OKAY- so I am pretty excited the overwhelming response I have gotten from you guys about my new Mary Jane Diaries series!!!

At first, I was super scared. Will my readers ditch me if they know I smoke pot? Will they think I am just a lazy stoner? Will it make them lose trust in me for some really weird reason?

Then I remembered why I started this series…

to shatter those silly stigmas & bring some class to cannabis.

Ya feel me? Boss ass babes everywhere smoke weed, but for some reason, they are scared to say it. I wanna change that. Everyone’s got their thing to harness their chi, whether it be a nightly glass of wine or a joint, just do you & own it.

That being said, I am a very RESPONSIBLE marijuana user & you should be to. I am not trying to tell you to go smoke bong loads till you become glued to the couch & then drive to go get a Sonic milkshake.

I practice moderation, I have my medical marijuana card for a legitimate reason (marijuana is SO effective for my anxiety disorder), I don’t smoke copious amounts to the point I can’t move, & I am constantly trying to stay educated on the HEALTHIEST ways to use cannabis.

Back to you guys though! I put my feelers out on the GRAM & asked what kinda Mary Jane content you guys wanted to see & it really seemed that you guys just need a little intro course to world of cannabis. A Mary Jane 101, if you will.

SO, today I am kinda summing up the basics for you babes. How to smoke, what to smoke, different types of weed, etc. etc.

ENJOY & as always, if you have any questions- comment below! x, E

The Beginners Guide to Weed

the basics

*a few definitions to get you started*

+ Marijuana: the dried leaves of a cannabis plant.

+ Cannabinoids: the chemical compounds that make up the active principles of marijuana. Cannabinoids have various effects, but can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions such as Cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, nausea, lack of appetite, ADHD, multiple sclerosis, alzheimers, migrains, glaucoma, & SO much more.

+ THC: the most commonly known chemical compound (aka cannabinoid) of marijuana is THC, it is the psychoactive cannabinoid that is responsible for getting you high.

+ CBD: the new kid on the block! This cannabinoid is non-psychoactive, but is recently making headlines for it’s amazing healing powers (& is safe for pets & children!).

---

how to get cannabis legally

*it’s not as intimidating as you think*

If you live in one of the few states that has already legalized weed (lucky), you just walk into a dispensary, pick your pot, & get on with your day. You have to be 21 or over, so bring identification!

If you live in a state that allows you to use marijuana medically, you just need to apply for a medical marijuana registration card. If you google “medical marijuana doctors” in your area, find one you like & make an appointment.

The process is simple: you meet with a doctor & discuss the issues you have that would be helped with marijuana. You pay a fee for a year & they give your “recommendation” on the spot (it’s basically a certificate).

Once you have your recommendation, you just need to take + your idea to a dispensary.

---

how to consume cannabis

*you’ve got options*

+ Smoking Flower: with all the advances in cannabis, this is probably considered an outdated way to use cannabis, but for me… I am an OG flower girl. You can smoke flower like me by rolling it up in a joint or you can use a bong/pipe/one hitter/bubbler/ or even an APPLE. Shit, I even smoked weed out of a Twizzler once, just to try it.

+ Vaporizing: another way to smoke weed, without actually smoking it really, is to vape it. Many people opt to vape to avoid the carcinogens released when you smoke the old school way (lighters), or to avoid the heavy smell (much more discrete odor!).

There are flower vapes, like the Pax, that heat up the flower until it creates a vapor OR there are vapes that heat up cartridges of weed concentrates (hash oil or wax).

I have a vape that I use often & love it. You can pick your cartridges based on your need, & the devices are handheld, affordable, & portable.

+ Dabs: I don’t dab, but people love dabbing… so I guess we should talk about it. Basically, hash oil or wax is placed on a hot surface to release a strong, yet small, amount of vapor. Dabbing gets you REALLY high. Like too high… which is why I am choosing to never go down that road. I am not looking to get that high, & also once you start dabbing, you really can’t go back.

+ Edibles: the options of edibles out there blow my mind- there are oils, butters, flaming hot ‘Weetos’, Sour Pot Heads, teas, drinks, etc. etc. People who don’t want to smoke typically go for edibles. For me, edibles are also too strong. I had a bad edibles experience YEARS ago, & never really gave it another go. If you go the edibles route, just be sure to MICRO-DOSE & wait. Start small, give it 30 minutes, & if you don’t feel anything, have another small sip/taste/bite. Rinse, repeat.

+ Ingestible Oils: similar to edibles, but this is a cannabis concentrate that can be taken orally or added into food or drinks. Ingestible oils are often recommended to cancer patients to help with nausea and appetite. Again, if you are ingesting any type of cannabis, start slowly! It takes longer to digest, so you have to wait for it to kick in.

---

sativa vs. indica

Cannabis plants have two classifications: sativa & indica. The highs & effects of each strain is VERY different, so the first step is trying to figure out what you’re looking for so you can find out which strain will help you best.

+ Indica: to remember which strain is which, just remember this: INDICA = IN DA BED. It’s the body high that can often, but not always, make you sleepy. Indica strains are great for chronic pain, anxiety, & insomnia.

+ Sativa: people always say “I can’t smoke weed, it makes me anxious or paranoid”. YAH, ditto… if I smoke Sativa. It makes me sweat, my heart race, & my energy levels are through the roof. Mind you, some people do just fine with Sativa, but I definitely say to proceed with caution. The effect of a Sativa high is more in the head, versus the body. It has been said to increase creativity/focus, help with depression, & the high is more giggly/uplifting.

+ Hybrids: ahh, a good old hybrid!! My strain of choice is typically an indica dominant hybrid or an even strain (50/50). Hybrids are great for the productive stoner as you get the creativity/productivity aspect of Sativa, minus the anxiety, & then add in the calming effects of Indica. Personally, it keeps me balanced & puts me in SUCH a good space.

---

what to do if you feel too high

if you are new to smoking weed, start with a strain that has lower THC in it. You can’t overdose on weed, but you can get too high & it HAPPENS. It’s uncomfortable, you can get paranoid, & it just isn’t a good feeling. You can wait it out, cause it will fade rather quickly, but another quick tip if you start feeling too high is to consume a few drops of CBD extract. This counteracts the THC & brings you down almost immediately.