The following is an introductory beginners guide to using marijuana for older farts who are doing so for the first time. I've been asked for this information by a tuscler and decided to post it in case we have other aspiring stoners who might benefit. This is only a summary but I'll be glad to answer any questions if I can. Many of you may already know this information but some don't so be nice. All of this was new to me when the DS got me smoking weed. I will address two issues, what forms of marijuana are available, and where is the best place to get it.
The most commonly known form of weed is flower (also called bud because it is dried marijuana flower buds which is the part of the plant with a high THC concentration). The flower is ground up, preferably with a small grinder but you can also use your fingers if you are thorough. This is then put in cigarette paper (a joint) or cigar paper (a blunt) and smoked. A blunt usually burns slightly slower. Flower can also be smoked in other ways like a pipe or a bong (which runs the smoke through water and thereby somewhat reduces the harshness of the smoke), as well as with a vape (discussed below). The main advantage of flower is that it gets you high quickly and efficiently because the lungs are a great delivery mechanism. It is also usually the cheapest form of marijuana.
But smoking flower has several downsides. First the smell is overwhelming, making it all but impossible to hide. Also the high does not usually last long, maybe 45 - 120 minutes depending upon how much you smoke. And the harshness of the smoke can be particularly bad, especially for older guys. If you smoke flower, I recommend using a vape. The Pax is by far the best brand of vape for flower. A vape runs at a lower temperature that won't burn the flower but just creates vapor. Flower is still harsh with the Pax, but not nearly as harsh as a blunt or pipe. Also there is much less smell with the Pax. You probably can't usually use a Pax in a public place like a strip club, but it's still much more discrete than a blunt and can only be smelled in fairly close proximity to the device.
A second form is concentrates which is marijuana that has been processed to increase the THC level. It takes much less concentrate to get you high than it does flower. Concentrates come in several forms but I think the easiest form for a beginner to use is probably wax. Look for a wax that is not too sticky since it will be easier to work with. A concentrated oil may also be a good option if you are in a state that will allow you to purchase the pre-filled oil cartridges. While concentrates can be consumed in several ways, the best in my experience is to use a vape. Most concentrates in a vape have almost no smell, and the harshness is not nearly as bad as with flower. There are hundreds of vape devices, PM me if you want suggestions. But I would look for a little micro device. I've taken such a device to strip clubs many times, and often smoke freely and openly with strippers ITC. There is almost no smell and you can use it anywhere that smoking cigarettes or cigars is allowed. You do have to be careful not too smoke too much concentrate since it is very strong, but this is easy to manage with a little practice.
A third form of marijuana is edibles. You can buy almost any type of food or drink item infused with marijuana. Thus, by taking the edible product out of its original package and putting it in a similar package for non-marijuana edibles, you can carry it anywhere with almost no risk. I've had cops, stadium security, and TSA agents see, hold, and examine my edibles, and every time they gave them right back, having no clue they were marijuana.
Edibles take much longer to get a person high. For example, smoking flower you can get high in a few minutes. In comparison, edibles take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours to take effect. Edibles that you drink and chew take effect a little faster than others. Another difference is that the high from edibles lasts a lot longer, easily 6-8 hours. So edibles are usually good for an entire strip club visit. Edibles take practice, and you must proceed slowly to determine how much to take. But once you learn your tolerances, edibles allow you to more precisely control your high than is possible with other forms. You can easily consume just enough to get a little buzz, get "high as fuck" as the DS calls it, or anything in between. Edibles cost more than other forms, particularly flower, but the cost can be worth it if you find that you like the edibles high. Also, the cost of edibles has come down 20-50% in the stores that I regularly shop in over the past 3 years so they are more affordable than ever. Just get mints, gum, candies, etc and put them in a package for such candy. It is very easy to hide. Only a drug dog or a chemistry test can detect most edibles so long as you avoid the ones that are stamped "THC."
You can make your own concentrates but I wouldn't. It is complicated and dangerous. You can also make your own edibles from flower which is occasionally a fun thing to do. But buying edibles in a legal store is best because you know exactly how much THC is in the product, and the product looks more like a commercial food product. There are other forms of marijuana as well. For example, I am experimenting with an edible oil concentrate that was developed for medical uses but is also an option to just get high. It takes only a few drops to be high for hours. But that product is for more advanced users and not beginners.
Most people start out smoking flower but may then experiment with other forms. This is what I did. The DS taught me to smoke flower. But that was too harsh for me so I did some research and found out about concentrates. After enjoying concentrates for a while I then tried edibles, and now I'm exploring other options. It's best to try a variety of options to find what works best for you.
Flower is the easiest form to get. When I started I got it from strippers, mostly the DS. Most strippers know several drug dealers, one of which may be their boyfriend. I have also had limited dealings directly with drug dealers myself, all of which were dangerous and are not to be repeated. If you know friends who are 420 friendly, you might ask if they know any suppliers who don't look and act like they just as soon kill you as sell to you. But unless you get a reliable referral I would avoid drug dealers. If medical weed is legal in your state then getting a medical card is obviously a great option. You can also simply travel to a state where weed is legal and stock up. I believe that every state that allows legal sales will allow out of state residents to make purchases. This is getting easier all the time, and once Calif joins the list of legal states the floodgates will be completely open. It's also extremely easy to bring weed home from a legal state via airplane or car.
Be careful when you stand up. You'll probably get dizzy and fall over. :)