Summer? Get high
Deep summer is when getting high is better than sleeping on the cold side of the pillow. Every summer is the perfect season to smoke weed! A perfect combination this coming summer. The sun is dazzling. Sun-kissed skins are glowing, which means just one thing: summer is officially hitting. If you’re a cannabis nerd, one of the best ways to pass that time? Getting stoned, of course. But whipping a pre-roll in August is an out of this world game than sniffing a pipe around Santa’s time or hitting an edible in the middle of April—and if you want to make the most out of your cannabis consumption, you need to play according to the season’s order.
Want to know more? Here are some ideas to make the most of your cannabis consumption this summer:
High temperature? Use cannabis to cool off the heat! Amidst the summer heat, using cannabis will help you chill and enjoy the hot sun, especially at the beach! Cannabis (or, more particularly, cannabinoids) can help reduce body temperature and cool you down on a hot summer day, according to science. “Cannabis can alter your body temperature as many compounds act as homeostatic agents, helping the body to achieve balance,” says Emma Chasen, cannabis educator and co-founder of cannabis consulting firm Eminent Consulting. “Therefore, if your body temperature is high, cannabis can help to lower it.”
Consider it like sipping a hot cup of coffee: the TRPV1 receptors are activated when you drink something hot. TRPV1 is a vanilloid receptor that regulates body temperature by activating the cooling response. When you take a hit from a vape pen or eat a cannabis edible, the cannabinoids trigger your body’s cooling response, reducing your body temperature and cooling you down. “Cannabinoids can engage with the endocannabinoid system in the hypothalamus and influence temperature regulation, while also engaging with the vanilloid receptor family (TRPA-1. TRPM8, etc),” says Chasen. “The vanilloid receptors modulate our sensation of heat and pain and therefore when engaged by cannabinoids may help to numb our sensation of feeling hot.” Just keep in mind that, while cannabis can help lower your body temperature, it shouldn’t be your first or only line of defense if you’re feeling dangerously overheated. “When using cannabis in the summer, it is still important to recognize that it may not prevent you from overheating,” says Chasen. “You still need to drink plenty of water and take breaks from the hot sun.”
So, what should you do if you’re sweating and irritated by the summer heat? Get out of the sun, drink cold beverages, and take a few sniffs; it could be exactly what you need to calm down and relax.
Consume cannabis safely
You want to have the best experience with cannabis as you can and the most important thing to keep in mind when consuming is safety first. While you should follow all of the general cannabis safety standards (such as starting “low and slow” with your dose or not consuming cannabis before driving), there are certain summer-specific considerations to keep in mind. Excessive heat can make people more prone to fainting and high-THC cannabis can do the same. “While high doses of cannabis can lower body temperature, they also can lower blood pressure making it more likely for someone to pass out,” says Chasen. Keep your bongs and pipes clean, and don’t roll your weed on dirty surfaces. If you’re prone to fainting or passing out, “stay hydrated, make sure to eat some good fats, and maybe opt for a higher CBD: THC ratio,” says Chasen. You may also want to skip consuming cannabis outdoors in high heat—and instead, take your smoke session indoors (and into the A/C).
Switch up your products for the best experience
When not all cannabis products are made equal when it comes to eating them in warm temps. Make sure to buy the proper products if you want to get the most out of your cannabis usage this summer. “Chocolates and gummies can melt, and some vape cartridges can malfunction when exposed to high temperatures,” says Chasen. “I recommend tinctures and flowers as they won’t quickly break down in high heat.” It’s vital to choose the right products, but it’s also important to preserve them properly. Keep your cannabis out of the sun and away from the heat! “Store products in a cool, dark place in an airtight container,” says Chasen. “Cannabis compounds start to degrade when exposed to oxygen and light.”
