Leafly receives a steady stream of questions from cannabis users like you who want to know anything and everything about the plant that we all love. Questions range from the basics of finding and consuming cannabis to advanced growing techniques and extraction methods. We’ll start by answering some of the basic questions that we see all the time. If you consider yourself a connoisseur you probably already know the answers to these queries, but if you are new to cannabis or rediscovering it for the first time in years, you’re bound to have some questions like the ones below:
Cannabis affects everyone differently. Different strains and methods of consumption give users different effects. And new users generally feel different effects than more experienced users. There are some people who don’t feel anything at all the first time they try cannabis. Many people who use cannabis find the experience to be kind of relaxing and a little euphoric. For some, it makes them more outgoing and social. But others report that it makes them tired, anxious, or paranoid. If you’re not sure how cannabis will affect you, it’s best to start with a low dose. And be sure to ask your local budtender for recommendations on strains, products, and doses to start with.
The main difference between medical and recreational cannabis really comes down to the way it is regulated and how you access it. Medical cannabis requires a doctor’s recommendation for a qualifying ailment before you can access, purchase, or consume cannabis and cannabis products. Recreational cannabis, on the other hand, simply requires that you are over the legal age of 21.
But there are also people who differentiate medical and recreational based on how each of them use cannabis. Recreational marijuana users are looking to experience novel states of consciousness, and connoisseurs seek different effects for different circumstances and to create different moods. On the other hand, medical users seek out strains that help with a specific ailment or condition. Oftentimes patients are looking for strains that help treat their symptoms but deliver only a mild psychoactive experience that will allow them to remain productive and active.
Gone are the days of dialing up a friend-of-a-friend you hardly know in order to procure some product on the sly. Nowadays, however, there’s a solution right at your fingertips. Using Leafly’s free mobile app (on both iOS and Android) or Leafly.com, you can use the “Find Nearby” feature to locate recreational stores and medical cannabis dispensaries in your area. You can also find a specific strain you’re looking for with the Leafly Strain Explorer. From there, you can click the “Nearby” tab to find locations in your neighborhood that have the strains and products you desire.
The amount of time it takes for an edible to kick in greatly depends on your metabolism. Some people with faster metabolisms may start to feel the effects after about an hour, while those with slower metabolisms may not feel anything for two hours or more. The effects generally peak up to four hours after eating or drinking cannabis, so it’s best to wait at least that long before consuming more. In most places, 10mg is considered to be a dose – which may be just right for some, but others might need a lot more to feel the same effects. Take your time and learn what’s right for you, and always pay attention to the label for dosing and recommended serving size.
It’s best to store cannabis in a cool, dark place that’s out of direct light. Keep it in a container, like a glass jar, in order to minimize over-exposure to air. Keeping your relative humidity below 65% will help avoid mold and mildew. And, while not required, it’s always a good idea to separate your strains to preserve their individual flavor profiles.
So there you go, 5 quick answers to some of the most frequent cannabis questions we receive here at Leafly. Stay tuned as we’ll be answering more of your questions in upcoming articles and videos. And don’t forget to subscribe to Leafly’s YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on all of the latest cannabis news and information, including details about thousands of strains and cannabis products.
