Table of Contents:
- What to Expect at the Dispensary
- Try Flower First
- What to Do Before You get High
- How to Smoke Weed
- How to Smoke a Joint
- What is a pre-roll?
- Types of Vapes
- Starting Dosages for Edibles
- What to Do if You Get Too High
- Best Cannabis Products for Beginners
Missouri is new in the adult use cannabis game, and you may be too. Has the legalization of weed in our state made you a little canna-curious?
For good reason! Cannabis can be used in therapeutic ways, and it can also be a lot of fun.
Now that anyone 21+ can access cannabis in MO, new users are looking for info about how to use cannabis in safe and responsible ways.
Read on for 10 tips about how to get started!
1. What to Expect at the Dispensary
What are the new weed laws in Missouri?
Now that Amendment 3 has passed, any Missouri resident over the age of 21 can legally purchase, possess, and consume cannabis products from a licensed dispensary.
Can anyone go to a dispensary in Missouri now?
As long as you are over the age of 21 and have a government issued ID to prove it, yes! Once inside, a friendly budtender will be happy to talk to you, answer questions, and recommend products.
2. Try Flower First
There are so many different types of cannabis products available, but a great place to start is with good old fashioned flower. “Flower” is what people call the buds of the cannabis plant.
Cannabis flower needs to be heated in order to decarboxylate, which causes its psychoactive effects by turning THC-A into THC, CBD-A into CBD, and so forth. That’s why the tried and true way to enjoy cannabis is by smoking it.
3. What to Do Before You get High
How do you make your smoke session better?
Before you sit down to smoke a bowl, have a good meal and make sure you’re well hydrated.
How do you make your high last longer?
Some foods that may enhance your high are those that share the same terpenes and cannabinoids that are found in weed—like mangos (which contain the terpene myrcene), broccoli (a beta-caryophyllene source), and chocolate (which has the blissful cannabinoid anandamide).
What to avoid before smoking pot?
Alcohol. While alcohol has been shown to boost the effects of THC, this is not necessarily a good thing. Especially if you’re a newbie with weed, combining it with drinking can intensify your experience in a bad way, exacerbating nausea, paranoia, and sleepiness.
4. How to Smoke Weed
Now for the nitty gritty—what weed to smoke and how to smoke it? Is it best to try sativa or indica for the first time? It depends on the effects you’re looking for.
Traditionally, sativa is used for a “head high”—maintaining your alertness while boosting creativity, while indica is perfect for a “body high”—intense relaxation and couch lock.
You can smoke cannabis flower using a traditional pipe, a water pipe (bong), or any number of different apparatus! You’ll need a lighter, wick, or matches will work in a pinch.
Grind the marijuana bud with a grinder (or purchase it pre-ground). Lightly pack the bowl and inhale from the pipe as you ignite the weed.
5. How to Smoke a Joint
A joint, or marijuana cigarette, is another convenient way to smoke weed. Finely ground flower is rolled tightly (but not too tightly) inside a rolling paper.
Joints are nice because you smoke them just like a cigarette and if they are rolled well, they will stay lit as you smoke it or puff and pass it around to your friends.
6. What is a Pre-roll?
If you like the idea of a joint but haven’t mastered the art of rolling one, pre-rolls are a fabulous product for you.
Pre-rolls are a great option for those new to rolling and smoking joints.
Pre-rolls come in a traditionally large 1 g size for experienced stoners (or for sharing), but are now commonly available in .5 g or even .35 g pre-rolls, perfect if you’re smoking on your own.
Related: 5 Best Pre-rolls to Help You Sleep
7. Types of Vapes
There are so many varieties of vapes out there that it can feel overwhelming to know how to start. Not to fret—you only really need two things to get started with vaping cannabis: a battery and a cannabis-extract filled cartridge.
Most dispensaries sell a basic 510 threaded rechargeable battery that fits cartridges for a variety of strains and brands.
Even easier? Start out with a disposable vape—the battery & extract are packaged as one. When the battery and/or extract runs out, you just toss it and buy a new one.
8. Starting Dosage for Edibles
As a general rule of thumb, the first time you try an edible you should have 2.5 mg to 5 mg of THC or less (this is typically ½ of a standard gummy, but check the label!).
Edibles take a while to kick in since they have to travel through your digestive system first, so wait at least 2 hours before taking more.
Edibles typically provide a more intense experience and make your high last longer, so always remember to go low and slow. Be very careful about not overdoing it on dosage, even if it’s delicious.
What type of edibles are there?
Every type of gourmet food you could think of! A simple type of edibles to start with are gummies—easy dosing, quick, and discreet.
Other types of edibles include chocolates, baked goods, hard candy, even savory snacks! (Note: Be sure to know what location menu you’re looking at before ordering. You can find all menus here.)
Related: What are Edibles? Get Answers to Your Top 5 Questions
9. What to Do if You Get Too High
Remember: don’t panic! Literally no one has ever died from overdosing on weed, and you won’t either.
Take several deep breaths and try these tips to bring down your high and get rid of the uncomfortable paranoia that being too stoned can sometimes bring:
- Do drink lots of water to help flush out your system.
- Do NOT drink alcoholic beverages.
- Do have some light snacks. Do not eat a bunch of junk—you’ll just feel worse tomorrow.
- Do take some CBD, or chew on black peppercorns, to tone down your high.
- Do not take other mind-altering medications.
- Do take a relaxing shower or bath. Or just lie down, close your eyes, and do some deep breathing.
- Do not do these things if you’re not at home or at a safe friend’s house.
- Do get outside and take a walk if you can’t relax.
- Do not go without a buddy!
- Do some fun, distracting activities like drawing, playing the guitar, watching TV, play video grames, listen to your favorite music, easy cooking— anything that keeps your mind entertained and creative while you wait for your high to come down.
- Do not worry. Everything will be okay!
10. Best Cannabis Products for Beginners
What type of experience are you looking for? Are you curious about cannabis for chronic pain or other physical ailments? Or do you just want to have fun and try out getting high?
Your goals for cannabis use might help determine what products you should buy. Not sure? Not to worry. Your budtender at the dispensary will have lots of great advice for you.
One budtender tip for those new to cannabis is to look for products that have strong terpene profiles to maximize positive effects, and a relatively low THC percentage to manage the intensity of your high.
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ENTER: Illicit Gardens Intros
These five innovative new products are perfectly curated for cannabis beginners and are available in a variety of sizes and strains:
- Gummies
- Smokos pre-rolls
- Popcorn buds
- Ready 2 Roll pre-ground flower
- Pre-packed flower
Start slow with an Intro! Find Illicit Gardens Intros at a dispensary near you.
Find your closest Missouri dispensary here, or shop our delivery menu from the comfort of your own home!
*Know that some products are available in certain From The Earth dispensaries. If you order online for pick up, make sure you use the correct location’s menu. You can find all dispensary location menus here.
Ready to Shop? Find a Missouri dispensary near you!
Note: This article is not medical advice. Please consult with your doctor for treatment for any medical conditions.
About the Author:
David Craig is the VP of Marketing for Illicit and From The Earth. Craig has been on the ground floor of developing multiple lifestyle and retail brands in the cannabis, fitness, and entertainment industries from Las Vegas to New York City. He previously developed flagship properties for global group fitness concept TruFusion. Prior, he opened Drai’s Las Vegas entertainment properties and oversaw Marketing & Corporate Events.
