MARIJUANA HEALTH AND SAFETY

INGEST VIA EATING

This is one of the safest ways to consume the medication you purchase at Thrive, but understand that the effects from eaten cannabis may be more pronounced and the onset of the effects will be delayed by an hour or more and typically last longer than inhalation. Using edible cannabis effectively will usually take some experimentation with particular product types and dosage. Digesting cannabis also metabolizes the cannabinoids somewhat differently and can produce different subjective effects, depending on the individual.

Use small amounts of edibles and wait 2 hours before gradually increasing the dose, if needed. Take care to find and use the right dose-excessive dosage can be uncomfortable and happens most often with edibles.

Try cannabis pills made with hash or cannabis oil or ingest via Tinctures/Sprays

Find your ideal dosage to enhance your therapeutic benefits. Start with no more than two drops and wait at least an hour before increasing the dosage, incrementally and as necessary.

APPLY VIA TOPICALS

This is one of the safest ways to consume your medication and may be the best option for certain pains or ailments. Rubbing cannabis products on the skin will not result in a psychoactive effect.

INHALE VIA SMOKING

Because the effects are noticed or felt quickly, this is a good way to get immediate relief and find the best dose for you when choosing. Research has shown that smoking cannabis does not increase your risk of lung or other cancers, but because it entails inhaling tars and other potential irritants, it may produce unpleasant bronchial effects such as harsh coughing.

Smoke as little as possible. Try 1 to 3 inhalations and wait 10 to 15 minutes to find the right dosage. Increase dosage as necessary.

Take smaller, shallower inhalations rather than deep inhales. Holding smoke in does not increase the effects; studies show that 95% of the THC is absorbed in the first few seconds of inhaling.

If consuming with others, for health reasons, try not to share the smoking device. If sharing, quickly apply flame to the pipe mouthpiece or wipe with rubbing alcohol to kill germs.

To avoid inhaling unnecessary chemicals, use hemp paper coated with beeswax to light your medicine rather than matches or a lighter.

INHALE VIA VAPORIZER

This is the safest way to inhale your medicine because it heats the cannabinoid-laden oils to the point where they become airborne vapors, without bringing the other plant material to combustion, drastically reducing the number of tars and other chemical irritants that you otherwise would inhale. Vaporizers also emit much less odor than any type of smoking.

Invest in a tabletop Volcano brand vaporizer or a hand-held vaporizer (such as vapor plus). Construct your own vaporizer if you can’t afford to buy one.

INHALE VIA A PIPE/ONE-HITTER/STEAMROLLER

Use a glass, stainless steel, or brass pipe; avoid wood or plastic pipes. Glass one-hitters, tubular pipes that contain a single dose, is the most economical devices.

INHALE VIA A BONG/WATER PIPE

Don’t use a bong or water pipe regularly. The water absorbs some of the THC and other cannabinoids, and you can inhale water vapor or water drops into your lungs.

Don’t use a bong made from plastic, rubber or aluminum that can produce harmful fumes when heated or melted. If you do use one, change the water frequently to limit exposure to germs and viruses.

KNOW YOUR VARIETY

At Thrive, cannabis comes in many varieties, roughly divided between Sativas that originated near the equator and Indicas that come from northern latitudes, though modern breeding programs have created a wide range of hybrids. Each variety has its own cannabinoid and terpene profile and subtly different effects. Whether you use Sativa-dominant, Indica-dominant, or a Hybrid it makes a difference.

Take note of what effect each variety produce for you (therapeutic and side effects); keeping a log can be helpful.

Use higher potency cannabis so you use less medicine. Concentrates can be useful, particularly if you need higher doses.

For concentrates, use a glass pipe made for cannabis concentrates.

Experiment with high CBD strains, particularly for nausea, appetite, and pain.

Take a medicine vacation occasionally. While cannabis does not produce tolerance in the way opiates do, reducing or ceasing cannabis use can yield enhanced effects when restarted. Either reduce or stop for however long it feels comfortable for you.

Change the variety if the one you’re using seems to be losing its effectiveness.

Whenever possible, choose organic cannabis products. Never consume cannabis that has been treated with pesticides.