Do you feel ready to smoke pot for the first time, but aren't quite sure how to go about it? Many people find that they need to use marijuana more than one time before they are able to feel the effects of the drug. This is because there is a technique involved that may take a few attempts to get down. This page will show you how to smoke marijuana so that you can learn to use the drug correctly, and benefit from what weed has to offer.

Before you attempt to smoke weed, there are a few things that need to be kept in mind. First of all, you should only smoke at a time when you are free of any major responsibilities. Toking it up right before a test in school or before heading in to work, for example, is a bad idea because you will lose your ability to focus when you are high. Similarly, you should never smoke marijuana before getting behind the wheel of a car or any other vehicle (or worse, while driving). Not only is this dangerous, but if you get pulled over you may can get charged with driving while intoxicated, and face heavy fines and/or time behind bars.

Marijuana is a drug that is used for both medicinal and recreational purposes (although only medical use of marijuana is legal, and even then only in 14 states). It comes from a hemp plant known as cannabis. Marijuana is made by drying out the flowers of the cannabis plant, resulting in a substance that is greenish-brown in color (although sometimes other colors, such as purple or red, are present as well). Marijuana looks very much like dried leaves or herbs.

The chemical in marijuana hat produces the "high" effect is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC.http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/marijuana/index.htmlThe two common strains of cannabis, sativa and indica, both contain THC, but both are reported to affect the mind and body in slightly different ways. Sativa is known to be slightly stimulating and best for use during waking hours, and indica is said to be more of a relaxant, and ideal for night time use.http://www.highlandspringswellness.com/pdf/Sativa%20vs%20Indica.pdf

There are many, many names for marijuana. You may hear it referred to as weed, pot, blunt, ganja, chronic, herb or bud. In states where marijuana has been legalized for medicinal use, it may be prescribed for a variety of conditions such as chronic pain, nausea, fibromyalgia, HIV and the negative effects of chemotherapy. http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7002

Once you feel that you are ready to partake of marijuana and you have your gotten your hands on some, it is time to learn how to smoke the stuff. In order to do this, you will need to have some sort of smoking accessory, such as rolling papers, a water bong or a pipe.

The first step is to clean your weed by removing any stems and seeds. The amount of cleaning necessary will depend on the quality of your stash, as some types of pot have virtually no seeds or stems while others are rife with them. Once your pot has been cleaned, you can either smoke it as is or break it up for an easier, more consistent smoke. This can be done with your hands or you can purchase a marijuana grinder from a head shop to get a fine consistency. If you are rolling a joint, you will want to break up your weed as finely as possible.

Once this has been done, fill your bowl with pot or roll up your joint. Now light it up with a cigarette lighter (be sure to cover the carburetor if you are smoking from a bong) and inhale while the flame is in contact with the weed. Keep sucking until you have inhaled a good amount, hold your breath, remove the smoking apparatus from your mouth and then inhale one last time to make sure that the smoke has entered your lungs. You may feel the need to cough -- try to suppress it and hold the smoke in for as long as possible. The longer it is in your lungs, the more you will feel the effects. Now wait a couple of minutes for the high to kick in, and take more hits as desired.

Of course, smoking is not the only way to use marijuana. If you find this method uncomfortable or you just can't seem to be able to properly inhale, you may want to try to use it another way. The following are alternatives to smoking:

1. Vaporizers: Using a vaporizer is similar to smoking, but it is far smoother and less harsh on the throat and the lungs. Basically, instead of lighting the marijuana on fire as you do with smoking, you place it on the hot surface of the vaporizer and inhale the vapor that comes forth. Vaporizers are available at head shops or online, and are pricier than pipes or bongs.
2. Marijuana Tea: Weed can be brewed into a tea and then drank. It requires a steeping time of an hour or so for maximum effect, and it can be sweetened with honey or sugar. See the Mahalo page on how to brew marijuana tea for complete instructions.
3. Edibles: Marijuana can be made into pot butter and then baked onto a variety of baked goods such as pot brownies or cookies. Many marijuana clubs or collectives sell marijuana edibles, or you can make your own pot butter and create your own goodies at home.

Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, although it is legalized for medical use in fourteen states. The content in this page is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. Please do not think that just because it is legal in your state that you can freely smoke. You must have a medical card that allows you to smoke marijuana.