How To Get Started Keeping A Weed Journal
There are a lot of different strains of cannabis out there. While you’re likely to remember
a few of your favorites, there’s no way that your brain can track everything you’ve ever
tried.
That’s why we recommend keeping a weed journal. When you write something down
the paper will never forget it, but if you’re just trying to save it in your memory, well,
that’s another story.
Journaling your experiences will help you track how different strains and different
terpenes affected you. Using cannabis is a personal experience, so it’s vital to know
how different weed affects you. It will quickly become your go-to resource before
heading out to the provisioning center!
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin keeping a weed journal.
CHOOSE YOUR JOURNAL
Your weed journal can be anything from a specially designed notebook to a cheap,
fifty-cent composition notebook to loose-leaf printouts. It can even be a document you
keep on your computer!
If you decide to create your own journal, opt for something with blank pages so that you
can track things exactly as you’d like.
Your journal should be an extension of your personality, though, so don’t forget to write
in the margins, scribble things out, and add doodles. While it’s meant to help you keep
track of your experiences with marijuana, it should be fun and not feel like homework.
Get creative!
DECIDE WHAT TO TRACK
You’ll need to decide on what information you’re going to track, whether you create your
own journal or use one created by someone else.
Have you ever smoked something that had side effects that you didn’t want, like getting
couch lock when you don’t want it? A cannabis journal can help you track that
information so you don’t buy the wrong strain or consume too high of a dose again.
Just because there’s a lot of blank spaces to fill doesn’t mean you need to fill out everything. It doesn’t matter if you measure on a scale of 1 to 10, use happy or sad faces, or write out lengthy notes, it’s about what works for you. If you’re going with a blank journal, here a few things to consider tracking:
The Basics: You’ll want to keep track of what day, time, and place you’re consuming your weed. They’re called the basics for a reason — you want to remember where you were and when you last used that particular product.
Strain / Product Name: This is another basic but integral piece of information to always track in your journal. It’s important to write down the strain name and the breeder name if you’re smoking flower. There aren’t universal naming conventions for marijuana, so a strain called Sour Diesel may not affect you the same way if it comes from two different breeders. If you’re consuming an edible, write down the brand, product name and flavor.
Dosage / Method Of Ingestion: Dosing is one of the most important things to keep track of in your weed journal. This is a great way to always know the right amount of weed to smoke or edibles to eat to get you to the perfect high. Too little and nothing happens, too much and you’re not having a good time.
Along with that, dosing is different between buds and edibles. Keeping track of how you ingest your cannabis is just as important as how much.
THC / CBD / Terpene Content: This goes right alongside the dosage. THC, CBD, and terpene content can vary from strain to strain, batch to batch, and edible to edible. Thankfully, marijuana packaging has labels to help you figure out how much of each should be in your weed.
Tasting Notes: Just like fine wine, marijuana attributes like aroma, appearance, and flavor that have a significant effect on how much you enjoy your weed.
Keeping track of what a strain smells like, looks, like, and tastes like can help you become a cannabis connoisseur. These attributes can be more enjoyable or less enjoyable from person to person, so it’s important to discover what you like!
Effects / Symptoms: How did you feel after you toked? Marijuana can make you feel euphoric, ease your anxiety, make you tired, or make you hungry. It might be a real heady experience or you might feel high all over your body. These effects can be intense or taper off quickly.
Sometimes, weed can have unintended side effects like dry mouth and couch lock, which you aren’t looking to experience.
You may like a particular strain, but not some of the side effects. Tracking that information and sharing it with your Cannsultant means they can help you find a strain that’s better for you with less negative side effects.
Your weed journal can be an invaluable resource when you visit the provisioning center. You can consult with your consultant and find the right product for you.
Trying out new strains of marijuana is a process of trial and error. But it’s also a process where you can only learn by doing. Keeping a weed journal will help you make better decisions about your future cannabis consumption.
If you need more advice on how to get started with your weed journal — or if you need more convincing about why you should start one — our knowledgeable Cannsultants can help.