Have you ever considered keeping a journal of your cannabis use? If you are using cannabis therapeutically it can be a terrific way to keep track of your symptoms and how different strains and consumption methods affect you. If you use cannabis recreationally, keeping track of the strains and growers you love will help cut down on the time and money spent on products you don’t love.

Identifying the Strains that Make You Feel Your Best

Cannabis journals are great for medical patients - a journal can help you keep track of the strains that help you the most. Cannabis is famous for causing different effects in different people. Two people smoking the same joint might have completely different reactions. This is because of the endocannabinoid system which we all have but which is unique to each of us.

It’s really easy to forget how last night’s joint made you feel or which strain it was that helped you deal with that migraine from hell last month. This way, you’ll have a personalized data bank of information right at your fingertips. Never again will you need to guess how much to take or what THC percentage it was that hit your sweet spot.

A journal will help facilitate discussions with your caregiver

If you are hoping to convince a physician to write you a prescription, a diary may help to illustrate how cannabis has been beneficial to your wellness routine. It also shows dedication and perseverance, rather than just a desire to “get high legally”. If your physician has concerns about how you will react to different cannabis based treatments, a journal will have all the information you need, logged in one handy place.

Writing it Down Will Help You Become More Mindful in Your Consumption

Exercising, meditating, eating, lovemaking and consuming cannabis are all examples of things best done mindfully. By writing down the way each session leaves you feeling you’ll find yourself paying more attention to how you’re feeling. By stopping for a moment to take the time to write about it, you are giving yourself permission to be in the moment and truly experience what is happening and everything that cannabis has to offer.

Journalling Will Become Part of Your Routine

If you are a daily consumer - or even if you are a weekend user, regularly journaling as part of the process will help you maintain the habit going forward, which will help you see the big picture in your consumption habits.

Just like how the ritual of grinding the herb, rolling it (or packing a bowl), lighting and inhaling is ritualistic to many, journalling will be something you may grow to really enjoy. Looking back over past entries on how your usage evolves over time will be fascinating too, like a cannabis time capsule.

What to track

Once you’ve decided on your journal medium (are you writing it down old school in a notepad or are you using an app like Strainprint?) you can figure out what exactly you plan to track.

Some ideas to get to started:

• Date and time of session, along with how much cannabis was used

• Method of consumption; Did you smoke or dab or eat it?

• Amount of THC/CBD

• Tincture, flower, edible? What form did your cannabis consumption take?

• Name of the strain you used

• Other medications you’re taking

• How long did it take to feel the effects?

• Positive effects and negative effects

• Where were you when you consumed?

• Mood