Using Weed Safely: What You Need To Know

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The global market for weed is worth billions of dollars and is expected to grow in the coming years. There are many reasons for this, such as the change in its legal status in the US and many other European countries and the increasing benefits derived from the safe consumption of weed. 

In fact, many people consume weed to relieve chronic pain and alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety. Compared to pharmaceutical drugs, the side effects of weed consumption are few. This is why it is increasingly gaining momentum across the world. 

If you are also trying to explore the benefits of weed for yourself or your loved one, you are in the right place. This article gives you a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know before embarking on the journey to consuming weed safely. 

How To Store Your Weed The Right Way

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In order to ensure that your weed lasts you a long time, you need to store it in the right conditions. First off, make sure that your weed storage box is airtight and is kept away from anything that can contaminate it, such as insects or pests. Additionally, the container with weed also needs to be kept away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Heat and light are known to damage the compounds in weed, and cause it to age at a rapid rate.

The reason why you need to be careful when storing your weed is to maintain its potency and flavor over a long period of time. In case your weed is not stored properly and comes into contact with other substances, it is likely to lose its efficacy soon after and may even taste different. Importantly, following strict measures to adequately store your weed is good practice as it helps to keep it away from pets or children. 

Generally speaking, weed that is stored in air-tight containers in a cool and dark place can last you up to a year or more. You can usually tell when weed has gone bad when it turns brown and begins to crumble. On the other hand, well-stored weed will retain its green color, often with hints of orange on the bud. 

One effective way to store weed is to use an airtight glass container, such as a Mason jar. You may also opt for vacuum-sealed bags if you are aiming for long-term storage. Additionally, we recommend using plastic bags only when you are traveling or using them for short-term storage as plastic bags cause the weed to dry out and degrade its potency and flavor. 

How To Recognize Good Quality Weed

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Regardless of how many times you have purchased weed, there is a chance that you may not always get the best quality. This is why it is important for you to have the know-how and expertise to tell good quality weed from bad quality. In this section, we highlight the four basic principles you need to have in your checklist before purchasing weed.

First off, when you are buying your weed, make sure that it is green in color, and has orange, blue, or purple hues on it. Beware of weed buds that are of uniform color, such as green or brown, as this may indicate mold growth. Usually, good quality weed tends to feel sticky, dense, and spongy, as opposed to bad quality weed that may be brittle, crumbly, or dry. 

Secondly, as a weed user, you must be accustomed to recognizing its distinct musky smell. This is an excellent indicator to identify the good quality weed. Weed that is a low quality tends to have a grassy odor or worse, no smell at all, and should be avoided. 

Thirdly, make sure that the weed you buy contains the least amount of stems and seeds. These often make up the weight of the weed you buy and are basically useless as you can’t consume them. Be particularly wary of seeds, as they are prone to combust at a much higher rate when you light your weed and may end up damaging the rest of your stash. 

Going a step further, you may also want to check the trichomes, which are responsible for storing terpenes and essential cannabinoids that lend the weed its characteristic flavor, smell, and benefits. When viewed under a magnifying glass, good-quality weed will have buds containing trichomes that resemble milky white crystals or tiny mushrooms. 

A pro-tip is to ensure that your weed is hand-trimmed, does not have visible loose stems, and a large quantity of seeds and stems. 

How To Consume Weed Safely

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Depending on your personal preference and choice, you can consume weed in a number of ways. 

Usually, many people opt for smoking weed using a pipe, joint, blunt, or a bong. This is certainly effective as the smoke produced from burning the weed tends to react quickly to produce the desired effect. 

However, in case you want to achieve the same results minus the smoking, consider vaping, which heats the cannabis so that it becomes a vapor that is then inhaled by the user. Compared to smoking, vaping is associated with fewer carcinogenic effects. 

Alternatively, you can also consume tinctures, which allow you to mix weed in your food or drink. This is usually a good option for those in search of discrete methods to have weed. Similarly, you can also choose edibles, which are food or drink that contain certain milligrams of weed. 

Parting Thoughts

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Weed is a great way to feel relaxed and de-stress. In fact, when used in moderation and in a regulated manner, it can deliver some excellent benefits to improve the quality of your life. 

Just be sure to know to buy your weed from trusted retailers and ensure third-party verification to ascertain whether they are legitimate. As long as your weed source has a transparent procurement process and lays out all the facts on the table, there is nothing to worry about. 

We recommend you keep referring to this guide until you become an expert in all things weed. We hope you enjoy your next weed session and remember to store your weed the right way.