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For many, summer is synonymous with enjoying the great outdoors after a long winter. And one way to make that time outside even better is by combining it with a little cannabis. Of course, marijuana is great for any season, but there’s something really special about enjoying it outside in the bright summer sunshine. Savor your summer and cannabis at the same time with these helpful tips and products.
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Enjoy the Beach With a Vape Pen or Cannabis-Infused Smoothie
It’s hard to name a more iconic duo than the summer and the beach. Whether you live by the seaside or head there a couple of times each summer, the feeling of a sunny day spent on the sand never gets old. If you’re planning a beach trip, odds are you’ve already packed an umbrella, the cooler and tasty food to throw on the grill. But have you thought about packing some cannabis to take along with you down to the shoreline?
RELATED: 5 WAYS TO USE CANNABIS FOR SUMMER SKINCARE
Beaches can be windy and so a joint probably isn’t the best choice here—lighting and keeping it lit can be frustrating at best. Forego that annoyance and bring a portable vape pen instead. Vaporizing cannabis will not only be easier than smoking, but it will be much more discreet as well.
If you want a great vaporizer for all day use, try the Dosist Bliss Mini Pen. These convenient, single-use pens are recyclable and vibrate when you inhale a 2.25 mg dose.
If you prefer not to inhale your cannabis, infuse a smoothie, and bring it to the beach with you instead. You can follow our cannabis breakfast smoothie recipe, or add one of the many tinctures we recommend to your favorite smoothie recipe.
There’s a marijuana tincture for every preference, from cannabidiol (CBD) only to high-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and every ratio in between. Simply add the proper dose according to your tolerance level. Not sure what your tolerance is for tinctures? Start slow with half a dropper’s worth or less.
Energize Your Hike With a Marijuana Edible or Vape Pen
Hiking is a wonderful way to combine physical activity and the great outdoors. Hiking through the woods can be a calming, moving meditation session with lots to see and appreciate. It forces you to be present in the moment, enjoying whatever happens to be in your line of vision along the way. There’s something about combining the effects of cannabis with the meditative nature of hiking that makes for a truly enjoyable experience for many people. But before mixing cannabis and hiking, there are a few things to consider.
First, only consume cannabis during a hike if it’s a trail you’re comfortable and familiar with. If you’re trying a new or particularly challenging hike, perhaps skip the cannabis altogether.
Second, not every hiking trail is smoking-friendly. Some may have specific non-smoking policies that shouldn’t be ignored. As well, smoking in a dry, summer climate can pose a serious wildfire risk. Even if you think you’re being careful, a small piece of ember from the ash of a joint can ignite a fire. And even if there aren’t specific smoking policies, other hikers on the trail may not be into inhaling your second-hand smoke.
If you want to combine cannabis and hiking, try a non-smoking alternative by eating a tasty marijuana edible like Satori’s Highbush Blueberries 30 minutes before you start the hike. Each blueberry contains about 2 mg of THC, so you have the ability to tailor the dose as you feel comfortable.
If you prefer more instant cannabis gratification, vaporizing might be a better option. With a vape pen, you won’t have to worry about starting a wildfire or intruding on those who may not like the smoke exposure. Try an uplifting sativa-dominant hybrid for immediate effects that will help motivate you through the hike, like Absolute Xtracts’ Jack Herer vape pen cartridge.
Elevate Your Camping Trip With a Pre-Roll or Cannabis-Infused S’mores
There are few things better than camping in the summer. If you’re at the right campsite, you’ll escape from all of the light pollution of the city and fall asleep in the quiet solitude of nature. Throw some cannabis into that equation, and you’re in for a pretty picturesque and relaxing summer excursion.
Bring a pack of Garden Society’s Hybrid Rosettes to the campsite. Forget rolling papers and filters to roll your own joints; these cute packs of pre-rolled mini joints are so convenient, you may never roll your own joints again. Each pack comes with 10 mini pre-rolls made with cannabis cultivated in Sonoma County, CA.
If you’re going to be smoking joints while camping, here’s a pro tip: Bring a cup-holder ashtray. These are designed for portability and will keep all of your ash and joint filters in one place.
If you really want to elevate your camping experience, use a Kiva Chocolate Bar when roasting s’mores on the campfire. These Kiva bars come in 5 mg pieces, with 100 mg total per bar. You can add as much or as little as you’d like. You can also always combine medicated and non-medicated chocolate if you prefer to microdose your cannabis.
Have fun taking your cannabis consumption outside and enjoy that summer sun.
Photo credit: Alvin Balemesa
If you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.
