It's like learning about wine

Seriously. There are studies and there is marketing. There are established and new producers. There is the cliche of the wine drinker/cannabis user and there is everyone else. There is good, poor and unclassified quality. There are tools and gadgets and preferences and taste profiles. You can cook with it, ingest it, mix it into unexpected places... There are founded and unfounded claims as to what it can do for you and to you.

Start simply.
Ask why you're going to try. All answers are good but know what yours is.

Think about where you're going for advice. Collect and cross-reference answers. Every body/mind is different... this isn't acetaminophen where dosages and side effects are generally the same for all.

Know your tastes. Sharp? Sweet? Citrus? Woodsy? It matters. (more on this later)

• This article on INC. shows how aromatherapy oils have different effects; different smells & strains of marijuana do too.
• This article on ScientificAmerican shows how our emotional response to smells can increase or decrease efficacy.

Don't be shy about talking about this. If you're already twitching about any perceived stigma, then the choices and discussions you need will be harder to find.

You may very well end up with a few jars & bottles of different strains for different ailments and needs. Like my wine, I'm curating a collection of things I love.