Jacqueline Collins
Audio By Carbonatix
Dear Stoner: We all know about the “walk outside” before Thanksgiving dinner, and I’ve seen a lot of recipes for infusing Thanksgiving dishes with weed — but how do I use weed to lengthen my day of eating? I want to treat it more like a marathon, not a sprint.
Rooster Cockburn
Dear Rooster: The munchies have always been more of a marathon than a sprint for me, and I don’t think I’m alone. Most cannabis users I’ve talked to agree, and so does Major League Eating, which oversees the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4. According to the MLE, professional eating competitors aren’t tested for THC, because it doesn’t impact how fast you feast, even if it does press a few glutton buttons inside our stomachs. Does that mean you’ll eat any slower after starving yourself all day? No…but you probably won’t go much faster, either.
Smoking or eating weed before a true feast is a surefire way to erode discipline and energy, often leading to over-serving a side dish you later regret (hello, sweet potatoes). The classic pre-dinner walk ‘n’ puff on Thanksgiving is usually about a one-time binge in the form of a joint, but have you considered saving the big hits for after the second round? Taking a hit or two on the walk is a time-honored tradition, so don’t abstain from that. But this is 2025: If your family is aware of and accepts your cannabis use, then save another sesh for after the first plate. It will stoke the flames for seconds, make room for sides you forgot to try, and reignite pumpkin pie passions.
If you’re still figuring out what to smoke on turkey day, check out this list of fifteen cannabis strains to burn on Thanksgiving. Eating an edible fifteen or twenty minutes before the bird is ready is another way to lengthen your time at the pig trough, or you could infuse an appetizer or wash things down with a hot THC-infused mocktail. Whichever route you take, try to be measured. Not only will it ensure maximum hunger and stomach space. You’ll also be a lot more fun to talk to.
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Send questions to marijuana@westword.com.