New Smoker’s Guide: Which Cannabis Strain Should You Start With?
There’s a wave of support for marijuana right now. The health benefits are too numerous to count, it’s becoming legal in more places, and there’s research to back claims of economic and medicinal value.
In other words, marijuana is fantastic for a lot of people. At the same time, many people are apprehensive to try it. Maybe they had a bad experience in college, finding themselves unable to speak and feeling anxious.
Some people might just want to stay away from it because of its association as a “gateway drug.” A lot of these apprehensions could be taken away by choosing the right cannabis strain.
Choosing the Right Beginner’s Cannabis Strain
A lot of times, especially these days, the marijuana that a person tries in social situations is completely unknown to them. That means it could be extremely potent, leading to unwanted effects.
This is especially true when it comes to oils, waxes, and edibles, as those products have the potential to be more powerful than smoked marijuana. A lot of it is medical grade, and it’s that strong because some patients need a high potency to deal with their pain or other illnesses.
If you want to start using marijuana and have a good experience, it would be wise to do a little research. We’re here to help you get off to a good start. With so much variety in the market, you have the ability to choose darn near any kind of effect at any intensity.
Understanding The Differences
The variation between different strains of marijuana is rooted in the species that you’re smoking. All strains are indica, sativa, or a hybrid of both. The differences among species come from variations in the ratio of THC to CBD.
THC is the psychoactive component of marijuana that gets a person high. This is the effect, generally, that can cause people to have bad experiences when it is too intense. At the same time, many people really enjoy the intense effects of THC, so it is definitely a personal preference.
CBD, on the other hand, is the component that leads to relaxation, pain relief, and drowsiness. Many medical patients use CBD heavy marijuana or isolated CBD to treat their pain and seizures in some cases. A lot of people take it to feel relaxed and get better sleep as well.
Sativa is THC heavy, Indica is CBD heavy, and hybrids are a combination of both. In reality, most strains are hybrids at some level. That being said, there is a large difference in the experience you’ll have when you try different strains.
Method of Consumption
Another modern mistake that a lot of first-timers make is just consuming marijuana in whatever form it is presented to them. There’s a large difference of intensity when you use different forms.
Smoking
If you plan to smoke, you have a few options. One-hitters and glass bowls are the most common. Those two methods are the most straightforward way to smoke and are easily controllable.
You also have the option of a water pipe, which gathers smoke as you pull on the mouth. This gives you the ability to ingest a lot more smoke than a glass bowl or one-hitter would. Water pipes generally lead to a more intense experience.
Vaping
You can also vape marijuana, and there are a couple of ways to do this. You can find cartridges that will work for most vaporizers. In the case of vaporizers, the experience of the marijuana will be direct and the effect will be close to what is advertised on the packaging.
“Dabbing” is another way to vape. It’s a bit more complicated, but it pretty much entails heating a piece that is then put in contact with a concentrated form of marijuana. The effects of dabbing are generally very intense, so it’s not recommended that you dab for your first time.
Oral Consumption
There are a number of ways to ingest marijuana orally as well. The most common method is eating edibles. Edibles are a great way for those who don’t want to smoke but would like to experience marijuana.
They often come in the form of pastries, cookies, brownies, drinks, gummies, or caramels. There are a lot more forms as well, as marijuana can be cooked into many things. Another simple option is to use a tincture.
A tincture is an extract of marijuana that is highly potent, but highly controllable. You can put a few drops into a liquid or food and experience the effects. There are also topical oils, creams, salves that you can use.
Deciding on a Strain
Choosing your strain should depend on who you are and what you’re looking to get from the experience. If you’re experiencing anxiety and want some relief, lean toward a strain that has minimal THC and more CBD. Anxiety can be increased when mixed with THC.
You should also lean toward CBD if you’re experiencing pain, can’t sleep, or just want to relax. That isn’t to say that THC won’t benefit you at all. It is just that THC has more potential to lead to a bad experience. For that reason, it’s recommended that you work your way up to higher doses of THC rather than starting out with them.
Additionally, you’ll want to start with the gentler methods of consumption. Eating edibles and vaping are likely to be the most forgiving methods. At the same time, the experience can be intense when done to excess.
If you want to start out big, there’s no guarantee that you won’t have a good time. In fact, you’ll probably have a great one. Some people prefer to take things slow, though, because there is a risk that you’ll have a difficult time with your first marijuana experiences.
Want to Learn More?
Choosing a beginner’s cannabis strain is the first step you’ll take into marijuana culture. Once you get comfortable, there’s a whole world of options for you.
When you’re ready to learn more about what marijuana can do for you, visit our site for the information you need.
