Responsible Marijuana Use: A Primer

Marijuana is legal in many areas. It's a normal and enjoyable part of life for millions of people—more than 55 million, in fact. It's also very safe. But, as safe as it is, marijuana still demands a certain amount of responsibility and caution on the part of its users. Here are a few ways to stay responsible as you enjoy your drug of choice.

Choose safety first, for others and for you.

Marijuana is an incredibly safe drug. Overdosing on marijuana is impossible, which is something that you can't say about many other popular drugs (including alcohol). Marijuana users rarely end up hurting themselves or behaving irresponsibly because of the drug.

But that doesn't mean that it's not possible to harm oneself while smoking marijuana. You need to be careful.

Use marijuana only in safe (and legal) places with responsible friends. Never ever get behind the wheel of a car or try to operate any other piece of heavy or dangerous machinery while high. Marijuana can impair functions that we need to do these things safely. While we are still studying all of the effects of marijuana, there is more than enough evidence to support the fact that driving sober is the only safe choice. Besides, driving high is illegal—which brings us to our next section.

Know the laws.

Marijuana is now legal in 10 states and in the District of Columbia (it is legal for medicinal use in even more places, and may soon be legal for recreational purposes in even more states). If you're going to be using marijuana, make sure that you are doing so in a state where it is legal.

And don't forget about the many other marijuana-related laws that exist, even in states where the drug itself is legal. Smoking and driving is illegal (in addition to being a bad idea), and so is using the drug in certain areas, such as near schools. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with local laws and obey them.

Be smart. Don't break the law!

Stop hurting your lungs!

Occasional marijuana smoking probably isn't all that bad for you, but it’s certainly not good. You won't find a whole lot of doctors who will recommend that you light marijuana (or anything else, for that matter) on fire and breathe in the smoke. Your lungs are for air, not smoke. Just because you're not smoking cigarettes—which are obviously really, really bad for you—doesn't mean that you're in the clear, health-wise.

If you smoke frequently, it's a good idea to move away from smoking and start focusing more on healthier ways to get your marijuana. Vaping is an excellent example. With vaping, the marijuana is heated to the vaporization point of THC. The THC vaporizes, of course, and then you can simply breathe in the vapor. The vapor is not smoke, and it's a whole lot easier on your lungs.

You'll find lots of great products out there for vaping. Invest in a brand-name product like Wulf vape (the brand-name stuff will work better, last longer, and look better). You can also vape other things, including nicotine-infused cigarette alternatives. Many vape products are legal nationwide.

Another alternative, of course, is to ingest edibles. In states with legal marijuana and marijuana products for sale, grabbing a bag of edibles can be a great alternative to breathing in harsh smoke.

You don't have to give up smoking entirely, but substituting some healthier options once in a while can help you protect your throat and lungs.