Cannabis 101

New to cannabis, or coming back after a long break? Start here. This guide covers what Michigan law allows, the main ways to consume, how to start low and go slow, and how to narrow down the menu. When you’re ready, the team at Joyology Lake Orion, on Bald Mountain Rd in Auburn Hills, and Joyology Mt. Clemens can take it from there.

Michigan cannabis laws: the basics

Adult-use cannabis is legal in Michigan for adults 21 and older. To shop with us, you must be 21+ with a valid government-issued photo ID. That’s true whether you walk in or pick up an order you placed online.

How much you can buy and carry

Away from home, you can carry up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis. No more than 15 grams of that can be concentrate.
Each purchase is capped at 2.5 ounces, with no more than 15 grams of concentrate. If your order mixes formats, ask the store how it counts toward the cap.
At home, you can keep up to 10 ounces. Anything over 2.5 ounces must be kept in a locked container or area.

Joyology is a retailer licensed and regulated by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA). We do not grow, extract or make products. We stock the brands that do.

Keep it private

Consume cannabis in a private place, such as your home. Michigan law does not allow use in public places, and property owners can limit use on their property.

Never drive

Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal in Michigan. Never use cannabis in a vehicle, and plan a ride or stay put until you feel fully clear.

Store it safely

Keep your products in their original packaging, out of reach of children and pets.

Methods of consumption: smoking, vaping, edibles and more

How you take cannabis changes how fast you feel it and how long it lasts. Neither inhaling nor eating is better. They’re different, and the right one depends on you. Here are the four main routes.

Inhale: flower, pre-rolls, vapes and dabs

Inhaled cannabis reaches your bloodstream through your lungs, so you feel it within minutes. The effect usually tapers off over a few hours.

Cannabis flower is the dried bud. You grind it, then roll it into a joint, smoke it in a pipe or bong, or heat it in a dry-herb vaporizer.
Pre-rolls are joints rolled and ready to go, an easy start if you don’t own any gear.
Vapes and cartridges heat cannabis oil into a vapor you inhale. Pick a cartridge that fits a 510 battery, or an all-in-one disposable.
Concentrates for dabbing, such as wax, shatter, budder and live resin, are heated on a rig and inhaled. They pack a lot of THC into a small amount, so if you’re new, ask a budtender before you try dabbing.

Need papers, a pipe or a battery? Browse cannabis accessories.

Eat and drink: edibles and drinks

Edibles include gummies, chocolates and cannabis drinks. Capsules take the same route, so ask the store what’s in stock. When you eat cannabis, your digestive system and liver process the THC before you feel it. That’s why edibles can take 30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in, and why the effect can last many hours. See start low, go slow before you take more.

Under the tongue: tinctures

Tinctures are liquid cannabis extracts measured with a dropper. You hold the drops under your tongue before swallowing, or mix them into food or a drink. The dropper makes small, measured servings easy. Timing varies by product, so follow the label and time anything you swallow like an edible.

On the skin: topicals

Topicals, such as lotions and balms, go on the skin instead of being inhaled or eaten. How each one is meant to be used depends on the product, so read the label and ask a budtender.

Start low, go slow

Do cannabis and good barbecue have anything in common? Low and slow. Nothing good comes quickly. Every body is different, so the same product can feel different for you than it does for a friend. Take a low dose, wait to see how you feel, and only then decide whether to add more.

Know the timing

Method	When you feel it	How long it can last	Before you take more
Smoking, vaping or dabbing	Within minutes; you’ll have a good idea of what to expect in about 10 to 15 minutes	A few hours, tapering off	Wait at least 15 minutes
Edibles and drinks	30 minutes to 2 hours to kick in	Many hours	Wait at least 2 hours
Tinctures	Varies by product	Varies by product	Follow the label, then wait

Simple rules for your first time

Read the label. It shows the THC and CBD in the product.
Choose one product and one method, so you know what you’re feeling.
Take a small amount, then wait out the timing above before adding more.
Pick a comfortable place, with no plans to drive.

Not sure what counts as a small amount for a product? Discuss it with a member of Team Joyology. We’ll walk you through serving sizes and point you to lower-THC options on the menu.

Choosing a product

Once you know how you want to consume, three questions narrow down the menu.

Indica, sativa or hybrid?

Strains are grouped as indica, sativa or hybrid. Shoppers commonly describe indica as more mellow and sativa as more energizing, with hybrids in between, but effects vary from person to person. Learn the terms in our guide to cannabis strains.

THC, CBD and terpenes

THC is the cannabinoid behind the high. CBD doesn’t produce the high associated with THC. Terpenes shape a strain’s aroma and flavor, and the entourage effect explains the idea that these compounds may work together.

Which brand?

Each store carries a long list of brands, and some are stocked at one store only. Search the Joyology brand finder by name, or filter it by store to see what Lake Orion and Mt. Clemens carry. To browse every format, start with our guide to cannabis products.

Ask a budtender

Our budtenders are well-versed in our menu and happy to answer questions. We call them Blissologists. Tell them what you’re new to and how you’d like to consume, and they’ll talk you through the options on today’s menu.

Order ahead online for in-store pickup, or walk in and browse. Either way, bring your ID. Our guide to ordering ahead walks through each step.

Joyology Lake Orion

4898 Bald Mountain Rd, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Call (248) 997-5777. Open Mon–Sat 7 AM–midnight, Sun 9 AM–10 PM. See the Joyology Lake Orion store page.