Whether you’re brand new to cannabis or already exploring strains, terpenes, and new product, keeping a cannabis journal is one of the most effective ways to understand what works for your body and what doesn’t. It helps you track effects, dial in dosing, compare products, and make smarter purchases every time you visit Cannavibes Dispensary in Elmwood Park, NJ. This guide walks you through exactly how to journal your cannabis experiences, what to document, and how to track different product types, including:
✔️ Flower
✔️ Prerolls
✔️ Edibles
✔️ Drink mixers
✔️ Topicals
✔️ Concentrates
✔️ Sprays (like Hamsa)
✔️ Vapes & cartridges
✔️ Accessories
Plus, a ready-to-use template for your convenience.
Why Cannabis Journaling Matters
Cannabis affects everyone differently. Journaling helps you:
● Understand your ideal dose
● Identify strains and terpenes that support your needs (like sleep, relaxation, creativity, or pain relief)
● Track negative reactions or unwanted effects
● Compare brands and products
● Build a personalized cannabis routine
Most importantly, journaling empowers YOU to make informed decisions and take out the guesswork.
When to Journal Your Cannabis Experiences
You don’t need long writing sessions, just a simple system. The best times to journal are:
1. Before consuming
Make note and document factors that impact how cannabis works like:
● Your mood
● Stress level
● Pain level
● Sleep quality
● What you ate that day
● Where you are / environment
2. Immediately after consuming (first 10–20 minutes)
This is when you want to track experiences like:
● Onset speed
● Early sensations
● Flavor / aroma (for flower, vapes, concentrates)
3. Peak effects (30–120 minutes, may vary)
Record all the changes and experiences you are having like:
● Mood changes
● Physical sensations
● Mental clarity or creativity
● Energy level
● Social effects
● Relief levels (pain, stress, anxiety, etc.)
4. After effects fade
Now is a great time to make note of:
● Duration
● Any grogginess or aftereffects
● Did it meet your goal?
What to Document in Your Cannabis Journal
Here’s a detailed list of what matters most:
Basic Details
● Date & time used
● Product name
● Brand
● THC %, CBD %, Cannabinoid profile
● Terpene profile
● Dose (mg, hits, sprays, etc.)
● Consumption method (edible, flower, vape, spray, topical, etc.)
Your Intention
● Why are you using cannabis this time?
○ Sleep
○ Pain relief
○ Stress
○ Focus
○ Creativity
○ Socializing
Your Environment
● Where you are
● Who you’re with
● Noise/light levels
● Stress level
● Food prior to consumption
● Time of day
Effects
● Onset speed
● First sensations
● Mood changes
● Energy level
● Body effects
● Mental effects
● Any side effects
● Duration
Overall Rating (1–10)
● Would you use it again?
● Was the dose right?
● Would you recommend it?
How to Journal Different Cannabis Product Types
Cannavibes carries a wide range of products, and each requires its own approach to journaling.
Flower & Prerolls
What to document:
● Strain name & lineage
● Aroma & flavor
● Burn quality
● Number of puffs / inhale duration
● Onset time (usually 5–10 min)
● Intensity level
● Body vs. head effects
Why it matters:
Flower and prerolls offer fast feedback, so journaling helps you quickly dial in favorite strains and terpenes.
Concentrates (Live Resin, Rosin Extracts)
What to document:
● Type of concentrate
● Temp used (low-temp vs high-temp dab)
● Intensity level
● Onset speed (typically very fast)
● Flavor clarity
● Potency reactions
Why it matters:
Concentrates can vary dramatically in strength and journaling helps you stay consistent.
Edibles
What to document:
● Dose in mg
● Time to onset (typically 30–120 min)
● Taken on full or empty stomach?
● Mental vs physical high
● Duration (often longest-lasting)
Why it matters:
Edibles are the hardest product type to predict so journaling creates consistency.
Drink Mixers
What to document:
● Full packet / half packet / sip amount
● Onset speed (often 10–20 min)
● Body sensation changes
● Sociability level
● Whether mixed with food
Why it matters:
Drinkables activate faster than edibles and journaling helps you fine-tune social or evening use so you don’t over do it.
Topicals (Balms, Creams, Roll-Ons)
What to document:
● Application area
● Time until relief
● Cooling / warming sensations
● Duration of relief
● Whether reapplication was needed
Why it matters:
Topical effects are subtle but measurable, especially for athletes or those with chronic pain.
Vapes & Cartridges
What to document:
● Flavor
● Harshness or smoothness
● Number of puffs
● Potency
● Onset time
Why it matters:
Vapes offer controlled dosing which is perfect for precision journaling.
Cannabis Sprays (like Hamsa)
What to document:
● Number of sprays
● Onset time
● Flavors
● Intensity level
● Duration
Why it matters:
Sprays offer some of the most consistent dosing of all cannabis products but first time users will want to note how feelings come on.
The Cannavibes Cannabis Journaling Template
Copy, print, or save this for every session.
✨ Cannabis Session Journal Entry Template
Date:
Time:
Location:
Who I’m With:
Product Details
● Product Name:
● Brand:
● Category (flower, edible, spray, etc.):
● Strain:
● THC %:
● CBD %:
● Dose (hits/mg/sprays/etc.):
● Terpenes:
● Price:
My Intention for This Session
(Example: sleep, stress relief, creativity, pain management)
My Baseline (Before Using)
● Mood:
● Pain level:
● Stress level:
● Energy level:
● Last meal:
● Notes:
Onset & Early Effects (First 20 Minutes)
● Onset speed:
● First sensations:
● Flavor/aroma notes:
Peak Effects
● Mental effects:
● Body effects:
● Social effects:
● Relief rating (1–10):
● Side effects:
After Effects + Duration
● Total duration:
● Did it meet my goal?:
● Any grogginess or aftereffects?:
Overall Rating (1–10)
Would I use this product again?
Would I change the dose next time?
Tips for Successful Cannabis Journaling
Be consistent
Write after every session, even small ones.
Track patterns
Look for trends in strains, terpenes, onset times, and doses.
Review regularly
You’ll quickly see what works and what’s worth skipping.
Bring your notes to Cannavibes
Your budtender can help you match products to your patterns.
Start Your Journaling Journey at Cannavibes in Elmwood Park, NJ
Cannavibes carries the full range of products you need to experiment, learn, and journal with confidence. Whether you’re exploring for wellness, creativity, or just enjoyment, journaling will help you become the cannabis expert of your own life.
Stop by the dispensary or join our email list to stay updated on new products perfect for your journaling journey.