How to Use Marijuana Safely: 6 Essential Tips

Updated on August 20, 2022

Despite marijuana being legal, it’s important that you use it responsibly, safely, and effectively. Using marijuana, like any medicine – over the counter or prescribed, has specific side effects you need to know about before use. Here are six essential tips on how to use marijuana safely.

Marijuana safety tip #1: Buy legally  

Buying marijuana legally helps to ensure that it has been handled properly and “vetted” for purity. Buying from a dispensary near me [that is] open will help ensure the best quality. Furthermore, dispensaries know the properties of the different strains of marijuana they have and what each one is best suited for.   

Marijuana safety tip #2: Don’t mix with other drugs or alcohol

Using marijuana with other drugs may cause adverse reactions. Consult with your doctor before taking. Also, NEVER take marijuana with alcohol. The combination is dangerous and may cause symptoms including 

  • anxiety
  • nausea 
  • distress
  • dizziness
  • vomiting 
  • sweating

Marijuana safety tip #3: Know why you’re taking it

Marijuana is not a one size fits all type of thing. Certain strains have different characteristics. What are some reasons people take marijuana? Some possible motives may be:

  • To help with glaucoma (pressure buildup in the eye)
  • To help with seizures
  • To help with pain, migraines, or as a sleep aid
  • Assisting with PTSD, psychosis, depression, or mental issues
  • To regain their appetite due to cancer treatments or other medical conditions
  • Instead of using alcohol
  • To promote creativity
  • As a sex-aid
  • To gain enlightenment or for other spiritual purposes

Marijuana safety tip #4: Pick the form that suits you best

There are a variety of ways that marijuana is taken:

  • Smoked: self-rolled cigarettes or bought already rolled. It can even be smoked in a pipe.
  • Edibles or in drinkable form – everything from gummies to brownies to marijuana-infused drinks 
  • Marijuana may be applied to the skin through tinctures, creams, or other such applications. The marijuana gets absorbed by the skin, transferring the psychoactive effects.    
  • In capsules, taken like vitamins

Marijuana safety tip #5: Watch your dosage

Consuming an appropriate quantity of marijuana is an essential component of doing so safely and responsibly. It is crucial to consume marijuana in moderation since excessive usage increases the risk of experiencing adverse side effects, some of which may negatively impact your health.

A good rule of thumb that is common among users is “Start low, go slow” to maximize marijuana’s benefits while simultaneously minimizing problems. It involves beginning with a tiny quantity, then gradually increasing the size of your serving over many days or weeks. It also implies starting with a product with a modest amount of THC and progressing progressively to marijuana with a higher amount of THC.

  • 1 mg – 5 mg may be an appropriate starting dose for oral marijuana consumption. When taking marijuana for the first time, remember your body size, sex, tolerance for other similar substances, the THC to CBD ratio, etc. It’s better to err on the side of caution and take less than the recommended dosage than take more and have problems you don’t want or need. If you find you’re able to handle the initial dose, you can always take more next time. When consuming marijuana orally, it can take 30 minutes up to 2 hours to take full effect. This is one of the reasons why it is imperative to be particularly cautious initially when taking it orally.   
  • Inhaled marijuana, i.e., smoked or vaped marijuana, is a bit safer in some ways than consuming marijuana orally. For one, it’s easier to find the “sweet spot” when smoking, and the effects don’t last quite as long. Even when smoking (or vaping), it’s important to space out your inhalation of the substance. Marijuana isn’t like cigarettes; you shouldn’t aim to smoke the whole thing at once. 
  • Both marijuana’s components – THC & CBD- may be infused into products meant to be used topically or transdermally. Some of these products may provide immediate relief, lasting for several hours, whereas others may do basically nothing. The main difference between the two types is that transdermal products can reach deeper tissues. Most topicals don’t cause sluggishness, brain fog, or memory loss – even those containing THC.  
  • If you feel you’re a bit too “high,” take deep, relaxing breaths through your nose, drink water and listen to calming music.  
  • Another thing to note when consuming marijuana is THC vs. CBD content. Different products may have unique concentrations of each. An oversimplification of the concepts and what they do can be stated like this: 
    • THC is the psychoactive element of marijuana – the stuff that gets you “high,” 
    • CBD contains more of the compounds’ healthier benefits.   

Marijuana safety tip #6 Precautions for use

Do not take marijuana if you’re going to go anywhere, especially when starting to take it and figuring out appropriate dosages. Because symptoms of marijuana use may include sleepiness, sluggishness, brain fog, and memory problems with certain types of marijuana, it’s best not to drive or operate heavy machinery while using it.

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