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Thanks to Tinder, Bumble and every other dating app and website, there are more opportunities for first dates than ever. But even if casual dating is on the rise, that alone doesn’t make first dates any less stressful. Luckily, cannabis can be a great tool for managing all of those first-date jitters.
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There’s been quite a bit of research looking into the effectiveness of marijuana to treat anxiety. According to one study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, our endocannabinoid system (ECS) may regulate anxiety by “dampening” excitatory signals. And some researchers are looking into the way the marijuana compound cannabidiol (CBD) interacts with CB1 receptors in the brain to help manage anxiety.
So, if you’re feeling a little anxious about your upcoming date, maybe a bit of cannabis could be exactly what you need to stay calm and relaxed so you can make a great first impression.
How to Incorporate Cannabis Into a First Date
Incorporating cannabis into a first date is a very personal way to jumpstart a potential relationship. This is especially true if you rely on marijuana for medical reasons. It’s important to make sure the people you spend time with understand and embrace that. If marijuana is a vital part of your day, knowing your date is comfortable with cannabis consumption is a good thing to find out early on.
Now, it’s important to remember that not everyone is a cannabis connoisseur like you might be. Just like a person who doesn’t drink alcohol may not want to go to a bar for a first date, there may be people out there who simply aren’t into the idea of consuming cannabis.
That’s OK. Make sure you communicate with your date before you meet up if you want cannabis to be a part of your activities so they aren’t taken by surprise.
If you’ve talked to your date about cannabis, and they’re into the idea, here are some fun, elevated date night ideas.
Pack a Picnic With a Cannabis-Infused Beverage
Forego the crowds at a trendy restaurant or the same old bar, and instead opt for a blanket, lots of snacks and a cannabis-infused beverage outside. A picnic can be a very cute and simple first date. Plus, the planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Pick any park in town, and buy a smorgasbord of options from the deli counter.
Instead of a bottle of wine, make a refreshing cannabis-infused beverage, and bring it with you to serve. If you want to add an element of fun and surprise to the date, each person should bring a couple items of their own to contribute to the food spread.
Picnics are a low-key and easy way to get to know a person. Because one thing’s for sure: You can tell a lot about a person by their food choices.
Harness the Marijuana Giggles at a Comedy Show
It’s no secret that cannabis can give you the giggles. And there’s nothing wrong with laughing a lot during a first date. A person’s sense of humor is a good thing to learn about early on. Pregame a comedy show with a joint or have a cannabis-infused mocktail before you head to the event. For extra giggles, try an energizing marijuana strain like Super Lemon Haze, which has also been reported to act as an aphrodisiac—perfect for date night.
Make a Marijuana-Infused Dinner at Home
If you feel comfortable enough, invite your first date over to your place for a home- cooked meal. Working together to make dinner in the kitchen can be a great compatibility test. If you can cook a meal together, it’s probably a good sign that a second date may be in order.
Cooking dinner with cannabis can be as simple as adding 15 mL of your preferred marijuana tincture to a salad dressing or pasta sauce. Or whip up a healthy dish with this recipe for cannabis-infused stuffed artichokes. If you want to feel relaxed but not too impaired, use a tincture with more CBD than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This will give you the relaxing benefits of cannabis without feeling too high to make good conversation.
Go to a Cannabis & Art Class
Nowadays, not only are first dates more common, but options for cannabis-friendly date nights are also more plentiful than ever. In just about every state that’s legalized marijuana, there are cannabis-friendly classes for yoga, painting, ceramics, cooking and more. If your date is a cannabis connoisseur like you, this is a great option for a fun and relaxing first date with likeminded people.
Head to a Puff, Pass & Paint class or to any other cannabis-friendly event. Be sure to bring some of your favorite cannabis products in tow. Just don’t forget to read the event details to be sure your marijuana products meet the event’s rules.
If you aren’t sure how to find cannabis events near you, it’s easier than you think. Just head to Eventbrite and search for cannabis events.
Make your first date memorable by incorporating a little cannabis. And if your date isn’t comfortable with cannabis consumption, you can always consume a low dose of marijuana at home before your date to calm your nerves.
Have you incorporated marijuana into a first date? Let us know what you did and how it went in the comments below.
Photo credit: Soroush Karimi
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.
