From the best gluten-free gummies to hacks for rolling joints when you suck at it, here are all of your burning questions for DGO’s resident potheads
Hi there! It’s time for another Q&A with our good buddies Blaze and Puf. These two potheads are here to answer all of your burning questions about cannabis, legalization, and other weed-related inquiries. That’s basically all they’re good for — that and smoking weed — so you might as well take advantage of their useless knowledge as you see fit.
This month, we have all sorts of awesome questions to answer for you. From gluten-free edible options to solutions for solving your joint-rolling problems, here are your questions about pot for our in-house potheads.
Have questions to ask these two fools? Send them to editor@ dgomag.com and we’ll do our best to answer them. And, feel free to send them allll over — your wild, wacky, and just plain weird questions about weed. Nothing shocks us at this point. And we do mean nothing.
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 be-ware 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.
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 ex-tractions, 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?
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 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 cen-ter, 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?
