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What is Intentional Cannabis Consumption?

Intentional consumption is about using cannabis with a clear purpose or reason in mind. Sometimes, we might consume cannabis without much thought—mindlessly, without any clear reason. But intentional consumption means having a purpose before you take that first hit, sip, or bite. This reason can vary widely, and we’ll explore some examples shortly.

A Quick Overview of Consuming Cannabis with Intention

Intentional cannabis consumption means you’re consuming with a specific goal in mind. That goal could be anything from treating pain, boosting creativity, reducing stress, or simply getting high. There are lots of valid reasons for consuming cannabis. For example, the other day, I was struggling to get into the groove to write this blog post. My brother-in-law had just given me some really nice weed called Limencello, so I rolled a joint, went out back, and watched the bees buzzing around the goldenrod while I smoked it. My intention was to relax in the fall sun, take the pressure off myself, and open up my creative flow.

 

A lot of people think intentional consumption can’t include getting high or that getting high is somehow less valid, but that’s not true. For many, the shift in mindset and perception is a major reason they consume. So, don’t think that intentional consumption only applies to treating a medical condition; it can definitely include using cannabis to experience a psychedelic shift or to alter your perspective.

Setting Intentions is the Key to Mindful Consumption

When you consume intentionally, it’s important to set your intentions before you start. This means knowing why you’re consuming a particular product and understanding your purpose for the experience. It’s about being mindful—being aware of your reasons for consuming, the products you’re using, their components, how they might affect you, and what outcomes you’re looking to achieve.

Using a journal to keep track of your intentions, the outcome of your experience, and the specific products you used can be a powerful tool for better understanding how cannabis affects you.  By setting intentions prior to consumption, you train yourself to engage intentionally with the plant every time you use it.

Why Might People Consume with Intention?

There are lots of reasons to consume with intention, such as:

• • Enhancing creativity

• • Reducing stress or anxiety

• • Improving sleep

• • Boosting focus and productivity (think managing ADHD or distractions)

• • Supporting spiritual practices or meditation

• • Changing your mindset or perspective

• • Managing pain or other medical symptoms

This is just a short list—there are countless other reasons people consume cannabis. When we consume with intention, it allows us to become more mindful and self-aware. Cannabis is a powerful tool for wellness because it allows us to shift and transform across various dimensions—physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social. All these aspects of being human are affected by cannabis consumption. For many people, the point of consuming cannabis is to change how you feel, see things differently, or gain a new perspective. This happens across the many dimensions of who we are as humans, from physical changes like red eyes to mental changes, like feeling more relaxed, to social changes, like using cannabis to help ease social anxiety.

Avoiding Mindless Consumption Matters; Here’s Why.

Not for everyone, but for some people, it’s easy to fall into mindless consumption. When we consume cannabis without awareness—mindlessly or without intention—we can fall into patterns of overuse, which can potentially lead to dependency where you need cannabis just to get through your day.

Mindless consumption can also reduce the effectiveness of cannabis over time. As your tolerance builds, you’ll need more to achieve the same effects. Like with alcohol or prescription drugs, the more you consume, the less effective it becomes. Cannabis is no different.

Mindless consumption can also lead to negative side effects, such as increased anxiety, dissociation, or even cannabis hyperemesis syndrome in some cases. But mindful, self-aware, intentional consumption can help you mitigate these risks.

 

Examples of Mindless Consumption Behaviors

Using Cannabis Out of Habit or Boredom

• • Consuming cannabis just because it’s part of your routine, without considering whether it’s necessary or beneficial at that moment, can lead to tolerance buildup. You might find yourself needing more cannabis to achieve the same effects, and let’s be real—that can get expensive. Plus, it can reduce the effectiveness of cannabis when you genuinely need it for relaxation or creativity.

Consuming in Social Situations Without Personal Intent:

• • Partaking just because others are doing it, without considering whether it’s actually the right choice for you, can lead to experiences that aren’t aligned with your needs or desires. This can make you feel anxious, awkward, and even more disconnected from the group than if you’d just said, “No thanks, I’m good right now.”

Using Cannabis to Numb Emotions or Avoid Problems:

• • Turning to cannabis to escape or suppress difficult emotions instead of addressing the root cause can prevent genuine reflection, healing, and growth. This can lead to dependency on cannabis to manage emotions, which, over time, might exacerbate underlying issues like anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma. Instead of offering a solution, this type of consumption can create a cycle where the underlying problems remain unaddressed and may even worsen.

How to Consume Cannabis with Intention

Consuming cannabis with intention isn’t hard—it’s just about changing your mindset and following through. It means setting intentions before you consume, thinking about why you’re consuming, and making sure you have a specific reason and desired outcome in mind. There are some easy steps you can take to ensure you’re consuming mindfully, and I’ve found that keeping them in mind can lend to a much more beneficial cannabis experience.

Here’s a simple three-step framework to help you consume with more intention.

Just remember: Set, Setting, Substance.

1. Set (Mindset): This step is all about your mindset—your mood and expectations going into the experience. Think about why you’re consuming cannabis and what you hope to achieve. Are you trying to relax and sleep better? Connect with your partner on a deeper level? Tap into your creativity? Being aware of your reasons will help you make better choices in the next steps.
2. Setting: Choose the right environment for your session. Where are you? Who’s around you? What time of day is it? Are you inside or outside? How do you feel about your surroundings? Your environment should align with your desired outcome. For example, if you’re consuming to relax or reduce anxiety, you’ll want to be in a calm place like home, not in a busy downtown area. You might need to adjust your environment so that it matches the outcome you’re seeking—maybe finding a quiet park or a friend’s place instead of staying in a bustling public space.
3. Substance: This refers to the dosage, the cannabinoids, the terpenes, and the method of consumption. Make sure the product you’re consuming aligns with your desired outcome. If you’re looking to feel more creative, for example, you might not want to consume a heavy concentrate with high THC. Instead, choose a product with a balanced THC-to-CBD ratio or one with uplifting minor cannabinoids like CBG or CBC. Also, consider the terpene profile—if you’re aiming to reduce anxiety, avoid a product high in limonene and opt for something with more linalool, which is known for its relaxing properties.

Tracking Your Experiences

Over time, your consumption experiences will evolve. You’ll start to get a better sense of which products work best for you for specific outcomes, and you’ll know exactly how to use them. But in the beginning, it’s helpful to keep track of your experiences so you can reflect on what worked and what didn’t. This is especially important for those with a monthly hormonal cycle—particularly women or people taking female hormones. Men typically have a 24-hour hormone cycle, but for those with a monthly cycle, what works one week might not work the same way two weeks later.

By keeping track of your intentions, experiences, and outcomes, you can start to predict more accurately what will work for you and when. Whether you use a pen and paper journal, a notebook, or an app, tracking your consumption can be a powerful tool for understanding how cannabis affects you and what outcomes it provides. This way, you can better predict your experiences and choose the right products for your needs.

Consumption Methods and Their Alignment with Intentions

There are lots of different ways to consume cannabis, and the method you choose can be aligned with your specific intentions. It’s important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of each method when you’re deciding which is the best one for a given purpose.

As you become more familiar with consumption methods and how they will affect you, you’ll understand exactly how to use each method to achieve a particular outcome. Let’s take a look at some of the most common methods and see what kinds of outcomes they’re best for.

Smoking

 Smoking involves inhaling the smoke from burning cannabis flower, usually through a joint, pipe, or bong. The effects kick in almost immediately, making it super easy to control your dosage. Smoking is great for:

• • Offering Instant Relaxation | Smoking gives you fast-acting relief, usually within seconds, which is great when you need to unwind quickly.

• • Enhancing Your Social Connections | Smoking is often a social activity. Sharing a joint with friends can make you feel more connected and help everyone relax together.

• • Boosting Your Creativity | If you’re looking for a quick burst of inspiration, smoking is your go-to. The effects come on fast, helping you break through creative blocks and explore new ideas.

Vaping

Vaping is like smoking, but instead of inhaling smoke, you’re inhaling vaporized cannabis concentrate or flower. It’s a cleaner option with fewer harmful byproducts, and the effects are just as quick. Vaping is ideal for:

• • Giving You Focus, with a Clear-Head | Vaping can help you stay sharp and clear-minded while still enjoying the effects of cannabis. It’s perfect for when you need to concentrate on a task or get into a productive flow.

• • Providing Discreet and Controlled Use | Vaping allows for more precise dosing and is less smelly than smoking, so it’s a great choice when you need to be discreet or are around others.

• • Perfect for Bad Weather | When the weather outside is frightful or just plain garbage, vaping is usually a much better indoor option than smoking.

Edibles

Edibles are cannabis-infused foods or drinks, and they generally take a bit longer to kick in—anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours—but they last much longer than smoking or vaping. Edibles are great for:

• • Best for Long-Lasting Relaxation | If you’re looking for extended relief or pain management, edibles can be your best friend. They’re especially effective for things like menstrual cramps or chronic pain because they keep working for hours.

• • Super Helpful in Promoting Sleep | Because their effects last so long, edibles can help you not only fall asleep but stay asleep, which makes them perfect for anyone struggling with insomnia or nighttime restlessness.

• • A Powerful Tool for Spirituality and Mindful Meditation | The slow onset and prolonged effects of edibles make them great for deep, sustained meditation or spiritual practices. They help you stay in a relaxed state, making it easier to connect with your inner self.

Topicals

Topicals are cannabis-infused lotions, oils, bath bombs, and other products that you apply directly to your skin. They don’t get you high because they don’t enter your bloodstream, but they do have some amazing uses:

• • Targeted Pain Relief | If you’ve got sore muscles, joint pain, or inflammation, topicals are great. They provide relief exactly where you need it without the psychoactive effects, making them ideal for post-workout recovery or treating specific areas of discomfort.

• • Beneficial for Skincare and Wellness | Topicals can do wonders for your skin, especially if you’re dealing with conditions like eczema or psoriasis. While they might not work for everyone or every condition, many topicals contain other beneficial ingredients like essential oils that enhance their healing properties.

• • Post-Workout Recovery | After a workout, applying a cannabis-infused topical can help with muscle recovery, reduce soreness, and ease inflammation. It’s a great way to support your fitness goals without feeling high.

Understanding the Interplay of Terpenes and Cannabinoids

One final piece of the “Substance” part of this framework is understanding the terpenes and cannabinoids in the products you’re consuming because each one has different effects. Each cannabinoid—whether it’s THC, CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN, THCV, or whatever—has its own unique effects. And then we add in the 100+ different terpenes found in the cannabis plant, each of them with their own effects too!

When these compounds combine, they can create synergies, which is known as the entourage effect. We’re not going to get into it too deeply now, because it’s a huge topic, but keeping a consumption journal and tracking your experiences can help you figure out which combinations work best for you and your specific outcomes.

Conclusion

We’ve covered a lot in this post, but we’ve only scratched the surface of intentional consumption. There’s so much more to explore, from specific cannabinoids and terpenes to different consumption methods and how to integrate intentional use into your daily life. That’s what this blog is all about—exploring the many facets of intentional cannabis consumption so that you can become a more intentional consumer.

This is a space for resources, ideas, and community—a place where you can share your experiences and learn from others. Cannabis is a community-based plant. It brings people together. At its core, it’s about connection—whether that’s connecting with yourself, a higher power, or others. And when we’re more intentional about our consumption and experiences, it improves the quality of those connections.

If you’re interested in being part of a community that explores holistic wellness and helps each other on a journey to becoming the people we’re meant to be, stick around—there’s so much more to come.

For more insights and a deeper dive into intentional cannabis consumption, sign up for the Intentional Living Newsletter and check out our course, The 5 Dimensions of a Cannabis Experience.

If this post resonated with you, drop a comment below and share your own experiences. I’m here to create the best content for you and for this community of intentional consumers around the world.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll be back soon with more!