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Elevate Your Next Wine Night with Cannabis

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Cannabis has become even more popular than ever, thanks to more widespread acceptance throughout the United States, and easier access with legalized dispensaries in several states, including Nevada. Many beginners to cannabis feel understandably overwhelmed about the vast number of choices they have regarding cannabis strains and consumption methods at their local Nevada dispensary, but experienced cannabis users often look for different ways to experiment with the wonder plant. Some have even begun pairing cannabis with wine, much like culinary experts already do with meals and desserts. 

Learn more about cannabis, its benefits, and pair it with wine below!

Cannabis and its Benefits

Many people have resisted legalizing and using cannabis because they are convinced it is a dangerous drug that can ruin people’s lives. These stigmas about cannabis have prevented numerous people from experiencing the numerous benefits it can provide, many of which are backed by scientific evidence. Some of the most important benefits cannabis can provide include:

Better Sleep 

Several studies have indicated that cannabis, including CBD products, may help people get better sleep on a regular basis. This is especially true for people who are unable to sleep due to chronic pain, another issue that cannabis may help with. Interestingly, cannabis products may reduce the amount of time people spend in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which can also reduce the amount of nightmares people with PTSD experience. 

Indica strains are widely considered the best options for helping with sleep, as they tend to promote feelings of calm and relaxation. It may take some time to find the right strain and product that assists you with sleep, but we highly recommend the sleep tincture from Cannahemp.

 

Reduced Anxiety and Depression Symptoms

Millions of Americans struggle with anxiety, depression, or both, which can have several negative consequences on daily life. Anxiety and depression are highly treatable with lifestyle changes, like getting plenty of sleep and exercise and eating a balanced diet, but this isn’t always enough to help those suffering. When used occasionally, cannabis may help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in the short term. As always, talk with your doctor about anxiety and depression, and use caution when trying cannabis to cope with your symptoms. 

 

Reduced Pain

A 2017 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that investigated over 10,000 academic studies on cannabis found that cannabis is highly effective at providing relief to those with chronic pain. Millions of people suffer from chronic pain in the United States, but many have been prescribed highly addictive opioids to manage their pain. Cannabis has proven itself to be a worthwhile alternative to standard pain relievers, whether you smoke, eat, or topically apply cannabis

 

Enhanced Creativity

When taken at proper dosages (lower rather than higher), cannabis can enhance a person’s creativity. It’s no secret that many famous creators over the years have enjoyed their fair share of cannabis, and many people are drawn to the plant in hopes of getting a creative boost to mimic their heroes. At the same time, many speculate that people who are drawn to cannabis are already prone to creativity, but there does seem to be a strong association between cannabis use and more creative thinking. 

If you want to give it a try, we recommend consuming a small dose of cannabis before drawing, making music, or working on another creative project to see if it works for you. Feel free to experiment with different ingestion methods and dosages to find the optimal point for you. Sativa strains are commonly associated with enhanced creativity, and we have plenty of sativa-dominant products to choose from. 

 

Different Ways to Consume Cannabis

There are more ways to enjoy cannabis now than ever, and it’s a truly exciting time for cannabis consumers and businesses. Some of the most popular ingestion methods include:

 

Smoking

One of the most classic ways to enjoy cannabis, smoking involves lighting flower and inhaling the smoke into your lungs. Your lungs have receptors that allow for quick absorption, allowing you to feel the effects in as little as a few minutes. Smoking cannabis results in a shorter duration of effects, but people have enjoyed passing around a joint with their friends for decades. If you enjoy making your own joints and blunts, you can purchase all the equipment necessary at our dispensary near the Strip, or you can also opt to buy pre-rolls that are all ready to light. 

 

Vaping

Vaping is still a relatively new phenomenon in the world of cannabis, and it’s one of the most convenient ways to enjoy our favorite plant. You can purchase disposable vapes, or you can get cartridges that fit into reusable batteries. Like smoking, you can feel the effects of vaping within minutes, and they tend to last for an hour or so. Vapes can also come in numerous flavors, and it can be fun to try all different kinds to find your new favorite. 

 

Edibles

One of the most popular cannabis consumption methods, especially for those worried about their lungs, is edibles Las Vegas. Edibles contain varying amounts of THC, usually 2.5, 5, 10, or 20 milligrams, per edible, which come in several different forms. There are chocolate bars, gummies, cookies, drinks, and more that can provide the many benefits cannabis offers. 

 

Because edibles must enter the GI tract before your body can absorb THC, it usually takes one or two hours before you can feel the effects. For this reason, we always recommend starting slow and waiting at least two hours before taking more if you can’t feel the edible you already took. Edibles are also popular because their effects tend to last longer, usually between four and eight hours. 

 

Concentrates

Concentrates are a great option for those who are experienced with other forms of cannabis consumption and need a larger dose to feel the effects. Concentrates are often consumed with dabbing, a process that involves various equipment that can produce intense highs. If you’d like to try dabbing, but you aren’t sure where to start, speak with one of our knowledgeable budtenders. 

 

Topically

Topical cannabis products tend to be popular among athletes and those that experience pain regularly. Topical products usually come in the form of balms or salves, and they are applied directly to the skin. Some skin care products also contain cannabis or CBD, and many claim that these substances can help with various skin conditions, like acne and psoriasis

 

Before using any topical cannabis product, perform a spot test to ensure that you don’t have a negative reaction to any of the ingredients before using it on large areas of the body. 

 

Pairing Wine and Cannabis

Now that we have covered the numerous benefits and ways cannabis can be consumed, let’s get into a relatively new way that cannabis enthusiasts are enjoying the substance: by pairing it with wine. Wine and cannabis are paired quite similarly to food and wine, which is based on the flavor profiles of both. Flavor profiles from cannabis come from the terpenes within the plant, which are compounds that produce odors, and often, health benefits. 

 

Understanding Terpenes

Terpenes aren’t exclusive to cannabis. They are present in numerous plants and herbs, such as citrus fruits, lavender, and even mushrooms! Wines, on the other hand, have compounds in them called tannins, which are also present in chocolate, tea, and coffee. These are responsible for the aroma and flavor, and they can also give beverages a mouth feel of dryness. 

 

When looking to pair cannabis with wine, try to find aromas that will complement and enhance one another. You can glean the properties of flower and wine in a similar way: by taking deep inhales to note various aromas and notes. It definitely takes some practice, but after some time, you will learn how to label certain scents and flavor profiles, and you can make more informed decisions about pairing wine and cannabis together. 

 

The Herb Somm has a wonderful guide about terpenes, their properties, and possible food and wine pairings that can help you learn more about complementary pairings until you train your nose to pick up on these properties yourself!

 

Avoid High-Tannin Wines

Although tannins give wines their distinct aromas and flavors, when pairing wines with cannabis, its best to avoid wines that are especially high in tannins. One reason is that cannabis consumption, no matter the method, can make a user’s mouth feel dry, which can negatively impact flavor profiles. High-tannin wines exacerbate that dry mouth feel, and can create an unpleasant sensation in your mouth and throat. 

Some notoriously high-tannin wines include:

  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Nebbiolo
  • Syrah
  • Malbec
  • Sangiovese

Before deciding which wine to pair with your favorite cannabis strain, do a quick online search or see if the bottle mentions anything about bold flavors and high tannin content. 

 

Pay Attention to ABV Content

The first few times you try pairing wine and cannabis, take it slow on both fronts. Especially high alcohol by volume contents in wines can also hinder your ability to truly enjoy the flavors and aromas present in both. At the same time, ingesting too much alcohol with cannabis can also make it difficult to operate functionally in social situations. Alcohol can actually increase your body’s absorption rate of THC, the main compound that produces psychoactive effects.  

Mixing too much alcohol with too much cannabis is referred to as “crossfading”, and it can produce intense nausea, dizziness, sweating, paranoia, chills, and many more unpleasant symptoms. Until you are well-practiced at the art of combining cannabis and wine, experiment with low alcohol by volume content and only drink small amounts of wine. 

 

Consider the Experience You Want

When thinking about your special wine and cannabis night, what sort of experience are you looking for? Do you want to just relax on your couch with a movie, or are you going to be in a social situation that requires you to stay relatively alert? For the first scenario, you’ll probably want to reach for an indica-dominant cannabis strain. Known to create a feeling of calm and relaxation, indica-dominant strains can help you feel “in da couch”, or ready to chill out and listen to some good tunes. For further relaxation properties, look for cannabis products that tout a high amount of CBN, a compound in cannabis that is also known to assist with relaxation and sleep. 

For the second scenario, a social situation or instance where you want to stay alert, we recommend sativa-dominant strains of cannabis. Sativa strains are known as uplifting, and they produce a head high rather than a body high. Many sativa lovers also claim to feel a boost in energy and motivation. 

If you can’t decide between the two, you can also pick a nice hybrid strain for your wine and cannabis night. Hybrid strains combine the best parts of indica and sativa strains, and they’re sure to leave you feeling relaxed but awake when paired with your favorite wine. 

 

Visit the Best Vegas Dispensary Today!

Now that you know more about pairing the delicacies of cannabis and wine, it’s time to ensure that you’re all stocked up on your cannabis needs. Thrive Cannabis Marketplace has everything you need and more to plan for your next wine and cannabis night!

We have excellent dispensary menu prices to keep cannabis affordable and accessible to everyone, and our knowledgeable budtenders can help cannabis beginners and veterans alike find exactly what they’re looking for. Thrive offers online ordering for pickup and delivery at some locations, and our North Las Vegas dispensary is open 24/7!

When it comes to getting the best cannabis, and the best cannabis selection, in Nevada, look no further than Thrive Cannabis Marketplace!