Cannabis for Beginners

Cannabis is an amazing plant that has had a bad reputation in the mainstream for many decades. In recent years the plant has been accepted for medicinal use and most recently for recreational use in many U.S. states. However, the industry still being in its infancy can be very confusing for consumers and vendors alike. As a relatively new consumer to the industry I want to provide some information regarding what I have learned about cannabis and the industry thus far. Note that my experience pertains to cannabis with high CBD/low THC content as I am using it for medicinal purposes.

Why Cannabis

I began using CBD oil for sleep in July of 2022. I had previously tried hops and melatonin with undesired side effects. I had heard a lot about CBD but was very skeptical because my experience with cannabis was limited to recreational use of THC in my younger years. I read and researched and look for different angles and opinions. It did not want to simply believe something was going to work or was a healthy choice based on the hype alone. I found a reputable distributor in Oregon and placed an order for their full spectrum CBD oil. I began using it slowly to see what dose worked for me. I found that between 50-100mg of CBD oil each night was what I needed to get to sleep and stay asleep. I did not wake feeling hung over but rather rested. There were not any negative side effects I could find. There I was using cannabis effectively for sleep each night.

About a year later I read that CBD promoted homeostasis in the human body and I began experimenting with using cannabis throughout the day in smaller doses up to 50mg to see if there were any effects on my body. I have found that using cannabis throughout the day has lowered inflammation in my body, resulting in less muscle pain, helped me to rest and get to sleep easier, calms my overactive thinking (something I did not know I did until using cannabis), promotes focused thought (some flowers), promotes better memory (long-term for me), and improves my circulation. All this and I do not get high. I can use cannabis and still make dinner, help my children with homework, think at work and virtually anything else I choose. Another side effect that was not expected but I later learned was in fact being used in medical settings was the inhibited desire for alcohol. Since I started using cannabis on the regular I have not had the desire for alcohol and thus have not consumed alcohol in months. I simply have no desire to seek the great whiskeys I was previously enjoying. And my body is so much better for it.

Consumption

I use both a dry herb vaporizer and homemade oil to consume cannabis. Each method serves a different approach to my desired outcome.

Vaporization is similar to smoking in that the vapor is taken into your lungs and thus the effects of the flower are felt very quickly, if not instantly. However, vaporization does not allow for combusted/burnt plant material to be inhaled. Also, tar is at a minimum with vaporization. Therefore this is safer for your lungs than smoking. Vaporizers come in many different styles and not in the scope of this post.

Oil is also very helpful and useful when vaping or smoking are not allowed or desired. However, oil takes longer to bring on the desired effects. Therefore I use oil for sleep generally. Oil is a tincture taken sublingually (under the tongue). It takes about 15-45 minutes to take effect. I have learned that oil needs to contain at least 50-100mg to be effective. Doses of up to 1500mg have been reported to be tolerated well by humans. My DIY oil is not very concentrated and therefore I need to take about 1tsp to get the 50ish mg of CBD I am seeking. It has been very effective in helping me to stay asleep or get back to sleep easily if woken in the night. My nightly routine has been to take oil and vape before bed. The vape has a quick onset but fades in a couple of hours where as the oil lasts longer and helps me to stay asleep or fall back asleep should I wake in the course of the night.

If you are looking for a vaporizer, before you head to your local smoke shop check out the Planet of the Vapes as they have a large variety and respectable prices. Because vapes often allow you to set the temperature of the oven, you can customize your vaping session to get out of your flower the terpenes and cannabinoids you are after.

If smoking is your thing, then your local smoke shop is a likely place to start so that you can see up close the different types of pipes, water pipes, and variety of rolling papers there are to choose from. There are also several online retailers in this space as well.

Where to Get CBD Cannabis

The easy answer is not in a dispensary. To my knowledge most dispensaries specialize in high THC flower. There are quite a few distributors online who sell hemp flower. I have ordered from a few and recommend one in particular, Holy City Farms. HCF has been stellar. While other CBD retailers are moving into the high THCa flower, HCF still grows and sells lots of low/non-THC flower. As of this writing my last two purchases have been from HCF and they do not disappoint. They have great flowers, reasonable prices, and easy shipping.

What to Look for in CBD Flower

What you are looking for in a CBD/hemp flower will vary from person to person. Do not let that scare you. Cannabis preference is the same as selecting a cheese or alcohol to go with dinner. You want a flower that will compliment your body and provide the effect you are seeking. There are a number of terms in the cannabis world which can be confusing and overwhelming. However, it is not difficult to learn. Let us start with strains. Strains at a high level are sativa, indica, and ruderails. Sativas tend to produce uplifting and stimulating effects. Indicas tend to produce sedating effects. Ruderails naturally have low THC and high CBD, and thus have effects of CBD overall. Then there are hybrids. These are strains which have been cultivated over the years to blend the effects or characteristics of both sativas and indicas or either with ruderails.

When evaluating a flower the areas to consider are:

  • Aroma: Many flowers have a scent described as "loud". The louder the flower, the more that scent will smack you in the face when you open the bag. Not all flowers are loud, and not all that are subtle are bad. Though the strong scent is also characteristic of the terpene profile.

  • Terpenes: These compounds give the plant its scent and taste. They also are responsible for other medicinal effects. See this article on High Times.

  • Bud Structure: A healthy looking bud generally means a superior experience. You will want a well trimmed bud. This means the sugar leaves have been trimmed away. The bud should also be dense and not floppy.

  • Tricomes: These are the very tiny structures on the bud which will give it a frosted look. The tricomes hold many of the beneficial oils of the plant. In general the frostier the better. Tricome oils can also make the flower very sticky to the touch. Breaking up a flower with your fingers can leave a sticky residue and feeling similar to pine sap. That is a great bud.

What to Look for in a Vendor

You want a vendor that cares about their product. Do not buy any CBD product from a gas station or convenience store. Their products are just as important to them as the old candybars and motor oil on the shelf. You want a vendor whom provides certificates of analysis (COAs). These reports should detail the amounts of cannabinoids (CBDa, CBD, THC, THCa, CBG, etc.) as well as pesticides, heavy metals, and molds present in the harvest sample. Some will even list the terpene content of the flower. With this information you can make an informed choice and later compare your experience with the flower against the content of the flower. This will help you to understand what you like and what your body benefits from. You also want a vendor that has fair prices, good shipping practices, and promotions from time to time. In my experience thus far, Holy City Farms has met the mark and set a standard.

Other Resources

There are many websites with lots of information on this topic. I recommend the following:

  • r/hempflowers: This subreddit is excellent as it is full of veteran hemp users as well as newcomers. So many questions, answers, recommendations, and accounts of personal experiences.
  • Honest Marijuana Co.: This blog is well written and will have you feeling like you have been consuming herb for decades with their very informative style.
  • Shabazz: This Youtube channel provides excellent reviews of CBD flowers (type 3 and some type 2) as well as cannabis gear.
  • Leafly: This site has dispensary listings, products and review, a blog, and more. It is a cannabis information playground. Check out Leafly and learn more than you wanted to even know about cannabis.