Even if you’ve never tried cannabis, you’ve certainly heard a lot about cannabis effects from the news, movies, and even popular songs. It’s hard to know what is fact and what is fiction. However, with cannabis legal in California for both medicinal and recreational use, many people are considering trying it and are ready to learn more.
If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of questions. What can you expect from cannabis? How are you going to feel when you use it? How long will it last? Here are some quick answers to some common questions about cannabis.
How Do You Use Cannabis?
The method of delivery may dramatically impact the effects of the substance. You may choose to smoke it or consume it by digestion. If you wish to inhale it, you could enjoy the cannabis flower with a regular smoking pipe or a water pipe. Water pipes, also known as bongs, are designed to send a lot of smoke into your lungs at once. You may prefer smoking wax, or dabs. Wax is also a more potent method of inhalation, resulting in strong sensations.
Another inhalation method is vaping, which heats the marijuana rather than burns it. This can be easier on the lungs. Some vape pens come pre-filled and the cannabis blend may be strong as well.
You may ingest cannabis by eating it. It is frequently sold as candy, chocolate, or baked goods. Digestion takes longer for the compounds in cannabis to go into your bloodstream so you may feel the effects longer. There are also products, like creams, that deliver the benefits topically.
Cannabis Effects & How You’ll Feel
As a plant, cannabis contains many different compounds that react in different ways with the human body. There are cannabinoids, like THC and CBD. Cannabis also contains terpenes, which are the chemicals that make the plant so aromatic. These and other natural botanical elements of cannabis combine for a unique sensation when consumed.
How you’ll feel depends on the strain of cannabis you’ve chosen to enjoy. It’s similar to eating a tomato. Small yellow, cherry tomatoes have a slightly different taste than a big, deep red one that grew from a hybrid seed. The taste will vary with cannabis, and so will the effects. There are two major kinds of cannabis: Indica and Sativa. Indica plants tend to produce more relaxed, lazy, sedated effects, while Sativas, in general, produce a more energetic “high.” Some plants are a hybrid blend of both.
How Can I Know Which Cannabis to Buy?
Talking with a local dispensary or cannabis professional will help you understand the effects of different strains. Some plants are grown to contain more THC than CBD. The higher the THC percentage, the more likely you will feel a euphoric sensation. For some, THC may increase appetite, produce a slight feeling of paranoia or anxiety, or create a sleepy feeling.
CBD, meanwhile, does not create a euphoric buzz but instead has been shown in studies to support the human body’s endocannabinoid system. This helps to stabilize the body’s moods, sleep patterns, appetite, hormones, and more.
It may take some experimentation to determine what is best for you. Purchasing the right type of cannabis—and ingesting it in a way that’s best for you—will help you get the effects and benefits you seek.