5 Tips & Tricks When Smoking Cannabis for The First Time

There is a huge array of misinformation about marijuana online. For those looking to use it for the first time, this can cause confusion and lead to a host of unforeseen problems. In this article, we want to provide you with useful and accurate information that will hopefully prepare you for a pleasant and enjoyable user experience.

1 – Getting High Isn’t a Guarantee

An overwhelming majority of users think that getting high is a certainty the first time they use cannabis. The assumption is that being a novice means you only need one or two puffs. In reality, we’re all built differently. You may require significantly more THC than your friends to feel intoxicated. Alternatively, you might need a lot less. You won’t know until you try it.

If you don’t feel intoxicated, it is unwise to try and force the issue by consuming more.

There is also a strong possibility that you’re not inhaling properly if you don’t get high. A lot of novices take a puff but fail to inhale, a bit like Bill Clinton alleged. If you don’t feel intoxicated, it is unwise to try and force the issue by consuming more. Certain strains take longer than others to take effect.

The consumption method also matters. You’ll feel the effects quicker when smoking or vaping cannabis than with cannabis oil or an edible. We urge caution if you consume an edible as it can take over two hours for the high to become apparent. Wait patiently for the intoxication to occur.

2 – There’s No Need to Hold the Smoke

One of the most prevailing cannabis smoking myths is that you need to ‘hold in’ the smoke to get high. According to this theory, holding the smoke longer gives the body extra time to absorb the THC. However, it is a complete falsehood.

The reality is that air contains a little over 20% oxygen. Human lungs can hold around six liters of air in a single breath. The air we exhale contains around 15% oxygen. We’re inefficient at expelling carbon dioxide and absorbing oxygen. This is why we breathe regularly rather than holding as much air as possible to absorb large amounts of oxygen at once.

This principle also applies to smoking marijuana. According to A Cannabis User’s Harm Reduction Handbook, published in 2001, we immediately absorb almost 95% of THC upon inhalation.

“Why do I feel a greater degree of intoxication when I hold in the smoke?” In this scenario, you’re depriving your brain of oxygen, which makes you feel lightheaded. Add in the toxins and carbon monoxide from the combustion of the cannabis flower, and this feeling becomes more apparent.

If you’re a cigarette smoker, try holding in the smoke. You’ll notice a feeling of lightheadedness.

3 – Use Marijuana by Itself

For many people, their first-time using cannabis involves toking on a joint being passed around at a party. Alternatively, you might decide to have a bong hit in the same environment. However, it is also typical to be drinking alcohol or using tobacco at the party.

Therefore, many novices smoke cannabis while already drunk and tired. The high you’ll experience under these circumstances isn’t representative of what happens when you smoke cannabis by itself.

Eliminating other possibly intoxicating substances enables you to discover how cannabis makes you feel. From there, you can decide if you like these effects or if marijuana isn’t for you.

Besides, combining alcohol and THC, known as crossfading, isn’t a great idea. Using the two substances together increases the likelihood of side effects such as dizziness or a green out. There is also a theory that using marijuana before drinking alcohol minimizes the effects of the latter. As a result, you could be a lot more drunk than you feel. This can cause serious problems as you unwisely continue to drink more alcohol. 

4 – Manage Your Expectations & Set Limits

It is unwise to use cannabis with the expectation of it providing a certain effect. Most people assume that marijuana will help them relax and perhaps make them feel sleepy. Others are rigidly devoted to the idea that indicas help them chill out, while sativas give an energy boost.

There is truth in the notion that an indica-dominant hybrid is more likely to sedate you. Likewise, you’ll probably feel a burst of energy with a highly sativa strain. However, as is the case with getting high, there are no guarantees.

You might find that your creativity and productivity levels shoot up. Conversely, you may want to do nothing but relax, listen to some good music, and enjoy a range of snacks. Many cannabis users find that the process of ‘being bored’ is perfectly okay.

As for understanding your limits, it will probably take a while. It doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience either. What we’ll say is that you should only smoke cannabis with friends. Don’t smoke a pre-rolled joint if it comes from someone you don’t know or trust. There is no way of knowing what is in it, let alone the amount or potency of cannabis.

5 – Avoid THC Concentrates

As a novice, you should stick to extremely low levels of THC. This means avoiding THC concentrates at all costs. They come in a variety of forms, including rosin, shatter, wax, and BHO. The THC of such concentrates can range from 50% to over 90%!

The THC of concentrates can range from 50% to over 90%!

Bear in mind that the strongest cannabis flower seldom has THC levels of over 25%. Depending on your THC tolerance, you may discover that you get high from as little as 5mg.

A gram of a 90% THC concentrate contains an incredible 900mg of THC. Therefore, you only need the tiniest amount to feel intoxicated. As a new user, it is far too easy to overindulge. The result is an array of possible side effects, including dizziness, anxiety, and paranoia.

Final Thoughts on First-Time Cannabis User Tips

Using cannabis for the first time should be an exciting, enjoyable, and potentially enlightening experience. Above all else, your safety is paramount. While there are no recorded cases of a person dying from a cannabis overdose, using an excessive amount can result in a series of unpleasant side effects. On occasion, they could put you in danger.

Therefore, you should ensure your first time involves smoking a joint amongst friends with experience using cannabis. They can help steer you through and ensure you don’t make too many rookie errors. More importantly, they can ensure you feel secure once the high takes hold. After trying marijuana once, you might decide that you love it or that it’s not for you. That’s something you’ll have to find out for yourself.