Flower, as well as bud or nug, refers to the smokable part of the cannabis plant, especially after it’s been dried and cured. Though there are newer cannabis consumption methods, smoking flower continues to be a popular choice for its versatility, detailed below.
In this guide, we’ll cover how to smoke weed and some frequently asked questions related to smoking flower.
Do you want to smoke weed? Are you unsure how to do it? If you are a first-time weed smoker, then we have a bunch of great tips to make your first experience enjoyable.
People smoke weed for lots of reasons. Many smoke weed for a recreational high that is safer than drinking alcohol. And some people smoke cannabis for medicinal benefits:
- Relieve aches and pains
- Reduce nausea
- Relieve Migraines
- Reduce Anxiety
- Improve Appetite
- Reduce inflammation
Whatever your reason for learning to smoke weed, we have the best tips for the first time weed smoker.
How to Inhale Weed Properly
No matter what you smoke out of, you are going to need to inhale the weed. If you’re not used to smoking then you may be prone to simply holding the smoke in your mouth. Unfortunately, you won’t get very high this way. In fact, it’s likely you wouldn’t get high at all. You’ll need to bring the smoke deep into your lungs to get the full effect.
To inhale, all you have to do is take a slow deep breath. You’ll feel the smoke travel down your windpipe and fill your lungs. If you don’t feel anything in your lung area then you’re probably not breathing deep enough. You should be bringing in a little fresh air along with the smoke.
The whole idea that you need to hold the smoke in for extended periods of time is largely a myth. You won’t receive many benefits from holding the smoke as long as possible. Just inhale deeply, give yourself a very short pause, then exhale slowly. No need to get yourself all blue in the face. If it makes you feel better to hold it for 5-10 seconds then go ahead, but I see almost no difference when I hold it for 5 seconds vs. 1 second. Do you agree? Let me know in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
One common mistake is swallowing the smoke instead of inhaling it. Not only is this method ineffective, but it can give you an upset stomach, and possibly cause vomiting. This can also cause smoke burps which are exactly what they sound like. It’s quite embarrassing to be out in public and a small cloud of weed comes out after a burp. Remember, you’re inhaling the smoke into your lungs – not swallowing it into your stomach.
How to smoke cannabis flower
Smoking weed is the most common way to consume cannabis. Effects kick in almost instantaneously and can last anywhere from one to three hours, depending on the dose and person. Most weed smokers consume cannabis flower using one or more of the following methods:
- Joint: the joint, sometimes called a cannabis cigarette, consists of ground flower rolled in smokable rolling paper.
- Blunt: similar to joints, blunts involve rolling ground flower in a blunt wrap or emptied cigar.
- Pipe: one of the most common stoner tools, the pipe allows weed smokers to smoke on the go without additional materials beyond their flower, pipe, and lighter or match.
- Bong: the bong, or water pipe, allows cannabis consumers to filter weed smoke through water.
Vaporizer (Likely the Healthiest Way to Smoke Weed)
Today, dry vaping is thought of as one of the healthiest ways to smoke weed. You can try a portable herb vaporizer or you can use the tabletop versions which include inhaling a vapor filled plastic bag, allowing you to inhale at your own pace. Keep your devices clean with pipe cleaners and rubbing alcohol. Like vaping but looking for increased potency? Decarb the cannabis then vape at a low temperature to keep the flavors crisp.
How to smoke weed with a pipe
Possibly the easiest, most straightforward way to smoke weed is through the use of a pipe. Small, compact, and easy to use, pipes are handheld devices used to smoke flower. To use a pipe, simply break apart your flower, fill the bowl with the flower, touch a flame to the flower while drawing air gently through the mouthpiece, and inhale the smoke. Ideal for traveling or discreet use, pipes are practical and reliable tools for cannabis smokers.
How to smoke weed with a bong
Bongs are smoking devices consisting of a chamber partially filled with water, a downstem, a mouthpiece, and a bowl. Bongs are ideal for those who want to tone down the heat and harshness while inhaling smoke.
How to dose cannabis flower
Cannabis strains vary widely in potency, cannabinoid content, and terpene content — all of which can affect your cannabis experience. Flower potency is measured by the total concentration of cannabinoids—chemical compounds that act on our endocannabinoid system to stimulate psychoactive and physical effects—and is expressed in a percentage. For example, the label on a jar of OG Kush flower might read 18% THC, which indicates there are 180 milligrams (mg) of THC per gram of flower
Remember, smoking weed results in a very different high than eating edibles. Smoking a full-gram joint with 180 mg of THC will get the average person high for a few hours, whereas eating a 180-mg edible can result in side effects like paranoia, panic attacks, and an increased heart rate for six hours or more.
Luckily, lab-tested products purchased from licensed, legal dispensaries come with certificates of analysis that make the dosing process accurate and easy. Look for the THC percentage on a package of cannabis flower to determine how much of an effect you can expect to get from one puff of a joint or bong rip.
- 10% THC or less: flower in this range is considered mild
- 10% – 20% THC: strong for beginners and often just right for casual consumers
- 20% THC and above: some of the strongest weed you’ll find
Bottom line: make note of the THC percentage before you consume, take one puff, and wait 15 minutes before consuming more to get a sense of how that potency affects you.