Tips for Your First Time Smoking Weed

Current studies show that about 50% of adults in the US have tried marijuana at least once, with about one in six considering themselves to be regular cannabis users. With marijuana legalization and decriminalization sweeping the country, there is less stigma associated with weed and more opportunity to give it a try.

While it is still recommended that, due to developing brain function, cannabis products should only be consumed by those over 18, if you are an adult interested in experiencing the renowned effects of pot for the first time but are unsure of where to begin, you have come to the right place. We are going to give you some of the best tips for smoking weed for the first time, how to smoke a joint, the science behind smoking and how to make the most of your introductory experience.

Calling All Newbies: How to Smoke Weed

Anything new can be scary and intimidating, and the same holds true when it comes to contemplating one’s first time smoking weed. If you are young, there is that basic fear of the unknown. For Boomers, those urban legend-like first time smoking weed stories, combined with that old-school Reefer Madness propaganda, can make it seem like one toke can drive a person over the edge to addiction and insanity.

The reality is, though, that science is proving more and more every day that cannabis use can provide real and substantial therapeutic benefits. For those looking for relief from chronic pain and mental health conditions to those merely looking to relax and unwind, cannabis is definitely worth exploring and should not be anything to be afraid of. Figuring out how to smoke weed, when to smoke weed and where to smoke weed can alleviate any anxiety and lay the groundwork for having a really exceptional experience.

Weed Science

The cannabis plant contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids. The plant produces more than 100 different cannabinoids, with the main two being CBD and THC.

CBD is short for cannabidiol and while it does provide a variety of health benefits, the effects of CBD on its own are not “psychoactive.” Basically, this means CBD does not get you “high”.

THC is short for tetrahydrocannabinol, and it is the substance in marijuana that creates that high feeling many enjoy. When dried cannabis flower is burned and inhaled, THC molecules pass through your bloodstream and then fit into your body’s endocannabinoid receptors. This amplifies your body’s natural endocannabinoid process while releasing dopamine, creating the “high” feeling. It is the same process with vaping where, instead of actually burning the pot, a concentrated liquid or oil is heated into vapor, then inhaled. The high that comes from cannabis can also be experienced through ingestion, like with an edible, beverage, or a tincture — but with this process, the THC travels first to your stomach and then to your liver before it enters your bloodstream and ultimately affects your brain.

Be Prepared

As with anything else, preparation is key when it comes to smoking weed for the first time. The main goal — before you even start to get high for the first time — is to set yourself up for the most comfortable experience possible. If it’s your first time smoking weed, keep the following in mind:

1. Find a friend

You’ll hear a lot of first time smoking weed stories that involve the person taking their first hit at a party or getting stoned all alone at home. While this is not unheard of and obviously the person telling those stories survived, the ideal setting for getting stoned for the first time is smoking in a safe space with a close friend. Parties can be too overwhelming, and your first experience with cannabis isn’t the time to hang out with a new person. Being alone leaves you with no one to guide you. Additionally, the outdoors has too many uncontrollable variables. Find a good friend (or two) that you trust, preferably one who is familiar with cannabis, and let them show you how to smoke weed in a comfortable space.

2. Choose a method

Starting with flower is a good choice. While edibles are awesome, the consumer has far less control with them. Another reason to start with flower is because when THC is ingested, it has to go through the stomach first. This means the effects take longer to hit and the high lasts longer as well.

For those who do not like the actual smoke involved in smoking, edibles might seem more appealing, but once that edible is inside you, there is no turning back. That THC is now in your body, which makes it harder to regulate. Vapes are great too and involve no smoke per se, but the THC content is way higher than with flower, so it can be easy to overdo with even just one toke. This brings us back around to dried cannabis flower. Now all that needs to be decided is whether to smoke a joint or use a pipe. If you’re not sure how to smoke a joint, it can be easiest to start with a pipe.

3. Purchase your product

That trusted friend could hook you up or you can experience shopping in a dispensary for the first time! In states where recreational cannabis is legal, there are many dispensaries to choose from. Talking with a trained budtender can be not just fun, but educational. You can tell them exactly what you are looking to achieve and they can guide you to the perfect strain for whatever you need.

Make sure to alert them to the fact that this will be your very first time so they can recommend a variety with absolutely no more than 20% THC content and maybe a specifically designed “low-dose” strain, ideally one that also has a high CBD percentage. Pre-rolled joints are an excellent option, but if you decide to go with loose flower, make sure to purchase a pipe as well. You could do a water pipe, a.k.a. bong, but in this case, a small pipe is far easier to use and control.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Now that you’re ready to actually embark on this journey, it’s all about comfort and privacy. Clear your schedule. Make sure that you’re in a space where there are no surprises and no one is going to barge in. Turn off your phone if you can. Get a good vibe going with some great music. Have some tasty snacks available for those inevitable munchies and some delish beverages for that probable cotton-mouth.

Don’t drink alcohol. Many people might think booze can help in loosening up before a nerve-wracking situation, but not this time. When smoking weed for the first time, it’s highly recommended to come at the experience sober and clear-headed. That way, you’ll be fully lucid and aware of what you’re feeling throughout so you can decide if you want to partake again.

And Then, Go!

As the Nike slogan says, just do it. If you’ve got the bud and you’re in a safe space with a person or people you trust, there’s no more reason to overthink it. Here are some of our best tips for smoking weed for the first time:

• Take a sip of water.
• Before you put the joint or pipe to your lips, take a deep breath out.
• Stop worrying so much about how to smoke a joint or pipe. It’s not that complicated.
• Ignite the lighter or match and use the flame to get the cannabis burning, then take a small inhale of the smoke produced.
• After removing the pipe or joint from your lips and before exhaling the smoke, take a small breath in of clean air in order to transfer the smoke from your mouth into your lungs.
• Hold that smoke in your lungs for just a second or two.  It really isn’t necessary to hold it in for longer. Then, exhale.
• Take another sip of water.

Remember:

• You’re probably going to cough, and that’s okay. Especially if you’re not accustomed to smoking, inhaling marijuana smoke for the first time can tickle the back of your throat and trigger a coughing reaction. Don’t try to fight it, just cough if you need to.
• Stop after one puff. Yes, you’ll probably want more — but pacing yourself is important. Wait 20 minutes to see how that first toke affected you before taking a second one. Your guide person may be puffing away, but they are not you! Too much cannabis could cause you to feel anxious, nauseous or even paranoid, so it’s always better to go low and slow and gauge how you feel. You can always have more. Be patient and check in with yourself.
• Don’t get overwhelmed. Ideally after smoking, you’re going to feel relaxed. Perhaps talkative. Maybe a bit giggly. Most likely hungry. But if you do start to feel a bit over-baked, just breathe. Chill out. Get lost in a movie. Try one of these anecdotal remedies. Worst case scenario, if absolutely nothing else helps, just go to sleep. You’re going to be just fine.

You only get one first time. Doing everything you can to make your first time smoking weed a great experience is more likely to lead to a second time. And a third. Just remember to go slow  and experiment as you go. Don’t go crazy on that second time just because you have that first experience out of the way. It’s a journey. And it can really be a great one.

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This article was originally posted April 5, 2022 and updated Aug. 15, 2024.