Smoking cannabis for the first time is a strange thing. Some say that it’s the highest they ever got and will probably ever get, while many others say they didn't feel stoned at all the first time. I myself remember thinking I felt exactly the same the first time but that was back in the 90s smokin' that oldskool 90s hashish that had plastic in it and all other manner of crap.
It wasn’t until a few tries later when flower was everywhere that I understood what it meant to be well and truly stoned. And then there are those “other” people who wonder why on Earth you want to smoke cannabis at all. This article is probably not for them.
If you’ve never smoked cannabis, you probably have no idea what to expect. And that can add a lot of unnecessarily learning to the learning curve. So let us take some of the learning curve out for you, and give you some tips for your first time medicating.
1. Don't Smoke Alone
If you’re a first-time cannabis smoker, it’s better to do it with friends. Having people around can be comforting when you’re going through an experience for the first time. Plus - it’s just much more fun to share a joint with people you like to hang out with.
2. Low And Slow.
Ah, I smoked too much! This is a token mistake if you’re smoking cannabis for the first time. Cannabis is powerful, especially these days. And you’re not Snoop Dog, so don’t take the advice of your uncle who was smoking homegrown in the 1970s. This is particularly true with edibles. It’s easy to misjudge when it comes to edible cannabis, so read the package properly for doses!
"You can always take more if you’re not feeling it, but you can’t take it back once it’s in. You can’t actually overdose on cannabis, so there’s no need to worry about that, but it can be an unpleasant experience if you take too much"
- Dr Tom Darkin
3. Bring munch and water
Yes, you will get the munchies. And yes, you will get dry mouth. Bring delicious snacks to share. You will thoroughly enjoy them. There’s no need to get nervous if your mouth starts feeling like you’ve just eaten a bag of cotton balls. It’s totally normal. Have plenty of juice or water handy for hydration.
4. Be somewhere you feel comfortable
One of the best first time smoking tips: be somewhere that you feel relaxed and won’t be afraid that you’ll get caught. It might be fun to hotbox a car in a parking lot one day, but until that day comes, be somewhere that you can avoid the “old bill are coming!” paranoia. Cannabis can make the mind race a little bit, especially if you’re smoking for the first time. And getting lost in wasteful, paranoid thoughts can be distracting. So do yourself a favour, and choose a location where you feel good smoking, vaping or consuming weed for the first time
5. Let someone experienced sort the stash
If you’ve never smoked cannabis before, you’ve probably never bought cannabis before either. And tips for buying cannabis is a whole new story for a whole different day. Let someone who knows a thing or two about cannabis provide your smoking material for the day or night. They will know which strain is best for beginners and source some quality bud!
6. Don’t make a call to 999 (unless there is an emergency other than "I've smoked too much weed"
Ok - we just had to cover all the bases. Yes, things can get intense if it’s your first time smoking cannabis. Things can get very strange. So strange, in fact, that some people go to the emergency room and declare that they are dying. Rest assured, you are definitely not dying. You will just end up making a fool out of yourself in front of your friends and the hospital staf . Take a deep breath. Relax. And remember that you read this article ;)
7. Try again if the first experience isn’t perfect
Sometimes things aren’t what we expect them to be. It’s almost always the case with cannabis. Plenty of smokers say that their cannabis experiences change all the time.
Sometimes it makes you sleepy, sometimes it makes you want to dance. If it isn’t what you thought it was going to be, don’t let that deter you from trying again. Plus, many first time smokers say it doesn’t work their first time smoking cannabis. That doesn’t mean it will never work! Be open to trying again if it isn’t exactly how you wanted it to be.
Smoking cannabis for the first time is an experience almost every seasoned smoker remembers. It’s like your first kiss or your first time ever visiting the mountains. It’s an event to remember, whatever happens!
Got anything to add? Let us know in the comments!