{"id":5067,"date":"2022-03-24T13:07:30","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T13:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiWWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmN0aW5zaWRlci5jb20vbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlL0NULWNhbm5hYmlzLWRpc3BlbnNhcmllcy13aGF0LXRvLWtub3ctMTcwMjMzNzAucGhw0gFVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY3RpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS9uZXdzL2FtcC9DVC1jYW5uYWJpcy1kaXNwZW5zYXJpZXMtd2hhdC10by1rbm93LTE3MDIzMzcwLnBocA"},"modified":"2022-03-24T13:07:30","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T13:07:30","slug":"with-cannabis-dispensaries-coming-to-ct-heres-what-to-expect-ct-insider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=5067","title":{"rendered":"With cannabis dispensaries coming to CT, here’s what to expect – CT Insider"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note:<\/strong> This is part three of a seven-part series<\/a> on what readers should know about adult-use, or recreational, cannabis in Connecticut. <\/em><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he best way to describe a dispensary is a cross between a pharmacy and a liquor store. You might see security personnel or other measures, and you typically can\u2019t just grab pot off the shelves \u2014 you have to ask for what you want.<\/p>\n

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Your go-to person at the dispensary is a budtender, but remember what we learned in day 2: Because of environmental and genetic factors, budtenders can only speak in generalities. They can\u2019t tell you for sure how you\u2019ll feel when you try something, and they can\u2019t guarantee that the genetic makeup of their Purple Kush is the same as that of the one you found at a store up the road.<\/p>\n

Still, they can<\/em> explain the different forms of cannabis and the different products they offer. But how will you know what to ask if you don\u2019t know what\u2019s available?<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where we come in.<\/p>\n

The two main cannabinoids<\/strong><\/h3>\n

THC<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Cannabinoids are a group of substances found in cannabis plants. While at least 80 of them have been identified<\/a>, THC is considered the main psychoactive compound in cannabis \u2014 and the most famous.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

It enters your bloodstream and travels to your brain, where it attaches to endocannabinoid receptors in the parts of your brain that control thinking, memory, pleasure, coordination and movement. It\u2019s what gets you \u201cstoned.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

At dispensaries (and elsewhere), labels often include the percentage of THC. If you were used to smoking in the \u201870s, cannabis today is often way, way stronger, at least by THC percentages. A study of DEA-confiscated illegal pot showed THC concentrations at about 4 percent in 1995, rising to about 15 percent in 2014. Connecticut\u2019s law caps THC percentages in flower at 30 percent \u2014 a limit routinely exceeded by medical-grade cannabis.<\/p>\n

But unlike alcohol, a higher percentage of THC doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you\u2019ll experience stronger effects.<\/p>\n

Consider this: Other cannabinoids such as THCP might also be in the package. THCP is thought to be at least 30 times as strong as THC, according to Anna Schwabe, a researcher and adjunct faculty member at the University of Northern Colorado.<\/p>\n

If you pick up a strain with a lower-than-average THC percentage, but a higher-than-average THCP percentage, it can be hard to know how you\u2019ll be affected.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

CBD<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Formally known as cannabidiol, CBD is the second most popular cannabis compound and, unlike THC, does not get people \u201chigh.\u201d (It still \u201cseems to have effects on some chemicals in the brain,\u201d according to MedlinePlus<\/a>, a U.S. government site.)<\/p>\n

CBD often comes from hemp, a form of cannabis that by law has very little THC, less than 0.3 percent. A form of CBD has been approved in the U.S. to treat seizures, and researchers continue to look at whether it also may help with conditions like anxiety, pain and Parkinson\u2019s disease.Government agencies and researchers alike say to take care when considering a CBD purchase \u2014 the widely used products aren\u2019t regulated and their labels aren\u2019t always accurate<\/a> (sound familiar?).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Cannabis
Cannabis joints are seen on display at the Cannabis Wedding Expo in the Westfield Mall in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019.<\/span>Gabrielle Lurie \/ The Chronicle<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

Ways to consume<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Joints<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The standard. You get a lighter, light the end of the joint and inhale. If you\u2019ve smoked cigarettes, pre-rolled joints, or pre-rolls, are similar. Novices be warned: You likely won\u2019t need many hits off a joint to get stoned. Many of the downsides of tobacco cigarette use \u2014 think lung irritation and volatile chemicals<\/a> \u2014 are also applicable here. You\u2019re inhaling smoke, after all.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Edibles<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Edibles \u2014 foods, like chocolate or cookies infused with cannabinoids \u2014 are a popular way to consume cannabis, but they also can be the most difficult to dose correctly. The effects have a delayed onset of anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, and can last anywhere from a few hours to most of the day. <\/p>\n

With that in mind, \u201cstart low and go slow\u201d is a good mantra. Connecticut\u2019s law requires dispensaries to do their best to provide 1 mg and 2.5 mg THC doses<\/a>, and to make the 5 mg single-serving dose clearly defined and easy to portion, like sections of a chocolate bar.<\/p>\n

Not feeling anything immediately? Wait the full two hours before eating more, or you risk compounding the effects to an unpleasant degree.<\/p>\n

Vape cartridges<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

These are small devices that attach to a battery, have their own battery or are in \u201cpods\u201d similar to e-cigarettes. To consume, you basically sip it like a straw. Breathe in for a few seconds, hold your breath for a few more seconds, then exhale. <\/p>\n

They contain processed cannabis oil, which is heated by an element inside the device and released as vapor that you inhale. Vapes are an easy and fast-acting way to consume THC. People generally notice the effects within a few minutes, if not instantly. But easy come, easy go \u2014 the effects also tend to wear off quickly, as soon as within an hour.<\/p>\n

Pro tip: Vapes are also a quick way to get dehydrated. Drinking water is recommended.<\/p>\n

Forms of cannabis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Flower<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re buying raw flower, you\u2019re likely a bit more experienced. You\u2019ll need a grinder to shred the flowers. Ever buy coffee beans instead of ground coffee? Same concept. Then you\u2019ll need a way to consume them. This is usually through rolling your own joints or using a pipe, bong or dry herb vaporizer, all of which you can buy online or at a smoke shop. I personally use a dry herb vaporizer to consume my medical cannabis \u2014 my lungs do not like smoke. These heat the ground flower up to temperatures that release the compounds in cannabis without combustion and smoke, just vapor.<\/p>\n

Concentrates<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Now we\u2019re getting into the enthusiast\u2019s realm. Concentrates are exactly what that word implies \u2014 concentrated plant material with very high THC. There are almost too many forms to list: kief, wax and shatter are a few. Often they can be added to flower to boost potency. But some people use very high heat to vaporize and inhale concentrates with a \u201cdab rig.\u201d <\/p>\n

The best comparison I can make is that a joint is like a glass of wine or beer, and concentrates are like a shot of grain alcohol. You wouldn\u2019t recommend that shot to a first-time drinker, right?<\/p>\n

How are we doing?<\/em><\/strong> Has this series been helpful to you so far? Do you have any suggestions for us? Let Lindsay know at lindsay.boyle@hearstmediact.com.<\/em><\/p>\n

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More from this series<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Day 1<\/strong> – A primer<\/a>
Day 2<\/strong> – How might I feel?<\/a>
Day 4<\/strong> – Inside the law<\/a>
Day 5<\/strong> – Inside the law, pt. 2<\/a>
Day 6 <\/strong>– Medical marijuana<\/a>
Day 7<\/strong> – Growing at home<\/a><\/p>\n

To read the latest stories about cannabis in Connecticut, visit ctinsider.com\/cannabis<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

To sign up for our newsletters, click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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An important note: We aren’t lawyers and what\u2019s written above and elsewhere in this series isn’t legal advice \u2014 it\u2019s our best interpretation based on analysis of the lengthy law and conversations with experts.<\/em><\/p>\n

Recreational cannabis is a new area of law in Connecticut. If you have questions, talk to a lawyer.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: This is part three of a seven-part series on what readers should know about adult-use, or recreational, cannabis in Connecticut.  The best way to describe a dispensary is a cross between a pharmacy and a liquor store. You might see security personnel or other measures, and you typically can\u2019t just grab pot off the shelves \u2014 you have to ask for what you want. Your go-to person at the dispensary is a budtender, but remember what we learned in day 2: Because of environmental and genetic factors, budtenders can only speak in generalities. They can\u2019t tell you for… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-connecticut-cbd-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5067","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=5067"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5067\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}