Marijuana, Mary Jane, zol, and za. The recently legalised medicinal and recreational drug for possession, cultivation, and private use has led many to question the misconceptions and myths surrounding the drug in comparison to the actual science and blunt truths (pun intended).
Between the two extremes of a comedy special and a panic attack, there is a whole multifaceted spectrum of human reactions and effects. Some of these could include your newfound appreciation and spiritual connection to a song you have heard 300 times or food that would generally taste “meh”, revolutionising it into haute cuisine. On the flip side, you get the paranoia or find yourself crying on the floor listening to Mitski’s “A Burning Hill” and reliving a bad breakup.
The first – and less spoken about – effect is the obscuring of time perception. You could get the urge to clean your room, wash all the dishes, rearrange your apartment, have a philosophical or anthropological revelation, or write the most beautiful poem or song you have ever produced. Or, you could realise that you have been staring at the ceiling for 20 minutes, and the whole evening can feel like the Time Variance Authority (TVA) skipped you and it was never legally recorded. You could even be trampled with the guilt of not being productive.
Furthermore, after you smoke that joint, take that eddie, or hit the bong, your brain’s operating system switches from prioritising survival to prioritising vibes. This makes consumption better for creative activities such as listening, playing or making music, painting, watching movies, going to a buffet (the munchies will get you your money’s worth), or clubbing. Conversely, while you board the mile high club, you may not retain any information if you are planning to study, as your focus and memory will be impaired. Driving is not a good idea and also extremely illegal because your depth and distance perception is nonexistent. However, PubMed studies show that Mary Jane has her fair share of therapeutic uses for people with anxiety, ADHD, and other neurodivergences.
Dreams can also be a hit or miss. You may have the most vivid sex dream with your “type yam” or reimagine your most traumatic events, but it just keeps getting worser and worser. Most commonly, it will be the weirdest, most obscure, and seussical experience. Phantom memories are also very common and quite trippy. You could be mid-conversation or thought and suddenly you feel like you have already said or thought these things, or you have always known this new information that is being presented to you. But do not get too excited because you will probably forget the next day unless you strengthen your relationship with your Notes app.
When participating in joint ventures (again, pun intended), one of the effects that can be a real bummer is becoming hyper-aware of people’s reactions and expressions, as well as the impending doom of social awkwardness. You may miss social cues completely or read into them a little too much.
It is also important to note that if you are going to garden, then you should definitely know your plants. Firstly, THC vs CBD: the two main compounds of which the plant consists. THC is psychoactive, while CBD relaxes your body. Then you get to strains – predominantly sativa and indica, but we live in consumerist times, so there is a hybrid as well. Sativa is often associated with the mind, creativity, focus, and energy, while indica basically bakes you (again, pun intended) into a couch potato. It is important to note that your endocannabinoid system works to maintain homeostasis in the body when consuming these compounds – definitely some homework for you to look into.
Lastly, remember that while yes, weed is a drug, you do not have to box every consumer into a lazy, dumb, and unambitious stereotype. Most people consume weed in moderation, legally and safely, with heavily controlled and regulated “flower” markets. Weed affects people differently depending on your age, sex, health, and psychology. Therefore, many people use it for different reasons: relaxing, working, sleeping, jolling, etc. Not all of us are cool, weird stoners (excluding myself, of course), as there is no true “image” of what a zaza enthusiast is, so judgement will not get you far.
Ultimately, all joints aside, weed consumption is a recreational activity that requires ball knowledge, so do your research before lighting one up. Obviously, do not do drugs, but if you decide to make like Kanye’s “Windy” and smoke trees, be responsible, moderate, and do not forget to PPP.
