Ask a couple of potheads

We’re here to answer your weird, wild, and wonderful weed questions all day, e’ry day

Hey there, friends! This is Blaze and Puf, your resident DGO pot-heads. And, this is yet another round of, well, you guessed it: “Ask a couple of potheads.”

If you’re new to this column, here’s the deal. Because we keep getting texts and emails asking us about canna-bis-related things, we decided to turn it into a Q&A session. Apparently we’re your safe place for answers on all things pot, and while we never mind chatting about the devil’s lettuce, we would appreciate you asking the questions sometime BEFORE midnight.

So, if you have questions, we have answers. We want to know your deepest, darkest queries that you sit up at night thinking about. Send them our way, whether it’s something like, “How much THC is too much THC?” or “What is this that I’m vaping?”

You can ask us ANYTHING YOU WANT TO in here. It’s a safe space. There are no rules. You can even email us at 4 a.m. on a Tuesday if you want to. The world is your freaking pothead oyster!

You can send your questions over to us at editor@DGOmag. com and someone will eventually send them our way. Once they do, we’ll do our best to answer them in the best way possible. And here we go.

I live in a state where weed isn’t legal, but I want to get high. I see these shops with hemp-derived delta 8 products all over the place, but I’m a little hesitant to try them. So what are the dangers of unregulated delta 8 or delta 9 products?

Blaze: It can be super tempting to pick up some Delta products when you are in a state where you can’t find legal cannabis, especially if you are on vacation, but don’t just jump head first into buying it without knowing the risks.

Delta products are unregulated, so you can’t necessarily believe what the packaging says, as there are no formal rules for testing or marketing the products. And that could result in some not so great things.

For example, according to the CDC and FDA, consuming low-quality Delta products could result in poisoning. But what’s more is that Delta 8 and 9 are both cannabinoids found in marijuana, but the version you are getting with these products is synthesized from hemp oil. If there aren’t internal safety measures in place, it could result in the dosage information being off, so there’s a genuine concern that you could take too much of this good thing.

And, doing so could suck. While you won’t die from high THC intake alone (synthesized or otherwise), it can result in a gross, unwanted high. For example, some people suffer from hallucinations, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, and sometimes even lack of consciousness.

I’ll tell you that I have tried a handful of different brands and find them all to vary in strength and onset time. Sometimes I’ve had a 25 mg edible and the effects felt super pleasant. But the next time, and with the same brand, I felt like I was miles past being too high to ride my bike. Other times I’ve felt nothing at all. It just seems so hit or miss, and definitely doesn’t seem worth it unless you just can’t function without something in your system and can’t find the real thing. Start off small and see where it takes you, though. Do not just jump in without knowing how your body will react.

Puf: I mean, Blaze pretty much knocked it out of the park with that long-winded answer, but I’ll try to add something useful. So yeah. The main problem with these products is that there’s no real way that they’re being regulated. Unlike cannabis, any company can jump on the Delta 8 bandwagon and schlep some junk at the corner store, the headshop, or wherever you may find them. That makes finding Delta 8 products convenient but doesn’t necessarily mean they’re safe.

We saw something similar with the CBD craze that happened a few years back. Once CBD oil was available across the nation, plenty of shady manufacturers popped up with a CBD get rich quick scheme. And what resulted from that? Well, not much that was good.

There were numerous investigative reports into what was contained in some of the CBD oil you could find on the shelves in non-legal states, and unsurprisingly, there were some nasty things found, including traces of acetone or butane in some cases (which is what is commonly used to leech the oil from hemp). That kind of stuff is obviously not ideal when you’re putting something into your body.

That doesn’t mean that they were all like that, nor does it mean that Delta 8 products are all being pushed by some fly-by-night company looking to make a quick buck without taking care of their customers. But it’s still buyer beware for stuff like this, and if you can avoid it, I would.

I love to smoke joints but suck at rolling them. What are the best cones or wraps for someone like me?

Blaze: Not everyone can roll the perfect joints, so you aren’t alone. RAW cones seem to be the most widely available cones these days, which is good news for you. These cones are easily filled with your favorite flowers, and I consider them foolproof. You can find them in a handful of sizes to take care of any task.

King Palm Terp Infused Palm Leaf Cones are an excellent alternative for someone looking for some flavor with their smoke session. King Palm has over 30 flavors, like Berry Terps, Banana Cream, and Lemon Haze, and they come in a few different sizes as well.

If you want to get a little more exotic, check out Smoke Roses Goji Berry Cones. These goji berry fruit-infused blunt cones feature exotic terps and a one-gram capacity. They also burn slower than just about any other pre-roll on the market and taste amazing.

Puf: Umm, hello, Juicy Jay’s! Just kidding. You have a ton of options, and I know this because I’m also awful at rolling joints. Like, there’s no point in even trying. I will not succeed.

Anyway, as Blaze mentioned, RAW cones are always a win, and they’re super easy to come by, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding them. They’re essentially fool-proof, too. You just grind up the ol’ weed and dump it into your cone. Twist the end and call it a day.

That said, I’ve been super into flavored cones recently, and that’s where Juicy Jay comes in. Never have I ever seen so many fruit-flavored cones! You get your pick of blueberry, grape, blackberry, watermelon, and maybe some others? I don’t remember. But what I do know is that I love the watermelon option. It sounds like it could be gross with your weed, right? But it’s not. It truly isn’t.

Or, if you want more exotic flavors, may I suggest Cyclones? These bad boys are translucent (which is cool!) and they have flavors like Ice Dream, Chill Blue, and Pimperschnapps, which is a mix of peach and mint. I don’t know why it works, but it does.

Otherwise, Blaze offered some pretty good suggestions above. You have a ton of options for your joint-noob-rolling self, so have at it.

Ugh. So I smoked quite a bit the past few weeks but just found out that I have to take a drug test. Is there a surefire way to ensure that I can pass my drug test? Help!

Blaze: Oof. Been there and it isn’t fun at all. Passing a drug test when you’re definitely within the window of popping positive for cannabis can be done in some cases, but it typically just depends on the type of test you have to take. You may not be able to game the system on certain types of tests.

The most important thing you can do from the get-go is to start drinking water. Tons and tons of water. Rumor has it that that alone can help flush out your system if you’re on the tail end of the window in some cases, but don’t rely too heavily on that advice. It’s totally anecdotal.

If you are taking a urine test, you have a few options. Drink as much water as possible and take the maximum dosage of vitamin B2 (Riboflavin). You can also boost your fluid output by taking diuretics to help you flush your body out quickly.

Detox drinks are another great thing to add to the mix and can be another layer of security to passing when combined with water. I haven’t had to utilize one in a hot minute, but I’m guessing that you can find them at any headshop. Just be aware that they’re disgusting and you’ll hate life, and you do need to follow the instructions to a T in order to maximize your chances of them working.

Hair follicle tests will be a bit more challenging to come out on the positive side. You can find multiple types of detox kits, pills, and shampoo, all of which are specially designed to rid your hair follicles of toxins.

The best way to use the shampoo is to use it at least three days before your test, and preferably around 10 days before. Make sure to leave it in for at least 15 minutes each time you wash your hair.

And, it is recommended to do at least 15 washes for maximum effectiveness.

That said, none of these methods are guaranteed. It sucks, but might still be worth a try depending on what the drug test is for.

Puf: I do not envy you. Getting rid of cannabis in your system is not an easy task because it can stay in your system for up to 90 days, which means you can detect it for a window of up to three months.

If you’re trying to beat a drug test, the first thing you should know is that it won’t be easy. It will also depend on last time you smoked (or ate) cannabis, as well as a ton of other factors, like your body composition and the type of test you’re being asked to take.

If it’s a urine screen, you can dump some money into a detox kit and drink a ton of water to try and maximize your chances of beating it. But we know many, many people who have tried and failed to do so, so don’t bank on it being a magic answer to your problem. There are tons of options available online, so just take your pick (but read the reviews first).

If it’s a hair test, well…I don’t know what to tell you about that, other than RIP your job opportunity, or probation, or whatever else you’re drug testing for. Beating a hair test is not easy.

You can try the methods Blaze suggested above, of course, but again, I haven’t personally seen anyone conquer those things. They’re pretty annoyingly failsafe.

A blood test, on the other hand, ain’t no big thang! If you’re taking a blood test, the window in which you will pop positive is only about 12 hours, so just maybe don’t imbibe for a day or two beforehand and you’ll be good.

A saliva test has a window of 24 hours on average, so again, if you are lucky enough to draw that straw, just avoid using cannabis for a few days and you should be good to go.

I want to start using cannabis extractions, but there are so many different options, and I don’t know which one to pick. Can you help me narrow them down?

Blaze: If I were you, I would start with something user-friendly. Many extractions will require you to have specific gear, like a butane torch, to heat up shatter or wax. Try a concentrate on a disposable vape.

Disposable vapes can’t be recycled, so an eco-friendly choice I support is Pax Era vapes. Pax Era vapes have cartridges that you can swap out, which will keep you from adding to the mountain of batteries that cant be recycled. They’re also super user-friendly, which is great for someone who’s just starting out.

Puf: Yeah, extracts are great, but they aren’t necessarily easy to use if you’re trying to conquer something like shatter or wax. If you want to go that route, you’ll need either some specific gear or a vape specifically made for dipping into a concentrate. For that reason alone I say you should steer clear initially.

I would start with, as Blaze suggested, a vape pen that comes pre-loaded with concentrate. There are tons and tons and toooooons of options available, so you have your pick. I grab one every time I go to the dispensary because they’re so convenient to keep around the house.

Or, if you want to dump a little more change into this experiment, you can always pick up a battery and some carts to swap out. Those are also filled with concentrate (obviously) and there are lots of options to choose from, whether you want a high-end terpene-filled cart or something you can try and discard if you hate it.

Best bet is to ask a budtender next time you’re in the dispensary. Tastes are particular to each person, and what I love may not be the best answer for you.

I love edibles, but I have to be really careful because I have a gluten allergy. Are there gummies or other edibles that are certified to be gluten-free?

Blaze: There are plenty of options when it comes to gluten-free gummies and edibles. Many cannabis companies in Colorado are offering some really great gluten-free options. Take your pick! Most dispensaries offer a gluten-free option, whether it’s gummies, chocolates, and even boysenberry lollipops if you’re into that type of thing. The products are typically labeled as gluten-free, too, so you don’t even have to guess at it to figure it out.

And, at this point in our timeline, nearly all dispensaries will have multiple gluten-free options to choose from, so don’t hesitate to ask your budtender or check out your favorite dispensaries’ website and browse around. Gluten-free products will be labeled as such.

Puf: Well, well. You’re in luck! There are tons of gluten-free edibles out there for you gluten-intolerant folks. And what’s even better is that they’re not gross (unlike most gluten-free bread, which should be burned in a bonfire).

For starters, all you need to do is track down some Robhots, which are gummies that you can find allllll around Colorado. Their entire line is gluten-free, and they even have an option that has a liquid center, kind of like an adult Gusher, but filled with beautiful THC! That’s a level-up if we’ve ever seen one.

Coda also offers gluten-free options, and their edibles are available all over Colorado. You can find them pretty much anywhere, including Durango, and they have some epic flavor combos, too. Want to try out some lychee-cucumber edibles? Well you can! There are also mango-chile-lime edibles too, which warms my half-Mexican heart to its core. So many gluten-free options!

And there are plenty of others, too. Ripple, Wana, Incredibles, Dixie Elixers, Nfuzed, and almost certainly dozens more offer gluten-free edibles, so just ask someone at the dispensary to find out what your options are. You have PLENTY of them. The world is literally your little weed oyster.

I was cleaning out my office drawer and found a really old joint. Is it safe to smoke for ancient times’ sake, and will I even get high if I do?

Blaze: Umm, you can always try it and see what happens, but THC will degrade over time, so there is a good chance that ancient joint isn’t going to get you really high. I would suggest ripping the paper and throwing it back into nature. As much as you might not want to see what appears to be good weed tossed, sometimes it’s better just to let it go.

Puf: Hahaha. Wow. This happened to me once at a paper a long time ago. We were cleaning out some drawers and found some long-gone reporter’s one-hitter, a little bag o’ weed, and a lighter. We were all tempted to go outside and light one up (or pour one out) for the homie.

But you know what we ultimately did not do with it? Smoke it.

Not because we were anti-cannabis, mind you. We did not smoke it because it was very old and there would be no point in doing so. The THC in weed doesn’t last forever, and if it’s exposed to light, heat, or other environmental factors, it can degrade pretty quickly.

So, we did exactly what Blaze suggests: We returned it to nature. Sometimes you just gotta call it a loss and move on.

Or smoke it if you want, I guess. It probably won’t hurt you, but chances are it won’t taste very good, and you probably won’t get very high. And what’s the fun in that?

This is a dumb question, but I’m a 48-year-old lady and I’ve been smoking for 32 years now. I smoke more than three times a day — like it never leaves my hand. How can I get high now that I’ve been smoking for so long? I can get relaxed a bit but no more than that. I need help on what to do!

Puf: Well, first of all, that isn’t a dumb question. I have had this question for myself many times over the last few years. Tolerance is a bitch, ain’t it.

I’m going to insert the obligatory “I’m not a doctor so this is not medical advice” here, but I think I can help with some anecdotal information.

So first of all, I’m guessing it’s been a while since you switched up your intake methods, right? Like, maybe you’re a habitual joint smoker or like to get relaxed-but-not-high by smoking out of a bong?

Yeah, that happens to me, too.

We’re all creatures of habit, and part of the problem I’ve had is that I really like to stick to what I know. That sounds borderline ridiculous, but if I’m not reviewing a product, I have my favorite two or three rigs or batteries I use. In other words, I’m lazy and don’t like to have to make changes to my stoned routine.

That can lead to ruts like the one you’re having. My body has become super tolerant of certain concentrates, for example. I find it super effing easy to grab a vape and cart when I’m laying around being super productive (i.e. watching junk on TV). The more I use that vape and cart, the less I notice the high.

I’ve noticed, however, that when I am LESS lazy, like when I switch it up between concentrates, flower, and edibles, I am noticeably more aware of the high. Rather than getting relaxed, I get stoned like I used to.

You can also take a break from THC, but honestly, that sounds like shit to me. If you decide to do this, you can essentially reset your THC clock. In fact, research shows that while THC can deplete your CB1 receptors, they can recover over time and return to their previous levels if you take breaks.

And, you don’t even have to take them for that long. Two weeks is enough to get the job done. I’m not going to do it with you in solidarity, but that’s an easy way to start over — even after decades of smoking.

You can also try adding some CBD to the mix. I’ve found that flower with CBD and THC gets me a lot higher than just high-THC bud. That is purely anecdotal, mind you, but I swear that the entourage effect is real as hell. It’s worth a try anyway. And there are lots of good flower options with CBD and THC.

It may also be worth trying a new strain or six, or switching to another type of product in between old faithful. It may be less about the amount of THC and more about the mechanism. If you aren’t an edibles fan, try those. Or, you could choke down a tincture. You never know what will hit. Hell, a dry herb vape instead of a joint or pipe may be the key.

In other words, switch it up and don’t just focus on the THC component. Swap your products, change your habits, and treat it like an experiment. And, if you find something that works, you better email us back. We need to know the results.

Blaze: OOF. First of all, my condolences. I, too, have had that issue but with flower and found that if I took breaks or switched up my intake method (edibles in my case) I was back to that sweet, sweet high. Still, not a fun position to be in, especially if you already know what you like and you have a routine you’re comfortable with.

If you’re smoking a specific strain, you may have built up a strain tolerance. Try a different type of strain, THC content, and method of smoking it. If you usually smoke sativas, try indicas, and so on and so forth. One of the beauties about the cannabis industry is that it’s so diverse. You could go weeks, even months without using the same product twice should you choose.

If nothing else, however, you could go on a tolerance fast, as much as a bummer as that sounds. Some people report feeling much more clear headed after taking a break from weed, though it still doesn’t sound worth it to me. I’ll keep my vape and my fog brain, thank you very much.

I’ve been smoking bud and taking edibles for a while now, but concentrates have always intimidated me. What’s the difference between products like shatter, wax, and live resin?

Puf: Why you gotta make our lives so difficult?! These questions are hard today, man! I kid, I kid. Sort of. In general, there are a ton of differences between these products, but they all work to get you high — which is why they’re all fine in my book.

The main differences, though, are in the way these extracts are created. There are different extraction processes, but most shatter, wax, and live resin is extracted using butane or a similar solvent to leech the good stuff from the plant matter. That leaves you with a concentrate high in THC and flavor that will, in fact, knock your dang socks off when you inhale it.

Wax is produced using dry flower and is much easier to produce than shatter, which is the finickiest little beotch of concentrates. Shatter is also produced from dried flower but it’s notoriously hard to produce. However, there are tons of pros to it if you can pull it off. For example, shatter doesn’t degrade as quickly as wax. It’s pretty shelf-stable so it can be kept for a lot longer.

Slight tweaks in the extraction process are how you get either wax or shatter.

<Note: Feel free to Google a bunch of chemistry mumbo-jumbo if you must know more. The internet knows all. I know limited things.

Wax tends to be less shelf stable and degrades much more quickly than shatter. How-so-ever, it’s easier to work with because it’s malleable. I like it cause I can just stick my dumb ol’ dab pen in the jar and take a hit. Easy freaking peasy.

Other than that, I really don’t think there’s much difference — but that’s based on my experience alone. Don’t come at me with some scientific jargon in our Instagram DMs. I’m sure that isn’t totally accurate. Either way, both get me blazed face, so I’m not going to complain.

Same thing goes for live resin. While this concentrate will ALSO get you super freaking high, it’s produced by different means. Rather than using dried flower, live resin is made by using the freshest cannabis possible. The buds are basically flash-frozen right after they’re picked, which helps to preserve the flavor of those good ol’ terpenes.

The real difference is in the flavor. Live resin is a lot more flavorful than shatter or wax, and everyone loves the good terpenes. It usually costs you a bit more to buy, though. Whether the terpenes are worth the price hike is your call, but I think they can be. Depends on your budget and your must-haves for your cannabis products, I suppose.

Anyway, that was a tangent. I’ll let Blaze weigh in with some dumb junk they Googled now to fill in the holes. After all that writing I am in need of a smoke break. I think I’ll bust out the live resin to stay on theme.

Blaze: Hey now! I put a lot of effort skimming Google headlines! My brain hurts after reading all that, and yet I still somehow have more information to add.

Another big difference between products is consistency which can play a part in preference for some stoners. Shatter tends to be glossy and brittle. If you’re dabbing with shatter, it can feel like a guessing game as far as dosage because of its non-malleable texture. On the other hand, shatter has the capacity to make you so high, you’ll think you invented golf. Wax and crumble, however are more creamy and malleable, making them a bit easier to use when you’re dabbing. Live resin is more glue-like and tends to be a helluva lot more expensive than shatter, wax, and crumble. RIP to my paycheck when I’m in the mood for live resin.

I’m vegan but love edibles! How do I know which ones to get when I go to a dispensary?

Puf: Well, first of all, thank you for not be-rating us with a bunch of pro-vegan information. We love your people, and we love your love for animals and living things, but the vegan crusades are not the way.

That said, you’d be surprised at how many edibles are vegan. Dude or dudette, you have so many freaking choices for your lifestyle! Cannabis manufacturers love to put out vegan products!

If you’re not sure where to start, I’m going to go basic here and tell you to ask a budtender. They know what’s up with their edibles. You can also keep certain product lines in mind, too. For example, I’m pretty sure most, if not all, of Wana’s Sour Gummies are 100 percent free
of gelatin. That makes them vegan by default. So you have one ally right there, homie.

Keef Sparkling is also vegan, and it’s freaking healthy, too! This THC-infused sparkling water has zero sugar, zero animal byproducts and no calories. You healthy fools will love it.

CannaPunch also offers a ton of drink options that are vegan as well as options in their line of gummies, which are sold under the brand Highly Edible.

There are probably a million others I’m forgetting, but that’s where the dang budtender is more useful than I am. The good news is that there are plenty of options and your local dispensary gurus can tell you what is or isn’t vegan. They won’t steer you wrong. Promise.

Now go forth with your animal-loving self and get high on some vegan edibles. They’re undoubtedly going to taste better than that quinoa you ate for dinner last night.

Blaze: Come to think of it, it seems like there’s more vegan-edible options than non-vegan these days. Puf is on the money with this one though. A GOOD budtender will help you navigate the shelves, especially if you have specific dietary needs. Puf has already touched on a lot of really great, common brands but I’ll add a few more here as well.

In 2019, Incredibles, who has been a big cannabis player since it became legalized in Colorado, came out with a vegan fruit tart option.

If you’re looking for something with awards, SuckIT Edibles by Canyon Cultivation are friggin delicious and they come in flavors like Boysenberry, Sour Watermelon, and Fruit Punch.

There are also lots of companies that make solely vegan cannabis products, so not to worry! The world is your (very high) vegan oyster.