So you’re curious about weed? You’ve probably seen CBD oils and lotions and tinctures of all kinds in your local health food stores. It seems like it’s started popping up more and more among demographics that I wouldn’t have expected! Just the other day I was talking to one of my former religious mentors and she was telling me about her journey with CBD for her joint pain! After hearing about her struggle for so long it was so nice to hear that she had found something to ease her pain, but that being said, I was a little shocked. Though I personally am no longer a part of that group, I had a lot of guilt and concern about trying cannabis for my ailments.

where does that come from?

I grew up in a very religious household with a sister who went down her own path very early in my life, and from what I saw of her experiences alcohol and drugs were the worst things I could do. It sparked a fear that led me to promise myself I was never going to touch any sort of ‘problematic’ substance, regardless of whether or not I stayed a part of the church. As mentioned above, I am no longer part of that church, and for a while after I had stepped away I still had a deep distrust of all drugs. 

A distrust of substances can come from many places. Many religious institutions have strict standards for drugs or alcohol, mine certainly did. Medical studies, both biased and unbiased, are another way to learn the effects, which can definitely sway an opinion. It can come from an awareness of what it can do by observing, seeing other people’s lives fall apart due to addiction and turbulence. Watching my sister quickly fade in front of me after a drinking problem had rendered her liver and kidney’s useless was enough to make me pause.

The problem with that mentality, and the problem I struggled with for a while, is that not all substances are created equal. Where is the line drawn for what is harmful and what is not?

Alcohol kills 88,000 people on average in the United States per year, securing its ranking as the third leading preventable cause of death. However, it is pretty universally accepted, both in moderation and binging. On the flip side, Opioids were responsible for over 47,000 of 2017’s drug overdose-related deaths in the US. Yet somehow, both of these things are less stigmatized than marijuana.

The number of fatal overdoses on cannabis is a solid zero. In fact, you would have to smoke up to 1,500 pounds in a span of 15 minutes to achieve that. For reference, I smoke about half of a gram in that amount of time.

So when you put aside those fears and look purely at the numbers, it becomes more of an option, especially if you are affected by any of the many things cannabis can assist with.

My opinion on the subject changed entirely when a friend mentioned that weed can spark an appetite.

I’ve been dealing with an anxiety-based eating disorder since early high school, and the idea that something could assist with that in any way meant it was worth revisiting the topic. After intensive research, I’ve found there are significant health benefits that make it well worth considering. Several scientists are even starting to call it the ‘reverse gateway drug’ for its ability to help lessen people’s dependencies on harder drugs or even controlled substances. Armed with this new knowledge, I felt that I was ready to approach cannabis. As you can see based on the existence of this blog, I’ve finally found relief!

so how do i get that relief?

Now, because there are so many reasons to try cannabis and so many ailments with which it can assist you, it gets a little complicated. My goal is to make it as simple as possible for you, no matter what it is that you need help with. This article compiles a list of health benefits that might bring you to seek some guidance on use. If there’s something on that list or any other benefit you’ve found, I’m here to help you figure out how to safely try cannabis.

where do i start?

The simple answer and what I would recommend to anyone nervous about starting out, is edibles. With edibles bought from a licensed dispensary, you’ll be able to easily keep track of your dosage. It’s also a significantly more noncommittal way of trying it than getting an entire set up, only to find that you don’t particularly like the way it makes you feel. It’s not for everyone! So for that reason my first suggestion would definitely be to try out some gummies, or a pre-packaged brownie, and give that a go first.

With edibles, I would personally recommend a small dose at first. Five milligrams is usually a good start, then you’re going to want to wait at least thirty minutes to an hour before really feeling those effects. Most people recommend waiting at least that long before taking another one or two, as it can be hard to anticipate how it’ll hit you. In my opinion, the only problem with edibles is that sometimes, it doesn’t hit you. Some people can’t process thc or cbd when ingested, sometimes due to gut problems, and sometimes just because their body doesn’t do it. With my body personally there have been multiple occasions when I didn’t feel anything for over an hour, if ever, so if you don’t feel anything from that, don’t worry. You’re not alone. 

For you, or anyone not super excited by the idea of edibles, I would recommend a pre-roll. As you can probably guess from the name, a pre-roll is a premade joint available to purchase at most licensed dispensaries. With one of these, all you’ll need is a way to light it. The downside to joints is there tends to be a lot of wasted material in the time it burns between hits, but if you don’t want to spend a few dollars on a glass pipe, this is definitely your best bet as a beginner. 

In another article I have, I outline a more detailed process of how to smoke, and I would absolutely recommend checking that out, especially if you’re going for the pre-roll.

cannabis for beginners: how to smoke safely and efficiently

what should i choose?

Different strains can have very different effects, and if you’re approaching this with a specific need, you’ll likely need a little more structure than the other articles’ blanket suggestion of an Indica. To understand what it is that you’re looking for, the things you’ll want to remember are that Indica’s are frequently referred to as ‘In Da Couch’ while sativas tend to provide more of an uplifted high. 

Indicas have been known primarily for a calming, even sedating effect, which tends to be especially excellent for many types of pain, anxiety, and an overall relaxing effect. It gives you a lot more of what you expect the ‘typical stoner experience’ to be. They also can provide relief of nausea, insomnia, and I personally find them more effective in appetite stimulation, though both types assist with that.

Sativas, as mentioned previously, are the more uplifting option. If you’re looking for something to relieve depression, boost creativity, or increase your focus, this could be a great option for you. Sativas are more of a ‘head high’. They offer a mood boost, though it can cause an increase in anxiety and paranoia in some. If you experience that paranoia, there are ways to mitigate that, which I’ll touch on in just a moment.

For that reason, if this is your first time and you’re leaning more towards a sativa, I would recommend considering a hybrid first, especially if you have a history of anxiety. It can be a little overwhelming so if you want more of a balance between the two, a good hybrid is always a good option. If you have no issues with anxiety then go ahead and pick up that Sativa! Maybe take up a new hobby or do some yoga in the sun! Enjoy that non-caffeinated energy boost!

how to prepare

Now that you hopefully have an idea of what it is that you want to try, it’s important to create the right type of environment for this experience. Being somewhere you feel safe is absolutely crucial to avoiding a lot of that discomfort and anxiety. I always feel more comfortable about being a little outside of my own mind when I’m still in my own space. Even now, when I’m smoking I still prefer smoking in the backyard to the front yard. With edibles it’s significantly easier to stay in a comfortable place, as you don’t have to go outside to smoke or anything like that, but it’s still worth noting. 

The other perk about being in a place you feel comfortable, frequently it also means being around people that you trust. The nice thing about company, when you dabble in cannabis, is it provides a nice distraction, as well as an external voice to remind you to wait for a while before taking any more gummies because you can’t feel the first one quite yet. It can be nice to have someone there just in case, especially if you’re more nervous about it.

Another important preparation note, make sure you have some snacks readily available. The munchies are very real, and it’s nice to have something on hand. I personally tend to prefer healthy snacks like cucumbers, carrots and hummus, or berries, but it’s completely understandable if you accidentally consume an entire bag of chips. Unless they weren’t yours.. maybe offer to buy another bag, and stock up for yourself while you’re at it. 

Lastly, there is no shame in laying on the floor because it’s a little overwhelming. If you decide to try it and it’s just a little bit too much, that’s perfectly okay! I’m proud of you for trying! I have a more in depth article over here about how to come down if you get a little bit too high, but the most important thing you can do is to relax and breathe. Laying down can help a lot, as will drinking water. It’s important to note that this doesn’t happen for most people, especially if you’re being careful, but if it happens to you, it’s no big deal! It will pass, everything’s gonna be okay! And I’m really proud of you for trying something new and kinda scary! Maybe at a later time you can revisit a different type, or a different amount, but for right now, you did great!

you’ve got this!

Now if you made it to the end of the article and that all seems far too scary, I don’t blame you! It took me a long time to get comfy with the idea that cannabis could help. A good option to get you started is CBD products. Not the balms and lotions being sold in every corner store for insane price gouges, but there are so many places online that you can find quality grown hemp and products that contain high amounts of CBD and little to no THC.

I’ll have more information about CBD coming up on my blog shortly, but regardless of what you end up trying, I would love to hear how it goes!