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Have you been sitting on the fence about trying cannabis? Some people I know are interested but aren’t quite ready to take the leap to give cannabis a try. It can seem a bit overwhelming at first, what to do, how to try it. It’s really not that complicated and please don’t let it intimidate you!
It may take some experimenting until you find the right product and dose for you but once you do, you’ll likely to feel more relaxed than you have in years.
The golden rule is start low and go slow.
Regardless of what method you use, whether it’s inhaling or ingesting cannabis, start with a low dose and go up from there.
Cannabis has a different reaction in each person as our endocannabinoid system is complex and this can make your experience with a product completely different than mine.
Never take a cannabis product (especially an edible) if you don’t know how much THC is in there. The biggest mistake beginners make is taking too high of a dose and having a bad experience. Avoid this by familiarizing yourself with dose and methods so you can make an informed choice with cannabis.
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Choosing the right cannabis product
Good products to start with, when you’re new to cannabis are products with low THC and high CBD. For edibles try fast-acting as this reduces the onset and duration of the effects of THC.
For inhalation use a dry herb vaporizer as this will allow you to customize your experience, it’s healthier than smoking and not as strong. Choose cultivars (strains) that are high CBD (5% and higher) and low THC (under 10%).
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What are you hoping to achieve with cannabis?
Your reasons for using cannabis matters to what type of product and dose you’ll need.
If you want to try cannabis to unwind, reduce stress, for sex or if you have anxiety and/or depression: choose lower dose THC products.
If you want to try cannabis for chronic pain or sleep experiment with higher doses of THC. To learn about dosing and methods visit the Learn section of Weed Mama.
Using cannabis with intention is how you’ll get the best experience. When you visit a cannabis store, go in knowing what you need to achieve with cannabis. A good budtender should be able to recommend products for you that will help you achieve your goal.
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Be in a familiar and comfortable place
When trying cannabis for the first time, be where you feel comfortable like at home and when you have some time to experiment to see how it makes you feel. This will make sure your first experience is relaxed and enjoyable.
Taking cannabis for the first time in a loud, crowded environment may feel overstimulating and the opposite of calm. The best place to try cannabis is in your own home, when you don’t have anywhere to be and you won’t be interrupted. For most of us that’s the evening, after the kids go do bed.
For many people with social anxiety, cannabis can help. I do recommend trying cannabis at a social gathering but not the first time you use cannabis. Before you try going out, get to know how cannabis feels in the comfort of your own home.
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It can take trial and error to find the right dose and product for you
The key to trying cannabis is not to do too much at first and try different products until you find one that works best for you. This can take some trial and error but it’s how you’ll find what works best for you.
I recommend using a cannabis journal as this will help you figure out which products work and which ones don’t. A cannabis journal will also show you when you can safely take a higher dose and when it’s best to take less. Hormones, especially for women, can have an effect on how strong THC can feel, keeping track will ensure a good experience.
I recommend the Goldleaf cannabis journals, they have a variety of journals to choose from however for beginner’s the Goldleaf patient journal is a good one to start with.
It doesn’t have to be complicated, educate yourself on dose and methods and this will help you find products that are good for you. If you have a bad experience, don’t give up, you probably tried a product that wasn’t a right fit, or you took the wrong dose. Use a lower dose the next time and/or try a different type until you feel good.
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Always take CBD with THC
CBD helps to reduce the side effects of THC and CBD also enhances the positive effects of THC. The two cannabinoids work beautifully together and I recommend you take CBD any time you’re using THC.
There’s several ways to take CBD with THC, some edibles also have CBD. You can also buy CBD in oils, edibles and water soluble drops that are fast-acting and can be added to beverages. The easiest method is to keep a bottle of capsules on hand and take one when you use a THC product.
CBD can be used after you’ve taken too much THC and you’re feeling anxious or jittery. CBD will help you feel calm and take the edge off the high. Look for fast-acting CBD products such as drinks, teas and other water soluble products when you need CBD to work fast.
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