The effects of marijuana vary from person to person, which can make it challenging to plan your high — especially if you’re a first-time user. Learn about the most common effects of weed and why your first time smoking is so unique.
Common Effects of Marijuana
Weed affects everyone differently depending on their tolerance, consumption method, strain potency, and various other factors. Indica-dominant cannabis strains tend to be more calming and relaxing, putting some people right to sleep. On the other hand, sativa strains tend to wake people up with lots of side effects at once — which some users find too overwhelming.
Cannabis products are psychoactive, not psychedelic, so you won’t experience hallucinations or similarly intense effects. The most common effects of marijuana products include:
- Calmness: Indica-dominant weed can make you feel relaxed, especially if you feel stressed or overwhelmed. Depending on your high, cannabis can help you focus on fun activities such as movies and games while setting aside other responsibilities.
- Pain relief: Cannabis is frequently used to treat chronic pain, such as migraines and arthritis, because of how it interacts with your nervous system. It can ease pain so you can focus, move, or sleep easier.
- Changes in appetite: Weed can give you “the munchies,” making you feel hungrier — often for very specific snacks. However, certain highs can also make you feel full or unable to eat. Whatever your experience, keep an eye on your food intake to avoid eating too little or too much.
- Heightened senses: The effects of marijuana on your nervous system can heighten or limit your effects in various ways. This can change your experience while listening to music, eating food, playing with pets, or getting cozy in bed.
Unfortunately, not all highs will be what you expect them to be. Negative side effects are more common after using a higher dosage or different consumption method than you’re used to. These weed effects can include:
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Insomnia
- Inability to focus
- Delayed responses
- Short-term memory loss
- Dry mouth
- Coughing
- Nausea
- Increased heart rate
First-Time Smoking Weed vs. Experienced Use
Experience and tolerance play a significant role in the type of high you can expect. Many users report different effects and levels of intensity their first time around. While some people experience overwhelming effects from just one hit, others may not feel anything at all. This is because of how your cannabinoid receptors react to the new stimulation. So, your first experience usually won’t represent future highs.
How prominently you feel weed’s effects after your first time depends on how frequently you use it and your dosage. You’ll likely feel stronger highs if you only smoke a few times per week. On the other hand, taking several edibles or smoking multiple times per day can quickly boost your tolerance, leading to significantly weaker effects.
Find the Right Weed For Your First Time
Your first time smoking weed should be a positive experience. Though you can’t determine the effects of marijuana you’ll feel, you can still control various other factors, including your best strain and consumption method. Visit Harbor House Collective to find the best weed products for you.
