Colorado 4/20 Day: Where to start? Here

William Breathes (not his real name) is Westword’s longtime medical marijuana dispensary critic and journalist. He was the nation’s first “pot critic,” and has informed readers around the world about marijuana consumption and culture.

We sat down with Breathes to ask him basic questions about recreational pot for people who may be curious, but too afraid to ask.

on Monday April 13, 2015 at the Colorado Harvest grow facility. (Photo by Gabriel Christus/Aurora Sentinel)

Although his consumption is mostly for medicinal purposes, recreational marijuana is an industry he knows well. His expertise is well-regarded, and although he’s paid to consume pot, that doesn’t mean he’s lazy. His columns appear regularly in print and online, and he has an active following of connoisseurs.

What is marijuana?

Marijuana is a plant that when you ingest it — either by smoking it or eating it — you get high.

Explain “high.”

It’s an elevated feeling of consciousness. Some people describe it as a euphoric sensation in their heads, maybe some tingling or some numbness — not numbness is a narcotic sense — more of a floating numbness.

What’s the difference between indica and sativa?

Good question. And that can be a really detailed answer, but generally speaking, indica and sativa are two types of a marijuana plant. Sativas are known for getting you a little bit more “high” with an energetic buzz. Indicas are known for making people more lethargic or classically “stoned.” You can go either way with it, and both generally have the same sort of sensations, but a sativa can keep you awake and make a concert more fun. An indica is something maybe you want to have after a long day at work and you want to relax.

Sounds like the difference between a bottle of red wine and a bottle of bourbon.

That’s really good comparison. One may be a bottle of Merlot and the other could be a bottle of Jameson.

And what’s a hybrid?

A combination of indica and sativa. You can see how there can be an infinite number of variations on that and how different crosses can breed different results.

Why is some marijuana different colors?

That has to do with whether it’s an indica and sativa, or the plant’s genetic makeup. It also has to do with the temperature of the room it was grown in. Some plants react to colder temperatures by turning purple and other plants will stay pretty green. Some even turn neon green. I tell people that it’s a lot like roses. Everyone knows that there are thousands of different roses with all types of hues and colors.

So the different colors aren’t really a bad thing?

No, not at all. Unless it’s brown. In which case you probably got ripped off.

Does marijuana ever go bad?

Yeah, actually there are several different ways that marijuana can go bad. First, it can be too dry or left out in the sunlight, which would degrade the THC. It would still get you high, but it’ll give you a headache. If it’s put away too wet, it can mold or mildew. Growers can have a hard time with mildew and crop bug problems in their garden. I’ve definitely seen plenty of those.

How do you tell if it’s bad?

The best piece of advice I can give people is to use their nose. If something doesn’t look right and it smells off — and I realize that sounds very vague and general — but you’d be surprised how instinctual it is. If it smells musky or full of mold, you’d be surprised how as humans we can pick that up instantly. You don’t have to be a pot connoisseur to know it.

Is there a rule of thumb for how long it can last?

If kept correctly in jars, it can last a year or more without drying out. If you put it somewhere cool, without a lot of light, it could keep for up to two years without really starting to degrade.

How do you know what’s potent and what isn’t? And where do you start?

There’s two sides to it. Different strains are known for their potency. Certain OG Kushes are always going to be potent, even if they’re not grown all that well. If you’re starting out, you may want to go for more easy-going strains like a Blueberry or something like that. But here in Colorado, potency is the thing. People could buy lower-grade “shake,” which may not have as many juicy buds in it, but also has fewer trichomes (small crystals) and may be a little bit more mellow for a casual smoker.

Is there a number people can look for?

Generally speaking — the measurement systems can vary and can be flawed — pot can be anywhere from 11 percent THC all the way up to 23 to 26 percent. If you stay on the lower end, obviously you’re not going to get as high off it.

Where should people start?

What I always suggest if someone hasn’t smoked in a long time or if they’re just getting started is to take three or four hits and sit back for a half hour and see how that makes you feel.

What if you don’t feel anything?

If you haven’t smoked in a while, and you don’t feel anything after 30 to 45 minutes, don’t fool yourself. Your body isn’t used to it, so it may take another minute for your body to readjust and for you to realize how high you are. And that’s the problem with edibles — it takes a while to kick in. And it doesn’t kick in all at once so they start eating more, and then it all happens at once and they’re in trouble.

Edibles may be attractive to a lot of people who are new, is that a good place to start instead of smoking it?

That’s really a personal preference. I don’t want to advocate smoking to anyone who doesn’t normally smoke. It’s not the most healthy thing in the world. If you have no objections to smoking, I would start with that. If you do, start with edibles. It’s attractive to a lot of people, especially the ones that you can take 5 milligrams at a time and pace yourself.

How much is enough?

It’s safe to assume that anyone who hasn’t done it in a while or is a very casual user has a low tolerance. Unfortunately, its hard to know how much is too much until you’ve had too much. When you do, you can have some pretty uncomfortable feelings. You can feel a little anxious — the cliche is paranoia. Or you get a little dizzy or feel a little queasy — which is ironic because marijuana can help with queasiness — but I feel that way sometimes, even recently. It happens to everyone.

If they don’t like how they feel, how long will that last?

You can expect it to last maybe a half hour or so, but it’s important not to dwell on how long it’s going to last. It’s more important to think about this: You’re fine. Nothing is going to happen. You’re not having a heart attack. Just sit back and put on some music. Go for a walk. Calm down. Marijuana can definitely cause anxiety in people, and that’s one of the big reasons I hear why people quit. It’s common and as long you know that it’s common — and not just you — try to ride it out. Nothing is going to speed it up.

What about edibles and their contents? Is there a certain place to start?

I’m a 30-something grown man who weighs 170 pounds and I would say for someone like me, start out with 20 milligrams. But that’s assuming that you want to feel something. If you want to ease into it, try 5 milligrams at a time, not to exceed 20, and see how you feel. You’ve already committed to getting stoned, so start with a normal amount and see what getting high is all about.

Do different types really taste different if you’re smoking it?

Yeah, they really do. Like wines, it takes a little bit of an appreciation and developing a taste for it. But for someone who is completely new, an OG may taste really lemony, but really earthy and soil-like with a tart, rubbery finish compared to a sativa that’s really musky and mossy — anyone can tell the difference in that taste.

What’s the best way to get a taste?

You want a clean pipe. Starting fresh and clean is a big part of the battle. Try not to let the flame roast over the whole bowl and give it an easy light and let the cherry grow. Don’t take massive big hits. The first few will taste a lot better.

What’s the difference between a good shop and a bad shop?

I’ve been doing that for years. Obviously, dispensaries that make you feel weird — like you’ve walked into some stoner’s business and it feels like you’re buying weed from a weed dealer — are bad. You don’t need to feel that way. There are professional shops around town, places around town with bud-tenders who aren’t stoned and can actually talk to you about strains. Feel comfortable in the store. It’s just like going to a liquor store down the street. But the biggest thing is: How is the pot? Does it smell fresh? Does it look good? Are you looking at really nice, well-manicured buds? Or are you looking at crumbles and shake in the jar with leaves all over the place? Do they have a good selection of strains? If they only have two or three strains, you might not get what you’re looking for. And as you get more comfortable, ask around. Ask how they’re growing it. Is it organic or hydroponic? They should know that.

What’s a reasonable price for recreational pot?

With the taxes being as high as they are, as long as you’re not over $45 with tax included, that’s reasonable for an eighth.

Are there any community resources where people can learn more about marijuana?

There are a few smoking clubs, but sometimes those are full of people without much to do. I’m very glad that we have them, and I definitely would like places where people can consume recreationally, but the idea of going somewhere just to smoke pot still seems strange to me. Smoking pot shouldn’t be the end-all, be-all — you should be having a good time as well. I try to answer as many questions as I can online (on Westword’s “Ask a Stoner”) but the dispensaries are really a good place to start, too.

A place to ask all the dumb questions.

Absolutely. There are a few resources online: ICMag.com, THCFarmer.com. They can be dense and juvenile sometimes, but people can go and ask questions. They’ve been around for a while. Or you can always ask me.