When you are young, you can experiment, but as you age – you want to minimize after effects…we got you when it comes to the next step with marijuana

High school and college were the days of experimenting. Lessons leads to stories about crazy things and some unfortunate times. But as you age and move to a more sophisticated self, it is important to have the knowledge regarding having fun.  Marijuana has become mainstream and some are moving into a connoisseur phase.  This encompasses flavor, impact, and potency.  In this journey, here are 5 key things to know about cannabis concentrates.

It is not for beginners

Concentrates are extremely potent. This is helpful for cannabis enthusiasts who have built up a high tolerance and know how marijuana affects them. However, it can overwhelm people who are still new in consuming.  Don’t rush into the max and until you have gotten your weed legs steady. Dabbing is the way to consume concentrates, and is a bit more of a process.

Concentrates may or may not be better flower

RELATED: Marijuana 101: Dabbing Wax Vs. Vaping Wax

You can have a bit of a longer high

RELATED: Differences In Marijuana Highs: Flowers, Edibles and Concentrates

Similar to smoking/vaping, the effects of dabbing usually last 1 to 3 hours. If using a high THC concentrate, you could feel the effects for 10-12 hours. If you are feeling uncomfortable or worried, the best thing to do is take a nap and sleep it off.

Concentrates are to be respected

RELATED: Dabbing Is On The Rise Among Teens — Here’s What Parents Should Know 

You can find a ton misinformation surrounding the dabbing process, some reports claim overdoses have been influenced by the recent popularity of concentrates. While there might be an existing relationship, marijuana advocates claim concentrates are safe and produce the same positive results as cannabis flower. Even if you get too high from ingesting the wrong dose, no one has ever died from consuming them.

Concentrates are like other products

While the process of making concentrates is one involving the use of complex chemicals, facilities are equipped to handle these solvents and are very strict when it comes to how they’re produced. All the information should be clearly stated on the product’s label, and concentrates should be made by professionals who are working responsibly. In short, dangerous concentrates are rarely found in a regulated, legal market.

A question and fear of many canna-curious and canna-newsbies is how long will you be high. Even experienced cannabis consumers have been surprised as it is not an exact science. The good news is that while your buzz might be freaking you out a little at this very moment, chances are you are going to pull out of the experience unscathed. But maybe the possibility of dropping dead is not your biggest concern. Maybe you’re supposed to pick the kids up from school, go to work, or take care of any other responsibility where a sober brain is better.

Well, never fear, we’ve got you. The length of a high really all comes down to how much marijuana was consumed, in what form and personal tolerance. The following information should help you establish some sort of timeline for when you can expect to be straight again.

Smoking

RELATED: Understanding The Timeline Of A Marijuana High

Smoking is still the most frequent form consumption method. The effects hit almost instantaneously, and they can last anywhere from one to three hours depending on the strength of the herb. So don’t worry, you still have plenty of time to sober up before fulfilling any of those pesky responsibilities you might have in the afternoon. But in the interest of full disclosure, you’re probably still going to feel a bit off for the rest of the day. Coming down from a high can make a person feel tired and just less motivated than usual.

Vaping

Coming in as the second most . It makes sense, too. They are more convenient than rolling a joint or packing a bowl and they are easy to hit clandestinely in almost any situation. But the THC extracts that are used in these little devils can sometimes pack a punch. Still, it’s not typical for the buzz that comes from a vape to last too much longer than smoking. In many cases, people who use vapes do not suck in as much THC as they might when using flower. So it is well within reason for a person to expect a more sober mind within a few hours of use. It is conceivable, too, that the high from a vape pen may start to fade sooner than later.

Dabs

This thing called dabs (shatter, wax, budder) is a different beast altogether, being described by some as smoking an entire joint in a single hit. These concentrated products are arguably one of the quickest ways out there to get super stoned. But while experienced dab stars can use them without issue, newbies have been known to struggle a bit. The high that comes from a dab can last anywhere from a few to several hours. If you are struggling to read this paragraph, you might be in for the day.

Edibles and Beverages

Edibles are great for the cannabis user who doesn’t like to smoke. In fact, gummies are the most popular way for people to consume.  Edibles can be tricky to use with regard to dosage. Purchased at a dispensary, these products come labeled with what is considered a reasonable dose—the standard is 10mg of THC. But if a person was handed a homemade brownie edible from a friend at an event, the THC content is anyone’s guess.

RELATED: 3 Popular Ways To Consume Marijuana Flower

For the sake of argument, however, let’s say the dosage is known. You took a 30mg edible in the morning and were hoping to be straight as an arrow in a few hours. Well, that’s probably not going to happen. At least not for the most part. It takes edibles up to an hour to kick in, and the buzz seems to linger around a lot longer than it does from smoking.

In fact, it is not unheard of for even a semi-modest dose of an edible product to last anywhere between 8 to 12 hours. Larger doses can make a person feel like they may never experience sobriety again. It is also worth mentioning that cannabis-infused beverages hit harder than traditional edibles. The product may only claim to have 10 mg THC, but fair warning: it’s going to feel a lot stronger.

Hopefully this give you a bit more clarity with the question how long will you be high.

Sunday, June 18, is Jack Herer Day, an unofficial remembrance for the profane, bombastic, lovable weed warrior and author of the landmark 1985 hemp legalization polemic “The Emperor Wears No Clothes.”

Herer died in 2010 at age 70, just two years before voters passed weed legalization in Colorado and Washington. Today, 23 states and Washington, DC, have legalized THC, and the federal government has made hemp federally legal, igniting an explosion of CBD oil products and a weed seed golden age. Jack would have loved it, and yet would still have found rights to fight for.

The strain named in honor of Jack Herer is no lightweight, either. Made in the ‘90s by Sensi Seeds in Amsterdam, Jack Herer is a top 15 most menu-available strain in the US this June on Leafly. Jack’s not a most-searched strain anymore, but it’s still simmering in the top 30. Jack is more like The Eagles and other classic rock stalwarts—the glimmering green buds remain a staple of US weed culture.

We shopped, smoked, and scouted the US for the best Jack Herer growers across the land. We also widened the lens to include several strains analogous to Jack Herer in their dominant smell molecule—terpinolene.

Oregon

Jack Herer, Midnight Fruit Co. 

This sample invokes nostalgia for the days we were lucky enough to score a good bag of Jack, with exaggerated bubblegum and nose-tickling tropical fruit notes. A classic haze-forward nose, excellent structure, and soaring high make it easy to see why the crew over at Midnight Fruit Co. has been running this cut for over a decade.

Keith elaborated on keeping this time-honored cultivar in the garden. “Whether it’s more seasoned generations that remember a particular time they had Jack 20 years ago, or a younger person experiencing it for the first time, it’s one of those classic strains that keeps folks coming back for more.” (Ryan Herron)

See also: Cannarado-bred Grape Durban, grown by Dallas Growers Club of Oregon

California

Buddha’s Hand

Few growers carry the torch for Jack terps in Cali like Esensia Gardens, sold at Solful in San Francisco and Sebastopol. Buddha’s Hand and Lime Juice descend from the old-school Chernobyl strain, which is terpinolene-forward. Lime Juice is a top 10 outdoor strain in the state in 2023 The Emerald Cup. Bored by Gelatos? Esensia Gardens and Solful will both cleanse your palate. The top-shelf outdoor comes from a diverse, legacy team up in the hills of Mendocino County. Jack Herer would be proud to wake and bake with these buds.

See also

Washington

Jack Herer and other terpinolene strains are often commodity crops in Washington—they’re affordable in every modality from flower to dab.

On the top shelf

Value buys

Colorado

Coloradoans have deep experience with good Jack Herer, as well as terpinolene strains and sativas, in general. Look out for:

Nevada

Jack Herer by Rythm, Nevada

Rythm’s Jack strain doesn’t mess around. A strong citrus flavor on both the in and out provides an incredibly smooth smoke that hits hard. At 25% THC and 4.9 mg/g caryophyllene, it’s stronger than your average Jack, which means a consistently uplifting, euphoric, and energizing high. Rythm’s trichome-loaded and pungent strain produces one of Nevada’s most beautiful and sticky buds. Careful, though; even a little bit too much of this Jack can leave users feeling heavy behind the eyes. It’s available in 45 Las Vegas dispensaries, including Reef, Las Vegas ReLeaf, Essence, Jardín, The Source, Nevada Wellness Center, Beyond Hello, Exhale NV, Curaleaf, Zen Leaf, Jade, Rise, and Sahara Wellness. (Chris Kudialis)

Illinois

Illinois’ fledgling market offers Jack any number of ways. Check out:

• Jack Herer by Rythm
• Jack Herer mini joints by Dogwalkers

Massachusetts

Pine Grande, Bountiful Farms

Massachusetts’ award-winning Bountiful Farms grows terpinolene-dominant strains analogous to Jack Herer. Check the prized Pina Grande, their in-house staple landrace cross Durban Walker or Zweet Inzanity. Bountiful’s latest in Jacks+Haze is Dripz (Pineapple Chunk x Skywalker Og).

OK—that’s enough top Jack to get you started. Hit that terpinolene wake and bake, ride the rocket of productivity, and show the courage of Jack Herer. Hell, they might name a strain after you one day.

Shout out your favorite Jack Herer or terpinolene growers and brands in the comments below. 

Freelancers Ryan Herron and Chris Kudialis contributed to this report.