{"id":1476,"date":"2021-10-01T18:52:41","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T18:52:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=180532"},"modified":"2021-10-01T18:52:41","modified_gmt":"2021-10-01T18:52:41","slug":"turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1476","title":{"rendered":"Turning 21? What you need to know about cannabis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>  <title>Turning 21? What you need to know about cannabis &#8211; Leafly<\/title>     <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. This script needs to setup it's interjection stuff before GAM loads. --> <!-- End Index Exchange --> <!-- Quotes = strings--><!-- No quotes = boolean-->\t   <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.1.2 (Yoast SEO v17.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->                  <!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. --> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- BEGIN Sailthru Horizon Meta Information --><\/p>\n<p><!-- END Sailthru Horizon Meta Information -->  <!-- Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- End Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat --><br \/>\n <!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <title>Leafly<\/title>     <title>Leafly \u00ae<\/title>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              <title>Loading\u2026<\/title>     <\/p>\n<div class=\"bg-white fixed flex hidden inset-0 items-start md:h-auto md:items-center overflow-auto\" id=\"age-gate-container\">\n<div class=\"bg-white md:h-auto mx-auto p-lg text-sm w-full\" id=\"age-gate\">\n<p><label for=\"select-country\">Where are you from?<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"age-gate__info\">\n<p><button class=\"button\" data-testid=\"age-gate-no-button\" id=\"tou-cancel\">no<\/button><button class=\"button ml-md\" data-testid=\"age-gate-yes-button\" id=\"tou-continue\">yes<\/button><\/p>\n<p><label class=\"checkbox__label my-xl\"><span class=\"text-xs\" id=\"remember-user-label\">Remember me for 30 days. <br \/>I confirm that this is not a shared device.<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<p class=\"error error--underage hidden\">Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">While more college students than ever before are trying cannabis and enjoying the benefits of ever-expanding legalization, every single one of them had a first time. <\/p>\n<p>Scores of soon-to-be or newly-turned 21-year-olds are attending university in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/learn\/legalization\/recreational-states\">18 states<\/a> where cannabis is legal for all adults, and understanding how to navigate weed can be overwhelming. Doubly so when you don\u2019t qualify for medical cannabis, or it\u2019s flat-out illegal in your home state.<\/p>\n<p>Leafly asked cannabis educators their best advice for newly turned 21-year-olds navigating cannabis for the first time. Here\u2019s what they had to say.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-legal-is-generally-safer\">Legal is generally safer<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Dispensaries are nice now. Act right. Above, the luminous interior of GorillaRX Wellness in California. (Courtesy GorillaRx Wellness)\" class=\"wp-image-179952 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Licensed stores like GorillaRX Wellness in California only carry tested products. (Courtesy GorillaRx Wellness)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Living in an adult-use market means anyone aged 21 and older may purchase cannabis from a licensed retailer by showing their valid state-issued driver\u2019s license, identification card, or passport. And as owner of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gorillarxwellness.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gorilla RX<\/a> dispensary in South Central Los Angeles Kika Kieth points out, this should help new consumers feel comfortable about trying things. That\u2019s different than weed from the traditional market, where no testing means potential contaminants including pesticides, mold, mildew, or other drugs. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen you go into these legal stores, you know that your product is being tested,\u201d she says. \u201c[From] the accountability of the retailers, to the accountability of the manufacturers and the testing facility, the thing that [you\u2019re] consuming is being documented and there\u2019s some responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>You can still be busted on other people\u2019s property<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Amanda Reiman, a social scientist with 20 years of experience studying cannabis use and founder of therapeutic plant education website<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mypersonalplants.com\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Personal Plants<\/a>, mentions another key consideration when it comes to legality.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t assume that just because cannabis is legal in your state, that means it\u2019s legal on your campus or that smoking is permitted,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>While getting kicked out of school for smoking weed on campus in a legal market is unlikely, Dr. Reiman says being aware of what\u2019s allowed will not only impact what you are able to consume\u2014but also the kind of experience you\u2019ll have while doing so.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t want your setting to be full of anxiety because you don\u2019t know who\u2019s around the corner, or whether you\u2019re going to get in trouble,\u201d she says. \u201cWe legalized [cannabis] so that you don\u2019t have to feel that way.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Set your intention for cannabis use<\/h2>\n<p>Once the legal landscape is clear, it\u2019s time to visit a licensed cannabis retailer. But with multiple methods of consumption and thousands of products to choose from, where do you even start?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat is your purpose in coming to cannabis?\u201d is the first question Michelle Mendoza, Director of Buying for<a href=\"https:\/\/sweetflower.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Sweet Flower<\/a> dispensaries, asks newbies. \u201cIt\u2019s really important for the consumer to define for themselves: \u2018I have anxiety, I want to sleep, I want to stay calm\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"One puff and about a minute's time will let you know if THC agrees with you. (Courtesy of Lowell Farms)\" class=\"wp-image-58239 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>One puff and about a minute\u2019s time will let you know if THC agrees with you. (Courtesy of Lowell Farms)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Having intention behind your cannabis use then opens the door to conversations about dosage and method of consumption. Educators guide new customers through the different options by emphasizing easy-to-titrate, low-dose methods first\u2014like smoking or vaping whole flower. By contrast, edibles can be long-lasting impact or too intense; ditto high-THC options like wax, shatter, and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/strains-products\/cannabis-concentrates-oils-extracts\">concentrates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Understand THC dosing<\/h2>\n<p>DeJanae Evins, founder of cannabis education website<a href=\"https:\/\/greengoddessglow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Green Goddess Glow<\/a> and the Cannabis Education\/Wellness Advisor at Gorilla RX, makes clear that, \u201chigher potency doesn\u2019t matter much. There are various different cannabinoids, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/science-tech\/beyond-thc-asserting-benefits-effects-terpenes\">terpenes<\/a>, secondary compounds that impact the way we experience cannabis. THC alone is not going to be the driver of that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Rebecca Olmos, a cannabis writer serving dual roles as a Beginning Product Knowledge Specialist and Budtender at San Jose\u2019s<a href=\"https:\/\/caliva.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Caliva<\/a> dispensary, it\u2019s important to convey to newbies that our unique<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/science-tech\/what-is-the-endocannabinoid-system\"> endocannabinoid system<\/a> is what makes cannabis dosing \u201csubjective.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[For some consumers] 2.5 milligrams is it,\u201d she says. \u201cHowever, I see a lot of regular customers who have been using cannabis for many years, and a hundred milligrams does not do anything for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All of our sources agree that when it comes to everything from potency to frequency of use, the general rule of thumb is \u201cstart low and go slow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStart with five milligrams [THC] and see where that gets you,\u201d Dr. Reiman suggests.<\/p>\n<p>Smoking a joint causes effects within seconds\u2014making it the easiest way to titrate THC. Edibles take 90 minutes or longer for full effects, causing folks to impatiently overload on THC.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI always encourage flower first, [but] I know smoking can be overwhelming,\u201d Olmos says. \u201cEdibles are more easily digestible, less harsh on the lungs, so if they want to go the edible route I try to steer them towards beverages.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"The CANN 2021 Hi Boy. (Courtesy CANN)\" class=\"wp-image-172511 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-3.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-3.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-3.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-3.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>The CANN 2021 Hi Boy. (Courtesy CANN)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/strains-products\/best-weed-drinks-summer-cali\" class=\"wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-single-inline-block leafly-inline-related-story\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"border border-deep-green-alt border-l-0 border-r-0 my-xl p-md font-bold\">\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p>Pot girl summer drinks of 2021<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of cannabis drinks are coming out that have two, three milligrams THC in them; start with that, see how sensitive you are, then build up from there,\u201d said Dr. Reiman.<\/p>\n<p>Mendoza agrees that the easily dosable liquid format is a great way for newbies to experiment, especially if they prefer not to smoke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTinctures are a really great way to go because they\u2019re taken sublingually, and you don\u2019t have to wait that hour to see what the effect is,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h2>Avoid negative interactions<\/h2>\n<p>A big part of educating newbies about cannabis use is helping them understand the importance of set and setting. Check in with your mindset and surroundings <em>before<\/em> you consume. If you\u2019re upset, or in an uncomfortable environment\u2014wait.<\/p>\n<p>And in a college environment, taking care not to combine cannabis with alcohol is key. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, causing the cannabis-na\u00efve to brave their first toke. But drunk is not the time. You\u2019ll get dizzy and puke.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/cannabis-101\/what-is-crossfaded-high\" class=\"wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-single-inline-block leafly-inline-related-story\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"border border-deep-green-alt border-l-0 border-r-0 my-xl p-md font-bold\">\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p>How to avoid the dreaded crossfaded high<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>\u201cUsing cannabis for the first time when you\u2019re wasted on alcohol is a bad idea. Don\u2019t do it,\u201d Dr. Reiman says. \u201cAlcohol and cannabis have a synergistic relationship, so it\u2019s going to enhance the effects of both the alcohol and the cannabis when used together.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Monitor your consumption<\/h2>\n<p>As consumers start to integrate cannabis into their lives, it\u2019s important to also regularly check in with their original intentions. After all, even if no one has ever died from a cannabis overdose, it is possible to consume too much. About 9% of cannabis users will at one point in their life have trouble stopping. That\u2019s lower than alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, or other drugs\u2014but it\u2019s not zero.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCannabis is supposed to make you more present with yourself, and it heightens all the senses in your environment which can be very pleasant and fun,\u201d Evins says. \u201cIf it doesn\u2019t feel like that anymore, time for a tolerance break.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" alt=\"If you find yoga too boring, ganja yoga may be right for you. (RyanJLane\/iStock)\" class=\"wp-image-77249 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-4.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-4.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-4.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis-4.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>If you find yoga too boring, ganja yoga may be right for you. (RyanJLane\/iStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Olmos agrees, suggesting that newbies should reevaluate their consumption habits,<strong> \u201c<\/strong>when it starts to affect your life negatively and impede [upon] your regular responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the day, discovering cannabis for the first time as an adult is one of the many rites of passage awaiting you at college, Kieth says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the most beautiful thing about being college age is that your brain is growing in a different way, and you can enhance it by educating yourself about what you\u2019re ingesting in your body, and enjoying that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-xxl wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-related-articles\">\n<p><h2>Do you want to know more?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis.jpg\" alt=\"Kaisha-Dyan McMillan's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>Kaisha-Dyan McMillan<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">Kaisha-Dyan McMillan is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Our Dream Academy and MJ Lifestyle, as well as non-cannabis publications The Bold Italic and The East Bay Express. IG: @ahsiak<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/author\/kaisha-dyan-mcmillan\">View Kaisha-Dyan McMillan&#8217;s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat -->  <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https:\/\/www.boldgrid.com\/w3-total-cache\/ Served from: _ @ 2021-10-01 13:49:29 by W3 Total Cache\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Turning 21? What you need to know about cannabis &#8211; Leafly Leafly Leafly \u00ae Loading\u2026 Where are you from? noyes Remember me for 30 days. I confirm that this is not a shared device. Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly. Redirecting you to By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. While more college students than ever before are trying cannabis and enjoying the benefits of ever-expanding legalization, every single one of them had a first time. Scores of soon-to-be or newly-turned 21-year-olds are attending university in the 18 states where cannabis is&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana_information"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/turning-21-what-you-need-to-know-about-cannabis.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}