Cannabis Etiquette: 5 rules to share Cannabis with Friends
Everybody knows cannabis is best enjoyed in a social setting. Cannabis is very popular in the world. 12% of adults in the US smoke marijuana. In many ways, it acts as a social lubricant, making people feel at ease and relaxed around others, opening up opportunities to make new friends and have meaningful conversations with the people around you.
With that said, just like any other social activity, there are unwritten rules that you should be aware of if you don’t want to end up rubbing people the wrong way. After all, even though cannabis is usually a substance to be enjoyed in a relaxed setting, a little bit of etiquette goes a long way if you want to be invited to the smoking session next time around.
What is Cannabis Etiquette?
In short, cannabis etiquette is the set of conventional rules of behavior on how to smoke politely in a social setting. For all the veteran smokes out there, cannabis etiquette may seem like second nature to you by now, but remember, we all have to start somewhere. As mentioned, there are unwritten rules and social faux pas that you must be aware of, and some of them may seem a little confusing at first.
Remember, you're not the only one who will smoke it
If you’re going to smoke weed with your friends, it’s better to turn up to the party with some weed of your own. It’s even better if you all take an equal share in the cost for the weed and buy it together; that way, nobody will feel hard done by, and it will create a better atmosphere.
Before your next smoke session, find a marijuana shop near you and pay a visit with your friends. Then you can all choose which strain you want, and you can maybe even sample some of the other products in the store. This is a great way to start things off on the right foot and will set you up for an awesome smoke session with your buddies.
Share Weed Etiquette
If you’re about to head out to your first marijuana session or if you’d just like to brush up on your cannabis etiquette, here are some tips for you to follow.
1. No Peer Pressure
First things first, any form of peer pressure is a big no-no. This means that you should never apply pressure on someone else to smoke. If you have a joint, it’s common courtesy to ask them if they would like to share. If they refuse, do not ask them again or make them feel bad for rejecting you.
Likewise, if you are in a room full of people and there are people in there who do not wish to smoke, then it would be polite to smoke outside or in a different room, so you do not have to subject them to secondhand smoke.
2. Share the Cannabis
As we just touched upon, it’s considered polite to offer the people around you whether or not they would like to share cannabis with you. If you’re the host, make sure you offer people to join in on your smoking session so you can make them feel welcome and put them at ease.
Conversely, if you’re heading out to someone else’s place, make sure you take some weed with you, so you don’t come across as cheeky or inconsiderate. Just like you would take wine with you to a dinner party, you shouldn’t turn up empty-handed to a smoke session (at least bring some papers!)
3. Passing the Joint to the left
Any seasoned weed smoker will tell you that you should always pass the joint to the left. However, the direction that you pass in reality isn’t that important, to be honest. What is important is that you keep consistent with how you pass the joint and ensure that everyone gets a fair share. If you are sat in a circle, keep passing it the same way and not skip anyone out of the line.
As for the smoking itself, it’s recommended that you stick to the “puff, puff, pass” mantra. Take two hits, and pass it on. That way, nobody can call you greedy.
4. Keep Things Clean
Here’s the thing, sharing a joint isn’t exactly the cleanest of activities. You are essentially sharing saliva with several other people, which is kinda gross when you think about it. However, this is all just part and parcel of smoking cannabis. With that said, you should do what you can to keep it clean.
- Keep your lips dry, and do not soak the joint with your saliva
- Do not share if you are unwell
- Wash your hands
- Keep the joint away from dirty surfaces
5. Show Respect
Last but not least, show respect for the people in the room. If it is their first time, be encouraging and offer advice. Don’t laugh at people and make them feel uncomfortable. If people do not want to smoke, that’s okay. If someone gets too high and acts a little strange, that’s okay too.
Be respectful, and people will respect you.
About the author
Baker handles content marketing at Happy Leaf Collective. There are 5 years that he is deeply involved in the cannabis field. He had 3 years of experience as a Budtender and thanks to his desire to achieve more, he has a career move. Currently, he works as a content manager.
