Wake and Bake

Wake and bake. What does that even mean? Well, it is a term stoners like to use for when they use marijuana right after waking up, typically done in the morning and within 10 minutes of waking up. The “wake” part is pretty easy, whereas “baked” is a slang term for feeling high. According to the 2017 Global Drug Survey, the US leads the world in waking and baking with 22% of cannabis users reporting they smoke within ten minutes or waking up! Although it is not truly known where the practice originated, it was allegedly made popular in the 1960s by fans of the American hippie band The Grateful Dead.

So, why does smoking weed in the morning hit harder?

Smoking weed in the morning can hit harder than throughout the day because of the fasting period during sleep. The body has been without nutrients for hours, so the cannabinoids have no other processes or chemicals to compete with. Your body heals itself while you sleep, so any foreign chemical that was in the body 8 hours ago is mostly gone. Levels of Anandamide, a major endocannabinoid that binds to the cannabinoid receptor in our brains, are 3x higher when waking up than at the end of the day.  

Pros and cons?

You get the highest in the morning – the state of being after you wake up makes you more sensitive to the effects of cannabis. Since you are sleeping and have had a long gap  between sessions, it’s like another way to basically cheat your way out of a tolerance break! Breakfast tastes better in the morning since cannabis can make food taste better, it will also make breakfast taste more satisfying. THC and caffeine can be quite complementary – the right amount of THC paired with your favorite coffee can supply the perfect balance of stimulation and relaxation. Start your day off relaxed and without stress to help you throughout the day!

Some issues regarding the ingestion of cannabis in the morning is that it can be harder to get high later on since wake and baking is usually the highest you’re going to get all day. This can also lead to burning out quicker as you may be ready to go to bed earlier which can lead to sleeping too much. Smoking in the morning can also make you forget the things you have to do throughout the day or dismiss the tasks you need to complete for the day which can be a big setback if you have responsibilities such as a job during the day. Finally, smoking in the morning can cause a plunge in energy and enthusiasm once the effects wear off. 

How to wake and bake the right way

To wake and bake the right way try to choose strains with less Myrcene, a terpene that can be more relaxing, and choose strains higher in limonene and terpinolene, which will have more uplifting, energetic effects. Try to avoid strains with very high THC, this can lead to paranoia, and is also a sedative. Using strains with low doses of CBD, CBG, and THCV may provide a more stimulating, uplifting experience. 

Make sure you drink water before starting, sleeping dehydrates you and so does consuming cannabis. Also remembering to eat something before consuming is important. Start slow, and have a loose plan for your day, wake and baking is appropriate for some circumstances but not all.  

In the end, the decision to wake and bake is definitely an individual one. Some of the biggest factors to consider before partaking in a wake and bake sesh include your plan for the day, your goal of consuming, and what cannabis you have available to you. Consuming first thing in the morning can be useful, but it can also lead to problems associated with cannabis misuse. It also starts tolerance building early in the morning, and if use continues throughout the day, you may experience little to no euphoria from THC by the end of the day. On the flip side though, for those who function well when high, have significant medical needs in the morning, or just want to take the day off, the wake and bake can be a great escape from a mundane morning.