How to Smoke Weed: 6 Ways to Achieve Maximum High

As per a study, american adults are increasingly using cannabis daily. No wonder why the global cannabis industry is estimated to be worth $58 billion in 2028.

If these stats have interested you in trying weed, the question you would consider is, “How to smoke weed?” That’s just what we will talk about in this beginner’s guide to smoking cannabis.

What is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a plant that contains cannabinoids, which can affect the body and mind in different ways. Amongst the most common or renowned cannabinoids are THCs or tetrahydrocannabinol and CBD or cannabidiol.

THC

It is a psychoactive compound that gives you a high feeling after using cannabis.

CBD

It is nonpsychoactive and somewhat therapeutic. It helps reduce pain and anxiety and relaxes the mind and body.

THC vs. CBD

CBD and THC are two of many different compounds present in cannabis. CBD and THC both interact with cannabinoid receptors, but only THC causes the high that people associate with recreational cannabis use.

CBD does not cause a high. Manufacturers often extract CBD from the cannabis plant for medicinal use. Healthcare professionals have used CBD to treat pain, anxiety, and several other medical conditions.

THC is present in the bud of the cannabis plant, which is why people tend to use these parts in recreational joints and edibles.

What is Cannabis Flower?

Flower, also called “bud,” refers to the smokable part of the cannabis plant that has gone through the cultivation, harvest, drying, and curing process. Cannabis flower continues to be a popular choice for its versatility, offering numerous methods of consumption, such as being smoked using a pipe or bong or by rolling it into a joint or blunt.

Types of Cannabis

There are three main kinds of cannabis: indica, sativa, and hybrid. All of these differ in their characteristics and effects.

Indica

Indica has calming and relaxing effects on the body. Hence, it is usually used in the evening and at night to relax the mind and body and help you get a good night’s rest.

Indica is generally for stress and anxiety management and also helps in pain relief. The plants of indica also look different from the other strains of cannabis. They are shorter in length, and their leaves are broad.

Indica gives you total body relaxation and a couch-lock sleep.

Sativa

On the other hand, Sativa is more concerned with uplifting the mind and body. It energizes the system, helps you get creative, focus better, and boosts the mood.

Sativa also reduces depression and fatigue.

The sativa plants, quite unlike indica, are taller, and the leaves are narrow.

Hybrid

A hybrid is a cross between two strains. It’s like a combo of all the qualities. Some hybrid plants are dominated by sativa and exhibit more of its qualities, while others may be Indica-dominant.

Still others may have a balanced quality composition of both. Depending on its makeup, the effects of the hybrid type can range from energizing the body to relaxing it.

Indica Strain vs. Sativa Strain

In general, frequent users of cannabis believe that Cannabis indica strains produce a sensation of relaxation, while sativa strains produce more of a euphoric high, which is better for creativity and social interaction. A hybrid strain may cause both effects to varying degrees.

However, according to an interview with Dr. Ethan Russo, an established expert on the human endocannabinoid system, there is no evidence suggesting that the different strains produce different effects.

Instead, he explained that the differences are based on how a person reacts to the individual plant and the number of terpenoids within the particular plant the person uses.

The History of Weed

Cannabis has a long history of human use. Most ancient cultures did not grow the plant to get high, but as herbal medicine, likely starting in Asia around 500 BC. The history of cannabis cultivation in America dates back to the early colonists, who grew hemp for textiles and rope.

Political, racial, and economic factors in the 20th century led to the criminalization of marijuana in the United States, though its legal status is changing in many places.

The cannabis or hemp plant originally evolved in Central Asia before people introduced the plant into Africa, Europe, and eventually the Americas. Hemp fiber was used to make clothing, paper, sails, and rope, while its seeds were used as food.

Why Do People Smoke Weed?

Cannabis remains both one of the safest intoxicants and one of the most versatile medicines in the world. It can offer a vast amount of nuanced delight and inspiration in some while providing therapeutic liberation from ailments small and large in others. Cannabis is widely used all over the globe by people looking to improve their quality of life.

Cannabis has been emerging as an alternative to anxiety medications, many of which come with unpleasant side effects. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders showed that short-term medical cannabis treatment with products of a high-CBD, low-THC ratio resulted in a reduction of anxiety, as well as lowered stress and depression.

How Old do You Have to be to Smoke Weed?

For all practical purposes, the age laws for weed are pretty standard. In all U.S. states that have legalized it, you must be over the age of 21 to use recreational weed.

Some states are still wrangling the finishing touches on their regulations, but for the most part, any person over 18 can get a medicinal marijuana card, which they can then use at any dispensary. In some cases, children under 18 with extreme medical conditions that can be treated with cannabis can receive parental and doctor permission.

What Does Being High Feel Like?

Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds. Scientists and researchers are particularly interested in two of these chemical compounds: cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC produces the high when a person smokes, ingests, or vapes it. It enters the bloodstream and makes its way to the brain. It then attaches to receptors in the brain, which causes the high to occur in most people.

THC also slows down communication between the brain and the rest of the body, which gives cannabis its calming effect.

Proponents of recreational cannabis use often talk about the positive effects of being high. These sensations can include:

• A feeling of relaxation
• Euphoria
• Laughter
• Greater amusement and enjoyment
• Greater sensitivity to color, touch, smell, light, taste, and sound
• A feeling of being more creative

THC levels in the blood vary over time. Generally, they will build until they peak, and once they peak, they start to work their way out of the blood through a person’s urine or stool.

As THC levels rise and fall, a person may experience different effects from cannabis. During the peak, a person will most likely experience euphoria. As the THC concentrations in the blood begin to fall, however, a person may experience:

• Hunger
• Sleepiness
• Anxiety or mild paranoia

The speed at which a person goes through these stages and which stages they experience will depend on several factors, including:

• Method of use, such as vaping, smoking, or ingesting
• Strain
• Potency
• Dose
• Sex
• Age
• Physiology
• Frequency of use
• Use of alcohol or other drugs while using cannabis

How to Smoke Weed?

Joints are the most common method of smoking weed. There are many benefits to rolling a joint. The only tools you need to roll a joint are rolling papers and your flower (a grinder, while helpful, is optional). Rolling papers are inexpensive and easy to purchase (available in most convenience stores).

In addition to being one of the most common, easiest, and oldest ways to smoke weed, rolling joints is also one of the cheapest methods to enjoy pot. Rolling papers are not expensive, and they are easy to get.

Once you have mastered the art of joint rolling, consider trying the cross joint. It is the next level of smoking a joint and is fun for everyone to try at least once.

How do I Smoke a Blunt?

While less common, a blunt is the same basic idea as a joint. A blunt is an emptied-out cigar wrapper filled with flowers and resealed. For similar reasons as a joint, the benefit of rolling a blunt is that all you need is the blunt wrap (or tobacco leaves) and your cannabis flower (a grinder is optional).

Most convenience stores sell cigars, allowing blunt-making to be possible virtually anywhere. The only potential downside to a blunt is that you are also consuming the tobacco in the cigar wrap.

How do I Smoke a Bowl?

Possibly the easiest, most straightforward way to smoke weed is through the use of a pipe. Small, compact, and easy to use, pipes are handheld devices used to smoke flowers. They require no power or water.

Learning how to smoke weed from a bowl is not hard. You just need to make sure that all the weed is finely ground up before it goes into the pipe so that it burns evenly. Also, if there is a carb hole on the side, do not forget to cover it with your thumb or index finger when lighting up and release it when you inhale.

When it comes to tips on how to smoke weed out of a pipe, it is important to remember that although glass pipes are the most popular, they can be made of a variety of materials, from clay to metal, and the flavor varies according to the material used.

Pipes are also available in different shapes, styles, and colors. Some glow in the dark or change color when you smoke. There have been so many creative solutions that some pipes can even double as artwork.

To ensure that you know how to smoke weed from a glass pipe, you first need to learn how to clean a weed pipe. They can become clogged with residue, so you must take care of your pipe if you want to get the best possible hit. Luckily, this is not so difficult. Most people use isopropyl alcohol as the most effective way to clean pipes.

How do I Smoke a Bong?

If you are a regular marijuana user and you want a bigger rip, then bongs are the way to go.

If you need hints on how to smoke weed with a bong, you should know that it is not that different from a pipe. One difference is that bongs are bigger and not as portable. However, the thing that sets them apart is the use of water.

The water in the bong does not only cool the weed smoke; it also filters out resin, resulting in a smoother and cleaner hit.

While a glass bong is the most popular water pipe style, there are also lower-quality acrylic bongs, ceramic bongs, and even DIY options, such as the gravity bong. A classic homemade method of consumption, there are two different types of makeshift “gravity bongs” you can make to smoke flowers.

The most common type of gravity bong comprises an empty plastic bottle (two-liter soda bottle) with the bottom cut out, a bowl mounted into the cap, and a larger container or bucket filled with water. Partially submerging the bottle in the water, the bowl is lit, and the bottle is slowly raised, creating pressure that causes smoke to fill the smaller container.

When the chamber is filled or the bowl is ashed, the bowl should be removed, and the smoke should be inhaled through the opening at the top of the bottle.

The biggest problem with bongs is that, like the pipe, you must make sure that your equipment is in tip-top condition. Watch out for mold and bacteria inside the pipe, as this is not just unsanitary but can also mess up the flavor. An added plus is that bongs and pipes do not smell as bad as joints.

Beginners should avoid bongs, as this method can be overpowering and harsh. What’s more, you get more THC in fewer hits, which is not good for your first time smoking pot.

Cannot decide between a bong and a pipe? Then try a bubbler, which is the best of both. They are not bulky like bongs, which means they are easy to transport, but they can get you high as one.

How do I Smoke With a Vaporizer?

Vaping is an increasingly popular way to consume cannabis nowadays. Its rise to fame is largely due to the higher potency of vaporization, the discretion and convenience of portable vapes, and the healthier aspects of inhaling vapor versus smoke.

The process of vaping weed involves heating cannabis flower or concentrates to a temperature that converts the desirable cannabinoids and terpenes into a vapor. As vaporization happens at a lower temperature than combustion, the user inhales more cannabinoids and less harmful tar and carcinogens than smoking.

There are many methods by which people vaporize cannabis. The three main types are tabletop vaporizers (flower or dab rigs), portable vaporizers, and vape pens.

How Do I Smoke with an Apple?

Have you ever been stuck without a pipe or papers? If you have cannabis and a lighter but no way to smoke it, you should try the time-honored art of creating a homemade bowl from an apple. The apple pipe is a simple solution and a better, more natural alternative than an aluminum can or another makeshift device.

There are endless ways to create functional pipes from various fruits and vegetables. To help you get by the next time you are in a pinch, here are the quick steps to turn an apple into a smoking pipe.

• Supplies: Before you begin, make sure you have all your supplies together in one place. You will want cannabis, an apple, a poking tool such as a knife, key, stick, or screwdriver, and a lighter to spark your buds.
• Twist Off the Stem: Twist the stem of the apple. This is where the weed bowl will be carved.
• Carve Out the Bowl: Use your poking utensil to poke a hole down the top of the bowl. You will only want to go about halfway through the apple to keep the chamber you are creating air-tight.
• Make the Mouthpiece: Make your mouthpiece by poking another hole in the face of the apple. The idea here is to connect the mouthpiece’s chamber with the first chamber or hole you made for the bowl.
• Poke Through the Apple to Make Carb: To create a carb on your homemade bowl, keep pushing your tool all the way through the apple from the mouthpiece chamber. This step is optional but recommended since the carb will let air flow through the chambers you have made and clear any remaining smoke.
• Pack the Bowl: The pipe is all set. Now, you just need to pack the bowl and smoke it like you would any other small pipe.

How Long Does It Take Weed to Kick In?

The time it takes for weed to kick in is different for everyone. Body chemistry and the dosage amount are two potential factors. However, the most accurate idea of when you can expect to feel the effects of cannabis can be determined by your method of use:

• Smoking or Vaping Flower: You can begin to feel the effects of cannabis within 2 to 10 minutes. It kicks in quickly because it enters your bloodstream via your lungs within minutes of inhaling it.
• Edibles: THC is metabolized in the liver into a compound called 11-hydroxy-THC. This compound is more potent than THC, has a longer half-life, and can be very sedating. This mechanism in the liver causes edibles to have different effects on most people. This entire process can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours to kick in.
• Concentrates: Like flowers, the onset is about 2-10 minutes. Concentrates have a high bioavailability, meaning the effects you feel and experience and the rate of absorption into your body happen almost immediately.

How Long Does a Weed High Last?

Much like determining the time it takes for weed to kick in, determining how long a weed high will last is equally difficult. Many different factors can play a role. The general expectations based on the method of use include:

• Smoking or Vaping Flower: The effects peak around 10 minutes after consumption and typically last 1 to 3 hours, though they can linger for up to 8 hours.
• Edibles: The effects of edibles usually peak around 1-2 hours after consumption and can last up to 24 hours.
• Concentrates: Similar to smoking flowers, the effects of dabbing usually last 1 to 3 hours and potentially up to 8 hours. If you use a high-THC concentrate, you can feel the impact for an entire day.

How to Hide the Smell of Cannabis

The smell of weed is notoriously strong and unmistakable. This can be problematic for various reasons. A major reason is that cannabis is still illegal in a third of the United States. Another can be that they do not want to bother others or attract unnecessary attention.

If you store cannabis for the long term, you will want to invest in good containers such as glass Mason jars. An airtight container keeps the freshness in. It should also isolate the fragrance from the outside world, which is especially important when you are transporting weed in your car. You have many options, ranging from tightly sealed bags to Tupperware containers.

If you are trying to hide the smell while smoking, the first step you want to take is putting a towel down in front of the bottom of the door of the room you are in. Even grinding your weed, dabbing, and vaping is detectable on the other side of an untoweled door.

There are many other considerations when trying to hide the smell of weed.

How to Sober Up from Weed

While smoking weed can be fun and therapeutic, it is also possible to take too much and become uncomfortable. Even experienced cannabis users sometimes consume too much cannabis.

Whether you were trying a new product, not paying close attention to your dose, or your normal dose was just too much for you on a particular day, being too high can happen randomly. Experienced users who have been too high before usually can ride this feeling out. However, this feeling can be intimidating or even downright terrifying for newer users.

Symptoms of being too high include:

• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Nausea
• Confusion

It is important to note that while this can be uncomfortable, it is not regarded as life-threatening. You will not need to visit the hospital if you are too high. The best things to do is to relax, remind yourself that the feeling is temporary, and then distract yourself with activities.

There are also remedies to help you sober up, many of which are easy to do in the comfort of your home.

How to Make Edibles

Edibles are favored in the cannabis community for their dosing ease, long-lasting effects, and, in some cases, extra strength. Edibles are cannabis-based food products. They come in many different forms, from sweets like gummies and brownies to savory dishes made with cannabis butter or oil. Edibles will contain one or both of marijuana’s active ingredients: THC and CBD.

Before you can start making edibles at home, you must perform an essential part of any edibles recipe: decarboxylating the weed.

Decarboxylating, or decarbing, weed is the process of using heat to convert the non-psychoactive THCA in raw cannabis into THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the feeling of being “high.”

There are lots of possibilities for decarbing weed, so choose what works best for you or experiment with different methods. Baking is simple, but other methods include slow cookers or simply cooking weed in a high-fat material such as butter. Just remember that a lower temperature and a longer time frame (about 45 minutes in the oven) ensure optimal decarboxylation.

What if I Do Not Get High?

Cannabis affects everyone differently. Like any other substance, some people may be more or less sensitive to cannabis than others. It all depends on your present internal body chemistry and genetics.

Some people do not get high from smoking weed. In fact, besides not inhaling, there are several big reasons that people who consume cannabis do not feel high. However, this, in general, is not the average experience.

When you consume cannabis, THC enters the bloodstream and connects with special cell receptors called cannabinoid receptors. Thus far, researchers are aware of two distinct cannabinoid receptors, named CB1 and CB2. When THC connects with these receptors, specifically the CB1 receptor in the brain, it causes the classic psychoactive high.

Research suggests some people with certain medical conditions can actually feel more normal when they consume cannabis. It is not uncommon to hear people with fibromyalgia or post-traumatic stress disorder explains that cannabis gives them energy and makes them feel sober.

How Long Can My Weed Last?

Cannabis does not spoil in the same way that food does. However, weeds can degrade in quality and potency over time, especially if not stored properly.

There are over 110 identified cannabinoids in marijuana, with THC and CBD the most abundant, followed by CBN. The cannabinoid composition varies depending on the strain. When your marijuana has been harvested, cut, and dried, its cannabinoid content begins to change over time because cannabinoids react to the presence of oxygen, light, and heat.

As weed grows, it produces cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), which is synthesized into CBCA, CBDA, and THCA. What is interesting is that the cannabinoids THC and CBD, for example, must be activated to take effect. Raw cannabis contains THCA, which does not become THC until you apply heat to decarboxylate it.

Once you expose THC or THCA to UV light or the atmosphere for a long enough period, further changes will happen. Eventually, the compounds degrade to CBNA and CBN. To be clear, CBN (cannabinol) is not bad for you at all. However, it will not provide you with the psychoactive high you seek.

Pulling apart the flower should tell you everything you need to know about the weed’s condition. You can determine whether there is any moisture content or see if it falls apart in your hands. A well-cured and dried herb will bend slightly and make a snapping sound when you handle it, whereas old cannabis is too brittle to bend and makes a dry cracking sound.

How Much Does Weed Cost?

The prices of cannabis depend in large part on the location you are purchasing from. Costs vary greatly from state to state and even city to city. The other major aspect of determining weed costs is quantity.

Cannabis is generally measured within the context of an ounce. Of course, you can purchase it in smaller increments, via a gram at a time, or you can purchase it in bulk. The more you buy, the better price per gram deal you can get.

A single gram is enough to weed for a few joints (depending on how you roll) or one small blunt.

“But how much does a gram cost?”

The price of a gram depends on several factors:

• Cannabis Quality: More potent strains often fetch a higher price on the market. It is not uncommon for a high-THC strain to cost more than an average or low-THC product. Prices may be higher if the strain was recently developed or grown using organic practices.
• Taxes and Overhead: Dispensaries are businesses like any other. While cannabis has not been federally legalized, cannabis businesses are still subject to taxation and operational costs, including facilities, utilities, payroll, administrative costs, and more. Taxes and the cost of living in your area can cause the cost of an eighth to be higher or lower than the average.
• Supply and Demand: Like other businesses, the cannabis industry is also subject to basic economic principles. The lack of supply can increase prices if local growers suffer a bad crop or other unforeseen circumstances. If advances in growing technology improve, resulting in greater output with similar input costs, the increased supply can cause prices to decrease. Similarly, black market dealers may charge higher prices in an area without an abundance of other supply options, while illegal dealers in states that allow recreational cannabis may entice customers by setting their prices slightly lower than the average retail rate in the area.

When to Stop Using Weed

When you should stop using weed is a personal choice. But many factors play a role here. The most common reasons and factors you should consider are as follows.

Health Concerns

You should check on both your physical and mental health time and again. If smoking weed is affecting your lungs and increasing anxiety and depression, you need to quit it. It can sometimes cause asthma, coughing, or other health problems.

Dependency

If you’re becoming dependent on it and going without it is affecting your normal flow of life, relationships, work, and other responsibilities, you should consider reducing or withdrawing completely from it.

For Work or Other Legal Requirements

If your job requires you to undergo drug testing or you’re on probation, you should stop weed. Also, if cannabis is not allowed in your State, you shouldn’t take it as it could lead to legal consequences.

Productivity

If you’re finding it hard to stay motivated or productive at the job, weed can be the reason. Stop using it if it is affecting your mood and energy levels.

Tolerance

As you take weed over time, your body gets used to it. You’ll have to increase the dose over time to enjoy the same benefits you could have before. This may lead to overdosing or overuse. Stop for a while to regain the lost control.

Conclusion

Smoking weed for the first time can be enjoyable and rather enlightening if done right.

Keep in mind safety, the dosage, legal aspects, and your physical and mental health, and that’s how to smoke weed for the first time to the very end.