects to gradually set in before considering taking another dose. The most common mistake is to take another dose too soon after the first one, which can lead to an overly strong effect due to the cumulative effect.
When making a “spacecake” or cannabis cake, be careful not to use too much, as the effects can be intense even with a small amount. The concentration of active ingredients is what poses a problem in this specific case. Ingested cannabis always takes longer to be absorbed than smoked cannabis.
When you inhale cannabis, the effects set in more quickly— on average, you’ll feel them within 5 to 15 minutes. Our advice here is exactly the same as for ingestion: take it slow when smoking, and allow enough time between each puff for the effects to kick in. Using a vaporizer is also an excellent way to start off gently.
At the same time, it’s important to have a sugary snack—such as a few cookies of your choice—within reach, in case you feel a drop in energy or start to feel unwell. Sugar is a great way to regain your focus and energy in those moments. Having a bottle of water within reach is also always a good idea to stay hydrated or cool off.
We strongly advise against using cannabis on an empty stomach. This can lead to a drop in blood pressure caused by hypoglycemia and/or orthostatic or postural hypotension. These conditions can result in a feeling of extreme fatigue and may even cause the person to faint.
Learning to listen to yourself to figure out what's right for you
One concept—which isn’t the best but is inherently human—is the desire to do what our friends do. When we’re young, we’re often vulnerable, naive, and open to new experiences, and our still-developing sense of self pushes the vast majority of us toward actions that ultimately won’t bring us happiness, well-being, or the feelings that best suit us. In most cases, we just go with the flow…
It is for these very reasons, then, that it is essential for everyone to learn to observe and analyze their various cannabis experiences, so that you can determine for yourselves what brings you the greatest pleasure. This will help you get to know yourselves better and ultimately understand what’s right for you. For example, it’s important to determine whether you’re more of a Sativa or Indica lover —or perhaps both, depending on the occasion.
It’s also possible that you might prefer vaporizing over smoking cannabis or ingesting it. Everyone is free to enjoy cannabis whenever it suits them best. Depending on a person’s profile, it’s entirely possible that someone might prefer to use cannabis in the morning, because their personality, their mental state, or their schedule allows for it (a creative artist, for example).
Conversely, another person might hold a position of responsibility that requires extreme concentration during the day and would appreciate the powerful effect of a good Indica strain in the evening to help them relax. Everyone is different and therefore has needs that fall along the same spectrum.
