Turn 21? What you need to know about cannabis
While more college students than ever are trying cannabis and enjoying the benefits of ever-expanding legalization, each and every one of them has had a first time.
In the 18 states where cannabis is legal for all adults, large numbers of young or new 21-year-olds are attending university, and understanding how to handle weed can be overwhelming. In two ways, if you do not qualify for medical cannabis or if it is absolutely illegal in your home state.
Leafly asked cannabis teachers for their best advice for new 21-year-olds handling cannabis for the first time. Here’s what they had to say.
Legal is generally safer
Living in an adult market means anyone aged 21 and over can purchase cannabis from a licensed dealer by showing their valid government-issued driver’s license, ID card, or passport. And as the owner of the Gorilla RX pharmacy in South Central Los Angeles, Kika Kieth points out, this should help new consumers feel comfortable trying them out. This is unlike traditional market weeds, where no testing indicates potential contaminants such as pesticides, mold, mildew, or other drugs.
“When you go into these legal stores, you know your product is being tested,” she says. “[From] the accountability of the retailer, to the accountability of the manufacturer and the inspection body, the thing that [you’re] The consumption is documented and there is a certain responsibility. “
You can still get caught on other people’s property
Dr. Amanda Reiman, a social scientist with 20 years of experience researching cannabis use and founder of the therapeutic plant education website Personal Plants, mentions another important aspect regarding legality.
“Don’t assume just because cannabis is legal in your state, it means it’s legal on your campus or that smoking is allowed,” she says.
While you’re unlikely to get kicked out of school for smoking weed in a legal market, Dr. Reiman argues that knowing what is allowed not only affects consumption – it also affects the type of experience you will have while doing it.
“You don’t want your surroundings to be frightened because you don’t know who is around the corner or if you are going to get into trouble,” she says. “We have legalized” [cannabis] so that you don’t have to feel that way. “
Establish your intent for cannabis use
Once the legal landscape is clear, it’s time to see a licensed cannabis retailer. But with multiple consumption methods and thousands of products to choose from, where do you even start?
“What is your goal in getting to cannabis?” Is the first question that Michelle Mendoza, Purchasing Manager at Sweet Flower pharmacies, asks newcomers. “It is really important for the consumer to define for himself: ‘I’m afraid, I want to sleep, I want to stay calm’.”
The intent behind your cannabis use then opens the door to discussions about dosage and type of use. Educators guide new clients through the various options by first emphasizing easy-to-titrate, low-dose methods – like smoking or vaping whole buds. In contrast, edibles can be long-lasting or too intense; ditto THC-rich options like wax, shatter, and other concentrates.
Understand THC Dosage
DeJanae Evins, founder of the cannabis education website Green Goddess Glow and cannabis education / wellness advisor at Gorilla RX, makes it clear that “higher potency doesn’t matter. There are different cannabinoids, terpenes, and secondary compounds that affect the way we experience cannabis. THC alone will not drive this experience. “
For Rebecca Olmos, a cannabis writer who has a dual role as a beginner and budget tender specialist in San Jose’s Caliva pharmacy, it’s important to convey to newbies that our unique endocannabinoid system makes cannabis dosing “subjective”.
“[For some consumers] It’s 2.5 milligrams, ”she says. “However, I see a lot of regular customers who have used cannabis for many years and a hundred milligrams are not good for them.”
All of our sources agree that when it comes to everything from potency to frequency of use, the general rule of thumb is “start low and go slow”.
“Start with five milligrams [THC] and see where that takes you, ”suggests Dr. Reiman before.
Smoking a joint produces effects in seconds – making it the easiest way to titrate THC. Edibles take 90 minutes or more to be fully effective, which leads to people becoming impatient with THC overload.
“I always encourage flowers first, [but] I know smoking can be overwhelming, ”says Olmos. “Edibles are easier to digest, less tough on the lungs. So if you want to go the edible route, I’ll try to steer you towards drinks. “
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“There are many cannabis beverages coming out that contain two or three milligrams of THC; Start with that, see how sensitive you are, and then build from there, ”said Dr. Reiman.
Mendoza agrees that the easy-to-dose liquid format is a great way for newbies to experiment, especially if they prefer not to smoke.
“Tinctures are a really good option because they are taken sublingually and you don’t have to wait that hour to see the effects,” she says.
Avoid negative interactions
A big part of educating newbies about cannabis use is helping them understand the importance of set and setting. Check your mindset and environment before consuming. If you are upset or in an uncomfortable environment – wait.
And in a college setting, it’s important not to combine cannabis with alcohol. Alcohol lowers inhibition thresholds, causing cannabis-naive people to brave their first hit. But the time is not drunk. You get dizzy and throw up.
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“It is a bad idea to use cannabis for the first time when you are wasted on alcohol. Don’t do it, “says Dr. Reiman. “Alcohol and cannabis have a synergistic relationship, so it will enhance the effects of alcohol and cannabis when used together.”
Monitor your consumption
As consumers begin to incorporate cannabis into their lives, it is important to periodically review their original intentions as well. Because even if someone has never died from a cannabis overdose, it is possible to consume too much. Approximately 9% of cannabis users will have difficulty quitting at some point in their life. That’s less than alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, or other drugs – but it’s not zero.
“Cannabis is supposed to make you more present with yourself and sharpen all the senses around you, which can be very pleasant and fun,” says Evins. “When it doesn’t feel like it anymore, time for a tolerance break.”
Olmos agrees and suggests that newbies should reconsider their consumption habits. “when it begins to negatively affect and hinder your life [upon] Your regular duties. “
At the end of the day, first discovering cannabis as an adult is one of the many rites of passage awaiting you in college, says Kieth.
“I think the best thing about college age is that your brain is growing in a different way, and you can improve it by educating yourself about what your body is absorbing and enjoying that experience.”
Would you like to know more?
Kaisha-Dyan McMillan
Kaisha-Dyan McMillan is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Our Dream Academy and MJ Lifestyle, as well as in the non-cannabis publications The Bold Italic and The East Bay Express. IG: @ahsiak
View article by Kaisha-Dyan McMillan
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