Your first experience with cannabis can be overwhelming. Here we have certain aspects to remember to avoid it and guarantee your safety buy weed.
For a first-time cannabis user, choosing which product to get started with may seem impossible, but it doesn’t have to be. There are hundreds, possibly thousands of different cannabis strains and a wide variety of consumption methods. To play it safe and ensure a successful experience, here are some simple tips that you should keep in mind.
- KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDICA AND SATIVA
Cannabis is usually classified into two genera: indica and sativa. Indica cannabis plants are usually short and compact, in addition to having a higher concentration of THC. Indica flowers, once dried, are usually larger, denser and darker.
Cannabis sativa plants are typically somewhat taller and spindlier and take longer to grow than their indica counterparts. Its dried flowers tend to be smaller and less dense.
In general, indica genetics are known for their sedative effects. This makes them more suitable for consumers looking to relax on a summer day or unwind at home after a hard day at work.
The effect offered by pure indica herb is often described as corporal, as it can be very physical. Precisely for this reason, indicas are also more appropriate for treating pain and insomnia.
Sativa genetics are the complete opposite, and are famous for their revitalizing properties, which make them more suitable for sports or outdoor activities. The typical effect of sativa herb is generally considered more cerebral and energetic.
Today, most strains on the market are hybrid strains, with a combination of indica and sativa genes. The physical appearance of the buds and their effects tend to lean more towards one of these genetic components (indica or sativa).
For this reason, it is common to see terminology such as “70/30 indica dominant”, which would mean that said cannabis strain would contain approximately 70% indica and 30% sativa genes.
- TRY TO GET HIGH QUALITY MARIJUANA
In jurisdictions where cannabis has been legalized and mandatory product testing has been imposed, it is becoming easier for consumers to determine product quality when making their purchasing decision.
Growing marijuana is not aeronautical engineering, but just like in the production of fruits or vegetables, pesticides are the order of the day.
And certain pesticides can be toxic if consumed. When purchasing cannabis from a trusted dispensary, you should never shy away from requesting an analysis of the products you are considering purchasing and verifying their quality in relation to bacteria, residual solvents, etc.
If you are able to purchase your weed from a good dispensary, they may also be able to advise you on the potency of the cannabis products based on the THC recorded in the laboratory.
Without a doubt, this would be the safest way to make decisions for novice cannabis consumers, since a negative experience due to excessive consumption could be avoided.
If you do not have access to detailed information, it is interesting to remember that good quality marijuana should be very aromatic and have a certain amount of moisture even when dried.
Cannabis that is especially “sticky” usually contains more resin, that is, it contains a higher concentration of trichomes, the glands in which the plant produces THC. This will mean that the herb will be more potent, so be careful.
- UNDERSTAND GROCERIES
When you smoke or vaporize cannabis you are causing the decarboxylation of THC in its acidic form (barely psychoactive) to convert it into non-acidic THC before reaching your bloodstream.
The non-acidic form of THC is what induces the famous euphoric effects of marijuana. When you consume cannabis in this way, the onset of these effects can occur within seconds and last up to 4 hours.
When you ingest cannabis, the medium of consumption (cake, candy, liquid, etc.) is usually exposed to elevated temperatures at some point in its manufacturing process. This exposure to heat converts acidic THC into non-acidic THC, a process similar to that generated by combustion or vaporization.
When consuming cannabis through edibles or liquids, the effects can take up to several hours to be felt and then last for 12 hours. If you don’t notice any effects after ingesting cannabis, it is best to wait several hours before considering consuming more.
It could be that the effects haven’t kicked in yet and you don’t want to be caught off guard and made to feel uncomfortable.
Consuming excessive amounts of THC can be extremely unpleasant for first-time users who are not accustomed to the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
It is good to know that you should take all possible precautions when eating foods or drinks with cannabis, because when we consume non-acid THC orally, our liver will convert the non-acid THC into a metabolite that is 5 times more psychoactive than non-acid THC.
Make sure you are well informed about how to calculate doses and take a maximum reference of about 10 milligrams of THC for the first time you consume marijuana orally.
- DON’T START WITH THE CONCENTRATES
As the name suggests, cannabis concentrates are more potent derivatives. They are basically products made by extracting resin from the flowers (and the rest of the plant) to isolate as many cannabinoids as possible.
Concentrates can be found in several varieties and with many different names, such as shatters, waxes, honeycombs, BHO, rosins and more. Certain concentrates are produced by mechanical and manual separation, using different caliber sieves (uncompacted kief and water hash), while others use chemical solvents (butane, carbon dioxide, etc.) and processes such as fractional distillation.
The potency of dried marijuana is usually between 5 and 25% cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG, etc.). Concentrates can achieve concentrations from 30% to almost absolute purity.
Taking into account the higher potency of concentrates, they are not recommended for beginner consumers and one should be especially cautious when consuming them.
- SINSEMILLA AND WITHOUT STEMS
All the desirable components of cannabis (cannabinoids, terpenes or flavonoids) are concentrated in the flowers of the plant. Although there are many methods of consuming dried cannabis, it is always important to get the most out of your personal experience.
Separating the dried flowers from their stem before chopping your marijuana will reduce the plant matter and increase the potency of the resulting product.
However, cannabis branches still contain certain amounts of cannabinoids, so you could use them to make marijuana tea at another time.