Puff, puff, pass.
Cannabis culture is full of unwritten codes to keep the smoking circle happy, which involves being communicative, respectful and considerate to create positive social interactions. Always mind your marijuana manners. To respect the smoking circle, here are a couple of unwritten rules to get it right as a host and weed smoking faux pas to avoid.
First and foremost, it all starts with the invite.
If you are hosting, make your guests feel welcome by letting them know beforehand if Mary Jane is invited. Make sure your friends knows the strain of weed, because there is nothing worse than thinking you are getting a Sativa buzz to then know you’re getting tranquilized for the night by a heavy Indica.
Smoking if you are sick is a cardinal sin.
Pass on partaking if you are feeling flu like symptoms as there is never a good time to share the spliff in this case, sit this one out. You should keep in mind that you can spread your illness to others by sharing a joint, and can cause you to feel fatigue and headaches more intensely when you’re sick. Spread the good times not the bacteria.
Pass the Dutchie ‘pon the Left Hand Side.
Whoever rolled the joint, sparks it first. It’s the right thing to do. As a host, your guests go first. To keep track of where the joint is going next, the general rule of thumb is to pass the joint clockwise. If you are going left, keep going left. Don’t randomly pass it to someone else mid way, it throws off the flow and no-one wants that.
Don’t hog the joint.
The smoking circle is all about equality. Puff, puff, pass to guarantee everybody gets an equal share of the joint. If you are in a group, never take more than 2 puffs. Don’t be that person who takes 3 puffs. Weed can make you extra chatty, so if you have a story to tell, don’t wave the jay back and forth while everyone is waiting inline. Sharing is caring and all that talking is burning precious cannabis.
It’s a group sport.
When you smoke around others, you gotta smoke with others. If you are a roller, roll. If you are not, you can make a tip. If not, supply the rolling paper. If not, bring the music. There is always somewhere you can get involved. No-one likes it when you just show up, smoke and leave.
Don’t make out with the joint.
Avoid slobbering on the joint, do the rest of the group a favor and dab your lips because no one enjoys their turn when it’s covered in someone else’s spit. Keep your saliva in check. The same goes if you are wearing chapstick.
Ash before you pass.
It’s the customary act of ashing when passing it amongst a group of friends, because it’s never fun being handed a joint with ash on the front, it's just not right. Don’t be that person. Ash the joint before you pass it along.
Keep the good times rolling.
Don’t kill the buzz by opening up depressing topics or discussing shattered dreams. Keep the conversation flowing by not being a Debbie downer. It’s more fun that way, trust me.