Home Lifestyle 7 Tips for first time smoking weed

7 Tips for Your First Time Smoking Marijuana, How to Inhale, and More

This is for first timers and those who are looking to assist a newbie in their first experience. Letting a first-timer figure it out on their own may result in an experience that turns them away forever. We don't want that, when so many of us have had experiences over time with Cannabis. Whether you're 21 or 72 years old, it won't matter; if it is your first time smoking weed, you will need to read these important tips & tricks that have been put together by some of our resident consumers.

Important note: I don’t recommend taking edibles unless you can confirm the dosage and potency. Since this information is difficult to acquire, it is not recommended you use them for your first time). Check out this article for more information Marijuana edibles for the first time, how to be prepared

In this guide, we will be discussing the following topics:

First time smoking weed effects: How hard is it to get high? How long does the high last? When is the best time to get high? Top tips to smoking weed for the first time When/how you know you're high Negative effects from weed and what to do if you get too high How Long Should You Hold In Your Hit When You Smoke Marijuana And final useful extra tips

First time smoking weed effects: How hard is it to get high?

If it is your first time smoking weed, there is a chance that you won't get high.

Smoking weed is fairly easy, but you will need a couple of trial runs to be able to get it right, or to “feel right." Keep in mind-- the process is slightly different than smoking cigarettes, and I do NOT suggest using cigarettes as a practicing tool to smoke weed. You do not need to smoke cigarettes in order to smoke weed.

Depending on your "teacher," the device used, and just plain luck, you may end up wasting a small amount of herb on experimenting and learning to smoke. Just a heads up.

Before you jump into the tips and techniques, please keep in mind that if you're not accustomed to inhaling smoke, the actions, and the physical maneuvers, the process can be slightly distressing. Just be patient, relax, and remember that you are supposed to be having fun!

Fortunately, I’m here to help you! Just follow my steps below and you will be just fine.

How long does the high last? When is the best time to get high?

It depends how high you will be able to get, but be prepared to free up around 4-5 hours if you will be smoking or vaping bud, and 10+ hours if you're using edibles. Make sure not to have any impending obligations or responsibilities for the rest of the day/night.

Be careful with edibles. If you going to attempt using edibles, it's very important to read our Marijuana edibles for the first time, how to be prepared article.

In the evenings: my recommendation is to take an evening off into the night, starting at 7 or 8 pm, so if you want to fall asleep, you can.

Smoking in the morning is great too. however, if you decide to smoke in the morning for your first time, I would recommend making sure you have the whole day off. If you smoked at 10 am, for instance, you'd be sober-ish by early evening (especially if you get a nap in). Bare in mind, you would never know how it will affect you, or even if you actually manage to get high.

Very important note: you definitely don't want to be driving after smoking. It's not only illegal but also dangerous.

Here are your first time smoking weed tips

FIRST and foremost, you need to know that there are no recorded death incidents of ANYBODY EVER overdosing on weed. Period. End of discussion. I say this because weed is not like most other drugs, having too much cannot be life threatening. It may make you feel uncomfortable for a time, but you will live.

Keep in mind, for your first time, you want to make sure that you're doing it in the right place and time, and with the right person/people.

Without further ado, here are the tips for first time smoking weed:

1. Take your time

Only take baby hits and take at least 7-10 minute break between hits (you have time, don't rush it). Keep hitting till you feel "high."

I want to emphasize, baby hits! When taking a proper baby hit, it shouldn’t hurt at all, and there should be no need to cough. This is a healthier, less painful, and less anxiety-inducing way to smoke weed, especially for first timers.

As I suggested earlier, dedicate a whole evening/night for this activity, though you will most likely end up wanting to go to bed early. The right amount of caffeine can be helpful. Couple of things you want to be aware of when it comes to caffeine and weed though. I will touch on this in the "extra useful top" section in this article.

Your first experience should have no pressure, do whatever you feel like doing since being high can be a very individual experience. (Beware of the munchies, it can be a bad habit, here is our blog piece about 6 Helpful Ways to Avoid Unhealthy Munchies! Why Marijuana Gives You the Munchies and What to Do About It?)

2. Know yourself and prepare accordingly

Since the feeling of being "high" is something you've never experienced before, you may feel that you have a headache, are out of control, or find yourself holding onto a lot of anxiety. It actually depends on the type of person you are and your ability to step out of your comfort zone.

You should also take into account your "headspace;" how is your life going? Are you happy or sad etc. As you start experimenting with weed, you will find time and time again marijuana amplifies whatever current mood I'm in. It can be problematic for first time smokers. Someone who doesn't know this may be dysphoric, they think weed will make them "feel better" and proceed to have a wild panic attack.

Related article: Marijuana Addiction and Abuse - Understanding Marijuana Abuse

3. Find a good stoner friend

Find a close, nurturing expert stoner that you trust to take care of you during your first experience. Someone you feel comfortable with enough to get weird and silly in front of but who you also feel like you can trust. Someone that you don't feel like you need to entertain them, it's your time, it's your experience, and he/she will understand.

It's a trip that you will not forget, you want to make it as pleasant as possible, so choose the right person. It's perfectly fine, and can be more fun, if they also want to smoke; as long as they're experienced smokers and not another newbie.

This person can adjust the dose for you, make sure that you won't be smoking more than you should, and if you end up getting "way too high" or not high at all they will be there to walk you through.

Finally, a stoner friend will also know ways to have fun while high.

4. Choose the right place

You may want to settle down somewhere comfortable and safe. Avoid public places or interacting with strangers. Just place yourself somewhere where the outcome is more predictable. The Public is overwhelming and unpredictable, so for just starting out that is a bad idea! Many regular smokers still prefer to stay in their own safe environment when they're high, or at least lower their dose if going into public.

5. The magic of the munchies - And don't forget to hydrate

It would be a nice idea to get some munchies in advance and be ready for when the time comes. If you try to hit the pantry once they have already arrived, you may find yourself coming out with arm loads of junk food. Stick to what you like, healthy or unhealthy, and have them have them ready. Whatever you usually crave for will be perfect, there’s no secret recipe for munchie foods. It's your first experience, put your vegan voice to bed and enjoy whatever your body craves, even if it’s chips and candy. Just look at it as comfort food for your first-time cannabis adventure.

ALSO, water! Always have water. While you're smoking drink water. After you smoke drink water. While you're munching drink water. Just keep a glass/bottle full and within arms reach. Make sure to drink water, because YOU WILL FORGET. If I had a nickel for every time I woke up in the morning and felt completely dehydrated after a night of getting stoned, I’d have too many nickels.

6. Choose the right strain

If you are living in a legal state, I suggest asking for hybrid with Indica dominant. Sativa strains can trigger anxiety, Indica can trigger couch lock and sleepiness. Hybrid-Indica dominant will give you just the right amount of relaxation, at the same time, you won't want to fall asleep

Related article: Tips and Tricks To Overcome Your Paranoia While You're High

Check out the differences between Sativa, Indica, and hybrids in this Complete Guide to Choose The Perfect Marijuana Strain for Your Lifestyle. Always purchase your own stash so you know you are getting exactly what you want and need. Also, being knowledgeable about the topic at hand never hurts any situation.

7. Watch something you like

Comedy movies will have you clutching your sides, and sporting a hyena laugh. While horror movies will be a little bit more intense. Just watch something you enjoy, and you will have a whole different and interesting experience. My favorite show when I started smoking weed was Family Guy. Watching Family Guy doesn't require a lot of brain concentration, and it‘s comical making it entertainment. Being high for the first time is about enhancing your life experience. Pick something you like, but don’t be afraid to change it if the mood suits you.

Music can be a truly mind-blowing experience when high too. The closed-eye-visuals, seeing in color, and being able to isolate discreet sounds and instruments is incredible.

Here is a bonus point: How to Inhale Properly

It's slightly different than smoking cigarettes or hookah, just FYI. The one bit of advice I give to first timers (in regards to how to inhale) is think of it in terms of drinking through a straw and yawning. Don't inhale like you're sucking a straw. Inhale like you have a deep yawn. I think most first timers get confused with how to inhale. I've known first timers to suck into their gut instead of their lungs and it just caused them to gag or even vomit.

If you know want to know more about how to inhale properly, please check our complete guide How to Inhale Properly When Smoking Weed. There are many details that you should familiarize yourself with when it comes to inhaling smoke or vapor.

If you're not sure, then you're not high

One of my friends was getting high for the first time. I asked her "are you high?" She responded "I don't even know what that means." True.

With that said, take it slow, start with 1 good puff. Wait for about 8-10 minutes to pass before taking another hit. If you're "not sure" if you are high or not, take another one.

Coughing can be a sign that you did it right. Having a slight lightheaded feeling is a sign also.

Related article: Why Does Weed Make You Cough, How To Stop It, and could it make you higher?

Negative effects from weed and what to do if you get too high?

Don't worry no one has DIED from marijuana. An overdose is not likely to be fatal, but it can be very unpleasant.

You absolutely can overdose if you end up consuming too much THC either intentional or unintentional, and you end up with an experience you were not looking for.

Possible marijuana overdose symptoms include: lethargy, loss of coordination, decreased muscle strength, hand unsteadiness, inability to concentrate, slowed reaction time, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, confusion, memory loss, agitation, anxiety, paranoia, fear, dysphoria (unease), hallucinations and/or delusions.

Here are some tips to get over a bad high trip:

You're in your comfort zone, sleep it out. Just lay down, and close your eyes.

Leave the room. Have some quiet time by yourself. You can go for a walk if you're comfortable, or even take few minutes in the bathroom.

Consume plenty of pure, filtered water or sip on some Chamomile tea. By staying adequately hydrated, this can help your whole body and mind stay balanced in the face of stressors. Also, chamomile has calming, stress-relieving benefits, in addition to anti-inflammatory, and anti-depressant properties.

If you get too high and start to have a bad trip have black pepper on hand. Taking a few deep inhalations of it's smell (not the pepper itself) can ward off panic attacks due to one of the terpenoids found in black pepper.

Extra caffeine can help too; coffee may cancel out the effects of cannabis, and not just because coffee is an “upper” and cannabis is a “downer."

If you're already dehydrated or have an electrolyte imbalance, you could experience cardiac symptoms. So, having some sodium/potassium/magnesium will help.

Some substances can bring the uncomfortable high down which sometimes cause anxiety and paranoia. The following natural vitamins and botanicals may help in decreasing the intensity of the high:

In high dosages, Vitamin C has a calming effect to the adrenal glands functioning, and as a result can help to reduce anxiety with regards to the stress response.

Consuming CBD can level out your high and make it a lot more tolerable. A study affirmed that CBD can mitigate the intoxicating effects of THC - but that effect seems to only occur when the CBD concentration is high.

Related article: What is CBD? Is it legal? And does it get you high?

How Long Should You Hold In Your Hit When You Smoke Marijuana

There is a line between being a frugal person and a cheap person, and I always want to consider myself frugal rather than cheap. I really don't mind sharing my weed with my fellow stoners.

Actually, my favorite thing to do in life is to get someone to smoke weed for the first time. It's a ritual to me. Getting him or her in a comfortable place with some munchies, and making sure they won't smoke more than they should. I have to admit it, as the experiment goes onward, I have to distract my irritation by all the wasted THC in the air because my buddy doesn't know how to inhale the proper way.

Rule of thumb, however, THC gets absorbed in the first three second after inhaling, so you definitely shouldn't be holding it for 10 seconds or so, it seems to be a fairly common myth.

With this being said, check my article How Long Should You Hold In Your Hit When You Smoke Marijuana.

Extra Useful Tips

Avoid alcohol at the beginning; this new study from the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) has found that THC concentrations in the blood can increase significantly with alcohol consumption.

Pass this article to the person whom it will help walk through the process so he or she will be familiar with what you're trying to accomplish.

Start with a vaporizer, if you know any of your friends who has one. Borrow it and let him/her help you to walk you through using it properly.

Many first timers confused the feel of high with sleepiness. I would suggest doing it on a weekend afternoon, rather at night. I would also suggest having some caffeine handy . One of your favorite caffeinated drinks, so you can keep going and keep experiencing the feel of getting and being high.

Remember, caffeine could cause an anxiety attack with the weed, so it's best to consume caffeine AFTER smoking, not before hand. Also, don't over caffeinated yourself, just whatever your normal dose. Afterwards, if you still want to sleep go for it.



This tip is not just for newbies, I do it all the time. When I'm high and hanging out with friends or family and I want to keep going and enjoy the high, I pop a caffeine pill, and I'm good to go.



I would NOT recommend a caffeine pill or a high energy drink like Red Bull though, unless you are used to them. That, in combination with your first weed experience, might ruin your experience. You will want to consume what's enough to wake you up so you can enjoy everything from watching funny movies and TV shows to getting the infamous “munchies," nothing more, nothing else less.

Keep in mind, you may get really horny. I assisted one of my friends on her first time, we didn't have any previous intimate relationship before that, but after she got high, she was begging to have sex. Don’t take advantage of them.

Gotta (Got to) cough to get off: If you start coughing, as I mentioned earlier, it's a good sign. For experienced smokers I usually recommend to keep the smoke in and avoid letting it out at all costs. It's precious smoke that is filled with potent medicinal THC and CBD chemicals for overall healthy function. You don't wanna (want to) waste that. If you are a newbie, cut yourself some slack and cough yourself away. Don't be embarrassed, it's inevitable for beginners. Based on personal experience, the more you cough, the higher you get. So who is really winning?!

When you smoke leave your nose out of the equation. During the process, don't exhale from your nose. It's just a fancy smoke trick people do to look cool, it doesn't have any physical effect on the smoke or high.

Try out this good trick to see if you inhaled it correctly. If you open your mouth before exhaling the smoke, there will be no smoke escaping your mouth. Simply because all the smoke is in your lungs by now.

It would be useful if you can leave the sides of your mouth open a little so you get fresh air mixed with the smoke. It helps to not burn your throat as much and try to inhale just as you would take a normal deep breath.

Stay toasty my friends.

------------------------------------------------

Ayad Maher is a Cannabis Industry Entrepreneur, Blogger & Activist. eCommerce Specialist and Owner of a 420 Life Style Website; Monroe Blvd, an online smoke shop; 421Store, and an online CBD store; GoodyCBD. Editor's Note: This post was originally published in Nov. 2015 and has been revamped and updated as needed for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

16 Responses

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.