I was able to make informed decisions and experiment responsibly
My first few visits to the cannabis dispensary in Albuquerque were a bit intimidating and overwhelming. There are so many products, producers, strains and consumption methods available. I wasn’t familiar with the terminology and didn’t understand the unique effects provided by each delivery method. I’d spend an hour browsing and be afraid to purchase anything. I needed to work my way up to eventually buying a small package of gummies. Although the budtenders were super friendly and approachable, I was reluctant to admit to my lack of knowledge. I finally took the time to do some research. I read up about the body’s endocannabinoid system that is made up of cellular receptors and a network of chemical signals that regulate all sorts of functions, including hunger, temperature, mood, pain, sleep and more. I learned how cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant mimic endocannabinoids produced by the human body. Because they link to and influence the activity of CB1 and CB2 receptors, they can provide a wide variety of effects. The two most abundant cannabinoids are THC and CBD, but they are over a hundred others. THC is responsible for the psychoactive effects. Those products with high percentages of THC are far more potent. CBD doesn’t cause the high sensation but offers an abundance of curative properties. Once I got more familiar with the cannabinoids, I looked into some of the most common terpenes. I then explored the unique benefits of the consumption methods. After a lot of reading, I finally felt more confident about choosing products at the dispensary. I was able to make informed decisions and experiment responsibly. It took some trial and error, but I’ve gradually figured out what works best for me.