Smoking is, for many, one of the only ways they can effectively burn stress. While there are health risks, they can be mitigated by switching from cigarettes to a healthier alternative like marijuana. Marijuana not only has fewer health risks, but it actually has benefits.

If you are interested in adopting marijuana use as a way to alleviate stress and work through your problems, there are a few different things you need to know first. This post will tell you what they are, so you can get more out of the experience.

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Find the Right Equipment

Ninety-nine percent of stoners have an arsenal of smoking accoutrements at their homes. If you want to adopt smoking, find the right equipment for you. Some prefer bongs, and others handheld pipes. In truth, bongs are better for getting intense, immediate highs. Pipes are better for people who can’t stand the amount of time it takes to smoke a joint, but want the versatility of one. 

If you are going to shop around for smoking gear, you need to prioritize quality above everything else. While you can pick up cheap equipment in almost every head shop in the nation, it is better to shop online and buy things crafted with care that have good reviews. Product reviews will give you a lot of insight into what it is like to use them.

Think About Consumption Method

The method by which you consume marijuana can have a massive impact on the high you will experience. Edibles, for example, produce a high more akin to a hallucinogenic drug in high doses, while traditional smoking cannabis, i.e., marijuana flower, is a lot more relaxed and head-heavy. If you are new to the drug, smoking it is likely a better option for you. 

If you want to figure out which consumption method is right for you, visit your local dispensary and pick some marijuana up. You can buy a mix of different products. Make sure you start out slowly with low doses. Don’t immediately rush into taking large amounts, because a bad high is guaranteed. Bad highs can produce feelings of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. 

Shop Around for Strains

Shopping around for strains is an important part of using marijuana. Under no circumstances should you rush into buying the drug, because you could end up buying a strain that isn’t right for you. Some strains produce feelings of relaxation and sedation, while others are cultivated exclusively to give people energy. If you don’t work out what you want to get out of marijuana use, you won’t be able to find the right strain.

The process of actually finding strains that are right for you is relatively straightforward. All you have to do is visit your local marijuana dispensary and ask the staff there to find a strain that meets your requirements. Make sure you tell them what you want to get out of your high. If you want to feel relaxed and lie around, ask for a strain that can offer that, and if you want to feel energized, similarly ask for a strain that can provide that instead. 

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Research Marijuana’s Legality

Before you go out and buy marijuana, research its legality in your state or country. In some places, marijuana is legal, and in others, it is not. It is unwise to buy and use marijuana somewhere where it is not legal, because there you never know what is in street cannabis. It is not unheard of for street cannabis to contain fentanyl, a potent and dangerous opioid, at least in North America.

Something else to consider if you are planning on buying marijuana illegally is that it could lead to you getting into trouble. Also worth noting is that if it is not legal in the country you live in and you get drug tested at work, having marijuana in your system could lose you your job. It’s only worth taking marijuana if it is legal because there won’t be any consequences if you do. You can find out if it's legal in your state or country by conducting basic online research.  

Work Up Your Tolerance

As stated above, a bad high is the last thing you want. While a bad high isn’t going to cause you any physical harm, it can be very distressing mentally. You can work up your tolerance by starting out slowly and using the drug occasionally. If you plan on using it for medical reasons, you need to make sure that you take the time to work out a use schedule. 

It is worth noting that even in places where marijuana is illegal, you can sometimes still buy it medicinally. Buying and using it medicinally is an extremely effective way for you to bypass anti-marijuana laws. All you need to obtain marijuana for medical use (in most places) is to suffer from a medical condition that marijuana has been shown to be effective at treating. You usually need to have taken at least two prescribed drugs in the past to qualify for medical cannabis treatment. 

Be Considerate of Others

The final thing you need to do if you want to start smoking is to be considerate of others. Just because you enjoy smoking marijuana, not everybody does. Smoking it in public when you are out enjoying yourself can get you into trouble even in places where it is legal for this reason. The drug can also cause people to experience unwanted highs, which is not something you should contribute to.

You also need to think about safety if you are going to start using marijuana. If you keep it in your house, you need to keep it away from children. This is especially important if you use edibles, as they can be mistaken for ordinary food items. If a child or elderly person takes an edible without expecting it, they could experience an adverse reaction, which could even lead to their hospitalization. 

If you are interested in making use of marijuana, whether for recreational or medicinal reasons, you need to do everything you can to get more out of the experience. The guidance given here will hopefully help you to do that. Give each point consideration and use this guide to have a good time getting high.