Elevated Experience

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]F[/dropcap]or many of us, celebrating 420 has been part of our lives for many years now, maybe even for decades. As we mature, celebrating 420 by consuming as much cannabis as possible isn’t as appealing as it used to be. But that doesn’t mean that we should forego the celebration of 420 entirely. Instead, take the reins and celebrate 420 with one of these elevated experiences. You can pay tribute to the strength and efforts of the cannabis community while having a blast with your closest friends.

Cannabis Tasting Party

We’re all familiar with whiskey tasting and wine tasting events. Now, just in time for 420, we have a new era of tasting—cannabis tasting events. Don’t be intimidated by this do-it-yourself option for celebrating 420 in style. These three tips will give you a good start toward throwing your own cannabis tasting party for 420.

Pairing 101

There are four important aspects to cannabis tasting—taste, aroma, effects and appearance. In order to effectively pair your cannabis strains and concentrates with delicious hors d’oeuvres, make sure you take the following four characteristics of your product into account.

Taste – Your cannabis strains and concentrates are going to have different flavors that range from nutty or chocolatey to citrus or berry, and everything in between. You have a few options when it comes to pairing in regards to flavor. You can choose to pair complementary flavors, or you can pair contrasting flavors. For example, you can pair a Bubba Kush joint, which is known for its woodsy and sweet flavors with a chocolate milkshake, or you can cut through the sweetness with a food that is sweet but also sour, like lemon bars.

Aroma – Like taste, aroma is a very important aspect to consider for your cannabis pairing experience. Similar to taste, you can choose to pair complementary aromas or contrasting aromas. This allows the tasting experience to be multi-sensory and very enjoyable.

Effects – As the host of this tasting event, you want to celebrate, but you don’t want to overdo it for yourself or your guests. That’s why it’s important to take the effects into account when pairing cannabis with foods and drinks. For instance, you might want to steer clear of pairing a concentrate with hard alcohol for the simple reason that both substances are heavy hitting and come with strong physical effects. Consider utilizing some products that are high in cannabidiol (CBD) to help balance the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-rich products.

Appearance – An attribute that could be considered less important to pairing, appearance is still a fun characteristic to take into account when pairing cannabis products with foods and drinks. You can pair a purple colored strain like Purple Urkle with purple foods like grapes or an eggplant dish. Be creative, push the envelope, and overall, have a great time.

Securing the Goods

Much like how you can pick up the food ingredients you will need at your local grocery store, you should visit your local licensed dispensary to secure your selection of cannabis products. Knowledgeable budtenders will know the flavor and aroma profiles of the various strains and concentrates they carry; utilize their expertise to ensure your pairings are top-notch and creative.

Hike

Cannabis consumers aren’t lazy—get off your behind, and prove this to be true by organizing a group hike on 420. There are two important topics you need to cover in order to have a successful and safe 420 hike.

Stick to the Trail

The last thing you need is to get lost during your hike, so be sure to stick to a popular trail for your 420 group hike. Also, let a couple friends or relatives who are not attending know the four “w’s” of your hike—who, what, when and where. Ensure that you’re safe by having a designated driver to the destination if you’re already consuming, and be aware of the local laws if you plan on bringing cannabis along for the journey ahead.

What to Bring

Whether or not you choose to bring cannabis, there are a few essentials you’ll need to make your 420 group hike a success. First, make sure that you’re dressed appropriately for the weather and terrain, which means hiking boots, pants, a hat, sunglasses and a light jacket could come in handy (don’t forget the sunscreen). Be sure to pack a lunch, bring healthy snacks and plenty of water. Finally, to keep you going in the right direction, bring along a compass and a map—you know Google Maps doesn’t work when there’s literally no service, right? Finally, you want to be prepared in the unfortunate case of an emergency, so bring along a first aid kit and any other emergency supplies you deem necessary.

Dine in Style

Invite your besties over for a celebratory dinner party. The kicker? It’s up to you whether or not you want to serve infused foods. You can choose to keep the cannabis consumption separate from your fancy meal, allowing anyone to enjoy the meal while offering consumption on the side.

Infused Dinner

Throwing a cannabis-infused dinner is tricky to say the least. You want to offer delicious fancy foods that are infused, but you don’t want to go overboard by over-infusing your food. The key to throwing your infused dinner is moderation and strategic dosing. First and foremost, you don’t have to infuse every dish, and the dishes you do choose to infuse should have a low dosage of THC per serving. Also, feel free to infuse some dishes with CBD, which will create a more well-rounded and balanced cannabis consuming experience for your guests.

Non-Infused Dinner

If you want to open your dinner to guests who do not consume cannabis, this is the best option for you. Cook the food without adding cannabis, and keep the cannabis as an option on the side. You can offer flower, concentrates or even edibles to your guests who would like to partake in the true 420 celebration.