Cannabis responsible consumption involves understanding personal limits and avoiding abuse. CaRefined LLC dba CannaRefined also includes respecting others’ preferences and sensitivities while consuming in shared spaces.
Moreover, cannabis users must ensure their products are stored safely to prevent access by children. In addition, they must be mindful of their environmental footprint and consider their social responsibilities when deciding to consume cannabis.
Choosing cannabis that aligns with personal preferences is a key part of conscious/responsible consumption. This includes determining a preferred method of consumption and understanding the different types, strains, and potencies of cannabis available. It also includes evaluating cultivation practices to ensure products are grown without harmful pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers.
Using the right product for each occasion is another important aspect of responsible consumption. Whether it is a water pipe, an edible, or a dry herb vaporizer, the cannabis should be appropriate for the time, place, and mood of the consumer. This also means knowing how much of the product to consume and not overindulging.
It is also a good idea to always store cannabis products in a safe and secure place, out of reach of children and pets, especially after consuming them. Always read product labels, as well, to ensure you know exactly what you are consuming. It’s a good idea to communicate your cannabis usage with all of your healthcare providers as well to help prevent drug interactions.
The final thing to consider is that if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is best to avoid cannabis. The chemical compounds in cannabis can pass through a woman’s bloodstream to her fetus or newborn baby and can affect their brain development.
The same goes for teens. Research has shown that teens who use cannabis regularly are 60% less likely to graduate high school than their peers who don’t use the drug. This is mainly because regular cannabis use can impair their ability to learn and concentrate. It’s also a good idea to avoid cannabis if you have a family history of schizophrenia or other psychotic conditions.
Cannabis can have a wide range of effects, and it is important to be mindful of your limits. Never consume more than you are comfortable with, and be understanding of others’ choices not to partake to foster a sense of community and respect. It is also important to respect personal boundaries and privacy and avoid blowing smoke toward people who may not be comfortable with it.
Depending on how and where you use cannabis, it can alter your state of mind and mood in several ways. Some consumers find that it makes them feel more alert and refreshed, while others experience a relaxing or sleepy effect. Be mindful of the effects and how they interact with your daily life, and don’t engage in risky activities that can compromise your health, safety, or academic or professional prospects.
Most interviewees recognized that cannabis comes with risks, but they tended to rationalize these as less significant than the risks associated with other substances like alcohol or pharmaceutical drugs. They also emphasized that they could self-regulate and minimize negative impacts by practicing responsible consumption and managing disclosure.
Be aware that cannabis can affect your ability to concentrate and focus, so it is crucial not to operate a vehicle or participate in other tasks that require your full attention while using it. This can lead to serious consequences, so it is best not to do so, even if you feel high. Also, never share cannabis with minors, as it is illegal and can have serious legal ramifications. In addition, remember to keep cannabis products out of reach of children and pets and to store them in child-resistant packaging.
As cannabis continues to make its way into the mainstream, consumers need to remember that the drug affects different people differently. It’s important to be mindful of personal limits, consume a small amount at a time, and allow oneself to feel the effects before consuming more. It’s also important to avoid operating a vehicle or engaging in other activities that require full attention, as doing so can be dangerous and is illegal in most jurisdictions.
Interviewees exhibited responsible consumption practices by making harm reduction choices in their use of cannabis derivatives and routes of administration, as well as how, where, and with whom to consume. They regulated their set and setting in adherence to sanctions that prioritized self-control and respect for non-users and managed disclosure to protect against stigmatization. They adhered to emerging tobacco smoking protocols in public and private spaces, avoiding smoking in places where non-users might be negatively affected.
Conscious cannabis consumption also involves being aware of the origin, quality, and environmental impact of the product purchased. Choosing to buy products from dispensaries and cultivators who prioritize sustainability, transparency, and organic growing methods, for example, is an excellent place to start. In addition, storing cannabis products in a secure location (lockbox, locked cabinet, etc.) and keeping them out of sight and reach of children and pets is important to protect their safety.
You are finally, avoiding cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding is important for both the mother’s and child’s health. The THC in cannabis can pass through the womb and enter breast milk, where it can potentially impair a child’s development. This is why it’s important to talk with your doctor before trying cannabis while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Cannabis, like alcohol, affects your ability to drive and increases your risk of collision. It can affect your judgment, coordination, and reaction time, as well as alter your perception of speed, distance, and motor skills.
It can also impair a driver’s ability to complete simple tasks, such as turning left or changing lanes on the road. Driving studies (simulated and on-road) have shown that cannabis use decreases a driver’s alertness, slows response time, and impacts depth perception, lane position, and following distance. The effects of THC can last up to eight hours after consumption.
In addition, the THC in cannabis can be passed to the fetus and infant through the mother’s bloodstream or through breast milk, which can negatively impact the growth and development of the child. Talk to your doctor about cannabis if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you are consuming cannabis and need to get behind the wheel, consider using a ride-sharing service or taking public transit to reach your destination. Remember that driving while impaired by cannabis or any drug is illegal in all provinces and territories and can carry the same penalties as drunk driving.
Cannabis may interact with certain types of medication, including antidepressants and some heart medications. Check with your physician and pharmacist about what medications you are taking, how they are affected by cannabis, and how to avoid interactions.
Cannabis consumers need to be mindful of the preferences and sensitivities of those around them. This includes respecting the privacy and personal space of those who do not consume cannabis and avoiding consumption in shared spaces where it may be disruptive or uncomfortable for others. Responsible consumption also means being aware of how cannabis can affect one’s sense of time, memory, and judgment — it is important to avoid activities that require full concentration or coordination after consuming cannabis.
Participants described a range of harm-reduction techniques that they used to minimize the effects of cannabis use. These included regulating the amount and frequency of cannabis consumed, avoiding cannabis in high-risk situations, and managing disclosure to protect themselves from stigmatization. These strategies can be classified as normative behaviors, in line with Goffman’s (1963) conceptualization of normalization. When individuals use normative behaviors, they present themselves as ordinary in the social context, contributing to normalization.
Even though participants felt their cannabis use was increasingly accepted in California, many were still wary of public attitudes outside of this state. Some were concerned that their friends and family might not accept their use of cannabis, while others feared stigmatization in workplaces, schools, or other community settings.
Structural stigmas operate on the macro level and include laws criminalizing cannabis, policies limiting access to housing and employment for those with stigmatized identities, and institutional views that problematize the use of cannabis (Livingston & Boyd, 2012). These influences often lead to devaluation in the eyes of society, causing users to conceal their cannabis use from others or to move out of communities that reject it. Moreover, they may also be forced to make compromises about their lifestyle in order to maintain their employment and access to medical care (Collins & Bilge, 2016). This convergence of stigmatizing forces is known as intersectional stigma.