marijuana
CategoriesAnalysis/Opinion, List, Offbeat by

5 Reasons People Smoke Recreational Weed

There are way more than 5 reasons people use marijuana recreationally.

It doesn’t matter if it’s because MMJ patients don’t get to keep their guns or because you don’t want a paper trail. Some people use weed without getting a medical card. We call these people recreational users and believe these are the top 5 reasons they smoke weed.
While medical patients smoke weed to cure cancer or leukemia, recreational stoners usually smoke for one of the 5 reasons on this list. Some may buck the trend and not conform, but I hope these modern day unicorns are compelled to let us know in the comments how they diverge.

Chilling out

Modern life is full of bullshit that you kind of have to deal with. Mouthing off at work will get most people fired which leads to a host of bad experiences. But that doesn’t make dealing with the crap coming your way any easier. Without a release valve, tension builds until you want to explode at something.
So people smoke to help them deal with the stress of things like exams, getting a divorce or a hard day of work. These people decide to smoke weed instead of lash out destructively in other ways. In a day when a diploma increasingly requires bullet dodging abilities, having a non-violent way to unwind that won’t destroy the body is pretty attractive.

Improving media5 reasons

Everybody knows that smoking weed makes most movies better. Plays, operas and concerts also benefit from toking on some sticky icky. Getting high makes short term memory pretty much worthless. But this is a benefit because it allows you to experience a familiar event as though it were new.
Do you remember what it was like to hear your favorite song the first time? How about a joke so dumb you can’t stop laughing at how bad it is? Now imagine getting that experience over and over and you will begin to understand. Weed makes bad movies hilarious and great movies bend minds in the best of ways.

Dealing with annoying people/situations

We all know that one person who makes your blood boil just by being in the same room as you. We’ve all also wondered if we should smoke before dealing with a terrible situation you simply need to be present for. High stress situations like visiting in-laws or getting a roommate dealing with ‘personal space’ issues often demand a level of calm unavailable to an active mind.
Instead of spending the entire party thinking about how you want to even the score, getting high can give you the ability to simply think about something else. It’s hard to be mad at someone when your thoughts are consumed with the fact that cheese is just moldy milk. Especially when you start trying to figure out to turn expired milk into cheese.

To get off something else

Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam applauds visitors during the Senate session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

People will try all sorts of things to get over an addiction. Most treatments perform little better than chance. But amazingly, recent scientific studies show that cannabis significantly promotes opioid addiction recovery.
The effects are strongest when the weed is dosed out by doctors instead of by drug dealers. But even the seeds and stems peddled by the U.S. government show signs of actually helping people. The anecdotal evidence for getting off common vices like cigarettes and alcohol is also pretty compelling.

Because it’s better than other drugs

There are a ton of drugs on the market. MDMA, crack, cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, caffeine, and a million others constantly compete with weed for users. But marijuana beats them out for several reasons. The biggest reasons are that weed is cheaper, less harmful, easier to get a hold of and can be dropped at any time.
The lack of hangover and ability to stop using at any time make weed especially nice. Unlike alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, prescriptions and club drugs, nobody has ever died from marijuana alone. So when times get tough, cutting out weed is as easy as not buying it.

Do you agree with our 5 reasons people smoke recreational weed? Know someone this list describes perfectly? It’s OK if you fall into more than one group. Let us know how this list stacks up to your experience in the comment section!

fbgr
CategoriesCulture, Guides, List by

Most Popular Facebook Groups for Stoners

Facebook groups are the best part of the social media site.

The social media colossus started out as an ivy league idea that grew into an international marketplace. The key to that growth has been how the site connects users to each other through their Facebook groups. Anyone with a Facebook account can request to be a member of these growing communities.
Facebook groups are collections of users who have similar views or hobbies. Cannabis is common on Facebook, with thousands of active groups at any given moment. The best groups have more than just a lot of users. They are able fun, engaging and growing.
It takes some good moderators, admins and plenty of engagement for a Facebook group to take off. Even then, trolls can ruin a great thing. Remember to not feed the trolls and enjoy meeting new people, seeing new things and enjoying some great marijuana.

Here are some of the most popular weed groups on Facebook. growing weed facebook groups

This list is in no particular order but each of these groups are top notch. Some focus on growing, some on medical, and others are more general. All are growing and provide their members with something special. Check them out, you might just like it.

1. Cannabis Oil Success Stories

Current Members: 125,527

If you are looking for information on Rick Simpson, Phoenix Tears, “RSO” you will find this Group useful. This group is growing quickly and hones in on educating members on sensible Cannabis Oil. They also highlight members with success stories of their own.

2. Growing Cannabis Outdoors

Current Members: 23,166

Facebook groups like this specialized for outdoor growers. They cover tips and tricks for better outdoor growing. The content revolves around soil preparations, fertilizers, and mold prevention. Basically all that stuff that’s useful to know about growing outdoors. This is not the group to post random stuff and memes because they are ALL about growing cannabis outdoors.

3. Cannabis Oil Success Stories CBD

Current Members: 16,943

CBD Oil Success Stories is similar to the group above but specializes in high quality CBD. This group is making a name for itself and highlights CBD Cannabis Oil. They also highlight the struggles and triumphs of members with success stories of their own.

4. My MD Cannabis™

Current Members: 14,644

My MD Cannabis grants its members free access to a continuous stream of informative medical cannabis related news and articles. These articles have been professionally produced and vetted. Facebook groups like this promote/facilitate interaction with other likeminded group members in a professional and supportive environment. They even allow group members to post additional cannabis/hemp news and articles to the group for members to review and comment.

5. Cannabis Growers Helping Growers

Current Members: 31,491

This is a group for legal marijuana growers around the world to share knowledge and opinions respectfully. They also promote/facilitate interaction with other like-minded group members in a professional and supportive environment.

6. Cannabis

Current Members: 224,876

The official group of cannabis! This is the perfect place for sweet memes or some smoke trick videos. They regularly post additional cannabis/hemp news and articles for this Facebook groups members to review and comment.

What Facebook groups do you like?

There are a lot of amazing Facebook groups. Let us know in the comments below what groups you think should be on this list. Thanks for reading.
Updated: 17th July 2017

CategoriesAnalysis/Opinion, List by

Top 10 Common Dabbing Mistakes

We have all made some dabbing mistakes when getting started.

Some of us learned from our dabbing mistakes while others remain ignorant of the finer points of canna culture. Regardless of where you fit along the spectrum of cannabis intelligence, you are sure to have experienced at least one of these common mistakes. These are in no particular order as each person will struggle with different parts (mine is overheating) more than others.
There are also more ways to counter these problems than I have time to list but I encourage you to share any tips or tricks with other readers in the comment section below.  We are all here to learn after all. So without further ado, here is my list of the top 10 dabbing mistakes and how to avoid them.

Overheating the NailBig Dab Rig

The normal way to heat a dab rig is with a torch. The goal is to heat the nail up enough that the concentrate vaporizes without combusting. Many dabbers don’t wait for the nail to cool slightly before taking their hit. These dabbing mistakes cause the concentrate to combust instead of vaporizing.
Combusted concentrate is significantly more harsh, lacks key terpenes and produces a lower quality high. Since terpenes act synergistically with THC and CBD to produce more powerful effects, burning them up robs people of the very experience they are trying to get. Glass should be a dull red, titanium and ceramic nails should be their natural color before dabbing

Solution:

It’s OK to heat the nail until it turns red hot. It can burn off waste from the last hit and creates a uniformly hot surface. Just wait for it to cool before taking a dab. The amount of time to wait depends on the thickness of the material but it is good to wait until just before the nail returns to its normal color.
Titanium and ceramic nails change color at a higher temperature so require longer heating times. Ceramic has the highest “red hot” temperature, followed by titanium, then crystal and finally glass. Titanium ends up retaining the most heat so it takes the longest to cool while glass is the worst heat conductor and cools quickly.

Grabbing the NailHot Dab Nail

Dabbing is a fairly new way to consume cannabis. Most people start by smoking flower through a glass pipe or bong. Bong users especially fall prey to rookie dabbing mistakes. When they are ready to clear the bong, they try to remove the nail in the same way the bowl is pulled in a normal bong.
It normally takes only a moment for people to realize their mistake. As they try to remove the bowl, their nervous system registers that their fingers are literally melting and they reflexively drop the scorching hot nail. If their reflexes are fast, it drops back in place. If not, pray it doesn’t shatter on impact with the ground.

Solution:

Don’t let people hold the rig. If the dab rig rests on a table or counter and doesn’t have to be held to hit. Having hands away from the rig can also give someone the moment they need to realize how hot that thing is and avoid touching it even if they start to reach for it.
Now, this is not always possible with exceptionally small pieces. If at all possible, don’t start a new dabber off with a small dab rig. Pain is a great teacher though so some people only need to grab the nail once and they will never forget why that is a bad idea.

Overloading the BowlOverloaded Bowl

Concentrates have to be heated to several hundred degrees before they vaporize. As product comes into contact with the nail, the two are at different temperatures. As they remain in contact with each other, their temperatures begin to equalize. The more concentrate that comes into contact with the glass, the faster it cools.
Adding more concentrate than the nail has heat to vaporize results in thin smoke and wasted material. Do this for long enough and the nail will become coated in a black resin-like substance. This residue catches on fire, produces foul smoke and can cause the piece to retain heat (which leads to spontaneous breaking).

Solution:

Make sure to use the right amount of product and heat. Thicker nails retain their heat longer than thin walled nail so the best bet is excess heat. Use a torch to heat the nail until it no longer smokes.
Electronic nails get buildup as well so periodically torching or otherwise cleaning the nail is part of a dab rigs regular maintenance. Use an old toothbrush and a rubbing alcohol/salt solution to clean the caked on residue without much risk of breaking the nail.

Missing the Bowlmissed bowl

This happens to new and veteran dabbers alike. They go to take a dab and the concentrate falls to the side of the nail or on the dome. This happens most when people hold their dab over the nail before taking their hit. They forget that heat rises so the 6 or so inches above a heated nail will melt concentrate and cause it to drip.
The bigger and less viscous the dab, the more likely it is to miss the intended target. If you have ever tried to drop something from a high place on a specific target, you know that the further away you are, the harder it is to hit. Crumble and saps tend to be difficult to put where wanted so contribute to this problem more than wax or shatters.

Solution:

Hold your dab over a container or to the side of the dab rig. Remember that the closer the dab is to the nail, the faster it is going to melt. Move the dab to the nail quickly but stay under control. Approaching the  nail from above at a 45 degree angle will give the most time and control over the quickly melting concentrate.
About one inch from the nail, most concentrate loses cohesion. What was wax or shatter becomes a liquid in about half a second so don’t delay when getting close. There is a lot of technique involved in getting exceptionally long or large dabs to hit properly. Finding the proper balance of speed, distance and heat is tricky but can be done.

Dropping the Dab Down the Center

This is a problem that comes from the overall style of domeless nails. You basically have a doughnut of glass with a hole in the center. Some people end up putting the concentrate into the center hole instead of in the glass cup. This results in the concentrate completely bypassing the heating element and dropping directly into the water.

Solution:

When dabbing, make sure the concentrate falls into the cup side of the glass. The center hole is to allow the vapor to be sucked through the piece, not the actual concentrate. If the dab doesn’t drop on and stay on a hot part of the nail it simply won’t vaporize.

Missing the Rig

dropped dabs
This is another hand eye coordination problem, just the next step up. These dabbing mistakes happen most with products like crumble and shatter. Instead of the dab dropping next to the nail, this is when the dab misses the whole rig.
Trying to drop a piece on a heated nail will often result in missing the whole piece. Since crumble and shatter are stable enough to handle, it is tempting to just use your hands. The rub comes when those tender digits get close to a heated surface and you are forced to ‘toss’ it the last of the way because it basically takes vector calculus to get it right.
There is a reason that vector calculus is one of the last lessons in math too. Because getting multiple things moving just right is REALLY difficult, especially with weights in the milligrams.

Solution:

Get a good dab tool. Having the right tools will go a long way to prevent dabbing mistakes from being an issue. Many come with a pointed end and a scoop end. Using the scoop for crumble and shatter makes getting the concentrate in the right place a synch. Silicone dab tools also prevent things from sticking to the tool while being relatively cheap.

Oversized Hitsdabbing mistakes

Hitting a dab is not like hitting a pipe or joint. It is closer to a bong but is still on a different level. People new to dabbing have a hard time judging how big a given hit will be and often get wrecked as they take their first few hits. Most of the time it is hilarious to watch people make dabbing mistakes like this.
But it can be a scary experience to get so high. There are hundreds of people that end up in emergency rooms each year from getting too high. If people don’t become somewhat catatonic, they often begin to freak out and panic.

Solution:

Start off slow when getting into dabs. With flower, the average concentration of THC /CBD (according to lab testing) lies around 15-25%. Concentrates rarely drop below 60% THC/CBD but can get as high as 99.9%.  That is a pretty big difference so always check the potency before taking a hit when possible.
Also, be sure to take small dabs to start. Taking a normal sized dab (about half the size of a pea) is the equivalent of smoking about 2-3 bowls of flower. A ‘dose’ of THC is commonly seen as between 3 and 5 milligrams.

ChokingHazy Daze

Our lungs are miracles of nature and finely tuned to process oxygen. When they register something other than oxygen, your lungs are designed to help get it out. Cannabis vapor is so much denser and hotter than normal air so when the lungs believe there is more smoke than air, they do their job and make you cough.
Stoners of all experience levels make dabbing mistakes and sometimes explode into bouts of uncontrollable heaving. It can last for only a moment or for several minutes. The denser and bigger the hit, the longer it takes to recover. There is a point on the inhale where the lungs decide enough is enough and with enough practice, anyone can find thier limit.

Solution:

Try taking a slower hit. Instead of sucking as hard as possible, take slow hits. This allows you to feel as your lungs approach their maximum capacity. You will feel your lungs begin to buck before they go full heave. With enough practice you should be able to get close to coughing without actually triggering the reflex.
In addition to breath control, practice deep breathing. Stretching your lungs when breathing normal air is a good way to strengthen them. It also helps your body process oxygen better and improves circulation, both key elements of processing THC and CBD.

PukingReady to puke

Sometimes a cough is so powerful that it causes you to spew chunks. Other times, attempting to burp up a hit can cause the gag reflex to go off. This dabbing mistake is similar to the choking issue where the body is trying to expel something it thinks is bad.
People with an overactive gag reflex may find themselves experiencing this regularly when taking big hits. They start to cough, and suddenly it becomes more. That is because coughing is tied to the gag reflex and a host of other respiratory systems.

Solution:

Try not to burp. It sounds counter intuitive but part of burping is swallowing. When smoke is swallowed, it causes irritation to the throat and other soft tissues. The body reacts to this irritation by trying to expel it through reflexive action. Not swallowing the smoke will drastically reduce the chance of puking.

Dropping the Piece

Whenever someone experiences one or more of the previous nine mistakes, bad things happen. Muscle spasms (like coughing and puking) can make limbs tense and smack glass into furniture. Grabbing the nail also causes reflexive motion that can lead to broken pieces.
Even people with the best intentions and a perfect tract record are not immune to dropping the piece. Get someone coughing hard enough that they start to puke and the piece gets forgotten. The most common way to drop a piece is when passing it to another person.
It takes careful coordination to pass a bong to another person. Misjudge how heavy it is or how tight a hold the other person has and the sound of shattering glass is sure to follow. When you are coughing up a lung and trying not to puke on everyone, it gets a lot harder to judge whether or not you should let go.

Solution:

The first step to prevent dropping the piece is to reduce interactions. There is a lot going on when dabbing. You have the rig, the tool, the torch and the concentrate all in your hands at once. Look for ways to keep things organizes and clear like having a special tray specifically for setting up and taking dabs. Minimizing the number of times you have to change hands or switch angles will save time, effort and reduce chance of making dabbing mistakes.
Additionally, make sure the area is glass friendly. Put down carpets/rugs, remove hard surfaces and that you store your piece where it won’t be bumped. Build a cocoon of softness around your piece and then even if it does get dropped it will survive.

Well, that’s the end of the list.

What did you think? Have you made any of these dabbing mistakes? Let us know how you avoid these mistakes or other ones you have made. I love getting to hear your stories  and getting to know our community. Thanks for reading.
 

chris tucker friday
CategoriesCulture by

20 Great Movies to Watch While High

 
There’s no better way to spend an evening at home than to gather with the ones you love and watch a great movie… and being high just makes it that much better!
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite films to watch while under the influence, in no particular order. Some are classics, some you may never have heard of. There’s a little something here for everyone—some will make you stop and think, some will make you laugh out loud, and some of them might just blow your mind.
So grab some snacks, sit back, light up and enjoy…
1. The Big Lebowski

Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? In this classic, the Dude is mistaken for someone who owes the mob money. In the process of clearing his name, the mob ends up destroying the Dudes rug.
Hilarity ensues as he tries to get his rug fixed. Jeff Bridges and John Goldman are amazing as they deliver legendary one liners flawlessly and give their take on some of the cannabis world’s most common archetypes.
2. Pineapple Express

Dale Denton (Seth Rogan) is a process server that witnesses his dealers boss murder a guy. He flees the scene and turns to the only person he can; his weed dealer Saul Silver (James Franco). The bad guys figure out who they are because of the brand new and super rare weed.
Weed is the main focus of this comedy that can tackle surprisingly serious issues in a light-hearted way. These stoners can’t seem to get ahead and always seem to get themselves into more trouble. This one tugs at the feels.
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Ever wish you could just forget about someone in your past? In this drama, Joel Barish (Jim Carey) struggles to find out who his dream girl is. He ends up going through a mind opening experience where he rediscovered the beauty of an imperfect life.
This introspective mindbender will take you for a ride to places you may have never explored. Science still doesn’t have all the answers to how the brain works and this will get you really thinking.
4. Altered States

This imaginative and intelligent look at psychedelics is a real masterpiece. At times surreal and at others downright silly, somehow the campy nature of it adds to the overall feeling. While amazing high, even sober types will have something to say about this one.
5. Monty Python’s Life of Brian

We follow Brian (Graham Chapman), a somewhat unlucky man living during the birth of Christianity, literally. Brian spends his whole life getting mistaken for the messiah, but it isn’t as awesome as it may sound. But he won’t let the ridiculousness of life stop him or get him down.
We could only include one entry from this distinguished group and it was tough. We opted for this gem for how relevant it is to issues around the globe. Monty Python take their signature British style of humor and confront the difference between what people believe and what people actually experienced at the beginning of the first millennia.
6. Life is Beautiful

What happens when an idyllic life is interrupted by the holocaust? This Italian film follows Guido, a Jewish book keeper with a beautiful family. But Guido’s world is turned upside down when Nazi’s take over and send people to the camps. Somehow, surrounded by death and hopelessness, he is able to find the beauty in life.
7. 3 Idiots

We have all been in a situation where you have nothing to lose. We just haven’t all had the guts to do what we wanted to. Some people never get out of that stage but not this trio. This Bollywood tale follows three college friends as they attempt to settle an old bet and recall the trouble they got into at school. Perfect for rolling up a fatty and laughing your ass off.
8. Half Baked

Thurgood Jenkins (Dave Chappelle) just got a job as a custodian at a lab where they test copious amounts of weed. Unfortunately, his roommate ends up in jail standing murder charges. So it is up to Thurgood to use weed to get his friend out of jail. He just has to be careful that his new girlfriend Mary Jane Potman (Rachel True) doesn’t find out he smokes weed or she will dump him.
Half Baked is filled with interesting information (like horses can be diabetic) and some of the best examples of what black market dealers have to deal with (both with their clients and with their competition). It will take some creative thinking and some stellar weed for these stoners to get their friend out of jail before it’s too late.
9. Yellow Submarine

Have you ever felt high just being near someone? This movie inspired by and based on the Beatles legendary album takes you on one far out ride. The Beatles accompany Captain Fred in his Yellow Submarine and take us along for the acid induced trip. The story takes place in Pepperland where the Beatles use their melodies to free the land from the music hating Blue Meanies. Definitely best watched under the influence of something.
10. Animal House

This is the college movie that inspired everything from the American Pie series and beyond. The Dean of a 1962 college is determined to expel a fraternity made of the schools rejects and party animals. Unfortunately for him, there are rules.
You get everything from John Blutarski (John Belushi) downing a real fifth of whiskey in a single go to helping Chip Diller (Kevin Bacon) become a household name. This movie was responsible or at least marked a whole generation of actors and comedians rise to fame.
11. The Holy Mountain

The Holy Mountain is filled with Christian imagery and a mysterious and otherworldly experiences. Everything is more than it seems and goes as deep as you would like. Able to be viewed in several ways, this film seems to morph and adjust to represent whatever is going on in your life. The best part is that it is able to poke fun at religions and materialists alike.
12. Pan’s Labyrinth

This dark psychological thriller explores imagination and reality by introducing us to Ofilia in the falangist Spain of 1944. She meets a faun who tells her that she is a princess. But to prove herself a true heir and meet the King, she must complete three tasks.
The world of Pan’s Labyrinth is dark and unforgiving. Danger lurks just out of sight but is always present. The twisted and sometimes contradictory nature of life is explored in a fantastical setting and amazing visualization.
13. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

We can’t stop and talk about this for too long, it’s bat country! This film is the adaptation of a book written by one of the most unique journalists ever; Hunter S. Thompson. Seriously, look this guy up, he is a bad ass.
This movie explores the depths that someone can steep to when they binge on drugs in the desert. Raul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his lawyer (Benicio Del Toro) take a trip to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race. Since the trip is paid for and they have plenty of time to kill, why not try out every drug known to man? What follows is every use-related reason why it’s a bad idea.
14. Natural Born Killers

Probably most notable for being the movie that inspired the Columbine school massacre, this prison break movie shows that some people are just good at being bad guys. NBK is a startling look at what people are capable of when they have nothing left to lose.
Quentin Terantino has a reputation for delivering blood soaked masterpieces where the world feels real and the characters exist within it. The villains have depth and reason for their actions and the stellar acting pushes it over the edge. And the “good guys” are shown as real people, reacting to the crazy situations they find themselves in instead of some impossible paragon of virtue.
15. Groundhog Day

Have you ever wished you could go back and have another chance at something? How about a whole day? In this romantic comedy, Phil (Bill Murray) is a reporter who has to cover the groundhog celebrations around Punxsutawney. But when Phil wakes up the next morning, it’s still groundhog day.
Phil slowly realizes that he is in a time loop, endlessly repeating the same day. It isn’t until he learns some hard but important lessons about what he can and can’t change that he has a chance to live for tomorrow.
16. Kung Fu Hustle

A comedic take on a part of film history known for low budgets and serious dialogue. If you are into Kung Fu classics, you will get more of the nuanced Easter eggs and pop culture references. There is beautiful music, great martial arts choreography, virtuous heroes, devious villains and plenty of interesting side characters.
This movie pokes fun at many of the ideas that have come to dominate martial arts movies. But, that doesn’t mean it sacrifices on story. The film world is populated with all sorts of people from all walks of life. Even the most intellectually challenged characters are endearing and multidimensional.
17. Dead Man

This is the story of William Blake. A traveler of the extreme western American frontiers during the late 19th century. Lost and badly wounded, he encounters a Native American named Nobody. This movie explores how society and circumstance can conspire to transform even the gentlest and kindest of souls into hardened killers. It holds up a mirror and asks us if we would do any different.
18. Pi

Pi is a mathematical constant. It includes every sequence possible which means that it holds every answer to every question possible. When a math genius creates a computer that can decode the secrets of the universe, powerful people find out and want it for themselves. Shot in grainy and gritty black and white, it sets the mood perfectly for the conflict between cabalists and Wall Street attempting to control everything.
19. A Scanner Darkly

Do you trust the government? In this visually striking film, a future cop ends up dealing with the dark side of a new illicit drug. As the drug takes hold, the distinction between fantasy and reality begin to blur.
This film asks us a question. What makes you, you? Is it memories, perception or a slurry of chemical reactions? The answer may not be as clear as we once thought it was.
20. 2001: A Space Odyssey

What happens when computers get to control things instead of man? In this visionary movie that came out during the 1960’s, we explore the consequences of alien and artificial intelligence.
When mankind discovers an alien artifact on the moon, we send our best to go investigate the mystery of who placed it. But when the next stage of evolution is up for grabs, machines prove that they want it just as much.
What are some of your favorite movies to watch while high? Tell us in the comments below!