Lucky for you, more and more states are legalizing marijuana each year. You know what that means?
It means that weed—you know, bud, hash, herb, grass, reefer, chronic—is going to be easier to get!
If you're new to smoking weed, welcome! On behalf of all stoners, occasional tokers, and marijuana aficionados we are happy to have you.
Wondering what the best way to smoke weed is for a beginner?
We can teach you!
Read through this beginner's guide to smoking weed and learn everything you need to know to get started.
Best Way to Smoke Weed
First things first. Smoking weed for the first time is easier to control than eating an edible. Even with a measured edible from a reputable source, you need to be very cautious about the dose of THC and CBD.
For beginners, even a starting dose around 10mg (which is standard), could be too much and cause an undesirable effect. Woah, I'm too high man.
It usually takes people longer to start to feel the effects of edibles as well. Everyone knows someone (or is that someone) who took half a brownie and only waited ten minutes before taking the other half because they didn't feel anything.
So unless you are very anti-inhalation, you should try smoking weed as your first experience.
Here are a few different ways to smoke weed.
Glass Pipes
Glass pipes are a very approachable way to start smoking weed. Also, they look really cool.
Glass pipes are small and easy to carry around discreetly in your pocket or backpack. They are pretty resilient despite being made of glass, but respect the piece and don't break it by doing something stupid.
In order to use a glass pipe you just put the weed into the bowl at the end of the pipe and light it. Yep, it's that easy.
If you have a grinder, you can grind the bud beforehand, which should breakdown the weed evenly. Be careful not to over grind the weed because it will be too fine (think more like salt than oregano), which is not what you want.
When you are packing the weed into the bowl of the pipe it should be more densely packed top than the bottom.
Keep in mind the number of people who will be smoking the pipe before packing the bowl. A pipe may be able to hold up to an ounce of weed, but if it's just you smoking or you're with one other person, you won't want to pack it to the brim.
Especially if you are new to weed, try a small bowl first and take a few minutes between hits to evaluate how you are feeling. The high sensation should be immediate as opposed to edibles.
Having a personal glass pipe is also convenient for regular use, and you have plenty of options on colors and styles to make it more personal.
If you are about to purchase your first piece of marijuana paraphernalia, definitely consider the glass pipe as it is one of the most popular selections for beginners and experienced smokers.
Bongs
If you've seen a Seth Rogan movie, you probably know what a bong looks like. Larger than the glass pipe, glass bongs or, "water pipes," have water at the base for a smoother inhalation process.
You'll notice that many bongs on sale online also have an ice catcher. You can put ice in the bong so that when the smoke rises it also cools off. When you inhale the smoke is cooler and won't give you that burning sensation in your throat.
Smoking from a bong has a few more steps than a traditional blunt or pipe but is still relatively simple, don't worry.
Like the glass pipes, there are some cool looking glass bongs in various colors and styles.
Bubblers
So now you know what a pipe is and what a bong is. You're practically an expert.
Now imagine a cross between the pipe and the bong. That is a bubbler.
If you choose to buy a bubbler you simply grind up the herb of your choice and pack it in like the pipe. Then you can add water, like a bong, to get a smoother hit.
The bubbler is about the same size as a pipe, depending on the kind that you get, so it's easier to carry with you.
There are also cool accessories you can buy to go with your bubbler once you've fallen in love with using it.
Vaporizers
Vaping is now one of the most popular methods of smoking weed. There is no odor, and the vape pen is no larger than a traditional pen.
There is some debate on whether vaping is really "smoking," but they both involve inhalation and getting high. So who really cares?
The process of vaporizing involved heating the cannabis plant to a temperature in which it turns to vapor. Just like magic!
Vaporizing is thought to be healthier than other ways of consuming weed. The truth is that there is not enough research to prove anything definitively.
Vaporizers are easy to smoke from and could be a good introduction to smoking weed.
Dab Rig
Warning: this is a more advanced method of smoking weed. Also, this section gets more science-y.
The dab rig is different from other smoking tools because you are not lighting the plant on fire in order to smoke it. When you use a dab rig, the oil or wax is placed on a nail or other piece that is heated to a high temperature and you inhale the vapor.
The high from just one hit from a dab rig is very strong. So be careful.
Check out these dab rigs if you want to get a better look.
You Are Ready, Young Grasshopper
You have concluded your introduction course to smoking weed. Congratulations!
Start slow and enjoy the journey, my friend. Once you have tried a few different methods you can decide for yourself the best way to smoke weed.
Check out our blog for more information on the best way to smoke weed and to see all the awesome products on the market.