With 4/20 just around the corner, anyone without a Colorado area code should follow our handy guide to not being “that guy” when purchasing legal marijuana for your first time.

With 4/20 just around the corner, anyone without a Colorado area code should follow our handy guide to not being “that guy” when purchasing legal marijuana for your first time.

Ask for Help
Almost every weed barn comes with a friendly pot-sommelier to guide your through the glory of legal marijuana. Take full advantage of their knowledge and ask them every dumb question you can think of. Every strain can act a bit differently, so don’t be afraid to tell them exactly what kind of high you’re after. They probably have it.

Less is More
To ensure a good time, always err on the side of caution. Remember: You’re a beautiful, unique snowflake. Tolerances are all across the board. What it takes to get you high might be enough to tranquilize a rhino — but Wiz Khalifa would still laugh at you. And it’s often medical-grade stuff, so the shwag you normally buy from Viper will never look the same. Ease into it, baby.

Watch What You Eat
Edibles can deliver some of the smoothest full-body highs around — but they can ruin a fun afternoon worse than malfunctioning seatbelts on a rollercoaster. It can take anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes for that brownie to melt into your bloodstream, so instead of having another edible when you don’t feel anything for the first five minutes — have a chill pill instead.

Bring Cash
While buying, smoking and owning weed is nice and legal within colorful Colorado, it’s still technically federal-illegal. Because banks and credit cards receive federal funding, they are prohibited from interacting with dispensaries. Meaning: You can’t rack up frequent flyer miles purchasing some OG Kush. And when it comes to paying with check, well, who pays with check?

BONUS: How the Hell Do I Smoke That?

Marijuana comes all shapes and sizes now, Grandma! Thanks, science!

Hash: All the magic of weed shaken down into a concentrated form. Can be sprinkled on a bowl.

Bubble Hash: Fancy hash made with ice cubes. Sprinkle away.

Oil: THC goop extracted with either butane or carbon dioxide. Commonly used in vape pens.

Wax: Whipped hash oil. Get out your hot knives.

Shatter: Super refined wax created in a lab. Upward of 90% THC. Good luck.