FAQs About Smoking Weed | Questions About Weed
Estimated 8-minute read
There’s a lot of information about weed on the internet, but this article is meant to keep all the buzzing questions in a single place for easier research.
In this blog post we’ll dive into the world of smoked cannabis, its most common questions and other vital information you should get familiar with.
Let’s begin with the basics.
THC vs. CBD
The two main compounds that are present in cannabis are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and they both have different effects.
According to Pure Oasis, CBD does not have a psychoactive effect, which is why it is often used to medically treat seizures, body pain, and even mental disorders. THC is the psychoactive compound of cannabis, the one that will make you feel “high”; additionally, it helps with pain, insomnia, and low appetite.
Indica vs. Sativa
Marijuana has two subspecies of the cannabis plants, which then develop into strains: Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa.
While indica strains are mostly known for providing a sense of relaxation, sativa strains supply an energizing reaction, this is because the levels of CBD and THC are different from both strains. Overall, strains of cannabis indica will often have higher CBD and lower THC, while cannabis sativa is exactly the opposite.
What is a weed strain?
Generally, the world of cannabis divides weed into three different categories: indica, sativa and hybrid (a mix of both indica and sativa). According to Healthiline, strains are essentially different breeds of cannabis. To keep it simple, strains come from these three categories, and they’re engineered to have specific effects on the people who consume it.
How can I smoke marijuana?
There are various ways to consume marijuana through inhalation:
- Rolling a joint: The filling is all weed and it uses rolling papers.
- Rolling a spliff: The filling is weed mixed with tobacco and it also uses rolling papers.
- Rolling a blunt: The filling is weed mixed with tobacco, but it uses wraps instead of rolling papers.
- Pipes: Small, portable devices where you put grinded weed, flame it and inhale.
- One-hitter pipe: Smaller pipe designed for one hit only, it’s often used for being more stealth and experts recommend it for people who have lower weed tolerance.
- Dab pens: Vaping device designed to inhale concentrates of cannabis.
- Bongs: A large device with a chamber, it incorporates water to cool the smoke.
Every style has its pros and cons, but people who consume marijuana in different ways have pointed out that starting your cannabis journey by smoking a joint is an excellent way to do it. The pros: You can see and control how much you’re inhaling, it allows you to share it with your friends, and you can take it slow and at your own pace.
(Tell us in the comments your favorite way of smoking it!)
What does being high feel like?
The short answer: Euphoric, relaxed, giggly, amused, creative, hungry, and even more sensitive than you usually are.
Furthermore, Jackie Bryant who is a freelance writer who focuses on cannabis, stated in Healthline that it’s essential to eliminate the high vs. not high binary.
“In reality, cannabis’s effects fall along a spectrum,” she writes. “How you’ll feel those effects depends on a lot of things, including the product you’re using, your surroundings, and your emotional state that day.”
What happens if I have a bad trip?
Weed has amazing effects on the human body, but it is no secret that it can also lead to bad ones when having too much THC, or more accurately, having more than your body can handle.
A bad trip means having undesired physical and mental reactions to being high, also known as greening out. Physical reactions may be sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and increased heart rate. Other emotional reactions are paranoia, anxiety and sometimes hallucinations.
If this happens to you, find a quiet place to pass the time, preferably with someone you trust. Drink lots of water and try focusing on something else, like listening to music, talking or drawing. Fear not, here’s a full article on how to deal with greening out!
How long does being high last?
The short answer: From 2 to 3 hours (when smoking)
According to Healthline, the duration of a marijuana high, like all things related to cannabis, depends on various factors. There are two extremely considerable: dose and potency.
In addition, a 2017 PubMedCentral review identified the following times for the onset, peak, and total duration of a marijuana high:
Method |
Onset |
Peak |
Total duration |
|
Smoking and vaping |
Within minutes |
20 to 30 minutes |
2 to 3 hours |
|
Edibles |
30 to 90 minutes |
3 hours |
Within 24 hours |
How much should I smoke the first time?
The short answer: Give it a hit and then wait from 20 to 30 minutes
Remember that smoking will make you feel the effects within minutes, but the peak will come 20 to 30 minutes after your first hit. If you want to be cautious, then wait until the peak has come and redose if you wish to have stronger effects or want to feel it again.
Smoking weed the first few times is like a game of patience, so if you smoke and don’t feel the effects immediately, sit back and wait for it. Here’s an article with some tips about what to expect and how to do it safely for the first time.
I smoked once and nothing happened, can I still get high?
The short answer: Yes!
You’d be surprised to know that this experience is more common than you think. Way of Leaf notes that cannabis affects its users differently, and for some first-time smokers, it will not affect them at all.
If you're willing to try it again, we recommend sharing a joint with your friends. The only thing you need –besides the weed itself– is a lighter and some rolling hemp papers like HAMP.
Should I grind weed?
The short answer: Most definitely yes!
Experts can agree that owning a high-quality grinder like KLIP is vital to maximize weed’s strength, its fragrance, the way it tastes, and the effect it has on your body. A grinder will save you time, prevent your fingers from getting sticky, and even make your joint last longer.
I know grinding can be a little bit controversial for some stoners, but here’s why you should totally grind your weed.
Is smoking weed going to make me hungry AKA give me the munchies?
The answer: For almost everyone, yes!
The reason behind that fact is that cannabis might make you eat more food after consuming it simply because THC makes you smell and taste more acutely.
According to Benzinga, most scientific research carried out has found that THC gives the user a dramatic increase of smell. Knowing that smell and taste are closely linked, it’s reasonable that when scent is enhanced, taste also becomes heightened. The natural outcome is increased appetite.
Will I get red eyes if I smoke weed?
The short answer: Yes.
Here’s the explanation: Getting red eyes from weed is actually a very common side effect of consuming cannabis. Contrary to popular belief, smoke is not what makes your eyes go red, it’s THC. If you want to prepare for this side effect, here is a guide for handling red eyes.
What can I do if weed doesn’t get me high anymore?
The reason why you don’t get as high as you did before is because you probably built tolerance to weed. If you’re more than a casual smoker, you probably feel like it’s not the same anymore, at least not when you tried it out back in the day.
Weed tolerance is more common than you think, you could almost say it happens naturally as time goes by. However, not everything is lost; in fact, smoking new strains of weed with more THC could help you, or maybe trying edibles, or even some weed concentrates. Check out this article with six possible solutions that will help you get high again.
Is weed going to show up in a drug test?
The short answer: Yes.
The explanation: Sprout Health Group confirms that THC from edibles will show up on a drug test. Urine, hair, blood, saliva, and sweat tests can all detect ingested (and even inhaled) THC. Here’s a timeline from Sprout for each kind of test:
- Blood: 3-4 hours
- Saliva: 24-72 hours
- Urine: 3-30 days
- Hair: Up to 90 days
What happens if I mix alcohol and weed?
Having weed and alcohol together can be a problem. I don’t want to sound like a total buzz kill, but pairing alcohol and weed for the sake of getting roaring drunk and high as a kite isn’t something to be taken lightly. Instead, research topics such as pairing weed and wine for a different, more heightened and responsible experience.
Does weed have an expiration date?
The short answer: Sadly, yes.
It has been well researched that weed only lasts from six months to about a year. After that, the THC content starts to lose about 15% of its potency, deteriorating little by little.
We intend to keep this guide up to date; if you have any question, let us know in the comments below so we can keep on providing vital information about smoking cannabis!
Author: Mary Jane
Barrus, D. G., Capogrossi, K. L., Cates, S. C., Gourdet, C. K., Peiper, N. C., Novak, S. P., Lefever, T. W., & Wiley, J. L. (2016). Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles. Methods report (RTI Press), 2016, 10.3768/rtipress.2016.op.0035.1611. https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress.2016.op.0035.1611
Bryant, J. (2021). About to Use Weed for the First Time? 9 Tips from a Cannabis Journalist. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/first-time-smoking-weed
Ferguson, S. (2018). Beginner’s Guide to Marijuana Strains. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/beginners-guide-to-marijuana-strains
Killerlane, J. (2021). 5 Crucial Tips for First Time Weed Smokers. Way of Leaf. Retrieved from https://wayofleaf.com/blog/5-important-tips-for-first-time-weed-smokers
Pure Oasis (2020). Indica vs. Sativa. Retrieved from https://www.mypureoasis.com/indica-vs-sativa/
Sprout Health Group. How Long Do Edibles Stay in Your System? Retrieved from https://www.sprouthealthgroup.com/substances/how-long-do-edibles-stay-in-your-system/
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