The Best Marijuana Strains for Beginners

Most of you probably recall your first experience trying marijuana; whether it was at a party, some friends or your first year at college. Regardless where you were, I’m sure you can relate that that your first experience, or your best friends first cannabis experience, can either make or break your opinion about using it again.

In my inner circle and thru the cannabis community, the over-arching opinion of those who have bad experiences decided not to try it again for a very long, long time…and in many cases, never again. So what was that trippy bad experience that turned them off? What I often hear are experiences that had the THC side effects that made them feel paranoid, anxious or consumed too much and had a bad trip. (Note: Find the perfect cannabis strain to match your desired mood or effect, and see each strain positive and negative THC effects, smell, flavour, and more. Tailor your next marijuana purchase to your desired mood; strains that make you laugh or giggly, aroused, creative, relaxed and more.

What many first-timers don’t realize there are different ways you can minimize the negative THC elements that cause these THC side effects. So if you’re a newbie/beginner or recreational cannabis users who dabble in the green-leaf on rare occasions, keep these tips in mind to help you have a great first experience, or a re-connection, with the sweet Mary Jane.

Start slow with any strong THC cannabis strains

When you start using marijuana, make sure you ease into a strain noted with a high concentration of THC. It’s the THC that is likely to lead to paranoia and anxiety. So start with a low dose in a comfortable environment (and some munchies nearby.)

It’s a good idea to look for a cannabis strain with less than 15% THC so your early experiences are more positive. Some strains have as much as 25% THC, but starting with a much lower THC percentage can help minimize the feelings of anxiety and paranoia you can experience.

For those beginners reading this post, we’ll get into the difference of THC and CBD in another post. But in short, just know THC is the chemical in your cannabis that is the hallucinogenic causing both the positive and negative effects, and CBD holds the non-hallucinogenic properties and popular in the treatment of certain medical symptoms and conditions.

So if you’re looking to maximize the positive benefits and minimize the negative side effects, look for a cannabis strain that is high in CBD and low in THC.

CBD can help neutralize the anxiety that can come from THC, so it’s a good way to ease into cannabis use for beginners. You can find strains with equal parts of CBD and THC, while other strains have no THC at all. Here are some of the commonly-used varieties of high-CBD and low-THC you can use.

The key point here, when you purchase your marijuana from a legal dispensary or retailer, look at the label for the ratio of THC and CBD. Any qualified dispensary or retailer should have expert staff or information on-hand to guide and educate you on their menu of cannabis options.

So make sure that you use legal, lab-tested cannabis so that you know exactly how much THC (and CBD) are in your marijuana. Remember too, each person’s experience varies based on brain DNA, personal reaction to the experience, and how you consume cannabis (we’ll get into that in a moment). That means that what works for one person might not work for you, and how you use it in terms of how slow or quickly the cannabis effects will hit you. Easing into higher percentages of THC is a good way to find out what works best for you.

How you consume cannabis makes all the difference

Make sure you consider the delivery method of cannabis. Smoking, vaporizing, and ingesting (ex. gummy or candy edibles) can all impact your marijuana experiences. There’s not really a right or wrong choice, but you may have to try different methods until you find what works best for you.

Smoking cannabis for beginners

Smoking is the most common way that people start using cannabis. One advantage of smoking is that you can have more control over the size of your dosage. The effects also usually subside after about half an hour. But some people are turned off by smoking because of how it feels in the throat and lungs. If it’s your first time trying marijuana, always be safe when offered a joint from someone else, like at a party. You may never know what’s dosage of THC is rolled in that paper, or if they’ve laced the joint with another chemical or drug. Always, ALWAYS buy your legal marijuana from a legalized retailer or dispensary, and check the label for the dosage and other pertinent details that may affect you and your experience.

Vaporizing cannabis for beginners

Vaporizing can be a great way for beginners. It’s similar to smoking, but it’s easier on the throat and lungs (no burning sensation). It also helps you control the size of the dosage, and the flavours of the green flower are usually better preserved in vaporizing rather than smoking. There are portable, oil-filled vaporizer pens that you can use to take just one hit at a time if you want. Oh, and if vaping is a new way to consume marijuana for you, or you’re avid cannabis user looking to experiment thru vaping, check our POW’s cannabis strain filters to find strains nearby that match your tastebuds or desired flavours; strawberry, apple, woody, blueberry, and even coffee flavoured marijuana.

Cannabis Topicals for Beginners

I’m often asked by others, what is topical? It’s not the most common or popular method to consume marijuana but is expected to increase in popularity in the legal marijuana markets of health and medicine for a) the CBD properties, and B) low THC impact.

Topicals are lotions and balms infused with cannabis that you absorb through your skin for relief of pain, inflammation, and other localized symptoms. Most topicals do not get you high, so these are highly recommended for people who want the physical benefits of cannabis without the mental effects.

Eating cannabis for beginners

Known by the cannabis category of “edibles”, eating cannabisinfused with other food (ex. gummies, chocolate, brownies, and so much more) has become increasingly popular for beginners, and the entire cannabis community. While edibles are not legal yet in Canada and many other countries, its a matter of time as its the next big push in the legal cannabis space.

Should you get the opportunity to consume cannabis thru edibles, its important you start with a low dose. Packaged legal cannabis edibles should have the dosage amounts listed, but be cautious when consuming as it can take longer for the effects to kick in. Why? Smoking or vaping cannabis goes straight to the brain, giving an immediate and fast impact and the effects can hit you hard and fast. This has its drawbacks however as it also affects negative health affects on the lungs as with any smoker, and for those sensitive to the smell, is a prolific way to let your neighbors know what you’re up too.

On the flip side, eating cannabis thru edibles, the THC and CBD go into your bloodstream vs. brain, thus taking more time to digest and spread thru your body to feel the effects. This is why it recommended starting slow with small doses of edibles. And once you consume marijuana thru edibles it tends to last longer and more intense than inhaled cannabis.

If you’re a beginner to cannabis, I hope you found this helpful and heed the precautions mentioned around using marijuana purchased from a legal and authorized dispensary or retailer, the advantages and disadvantages how you consume or use cannabis, and checking the package labels for directions on the proper dosage and chemical mix of THC and CBD.

Lastly, if you have a first-time story to share, or other tips to pass along to others taking their first baby cannabis steps, share with others below.