When smoking weed on your own, you can smoke it up any way you want without having to worry about what anyone else thinks. But when you smoke with others, there are some basic etiquette rules that you need to follow.
Smoking in a group is a more communal experience than many people are accustomed to. In group drinking settings, for example, everyone has their own beverage. Smoking weed in a crowd, on the other hand, requires sharing a limited supply with everyone.
Whether you’re among new acquaintances or with a group of close friends, knowing how to smoke weed in a group setting is important to ensuring everyone enjoys themselves.
Contribute to the Supply
Pot smokers have a reputation for being pretty well-natured, and any friendly group of people likely won’t object to treating you with a couple of freebies at first. However, it’ll leave them with a bad impression if it seems like you’re mooching off others and not bringing anything to the table yourself. Avoid this pitfall by bringing your own share of weed to the smoke session. Just like at a potluck dinner, everyone needs to contribute.
If you’re new to smoking pot and don’t have a fixed source yet, you can make this clear to your new friends so they understand your position. You can also ask for help from friends and acquaintances who do have a fixed supply. If you find you enjoy smoking, you’re going to have to buy your own supply at some point, so you might as well start doing it from the very beginning. Make sure to purchase from an authorized retailer, so you know you’re getting a high-quality product. Those based in Canada can depend on the Canadian marijuana dispensary, Get Kush, for all their marijuana needs.
Don’t Be a Show-Off
Smoke tricks and intricate rolling patterns might be fun to play with on your own time, but you should practice such behaviors in moderation when you’re with a group unless you’ve honed your skills from your solo smoke sessions. If you’re not experienced with rolling or smoke tricks but still insist on performing for the group, chances are you’ll embarrass yourself a bit. If someone asks you to roll a joint, and you don’t know how to, just be honest—everyone appreciates hearing the truth, and nobody can begrudge a beginner. If the group you’re smoking with is judging you for your lack of experience, maybe you’re smoking with the wrong crowd.
If you’re new to using marijuana, you should also be very careful with weed edibles. Even a tiny amount of an edible, like a bit from a hash brownie, can hit you hard. Starting small and keeping your tolerance limit in mind is an important part of ensuring that you don’t end up requiring extra care and attention or eating more than your share to get high.
Read Also: How to Help a Loved One Tackling an Addiction
Puff, Puff, Ash, Then Pass
The most common position for groups to smoke in is sitting or standing in a circle. The universally accepted rule for sharing a joint with a group is that you should take two puffs before passing it on to the next person in the circle. Don’t hold onto the joint any longer than the time it takes for your two puffs, and make sure to ash the joint (tap it, so the ash falls off onto the ground) before passing, so the next person doesn’t have to do it for you.
Sometimes rookie weed smokers get lost in their own little world and forget these steps. To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, always be engaged with something when smoking in a group, whether it’s talking to someone or listening to music. This will keep you mentally alert until the joint is finished.
Hygiene and Sanitation
When smoking weed in a group, ensuring proper hygiene and sanitation is another crucial part of proper etiquette. Avoid keeping the joint in your mouth for too long as the accumulated saliva ruins the filter and makes it impossible for others to smoke. Always blow the smoke upwards when you exhale so as not to blow it on other people’s faces.
You should always refrain from smoking in a group if you’re sick. It’s very easy to pass contagious diseases through a joint since everyone is smoking the same filter that was just on someone else’s lips. The same applies if you’re using a bong. If you’re a bong user, keep your bong clean regularly after each smoke session, and store it in a cool, dry place.
Make a Good Impression
Socializing through group weed-smoking sessions is a great way to have fun and bond with new people, as long as you have proper etiquette. Failing to exercise basic politeness will likely make you unpopular in any new group of people, regardless of the activity. Ultimately, remember that the goal is for you and everyone else present to enjoy yourselves.
