Are you a new cannabis user or thinking about becoming one? Me too! We all have to start somewhere, right? The cannabis world can be a little overwhelming when you don’t know what you’re looking for, and though I’ve found budtenders to be extremely helpful, it’s always good to have an idea of what you’d like from your cannabis experience before you go shopping. In this article, I will be going over some basic cannabis terms, the different strains, types of consumption, benefits of cannabis, and what you can expect your first time shopping.
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Cannabis 101 - Terminology
So, what do I mean when I say “cannabis”? Cannabis refers to the flowers and buds of the cannabis plant, which are consumed in a variety of ways for their medical and psychoactive effects. There are more than 100 types of cannabinoids found in cannabis, but the two most common are THC and CBD. THC is the cannabinoid that causes a high. CBD alone does not cause a high, and is typically appealing to those who want pain relief without the psychoactive effects of THC.
Cannabis Strains
Two species of cannabis are indica and sativa. Today, many strains you will find are a combination, or hybrid, containing both sativa and indica. Sativa is mentally stimulating, increases focus and boosts energy. It’s typically recommended for daytime use. Indica is relaxing and helps to relieve pain. Indica is recommended for nighttime use. Hybrids are a combination of these two strains. Hybrids will either be sativa-dominated or indica-dominated and help to hone in on the perfect experience for the user.
Consumption Methods
There are four main options for consuming cannabis: inhalation, oral, sublingual, and topical.
Let’s start with inhalation, the fastest method of delivery for consumers. Through smoking or vaporizing, users inhale marijuana, allowing for the majority of the cannabinoids to enter through their lungs, which takes them directly to the bloodstream. The effect of inhalation is almost instantaneous, making overconsumption less likely. Vaping marijuana means inhaling heated oil through a vaporizing device. Vaping is also believed to produce stronger effects than smoking.
Next, oral consumption of marijuana can be through the forms of edibles, tinctures, capsules or oils. Oral consumption takes longer to feel the effects, however the effects are stronger and last longer than inhalation. The effects of oral consumption can take between 30 minutes to up to two hours, depending on the individual’s metabolism and strength of the edible taken. Because of the lasting effects, this is a commonly preferred method for medicinal users so they don’t have to consume as frequently.
Sublingual consumption is when marijuanna is placed under the tongue and held in the mouth. The blood vessels within the mouth absorb the cannabinoids. Sublinguals come in the form of dissolvable strips, sublingual sprays, or medicated lozenges or tinctures.
Finally, topical consumption is applied directly to the skin. Many topical options come as CBD only, making the product non-psychoactive and beneficial in reducing plain and/or inflammation.The most effective places on your body to apply a CBD patch are the outside of your upper arm, inside of your wrist or on your ankle. Topical applications can be lotions, bath salts, and oils and typically last one to two hours. THC topicals are also available and can result in a long-lasting high effect.
Unique Offers at The Fire Station
As a new cannabis user, you get the same warm welcome at The Fire Station that an everyday shopper would receive. My first time shopping there I was nervous about looking like I didn’t know what I was talking about, but was completely relaxed by my budtender, Jacob in Marquette. Cannabis is still a relatively new industry, so the budtenders are fully prepared and understanding when new users come in, ready to help and assist with any questions a customer may have. This is something they are passionate about, and they’re excited to share that passion with you!
As a first-time customer at any of The Fire Station locations, if you sign up for our loyalty program, you are eligible to receive one complimentary pre-roll or edible worth $10 (pre-tax).
Being new to anything can be scary and make you feel out of place. Let us help to take away that apprehension and feel right at home with our expert budtenders. See you soon!
