The holidays can be a stressful time. For some people it’s the pressure of finding — and shopping for — the perfect Christmas gift, for others it’s the stress and anxiety of being with a large group of family members.

 

Enter cannabis.

 

Marijuana can be a major anxiety and stress reliever at the holidays. Now that it’s legal in more states, you may be considering being more open with using it around your family. It can ease the stress of your Christmas get-together if you don’t have to worry about hiding your cannabis use. Better yet, if you can get your family on board, it may make the holidays even more fun!

 

If you’re considering introducing your family to cannabis this Christmas, we have a few tips to help you make the holidays blazin’ and bright. Here’s how to talk to different types of family members about marijuana this Christmas.

 

FAMILY MEMBER ONE: CANNA-CURIOUS FIRST TIMERS

 

Your first step is to figure out which family members are open to considering talking about — or trying — cannabis.

 

You may need to start feeling out your family before you get together for the holidays, but knowledge is power and that’s true for preventing an unwanted conversation.

 

The key to talking with someone who is interested in trying cannabis is education. Take the time to explain the difference between THC and CBD and the different types of high they can experience. Find out what they’re thinking and feeling about weed and do your best to ease their concerns.

 

Communication is critical when talking to your canna-curious family members. If you’ve been opening the lines of communication before the holidays you can listen to their concerns and come back with research and answers that can take away their worries.

 

Find out what kind of experience they would like to have and bring them the right kind of cannabis. You may need to get less high to make sure you’re taking care of them in a safe and relaxed setting.

 

Start low and go slow with them. Remember, you want them to have a good time if they decide to partake with you.

 

FAMILY MEMBER TWO: DEADHEADS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE GAME

 

You probably already know which family members used to enjoy smoking weed in their youth.

 

These family members may have gotten out of the game for some reason, but they’ll likely have your back when it comes to getting high at the holidays. Depending on your family dynamics, they may even be interested in getting high with you.

 

Make sure to talk to these family members ahead of time to figure out the best way to reintroduce them to marijuana. Weed has changed a lot since the 70s and 80s, so the strains available today are likely more potent than what they experienced back then.

 

Work it out with these family members ahead of time so you know what you’re going to be enjoying, how you’re going to be ingesting it, and where you’ll be doing it. Again, start low and go slow. Just because they used to smoke weed doesn’t mean they can tolerate more than a first-time toker. Your hosts may not care if you smoke — even if they aren’t joining you — but you want to be respectful of your surroundings.

 

FAMILY MEMBER THREE: THAT’S THE DEVIL’S LETTUCE!

 

At the end of the day, not everyone will be interested in toking up or accepting of you doing it (especially at the holidays around family). That’s okay, you can’t change the minds of some folks!

 

In these cases it’s important to stay respectful and not make these family members uncomfortable or start a fight. After all, part of the point of getting high is to feel more relaxed and chill, not to get into arguments!

 

There are a lot more options these days for getting high discreetly if you still want to — you don’t have to smoke out of a window in a top-floor bedroom, hotbox in the car or take a walk in the woods. Edibles and vapes are a nice alternative to remain respectful of your family while still being able to enjoy a nice high.

 

While attitudes toward cannabis have lightened in the past decade, it’s still not on the same level as bringing a bottle of wine or six-pack of beer to the party. It’s taken a long time to get to where we’re at with cannabis, so you may just need to try again next year!

 

If you need more tips or advice on introducing your family to cannabis this Christmas, our knowledgeable cannsultants can help. We’ll help give you the tools you need to be able to talk with your family and ease any worries they may have.