The Do’s & Don’ts of Smoking Weed At the Beach

It’s almost already August! That means summer is at the midway point, so we hope you’re as bronzed as Gorilla Glue Shatter from all your evenings and weekends at the beach. There’s no better place to spend the dog days of summer than the hot sands or rocks of your local beaches. Beach life has to be one of the most satisfying places on the planet: the sounds of the water splashing at your feet; the warmth from the blazing sun on your face; and a bucket full of cold bevies at your fingertips – not to mention the pleasure of good company.

Whether you prefer boating, ski-dooing, fishing or paddle boarding at the beach, everybody can enjoy a beach break in-between your lake activities. While the beach is serenely satisfying already on its own, there’s one way you can take your summertime relaxation to whole new heights: smoking weed at the beach.

If you’re lazing about on a very popular, public beach then you have to be careful about lighting up. Public courtesy is always important no matter where you’re consuming your cannabis, but especially when it’s at a busy location for kids & adults alike. This statement brings to mind some of the questions surrounding cannabis at the beach: Can you smoke weed at the beach? What kinds of cannabis are the most popular in the summertime? What’s the etiquette for smoking weed at the beach?

In this weed smoker’s guide to beaching with buds we’ll detail all the do’s and don’ts of smoking weed at the beach. Time to roll up your towel and your joints as we apply a healthy amount of sunscreen before we step foot on the beachfront to blaze.

Can You Smoke Weed on the Beach?

If you’re planning on spending every waking minute of daylight at the beach, then you need to do a lot of packing & preparation before you roll up to your favorite sandy spot. Towels, sunscreen, hats, beverages, snacks, beach balls, flotation devices, barbeques and umbrellas can fill up your trunk before you know it. These items might seem like a lot, but there’s nothing worse than setting up on the water only to realize you forgot something important.

Most people pack plenty of beverages to help cool them off at the beach, but something that isn’t talked about is how dangerous alcohol, cannabis and summer activities can be. Whether you’re boating, floating or just sun-tanning, alcoholic beverages are actually a really bad idea. Margaritas and coolers might refreshing, but alcohol doesn’t mix with dehydration, sunstroke, operating motorized vehicles or helping someone be a competent swimmer. For these reasons alone – not to mention a bunch more we’ll discuss throughout this article – we’re here to make the case for smoking weed at the beach instead of drinking for some summertime fun.

We talked about some of the cons of drinking alcohol at the beach, so we’ll continue the conversation as we switch our focus to weed: what are the pros & cons of consuming cannabis at the beach?

PROS OF WEED ON THE BEACH

Nothing says ‘RELAX’ quite like buds on the beach

Great for sharing in the summertime experiences with friends & family

Enhances all your senses: feel of the sand, refreshment of the water, warmth of the sun, ambience of nature, taste of your snacks, etc

Eases tension, pain, swelling or fatigue from all your beachside activities

Can help you to unplug your brain, unwind from stress or achieve true zen-like states

Makes you more sociable, experience more fulfillment in social settings

CONS OF CANNABIS AT THE BEACH

Can be disruptive to other beach goers

Cannabis can be damaged/contaminated by sand, water, wildlife

Negative attention from law enforcement or other beach goers

Potential dangers of getting high & swimming, sun-tanning, boating, etc

Dry mouth or munchies can cause you to burn through available food/drinks

Disorientation can lead to getting lost, personal injury or falling asleep and getting sunburnt

The major takeaways from the pros & cons of buds at the beach has to do with your safety vs your satisfaction. Without question, cannabis can make almost any summer fun better, but it’s a question of how much fun you’re having in relation to how much in control you still are of your own mind & body. There are a lot of risks to your health and the wellbeing of others at the beach – dehydration, sunburns, cuts & bruises, broken bones, drowning, sunstroke and more dangers lurk behind every frisbee throw, wakeboard jump or dive into the crystal clear waters.

These dangers can be easily managed by sticking to a simple plan: have fun, but don’t take risks – especially if you’re under the influences of alcohol, cannabis or other substances. Nature can be unforgiving to anyone who thinks that “party-time vibes” are enough to protect them from wildlife attacks, boating accidents or broken bones from cliff-diving. It’s easy to keep yourself & others safe if you don’t let the fun-levels exceed the safety-thresholds at the beach. By all means, light up while you spread your toes through the sand or drop an edible before floating on the lake, just make sure you know your doses and have people around you that you trust.

Enough safety speeches, because it’s time to get back to discussing the do’s and don’ts of smoking weed at the beach. In the next section of this weed smoker’s guide to blazing buds in the blazing heat we’ll list the best ways to enjoy cannabis at the beach in the safest, most enjoyable – and more creative – ways possible.

Weed Smoker’s Guide to Smoking Weed on the Beach

Make sure your bathing suits are tied on tightly because this one’s going to be one fast, deep dive – and we’d hate to see any of you lose your shorts/tops in your buzzed states!

DO… Bring Snacks

If you’re a frequent beach bum then you probably already have a cooler-full of fruit trays, veggies & dip, appetizers, sweets & savory snacks galore – after all, a beach bod is great but satisfying your hunger is way more important! If you’re going to be smoking weed at the beach or eating some edibles, you’re undoubtedly going to be hit by different waves than the tide – the insatiable waves of the munchies. It’s essential that you have snacks on-hand, because despite the fact that swimming after eating can cause cramps, nothing is worse than being high on an empty stomach!

We’ve done a few blogs on the best kinds of munchies – healthy ones too! – so check out these articles for more details on the top notch snacks & treats for your next beach voyage.

DON’T… Forget to Hydrate

Dehydration is always a risk at the beach, on the boat or whenever you’re basking in the rays of the hot summer sun. When you add marijuana – and sometimes alcohol – to this equation, you can risk significant bodily harm due to severe dehydration. It might sound impossible to suffer from dehydration when you’re right on the water’s edge, but sunstroke and dehydration are very common threats to peoples’ health every year.

It can only take a couple of hours for someone to become dehydrated in direct sunlight. When you factor in weed at the beach in its various forms and how some strains can cause extreme dry mouth, it’s easy to see why some people shrivel up when they imbibe with buds at the lake. Despite these risks of dehydration, it’s easy to combat the effects – just drink lots of fluids! Water is always best, especially if you’re drinking alcohol as well, so make sure every 15-20 minutes you’re staying hydrated. Even if you’re swimming lots and staying cool in shade, drinking water, electrolytes or some non-sweetened fluids can keep your beach buds from turning your beach bod into a mummified raisin.

DO… Bask In the Glory of Nature

No weed smoker’s guide to beach budding would be complete without discussing the glories of consuming cannabis in the midst of nature. Weed & wildlife might not mix so well, but getting high in the natural environments of the Earth has to be some of the most beautiful and spiritual experiences on this mortal coil. Waterfronts are among the most serene and picturesque settings there are, especially when you pair the sights & sounds with the dope-amine surges of being high.

Because summer brings with it numerous risks of fire hazards, if you’re going to be smoking weed on the beach be extra careful to take steps to be fire-safe. No roaches left behind, no campfires left unattended, and definitely NO FIREWORKS, NO EXCEPTIONS. If you need a lights-show to dazzle your addled brain, weep at the beauty of a sunset then stargaze on the beach.

DON’T… Go It Alone

You can smoke weed on the beach anytime by yourself, sure, but it’s always a better idea to bring your buds when you’re smoking buds. There’s no law stating that you have to implement a buddy system whenever you consume cannabis, but it’s definitely a way safer, more effective way to get high.

Getting stoned in groups removes the risks of wigging out and committing self-harm, getting lost and disoriented, or being alone when disaster strikes on the water – or worst case scenario, IN the water. Weed at the beach comes with significantly more risks than usual toking hangouts, so grouping up is ideal for your safety & enjoyment.

DO… Remember the Tunes!

Marijuana and music have been paired together longer than PB&J – don’t look that up, we’re sure it’s accurate. There is a lot of science to back up why music sounds so much better when you’re high, but there’s also the advantages that good tunes provide to your beach going experience. Blasting dance music on a boat is epic, rocking out around a beach campfire is memorable, and floating on the water to some Bob Marley is truly transcendent.

Most bluetooth speakers are 100% waterproof these days, so bringing music with you everywhere you go literally means everywhere. Just be mindful of other beach goers nearby and you’ll never go wrong with some good tunes, good people, good vibes and good weed at the beach.

DON’T… Secondhand Smokescreen Others

Speaking of being considerate of other beach bums, one of the most annoyingly common issues with smoking weed at the beach has to do with polluting peoples’ airways. Even vaping can be an irritant to some people, so whenever you’re lighting up a blunt to take your beach party to the next level please be aware of others around you. This complaint can quickly turn into a phone call to the authorities, and before you know it the police boats are swarming you just when the weed kicks in.

If you frequent very popular, public beaches then you might want to consider edibles at the beach instead – equally enjoyable, but you’ll have to time your edibles a bit more than the much faster kick from the old puff-puff-pass.

DO… Set Boundaries

In the same vein as public consideration, it’s important that you set some guidelines for yourself, for others and the beach environment around you. This might include tying lines to let your group know the limits of your beachfront, or maybe tying your tubes together or floaties to the shore to prevent anyone drifting across the lake as their mind drifts across the universe.

Boundaries can also help you & yours to avoid any confrontations with law enforcement – such as personal boundaries to “not get too high, loud and party-hardy”. Boundaries include planning, and any smart stoner knows that mapping out the area, discussing the dangers and setting limitations on the festivities is essential to tripping hard, but not literally or legally.

DON’T… Litter

This one will be brief but it’s very important: DO. NOT. LITTER. To uphold the natural beauty of the beach and prevent injuries to wildlife or polluting of the water we so enjoy, you have to become an expert at leaving no trace. There’s no excuse for leaving refuse anywhere, let alone the beach – a very eco-sensitive environment. Bring lots of plastic bags to pick up your garbage, cans or bottles and any leftovers from some despicable, disrespectful beach goers that didn’t read this article.

DO… Relax & Unwind

This one is the easiest to stick to. Weed at the beach is all about enhancing your experience, and for most of us that experience is centered on relaxing, chilling, de-stressing or zoning out from our busy lives.

DON’T… Hit the Snooze Button!

Listen, you’re going to want to drift off into the most blissful sleep of your life – the waves lapping at your toes, the birds chirping, and the wind serenading you to sleep is impossible to resist. That being said, sleeping while high on the beach can lead to a few issues for you and other beach goers. For one, if you fall asleep at the beach then you might wake up to a nasty sunburn. Secondly, snoozing in public under the influences of cannabis can be risky – you can sleep talk, sleep walk, wake up in a daze, or sleep through the shift into night and put yourself in a bad spot.

Thirdly, there’s always the risk of run-ins with wildlife at the water’s edge and when you factor in that cooler full of food & drinks you’re just asking for a rude awakening if you’re too high to function properly with bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, birds, seals, heck maybe even lake monsters lurking nearby. Finally, if you’re sleeping on an air mattress or flotation device and you’re also high, it’s a recipe for potential drowning-disaster. Case-in-point, don’t get too high by yourself at the beach and wake up covered in ants, with your cooler floating away and your car keys buried somewhere in the sand – trust us, it happens to the most savvy of stoners.

DO… Keep Your Buds Safe

This goes for keeping yourself safe, your friends & family safe, other beach goers safe in addition to literally safekeeping your cannabis. Nothing mucks up your pipe or bong worse than sand, and even if you don’t drop your weed by accident you’ll have to contend with bugs, gusts of wind and the potential for excess moisture impeding your nug quality. You also need to consider the strong odors of your cannabis and how that can attract unwanted attention from other beach goers or even the law men & women.

To avoid this becoming a problem, invest in a resealable glass or metal container that can keep your weed safe & stable – temperature controlled containers that can be placed in the cooler are also a fantastic choice.

DON’T… Be A Hotshot

Last but not least, it needs to be said that weed makes some of us do some funny, albeit crazy things. It’s okay to have fun, be free and let loose when you’re smoking weed at the beach, but what isn’t okay is risking your own personal safety or endangering others.

The nature of boating, water sports, cliff-diving or even just swimming comes with a lot of dangers such as broken bones, sunstroke, sunburns, cuts, scrapes, bruises and that ever-present risk of drowning.

Adding cannabis to this equation can result in disaster if you’re not cognizant of the risks, or if you don’t have a handle on your tolerance for weed. Make sure you’re not overdoing the weed and the same goes for what you’re doing while at the beach.

When you’re safe with your weed, your weed will keep you safe. The same goes for having fun in nature – Mother Nature can nurture and dazzle you with her beauty, but she’s got some bite to her if you don’t show the proper respect. We hope you found this weed smoker’s guide to weed at the beach informative, fun and inspiring for your next wet-Wednesday or suntan-Saturday. Now get out there, sun those buns, dive into that cool water, and puff-puff-pass the summer days & nights with good company and even greater buds from Haute Health.