Your initial experience with CBD can determine whether you’ll go in for a medical marijuana card renewal or if it’ll be the first and last time you ever consume the product. So it’s crucial that you enter this green zone with some knowledge up your sleeve. Knowing what you’re buying is what you’re getting, and if what you’re getting is what you need is the secret to a good experience.
When it comes to the first CBD experience, multiple consumers seem to make some recurring mistakes, all resulting in a bad experience. But that doesn’t have to be the case with you. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to make you aware of what mistakes you should avoid.
In this article, we’ll focus on 5 basic mistakes that a new consumer like you might make without the proper guidance before consuming marijuana.
Just to be clear, a product can have different consumption guidelines for different types of consumers. A gummy jar might recommend one to two gummies while a CBD tincture might have a dose range of one drop to three drops and likewise. But that isn’t a go-ahead for you to consume two gummies or three tincture drops.
As a first-time consumer, it is better to stay at the lower threshold of the recommended dosage. Since you’re unaware of how your body will react to the product, it is a safer bet to consume less before building up your tolerance.
If you’re buying CBD products with a medical marijuana card, you can consult your physician about the best dosage suitable for you.
Just because you’re investing in a CBD product doesn’t mean it only has CBD. Most cannabidiol products, especially full-spectrum products have other cannabinoids too. While CBG, CBN, CBC, etc., aren’t any trouble and might actually help deliver better benefits, the THC content can make or break your experience.
THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for the high you feel after cannabis consumption. For first-time users, high THC potency can lead to a bad high. This could mean sudden panic and paranoia, hallucinations, or anxiety attacks (especially if the consumer is prone to high stress and anxiety levels).
If you’re still a newbie, we recommend going low with your THC content. While this isn’t an issue with recreational cannabis (with a legal limit of 0.3%), medical marijuana can have varying THC content.
You can also buy products with absolutely no THC content- in other words- CBD broad-spectrum products and isolates. Make sure you look through the product label to ensure you know what you’re buying.
This research could be about the dispensary you go to, the online store you order your CBD from, the brand you buy the product from or the product you have invested in.
It is crucial that every consumer is nit-picky about where they get their CBD from.
The CBD product you buy should have a certificate of analysis. This COA will give you information about every ingredient that is added into the formulation, their content along with the quality test of the product. If a product is without a COA, it is not trustworthy.
The retail store you buy CBD from or the dispensary you visit should be permitted by the state to sell cannabis products.
It is always a good idea to check what other people have to say about the product, the store or the dispensary. Reviews on the internet can sometimes be the perfect indicator of whether a product is worth buying or not.
As a medical marijuana cardholder, you’ll have to go through a virtual or in-person consultation with a pro-cannabis doctor and get a recommendation. It is in this consultation that you must disclose all of your medical history and any present medication that you might be consuming. Any medical condition that you might’ve had in the past or have in the present can be affected by CBD consumption. At the same time, any medication that you might be consuming might interact negatively with CBD.
Even as a recreational cannabis user, it is recommended that you consult your physician before consuming any CBDS product.
The pool of CBD products is huge so it’s not a smart idea to dive into the deep end before you learn to swim. In other words, learn the basics of CBD before you go out experimenting. Start with listing down your requirements. Are you looking for a product to reduce your anxiety? Help you sleep? Maybe you just want to unwind after a long day or maybe you need a midday boost of energy?
For every purpose listed here, there are different CBD products out there. One infused with melatonin might be the perfect fit to tackle insomnia but one with peppermint oil is a much better fit to target your body pain.
Not only the type of benefits but how long and effective the effects are also depend on the product you might be consuming. While a CBD gummy might work better if you want relief for a few hours but not instantly, a joint or vape might work best for instant short-term results.
Your first CBD experience should not be your last. But for that to happen, you’ll have to enjoy it the first time you try it. Keeping these basic mistakes in mind can save you from a few hours of distress and anxiety. When high, here are things that you shouldn’t do: