cannabis 2.0

How people use:

  • Cannabis wrapped in a non-tobacco paper, commonly made of hemp, rice, or wood pulp.

    • What people like: No tobacco (unless specifically added with cannabis, in which case it is referred to as a spliff), cheap, easily transportable (please don’t litter the roaches), easily shared

    • What people don’t like: No filtration, must learn to roll, continues emitting smoke while not puffing on it (so it wastes weed and smells more), can inhale ash/little bits of weed (referred to as scooby snacks), somewhat fragile, smoking hurts your lungs (but you knew that)

  • Blunts are similar to joints in that they are cannabis wrapped up and smoked, but blunt wraps typically contain tobacco. Blunts also tend to be larger than joints. Some blunt wraps are just a tobacco leaf (such as from a cigar/ backwood (there’s debate as to whether backwoods are a blunt, but if they’re not, they’re damn close)), some are made from tobacco pulp (like a swisher), and some are now made from hemp and contain no tobacco (not super common but they’re around, especially at smoke shops)

    • What people like: Holds more weed than a joint (smokes longer), feel higher due to tobacco, cheap, easily transportable (please don’t litter the roaches), easily shared

    • What people don’t like: Holds more weed than a joint (costs more to fill can get you higher than intended), has tobacco (harsher smoke and added risk of addiction), no filtration, must learn to roll, continues emitting smoke while not puffing on it (so it wastes weed and smells more), can inhale ash/ little bits of weed (referred to as scooby snacks), somewhat fragile

  • Pipes can differ heavily in materials, size, function, style, etc. Pipes include one hitters/dugouts, dry spoon pipes, bubblers, steam rollers, etc. They are typically made of glass, metal, ceramic, or wood. (The term “pipe” can include bongs in addition to everything else we talk about in this section. For our purposes, we split bongs into its own section below.)

    • What people like: Easy to smoke one little bowl at a time (to track intake), can last for years, some have water filtration (bubblers), gives room for the smoke to stack before inhaling so larger hits are possible, less passive smoke than joints/ blunts while not hitting it, easily transportable, easily shared

    • What people don’t like: More expensive than joints/ blunts, can’t pack as much weed in one bowl as in one joint/ blunt, has to be cleaned, somewhat fragile, can inhale ash/ little bits of weed (referred to as scooby snacks)

  • A subset of pipes, typically with water filtration and a bowl which is a separate, removable piece. Most are made of glass. These can vary anywhere from a few inches tall to well over six feet. Bongs come in many styles, like beaker base, straight shooter, stemless, etc. There are also various versions of water percolators such as honeycombs, trees, disks, tornadoes, etc.

    • What people like: Water filtration (so smoke is cooler when entering lungs), gives room for the smoke to stack before inhaling so larger hits are possible, less passive smoke than joints/ blunts while not hitting it, easy to smoke one little bowl at a time, can last for years, no scooby snacks

    • What people don’t like: Filtration removes some THC, can be hard to transport/ store, more expensive than joints/ blunts, can’t pack as much weed in one bowl as in one joint/ blunt, has to be cleaned, somewhat fragile

  • Very similar to bongs, but designed for smoking cannabis concentrate instead of typical bud. Dab rigs usually have a nail/ banger instead of a bowl and tend to be smaller than bongs.

    • What people like: Water filtration (so smoke is cooler when entering lungs), higher potency (takes less to achieve the same effect), has cleaner taste than smoking flower (no burning), less passive smoke than joints/ blunts while not hitting it, can last for years, no scooby snacks

    • What people don’t like: higher potency (easy to consume too much, especially if tolerance is not very high), usually needs a blowtorch to heat up the nail/ banger, hard to use on the go, difficult to get precise amount of wax from container to the dab rig, filtration removes some THC, can be hard to transport/ store, more expensive than joints/ blunts, has to be cleaned, somewhat fragile

  • Vapes - (The term “vapes” can mean anything from a wax cartridge pen to a tabletop flower vaporizer (such as a volcano or silver surfer). This section is discussing flower vaporizers.) Vaporizers essentially allow a person to consume cannabis flower by inhaling but does not involve smoke. Vaporizers use low heat and air flow to deliver a mixture of air, THC, terpenes, and everything else in cannabis to the user without ever burning or creating smoke.

    • What people like: No smoke (easier on the lungs), tastes cleaner (no burning), can feel more “gentle” than the high from smoking, easy to portion out amounts, can last for years, can use AVB (after vaped bud) to make edibles because the little bit of THC still in the bud after is activated

    • What people don’t like: Expensive, has some fragile/moving parts, needs to be cleaned, most are not portable, large/ heavy, high may be more mellow than smoking

  • Wax pens typically consist of a prepackaged cartridge of cannabis concentrate (usually ½ gram or full gram) and a rechargeable battery. These have exploded in popularity over the last few years due to their ubiquity at dispensaries, how easily they are concealed/transported, and their relative potency.

    • What people like: They’re small so easily fit in a pocket/bag, can quickly/ discreetly be used anywhere a tobacco vape could, their high potency (frequently 80-99% THC), some have a cleaner taste (no burning)

    • What people don’t like: Sometimes too potent, has to be charged, some (especially black market ones) have dangerous fillers/cutting agents, very hot/unfiltered smoke, cartridges can be fragile, can be harder to quit because it’s so convenient to use

concentrates:

The cannabis plant is covered in trichomes (sticky crystals that give weed its frosty white appearance). Trichomes produce cannabinoids and when collected, are used for concentrates (due to the high volume of THC). The more trichomes a plant has, the more cannabinoids.

  • Some examples of concentrates include: kief, wax, hash oil, shatter, budder, tinctures, etc. which can contain 60-90+ percent THC. 

  • Because of their high potency, concentrates are sold and used in small quantities (and - we would not recommend them for first timers!!) 

Let’s talk about Edibles:

Edibles are any cannabis-infused food item - the possibilities are endless - but can include things like cookies, brownies, candies, drinks, chocolates, lollipops, and more. It’s important to know that the high from edibles tends to be more intense and last longer (4-12 hours) than a high from smoking weed (even for experienced smokers).

Onset Time:

Edibles usually take 30-60 minutes to kick in and start producing effects. Sometimes, it may take even longer for edibles to kick in (up to 2 hours!) The type of edible, a person’s weight, metabolism, whether or not they’ve eaten, tolerance, etc. all impact how fast (or slow) an edible will take to take effect.

Dose:

  • It’s important to read labels carefully and pay close attention to dose! Here is a guide to help read labels: 

  • Buying from a dispensary is helpful because you can easily plan for the exact dose you want to take (as opposed to homemade edibles which are harder to dose/measure). 

  • A lot of folks have heard that 5mg of THC is a good “starting dose” - however it should be noted that effects can be felt at much smaller doses like 1-2mg! Party Safe always recommends starting small. Lots of factors impact a way a person may experience a high (weight, tolerance, metabolism, etc.) and it’s best to start low and slow. 

Metabolization:

  • What is it that makes edibles so much more potent than smoked bud? Shouldn’t THC have the same effect no matter how it’s taken? Well, it turns out that orally ingested THC transforms into a significantly more potent psychoactive molecule - 11-hydroxy-THC.

  • Orally consumed cannabis travels through the digestive tract, where THC is absorbed and gradually transported to the liver. When it reaches this vital organ, the molecule is metabolized into its derivative, 11-hydroxy-THC. This substance then makes its way through the blood-brain barrier and produces much stronger psychoactive effects than THC itself.

  • Fun Fact: Fat based edibles take longer to kick in than sugar based like lollipops and gummies.

Cannabinoids 101

  • Cannabinoids 

    • Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis that interact with the endocannabinoid system - which plays a role in regulating sleep, mood, memory, appetite, fertility, and more. The cannabis plant contains dozens of cannabinoids! The most commonly known cannabinoids are THC and CBD.

    • THC - While there are many types of THC in cannabis plants, the “classic” which people are generally referring to is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or delta-9-THC. This psychoactive intoxicant is  responsible for the high feeling associated with cannabis. Delta-9-THC is considered a schedule 1 controlled substance and is federally illegal.

    • CBD - CBD has gone from relative obscurity to totally mainstream in the last 10 years. CBD stands for cannabidiol and while psychoactive (aka it affects the brain), it is not intoxicating (aka it will not get you high). Essentially any form of consumption that THC is available in, CBD is too. CBD is federally legal and can even be purchased online in many places around the world.

    • Legal THC alternatives (delta-8, delta-10, etc.) - In the last couple of years, forms of THC other than delta-9 have grown in popularity. While these other cannabinoids often have similar but weaker effects when compared to delta-9-THC, they are legal for anyone to buy and possess in most states. They tend to be far more expensive than delta-9.

  • Terpenes

    • Terpenes are the aromatic compounds found in cannabis (and many other plants) which produce the smell and taste of the bud. Combinations of dozens of terpenes produce the smells unique to particular strains. While terpenes are not intoxicating, they can affect the high you experience while using cannabis. One reason that two different strains of cannabis with the same THC content can produce a different high is due to the terpenes found in them. 

Harm Reduction!

Too high?

Getting too high is no fun. Here are some strategies that may help!

  1. Try to sleep it off. This may be easier said than done, but, if you can, try to find a quiet place to lay down, take some deep breaths and try to relax. Try putting on some calming music or a song you’re familiar with to help you feel grounded. 

  2. CBD! CBD tinctures/gummies/etc. can actually help counteract the effects of THC. Remember, CBD doesn’t get you high…THC does. Keep some on hand just in case. 

  3. Shift your focus. Try watching a familiar movie, doing a simple puzzle, doodling, or organizing something in your room. This will take your focus away from your high and onto something simple. 

  4. Take a walk. This can help you get some fresh air, lower your blood pressure, and use up some of your energy if you’re feeling anxious.

  5. Talk it out. Try talking with a trusted, sober friend who can help calm you down. Friends should talk in a soft, calm voice to help ease any anxiety.

  6. Drink some water. Staying hydrated with water is always a good thing when it comes to any drug. Water can be especially helpful if you have dry mouth.

  7. Peppercorns?! Caryophyllene and pinene (terpenes in peppercorn) may help with easing the anxiety brought on by too much THC. Try smelling ground black pepper or chewing on a few peppercorns.

Set and Setting

Set and setting essentially refers to the mindset of a person in addition to their physical setting. These two things, plus the choice of substance and dosage, are all important factors in how a drug experience will go.

Set: A person’s mindset includes their current mood, any issues on their mind, if they manage things like depression/anxiety/etc., how stressed they are, and anything else that has an impact on their thinking.

Setting: this involves the physical placement of the person (like which city in addition to if they’re at home, outside, etc) plus the people around them and even the vibe of the location. For cannabis (and all other drugs), an ideal set and setting consists of a relaxed, happy, mentally healthy person in a comfortable and familiar location with good friends and good vibes.

A Special Note on FIRES: Many students choose to smoke in the forest around campus. If you do so, please be careful with all fire/ embers. There have been multiple fires on campus this school year due to people carelessly smoking in the forest. Even roaches and cashed bowls can have live embers. Check that live embers are not ending up on the ground/plant life, double check when you leave that everything is good, and carry water (for cotton mouth and also for putting out a smoldering ember). Partying safe means taking care of yourself and the forest.

Cross faded

Being cross faded, or getting crossed, means being under the influence of cannabis and alcohol at the same time. When combining these drugs (or basically any others), they can have a synergistic effect, aka they play off of each other and feel substantially stronger than when you take one by itself. We refer to this as “2 + 2 = 5”.

For example…If someone is used to having 4 drinks in a night or smoking 3 bowls, this person might only need one drink and one bowl together to get to that same level. You can always consume more later if you want, but you can’t consume less once you have taken the substances. A common negative side effect of getting crossed is having the spins. This is most likely to occur when someone is drunk and chooses to consume cannabis, especially if they do not usually do so. The amount of alcohol and cannabis, the method of administration (smoking, edibles, etc), when each substance is taken, and a ton of other factors play into how the experience will go.