high the first hit

By: rezzie22 Mood: Happy Date: Jun 03, 2008 Music: None

Simply put: it's a myth. There is no reason that one's brain will not react to the cannabinoids present in marijuana the first time one smokes. Unlike some other substances (Kanna comes to mind), there is no 'sensitization' period necessary to 'prime' the appropriate receptors. Your brain will have more or less the same response to THC whether you're a lifelong pothead or a first time smoker.

So why then does this myth keep circulating? Well, that's because a lot of people don't get high the first time they smoke. Hold on... didn't I just say that it's a myth? Allow me to explain: while there's no technical reason why one cannot get high the first time they smoke, many people find that they do not in fact get high their first time. This is usually due to a combination of paranoia and incorrect technique.

Those who have not smoked cannabis before often the action of taking smoke into their lungs to be somewhat unnatural (which it is), and therefore only hold the smoke in their mouth. Unfortunately, THC has a very low oral absorption rate -- so these people never get any perceptible effect from their hits.

In addition to incorrect technique, there's also paranoia (a lesser reason, but still a factor for some.) The first time many people smoke, they don't take very large hits, and if they do, they don't tend to hold them in for long. As a result, their dose of THC is fairly minimal. Now THC is an interesting substance. In low doses, it's not an intoxicant per se -- in fact, it produces a psychological response that can (to some extent) be overcome by a sufficiently focused mind. Many first time smokers are so concerned about the experience that they don't relax enough to really notice the effects. Combine that with the fact that many people smoking for the first time are doing so in a 'weed-hostile' environment (behind a school, for example), and you have the perfect setup for an adrenal response that more or less cancels out the immediate effects of the THC.

So how can you, as a first time smoker, ensure that you do get high? First, learn the correct pot-smoking technique Second, make sure that you don't try to "fight" any sensations you may experience (just remember: THC is a exceptionally safe drug -- no matter what you feel, it's not harmful). Third, smoke in a relaxed setting with experienced friends and no urgency. Enjoy your first experience, and take comfort in the fact that you're taking part in a custom shared by millions of human beings throughout the world.