COVID-19 has managed to sneak its way into every aspect of our lives, including the time-honored tradition of getting a bunch of friends together, playing games, and getting high. However, with stay-at-home directives in place for most locales across the country, having friends over for a stony game night is an unnecessary health risk for you, your friends, and loved ones. The nights that revolved around a ping pong ball for a game of bong pong are suspended for the foreseeable future.
But with a little bit of imagination and some creativity, you can easily adapt some of the classic stoner games to play with friends on remote platforms. Or, you could just forget about your friends and have a game night all to yourself. Whatever you decide, keep this list handy for games that would be fun to play while high.
Stoney movie night
First, make sure that you and your invitees have a Chrome extension called Netflix Party, which allows everyone to watch the same movie at the same time. You can pick a classic stoner movie like Dazed and Confused or The Big Lebowski, but any movie will do.
The only preparation you’ll need to do is to agree on the rules beforehand. For example, if you choose an action movie, you could light up every time the hero shoots someone. Or for a rom-com, when the main characters kiss, players must take a hit. The options are endless.
Straight-faced stoner
This classic game can easily be adapted to play on a remote platform like Skype or Zoom, and the rules are really simple. Once everyone is good and high, all participants have to keep a straight face. That’s it. The first one to break has to take a penalty of the group’s choosing.
Never have I ever
Another one of the simple and adaptable party games that is perfect for getting together in a remote fashion. To begin, pick someone to go first who will make a statement like, “Never have I ever…eaten a kumquat,” for example. Anyone who has eaten a kumquat has to toke up. The next person makes a “never have I ever…” statement, and the game goes on from there.
High video games
Pretty much any video game will do, and you can do this activity with friends or go solo. Should you decide to have a sesh and go it alone, pick a visually stunning video game that will be even more beautiful to contemplate while high, like Grand Theft Auto, Skyrim, Firewatch, Bioshock or Fallout. But if you’d rather compete with friends, set some game rules, like every time someone sees a dragon, they have to toke up. Or, if you’d like to stick with a classic and fun game like Mario Kart, set up the rules so whoever takes first place has to take a bong hit. The options are endless.
Also, pretty much any board game could be adapted for a sesh of smoking weed, or you could make up your own weed games and rules. Don’t be afraid to get creative, no one is going.
Despite the fact that most states have legalized cannabis for medical use and the implications for health benefits are mounting, the federal government still has not legalized cannabis. It continues to enforce restrictive policies and regulations on research into the health benefits or harms of cannabis products that are available to consumers across the nation.
As a result, research on the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids has been limited in the United States, leaving patients, healthcare professionals, and policy makers without the necessary proof they need to make sound decisions regarding the use of cannabis as a medicine. Because of this, some cannabis companies are even investing money into facilitating their own private studies to get a better understanding of what patients need.
Sensi Products, a California-based cannabis manufacturer, surveyed 246 anonymous respondents to gain more insight into sleep issues and the impact medicating with cannabis has on them. The results suggest cannabis infused edibles may be particularly helpful for the symptoms and side effects associated with insomnia.
The majority of respondents (73%) preferred medicating with cannabis in an edible form when dealing with sleep issues; and of those, a large majority (91%) said that edibles were effective for helping them get better sleep.
“Most studies only scratched the surface and we wanted a deeper understanding of what the consumer is going through and why they are looking to cannabis as a possible solution, which is an essential piece of the sleep puzzle.” — Lisa Tollner
“Over the past 5 years we’ve interviewed nearly two thousand consumers who struggle with insomnia and lack of sleep” explains Lisa Tollner, Co-Founder and CSMO at Sensi Products.
“This sleep study by Sensi Products produced some fascinating insights that we haven’t seen in past studies on cannabis and sleep. In particular, the high approval rating of cannabis edibles for sleep is an interesting result that should be followed up on. Future research should investigate whether cannabis edibles might provide an especially efficacious route to sleep improvements – as this study suggests” states Emily Earlenbaugh, PhD writer and cannabis educator.
Expanding on the work from previous sleep studies, Sensi Products’ survey-based study looked at a variety of sleep-related variables, e.g., sleep patterns, reasons for insomnia, different types of cannabis use, use of other medications, and lifestyle factors like exercise and napping.
In addition to highlighting the efficacy of edibles for sleep, the study found that the majority of respondents (84%) who had used both cannabis and pharmaceutical sleep aids said their sleep was better with cannabis and described improved results when using cannabis options, e.g., sleeping longer (74%), enhanced happiness (56%), emotional balance (53%), productivity (51%), focus (46%), creativity (35%), memory (30%), and motor skills (24%).
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) keeps assuring us that they are taking significant steps to expand cannabis research, but it has already been more than three years since it was supposed to start accepting applications for additional parties to study the plant and its possibilities.
“The Drug Enforcement Administration continues to support additional research into marijuana and its components, and we believe registering more growers will advance the scientific and medical research already being conducted,” Acting Administrator Dhillon said in a press release.
“(We are) making progress to register additional marijuana growers for federally authorized research, and will continue to work with other relevant federal agencies to expedite the necessary next steps.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced in March that in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, it is taking steps to assist those who require access to medical marijuana.
Under Gov. Tom Wolf’s order, dispensaries and other businesses operating in Pennsylvania’s medical cannabis industry are deemed to be essential, life-sustaining entities that need to remain open to support the Commonwealth’s growing patient-base.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commonwealth temporarily suspended certain statutory and regulatory provisions. For starters, dispensary workers are now able to provide medical cannabis to a cardholder in their vehicle located on the facility’s property, thus creating a drive-thru model of sorts.
The shift to the drive-thru dispensary model is fundamentally changing how many card-bearing patients are purchasing medicine. It has resulted in abnormally long lines of cars wrapped around some storefronts, but the advantages seem to outweigh the negatives.
Many of the Pennsylvania dispensaries that have shifted to a business model supporting the drive-thru experience for patient access are seeing the benefits of making the change first-hand.
“What common sense changes can we relax or make that allows patients to get the medicine that they need.” – Lt. Governor John Fetterman
With patients choosing to pre-order their medicine and opting for in-car pickup, both dispensaries and patients are seeing positive results. Check in and check out times are faster and, most importantly, possible exposure to the virus is minimized by avoiding packed waiting rooms or standing in long lines.
The Commonwealth has also waived in-person consultations, meaning patients can consult with approved practitioners remotely for the renewal of certifications.
Lawmakers temporarily removed the cap that limits the number of patients that are allowed to be assigned to one caregiver. This allows caregivers to help more patients in need. Background checks have also been eliminated for caregiver applications (renewals only), in order to expedite the caregiver renewal process.
Finally, the limit that allows for medical cannabis to only be dispensed for 30 days has also been relaxed. Medical cannabis patients are now able to receive as much as a 90-day supply in one visit.
The statutory and regulatory suspensions will remain in place for as long as the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency is in effect.
Choosing which weed to smoke can be a little intimidating. You want to chase certain feelings and flavors, but with there being so many cannabis strains, it’s sometimes tough to know what’s right for you. But don’t trip, because we’re here to help you with seven strains for a variety of common situations.
It’s important to note that cannabis provides each person with their own experience. What may make your body sleepy could make the next smoker feel uplifted or energetic. Ultimately, it’s up to you to figure out what does and does not work with your body.
For a bright wake ‘n bake | Chocolope
Stash a bowl of Chocolope right next to your alarm clock because it’s one of the best wake ‘n bake strains out there. It takes just a few hits before this cross of Cannalope Haze and Chocolate Thai hit you with clear-headed and energizing effects that get you up and ready to tackle the day’s to-do list.
Chocolope’s hairy buds produce a coffee bean aroma with a chocolate hash flavor on the smoke. Though many consumers champion Chocolope for it’s energizing and clear-headed effects, it’s worth noting that some consider it a little racy, so be sure to mind your dosage.
Throughout the day, you may find yourself craving a little afternoon boost in morale. Whether that’s because work is bogging you down, the world is in a pandemic, or simply because you’ve come down from your wake ‘n bake, there’s one strain that’s tried-and-true for the situation: Black Cherry Soda.
With its dark fruity flavor and purple-hued buds, many expect Black Cherry Soda to be a knockout, but even its most potent high tends to be even-keeled and mild. Instead of relaxed and sleepy, you’ll probably feel euphoric, centered, and carefree, so take a few hits and finish out the day strong.
Being an indica-dominant hybrid, the Black Cherry Soda strain is a great example of why indica and sativa can’t be seen as a guide for how weed will make you feel.
At the end of a long day or strenuous activity, we all need to decompress. We need something to make us feel good while also relaxing our mind and body. Say hello to White Widow.
White Widow is a classic weed strain known all around the world. It was bred in Amsterdam by crossing a couple of landrace strains, and the result gave us a perfect hybrid of uplifting and relaxing effects. It’s a potent high, but it’s a euphoric high, making you feel giggly and centered. If you’re looking to kick back and smile for the next few hours, this is what you should be smoking.
Nate Dogg said “Heyayayay, smoke weed every day” and he was damn right. But he never told us specifically when to smoke weed every day. While some of us enjoy smoking all day long, many cannabis consumers prefer to only smoke right before bed so they can get the best sleep of their lives.
When it comes to choosing a sleepy cannabis strain to put you down for the count, you want something potent; something heavy; something that’ll hit your body with an instant feeling of sedation and couch-lock. Purple Punch is a great strain for the occasion.
Purple Punch crosses two heavy-hitters — Granddaddy Purple and Larry OG — to give us a grape and berry flavored treat that’ll have the “Are you still watching?” Netflix screen staring at you for hours. It’s that potent, with THC content usually passing 20% with ease. This flower is absolutely flushed with trichomes, which makes Purple Punch an excellent strain to dab or vape. Flavor matters.
Speaking of flavor, when it comes to choosing a strain for taste rather than effects, you’d be doing yourself a favor by lighting up some Zkittlez.
Though potent in some batches, this cross of Grape Ape and Grapefruit tends to be somewhat middling in effects, leaving consumers feeling relaxed but still alert and focused enough for creative activities like writing, painting, and drawing up a plan to take over the world.
While the effects are great, the flavor is the real reason to champion Zkittlez. It’s straight-up like smoking a purple popsicle. The flavors are sweet, fruity, and coat your mouth in a way that’ll feel like you just drank a berry-mixed smoothie.
Sometimes you want to be absolutely floored by a cannabis strain. You don’t necessarily want to be sleepy, but you want to be so stoned that you can no longer feel toes wiggle. If you’re looking for one of those ear-popping strains that’ll leave you thinking, “Whewwww, boy; that is some GAS!” then GMO Cookies should 100% be your next smoke.
GMO Cookies — also known as Garlic Cookies — crosses Chemdog, the grandfather of diesel strains and many of your favorite strains today, with GSC, one of the new-age legends of the cannabis strain-o-sphere. It has a very pungent and unique aroma of onions, mushrooms, and skunk, while the flavor is much of the same, backed by sour undertones. If fettuccine alfredo was a cannabis strain, it would be Garlic Cookies.
Novice consumers should tread lightly when it comes to GMO because it only takes a couple of hits before your body turns into a schedule-clearing puddle of inactivity.
And like…on the lowest of keys…if you’ve been wanting to try Gary Payton from Cookies, but that $60 eighth is too rich for your blood, it has some striking similarities in appearance, flavor, and effects to GMO.
One of the biggest reasons people like to smoke weed is because it can help boost your mood. Many cannabis strains provide happy and euphoric feelings, but few do so with the power, consistency, and reputation of Island Sweet Skunk, sometimes named Sweet Island Skunk.
Island Sweet Skunk is a sativa-dominant hybrid with sticky green and orange buds that kick out sweet, tropical, and citrus flavors. The effects of this strain are the definition of being on Cloud 9. Few hits of I.S.S. and you’ll feel goofy, giggly, happy, and without a care in the entire universe.
If there’s any strain on this list that you should try, for whatever reason, at any time of day, it’s Island Sweet Skunk.
Sensi Products
