Five Facts that will Make You Want to Buy Your First Bud

And no, one of the reasons isn’t “because it’s legal now,” although some might argue that’s a valid motive. This natural plant has been popular throughout history for not only its medical benefits, but ability to submerge cognizance into an altered state that often opens the mind to newfound concepts. If you’re still on the fence about trying this plant that was once (and in some cases, still is) deemed a drug, consider these five facts first.

1. Its uses are ancient.

Cannabis was one of the first known agricultural crops in human history.

“Modern humans emerged some 250,000 years ago, yet agriculture is a fairly recent invention, only about 10,000 years old… It is also the basis of modern civilization.” – Richard Hamilton 2009 Scientific American.

Hemp cord in pottery was discovered in an ancient Taiwan village dating back over 10,000 years ago. China made it a staple crop in 6,000 BCE for both food and oil.

Discover More: The Dawn of Hemp & Cannabis Use

Why this matters:

Obviously, cannabis didn’t turn humanity into “drug-addicted” maniacs. It was never banned in ancient times, rather, used as a staple and even in Chinese medicine – which explains why so many people today use it to cure their ailments. It’s been consumed by various civilizations on all the major continents (minus Australia and Antarctica of course) and the concept of it being an addictive, life-threatening drug is only a recent concept started to increase profits in other industries such as plastics and timber. So, follow the footsteps of our ancient past or the lies of a corrupted; misinformed government?

2. It’s impossible to overdose on cannabis.

There’s never been a reported incident confirming that someone has died from consuming too much cannabis. Ever. In the history of humanity. This only happens with drugs and poisons – meth, cocaine, alcohol… Cannabis isn’t like any of these.

Why this matters:

You’ll always be safe with a bit of greenery in your system. Sure, there are some adverse side-effects if you consume too much, but that’s with anything. You eat too much, you might throw up or have an upset stomach. You drink too much water, you can get hyponatremia. You smoke too much weed, you might get paranoia or anxiousness that eventually goes away. But death? The only thing that’s annihilated after smoking too much will be your kitchen cabinets as the munchies kick in.

3. The first-ever online purchase was for a bag of weed.

“In 1971 or 1972, Stanford students using Arpanet accounts at Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory engaged in a commercial transaction with their counterparts at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before Amazon, before eBay, the seminal act of e-commerce was a drug deal. The students used the network to quietly arrange the sale of an undetermined amount of marijuana.” – Mike Power of The Guardian.

Why this matters:

You’ve got students from extremely prestigious universities not only making history with an e-commerce transaction, but it was for an illegal substance. The students; the future of the nation, were buying and selling weed via technology without getting caught. Proof that pot-smokers aren’t all lazy bums. And this was four and a half decades ago.

4. There are more dispensaries in Colorado than there are Starbucks, McDonald’s and 7-Elevens combined.

With over 2,500 cannabusinesses in Colorado, 900 of these licenses are for dispensaries (some overlap, a biz owner having a license to sell medical and one for recreational).

Why this matters:

Think of all those jobs and profits from taxes… When you consume cannabis, you’re supporting an industry that’s helped pull a multitude of people out of personal financial crisis. It’s opened up jobs in cultivation, sales, management, and impacted other industries in positive ways (packaging, real estate, etc.). And all that tax money gained from sales? I know that in Colorado, my nieces and nephews are able to use assigned iPads in school and the roads are being re-paved in Denver as we speak (a MUCH needed endeavor of the city). Cannabis impacts the whole of the community via its taxes.

5. The physiological and psychological experiences of cannabis can be tailored to the experience you want.

There are now close to (and maybe over) 2,000 known strains of cannabis today. This means that each strain has its own unique properties, creating their own exclusive effects in the mind and body. Kind of like how different alcohols cause different drunks.

Discover More: 8 Ways Weed Can Improve Fitness & Health

Why this matters:

You can choose a sativa strain that amps up your energy for a fun night out with friends, or you can choose a relaxing indica for winding down before bedtime. Whatever experience you’re after, there’s a strain of cannabis that’ll help you achieve a heightened state and make said experience infinitely better. It just requires a bit of research – or simply asking a budtender – and a bit of personal experimentation. However, trying cannabis should be a definite do on your bucket list.