What Does Marijuana Feel Like?

. . .feel like and what will it make me do? Will I completely lose control and run naked out onto the lawn, punching my fists at 11 o’clock while screaming the lyrics to “Rubber Ducky?” Probably not. If you don’t do that after a glass or two of wine, then it’s very unlikely you would do that after having a mild edible. So then let’s talk about how to keep your cannabis experience fun.

Do you want the best possible experience from cannabis? Here are a few basics that will help it all make sense.

Let’s start with a few simple ideas

The first thing

Using cannabis to get a buzz is a recreational use; while using it to treat a condition, is medicinal.

Recreational users want a strain of cannabis with high levels of THC while medicinal users need one with pronounced levels of CBD to treat a condition.

Medicinal users can also enjoy a buzz if like, as long as the strain is also rich in the CBD’s.

The second thing

Know what kind of cannabis to buy. You should understand the difference between a Sativa and an Indica. There is a great explanation in this article.

The third thing

Understand that we are all unique, and that makes a difference in how we react to the THC in cannabis. Everyone’s buzz can be different – slightly or drastically.

Some of that difference is entirely dependent on the strain of cannabis you chose.

Check out this great resource for learning about the many strains of cannabis published by our good friends at Leafly.

Other factors can weigh in as well, like your personality, your mood, where you are, and if you’re not alone, how safe you feel those around you.

The vast majority of us will experience the classic THC buzz and all the lovely effects (I will describe effects in a moment) that offers.

And lastly…

The best way to experience cannabis is with your friends – people who are already fun without cannabis.

When you’re comfortable with the idea, share some mild edibles with them.

You will likely find them to be even more engaged, talkative, bonding, and funny.

There are three levels of the THC effect

You’ve likely heard these terms before in regards to marijuana use. But just to put them into context here, the names for the three distinct levels of THC influence, from lesser to greater, are “Buzzed,” “High,” and “Stoned.”

Getting a “buzz” is the first and most mild stage of the THC influence.

You are mostly still functional but just for safety, you should avoid things like stairs, machinery and handling anything sharp – like kitchen knives.

Try to be done chopping food before you get a buzz on.

Typically, if this is your first time using cannabis, you may think you’ve already gone way past a buzz and onto some other level. That’s because you are simply not used to it.

A buzz is considered the safest and least likely level of experience to cause problems long-term with frequent use. And that is why throughout this site, I consistently recommend you don’t try for an experience more intense than a buzz.

When you try cannabis a few times, you will know a buzz as a light and drifty feeling, your senses are more heightened, everything seems more colorful, and music is more intense. That’s a buzz.

Some people who are stressed or anxious will feel themselves calm down dramatically, and experience a warm social ease washing over them.

When you and your friends are all on a buzz, talking and laughing it up can be both delightful and bonding.

For most people, sexual experiences are more vivid, sensual and alive. This aspect of the cannabis buzz is a bit of a gamble because it depends on your physiology, chemistry, and mood.

A buzz is considered the safest and least likely level of experience to cause problems long-term with frequent use.

And that is why throughout this site, I consistently recommend you don’t try for an experience more intense than a buzz.

The next level of THC influence is the “high.”

You know you’ve arrived at this level when you do things like laugh uncontrollably (especially at nothing in particular), time will speed up or slow down, your senses will be even more intense, sight is more colorful, and music more compelling.

At this level of influence, you are too impaired to go out. Your sense of depth is distorted, especially if you’re new to a buzz.

You will know how far off your sense of space is when your shins hit the coffee table that appears to three feet away. Do yourself and everyone else a big favor and just stay home.

Being high will intensify personal addictions. If you’re addicted to sex, playing video games, extreme sports, etc., you will crave them more.

Which can lead to making impulsive and unfortunate choices. Like flying out the door to go bull-riding or screaming down a steep mountain road on a skateboard. That’s a bad plan even when you’re sober.

The day after a High can be a bad day trying to shake off the effects of that much THC.

The strongest level of THC influence is “Stoned.”

Getting to this level of THC influence is a problem – even if it were by mistake.

And a lot of people have gotten stoned by mistake, usually by eating too many edibles in one sitting.

It’s easy to assume when eating edibles that a buzz should arrive within minutes – which it will not (here’s why).

If for example, you eat five edible muffins when you should have tried only half of one as I recommend (to see how you react), the truck-load of THC from the five muffins will eventually arrive in the normal hour or so and run you over.

That much THC will lead to temporary bouts of paranoia, anxiety, and agitation. Although THC won’t kill you, you will still have a very bad experience.

Your friends will take one look at you and probably feel compelled to get you to the hospital emergency room.

If you’re not too seriously impaired or affected, one remedy that may work is to find a quiet place to lay down and sleep it off. You can also try chewing on peppercorns – some people swear by that trick.

I mention it because I’ve tried peppercorns when I needed to end a buzz early, and it seemed to help.

But anyone who chooses to ingest an excessive amount of THC to get stoned has other issues.

You can usually tell someone is stoned by the droopy, squinty eyes, their indifferent and detached demeanor, and that they are “couch-locked” – typically leading to a wasted day – and followed by another wasted day hung over. Why would you want to go there?

Just like drinking too much is not recommended – for reasons we know all too well – the more cannabis you ingest, the more unpredictable the effects. So if you keep your experience at a buzz, then you will enjoy the best of what cannabis has to offer.

Getting stoned regularly is the way most people become addicted.

Some hard drugs latch onto a user very quickly to form an addiction. You can develop an addiction with cannabis, but you really have to work at it.

Just like drinking too much is not recommended – for reasons we know all too well – ingesting too much cannabis exceeds the tipping point where it is no longer light, safe and fun.

You will decide for your own reasons how much, or how often you ingest cannabis. All I can do is suggest that you ask yourself if you’re comfortable letting something (in this case, cannabis) encourage questionable choices that you might not make sober.

What does marijuana feel like and how do you safely try it?

Simply put, the best way to try a buzz for the first time, is to ease into it by trying a little a time. There’s a great explanation of this idea in the article “How Strong Is Your Cannabutter”

Beyond that, follow your preferences. You can try it alone if you are unsure about having company while being in a state you are not familiar with.

Just put on a funny movie and have a good time.

But if you are more outgoing and love a great party, you can be in the company of friends and loved ones when they are also trying some.

If you had an edible (learn how to make them here) and waited for an hour or two, (read this to learn how to try edibles) and you feel the buzz settling in, you should not eat any more edibles.

So if you keep your experience at a buzz, then you will enjoy the best of what cannabis has to offer.

So what does marijuana feel like? If you are curious and have a safe place to try some, you should make it a point.

Step into the light.

And as long as you take it slow, there should be no reason not to try a cannabis buzz at least once. Life is to live.