Do you remember the very first time you smoked weed? Maybe it was decades ago, or perhaps it was only yesterday. Whenever it was, it probably went something like this: someone handed you a joint or a pipe, you held it awkwardly in your hands and asked someone to light it. You proceeded to inhale, kind of, then hacked your lungs out while your eyes watered and your face got all flushed – right?
And then, when you were finished looking like a total noob in front of your friends, you realized… you weren’t actually high at all.
You’ll be relieved to know that yes, it is absolutely normal to not get high the very first time you smoke weed. If you’re ready for take two (or take one!), have a look at where to buy recreational weed online and absorb the following information to prepare yourself for a smooth smoking experience.
It Comes Back to The Respiratory System
The main reason people don’t really get high the first time they smoke is because of poor inhalation. If the smoke doesn’t get into the lungs properly, it can’t release its psychoactive qualities into the bloodstream. To understand how that happens, let’s take a quick look at how the respiratory system works.
Think of the respiratory system (RS) as an upside-down tree: the throat and trachea (windpipe) are the tree’s trunk, where everything stems from. After the trachea, the lungs split into two major branches, each called a bronchus.
These major branches split into smaller twigs called bronchioles, and at the end of the bronchioles are millions of little clusters of alveoli. Much like the leaves of a tree, alveoli are where the magic happens in the RS; they are responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. Since the alveoli are so numerous, they provide a huge surface area – 50 times the area of your skin! – for absorbing compounds into the bloodstream.
What Happens When You Inhale Cannabinoids?
It stands to reason that if the alveoli are passing oxygen from the breath to the blood, they pass anything else that comes with the oxygen.
Due to their large surface area, they are incredibly efficient at transferring compounds such as THC and CBD (the main compounds in marijuana) into the body. Once in the blood, these are sent to the brain almost instantaneously, and the effects from the marijuana are felt right away.
How To Inhale Properly
If you have yet to experience smoking marijuana, congratulations on researching how to do it first! You are a step ahead of the rest of us who choked our way through the first time. If you have smoked before and your first encounter was not what you thought it might be, try the following method for a more successful follow-up experience:
- Step 1: take a look at our selection of bud to buy some recreational weed online. Research whether you’d prefer an indica or sativa and choose a variety that sounds appealing to you.
- Step 2: Choose your preferred method for smoking – a pipe is the most accessible place to start.
- Step 3: Find yourself a safe and comfortable place to smoke.
- Step 4: Once you’ve got yourself situated, it’s time to light up. On your very first inhale, take a slow draw of smoke. Don’t try to inhale too deep, as your throat may be irritated by the hot smoke, which will make you cough. When you feel ready, inhale half of a breath of smoke deeper into your lungs, then top it off with a breath of plain air. The air pushes the smoke further into your alveoli and helps with the absorption of the marijuana compounds.
As you progress in your ability to bring smoke into your lungs without coughing, you can take deeper and fuller hits. Some people like to hold their breath after a hit – this isn’t necessary. Doing so doesn’t help your body absorb more THC; it just deprives your body of oxygen, temporarily enhancing your state of euphoria.
If you haven’t smoked weed before, your tolerance will be very low. Stop after the first hit and wait a while to see how you feel – smoking too much is way worse than not smoking enough!
If you are interested in trying marijuana but not too keen on the idea of smoking, check out our selection of vaporizers. The tips mentioned above apply to vaporizing as well.
What Does It Feel Like to Get High?
Once you’ve succeeded in getting the smoke into your lungs, and therefore into your blood, you’ll feel the effects almost instantly. Different varieties provide different experiences – a THC-heavy bud will typically be more psychedelic, while CBD-heavy strains usually offer a more relaxing high.
Specific bud profiles aside, the sensation of being high varies from person to person. Some people describe it like they’re waking up again, while others feel it puts them to sleep. A sure sign that marijuana has entered your system is an increased heartbeat. Pot is a vasodilator, meaning it widens your blood vessels and improves blood flow. Because of this, your blood pressure is lowered, and you may experience head rushes.
You’ll likely feel somewhat giddy and find ordinary things overly hilarious. An attack of the munchies is not uncommon, so it’s a good idea to have some snacks and water on hand. Full hallucinations aren’t likely to happen if you’re starting slow, although you may find your mind plays a few tricks on you. Some people use these little illusions as inspiration for creative projects.
On the flip side, marijuana can increase a person’s sense of anxiety or paranoia. Bad trips suck, especially for inexperienced smokers who don’t have the tools to talk themselves down. That’s why it’s important to be in a safe place with a relaxed state of mind when you’re ready to get high for the first time. Smoking just a little bit at a time will most likely steer you away from a bad trip.
Time to Get Tokin’
Suppose you’ve been curious about trying marijuana but were worried about the potentially embarrassing experience of smoking for the first time. In that case, these tips will help you toke like a pro. Since it’s so simple to buy recreational weed online, you can order up some bud and try it in the comfort of your own home. Once you’ve got your method under control, you’ll be able to have a smooth, painless smoking experience that allows you to fully enjoy the blissful effects of marijuana.