You don't have to walk around smelling like a dispensary just because you use medical marijuana.
Despite the fact that public acceptance of cannabis use and medical marijuana are at an all-time high, many Virginia residents only feel comfortable with their closest friends knowing that plant medicine is a part of their wellness routine. You may have a condition that qualifies for treatment with medical marijuana in VA, but there are a number of reasons why you would be hesitant for others to know about your treatment plan.
In this article, we are going to address the most common concern medical marijuana patients have when it comes to others knowing about their therapeutic choices:
ODOR
Some people love it. Some people hate it. No matter which camp you’re in, there is no denying that cannabis has a pungent smell that lingers. It hangs in the air, sticks to your clothes, and is a tell-tale signal to everyone around that you are, in fact, a stoner.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Medical marijuana products found at Virginia dispensaries are discreet, and some produce no odor at all. In addition to more advanced products for people who are not interested in announcing their treatment choices to the world, air fresheners and odor neutralizers have come a long way.
Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to make sure your medical marijuana treatment stays discreet, no matter what you use it for.
Find Medical Marijuana Products That Don’t Smell Like Marijuana
The thought of using medical marijuana may stir up olfactory memories of concert parking lots and college parties, but cannabis has come a long way in the last few years. Virginia dispensaries carry a variety of products that do not have a detectable odor. There are also products that have a lighter odor that can be easily neutralized, eliminated, or covered up.
Edibles - The cannabis edibles that can be found in VA dispensaries are delightfully-flavored, accurately-labeled and convenient for taking on-the-go. They may leave a bit of a cannabis smell on your breath, but gum, a mint, or a swish of mouthwash should take care of it. If you are new to marijuana edibles, we suggest you check out this edibles guide for beginners. It will help you understand how edibles work, and ways to gently introduce them into your treatment plan.
Edibles You Can Find at Virginia Dispensaries as of May 2021:
Beyond/Hello in Manassas - Beyond/Hello in Manassas does not currently have any of its own edible products on the shelf. However, they do offer gummies made by Dharma Pharmaceuticals in Blue Razz, Lemon, and Fruit Punch flavors, with 9 - 10mg of THC and 5 - 6mg of CBD.
Columbia Care in Portsmouth - Columbia Card does not currently have edibles.
Dharma Pharmaceuticals in Abingdon - Dharma Pharmaceuticals carries its gummies in Blue Razz, Lemon, and Fruit Punch flavors, with 9 - 10mg of THC and 5 - 6mg of CBD. If you are uncertain if gummies are right for you, you can try a pack of two for $12.90.
GLeaf in Richmond - GLeaf’s cannabis gummies come in strawberry, blue raspberry and cola flavors, with 8ish mg of THC and 5ish mg of CBD per piece.
Tinctures - Virginia tinctures generally have a gentle concentration of THC and a strong balance of CBD. They are often fruit-flavored, and they can be swallowed straight, taken sublingually, or added to your favorite food and beverages. If you add a dropperful of tincture to your morning coffee, you probably don’t have to worry about the odor on your breath. However, you may want to swish some mouthwash or chew some gum if you take it sublingually.
Patients new to tinctures can check out this guide for beginners to learn more about what’s available in Virginia, and how to get the most out of THC oils.
Tinctures Available at Virginia Dispensaries as of May 2021:
Beyond/Hello in Manassas - Beyond carries tinctures made by GLeaf and Dharma Pharmaceuticals. They come in raspberry, lemon, and green apple flavors, but the THC and CBD concentrations are not listed for most options.
Columbia Care in Portsmouth - Columbia Care is currently carrying tinctures from Dharma Pharmaceuticals in lemon lime and fruit punch flavors. They are labeled at concentrations of around 3.5mg of THC and 2mg of CBD per serving.
Dharma Pharmaceuticals in Abingdon - At Dharma Pharmaceuticals, their tincture options just include the lower-dose lemon lime and fruit punch flavors.
GLeaf in Richmond - GLeaf exclusively carries the tinctures it processes. It’s grape-flavored tincture is a 4:1 CBD:THC concentration, while the unflavored option has nearly 10mg/serving of THC and 6mg/serving of CBD.
Products With a Light Marijuana Odor
If you just prefer to inhale your medical marijuana products, then a vape cartridge or pen may at least produce a reduced odor. They generally have a lighter smell, it is easier to control how much of the odor escapes, and vapor dissipates faster than smoke.
Vape Cartridges and Pens - The THC concentrates in vape cartridges and pens generally produce a lighter odor than full flower. This means that you can expect the smell to dissipate in a room with the windows open and a spray of odor neutralizer; and a handwashing, mouthwash gargle, and perfume or cologne spritz should get the odor off of you personally. You generally only need to take one or two hits in order to start feeling the effects, and holding it in for longer will help cut down on the smell that escapes when you exhale. Plus, there is no burning material to produce smoke while waiting for your next inhale.
To learn more about vaping, check out our beginner’s guide to vaping medical marijuana in Virginia.
Vape Products Available at Virginia Dispensaries as of May 2021
Beyond/Hello in Manassas - Beyond/Hello carries more than 30 different kinds of vape concentrates, including products processed by Dharma Pharmaceuticals and GLeaf.
Columbia Care in Portsmouth - Columbia Care’s vape selection is also entirely made up of Dharma and GLeaf products. Get vape concentrates in a variety of options including sativa, indica, and hybrid strains.
Dharma Pharmaceuticals in Abingdon - Dharma Pharmaceuticals’ selection of vape products varies, but they almost always have refill syringes in their three popular formulations: Calm, Focus, and Energy.
Gleaf in Richmond - GLeaf certainly has the widest selection of vape cartridges, with THC concentrations as high as 81%.
Clear the Air: Using Odor Neutralizers for Your Home and Body
Whether you just love the way cannabis smells and prefer to use more pungent products, or you want to ensure that every last odiferous trace of cannabis is gone before you leave your house, there’s a product out there for you!
Use Incense to Cover the Smell of Marijuana
Incense is about the only product that is heavy enough to cover or mask the smell of cannabis without the aid of other products. Lighting a stick of incense is a great way to cover your tracks in a hurry, like if someone is going to stop by unannounced. It can even mask any lingering smoke, because incense also produces smoke.
Febreze
Febreze is a favorite among pet owners and cigarette smokers, but it still does not fully cover the smell of a strong joint. However, it is a great start for whatever other products you want to use to cover the smell. Give the room a good spray, then follow with lit candles, air freshener, incense, or wherever else you want to use.
Use an Air Filter
Using an air filter is another technique for lightening the smell of cannabis in the air. Check out this list of top air purifiers for cannabis, for the most effective products that will serve your purpose.
Make Your Own Sploof
One of the easiest ways to make the air around you smell like something other than cannabis, is to fill an empty toilet paper roll with dryer sheets. When you exhale your smoke, simply exhale into the toilet paper roll. Check out this guide on how to make a sploof if you’re having a hard time picturing it.
Take a Shower
After you take a shower high, you may never want to take another shower in any other condition. It can help you relax and really enjoy the hot water and scents of your favorite suds. It will also keep your hair and skin from smelling like marijuana.
Change Your Clothes
Changing your clothes is a great way to shed the cannabis smell in a hurry. Put clean clothes on, wash your hands, brush your hair and teeth, and you should feel (and smell) brand new!
Take a Deep Breath and Relax
Here’s the deal: You don’t want to go to work smelling like a blunt, because most businesses have rules against workplace impairment. This means that you should definitely be either entirely avoiding medical marijuana when you go to work, or at least keeping your use to lighter products that are mostly CBD.
When it comes to your free time, most people are not going to come up to you and start sniffing to see if you smell like weed. So, as long as you use more discreet products, wash your hands, brush your teeth, and give yourself a spritz of cologne or perfume, you should be able to leave your house after using medical marijuana worry-free.
Get a Virginia Marijuana Card Today, to Start Using Products That Won’t Give Your Treatment Plan Away!
Having a Virginia marijuana card means that you have access to cannabis products that are discreet, virtually odorless, and easy to use.
Give Virginia Marijuana Card a call at (888) 633-5808, or schedule an appointment with one of our marijuana doctors today!
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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