The cultural norm for dinner parties hasn’t changed for decades. Guests arrive with a nice bottle of wine in hand for their hosts or perhaps a fancy new craft beer infused with Japanese yuzu fruit from the microbrewery that opened up down the street. 

But if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has anything to say about it, a tidy bag of heirloom marijuana or a tin of pot brownies might be the next trendy hostess gift of choice.

“I haven’t been to a dinner party or any type of party, in a while, where someone didn’t bring a joint or infused edibles,” says “Karen,” a woman in her 40s who asked to have her identity kept anonymous as a result of the current legal status of the substance.

If the Trudeau government makes good on its promise, dinner parties will never be the same in this country.

Legalization is just around the corner, and like a glass of fine wine, a great strain of cannabis could soon find its way onto the menu.

It’s a move that will be welcomed by most Canadians. With an estimated 17 per cent reporting cannabis use for recreational purposes, and 56 per cent being in favour of its legalization, you are soon likely to encounter cannabis at a dinner table near you (if you haven’t already).

Cannabis and food have a long-standing relationship, mainly in the form of infused foods and the well-known increase in appetite by its users. This relationship is quickly evolving, with cannabis-friendly social events already popping up around the city.

Tweed, a Health Canada–licensed producer of medical cannabis, is hosting its first Herb & Cheese dinner party on Dec. 2. Herb & Cheese is a social event that promotes healthy eating and education around medical cannabis.

Guests will have an opportunity to taste a four-course menu, paired along carefully chosen strains, with unique terpene and cannabinoid profiles, for a truly decadent experience.

According to one member of the Boulevard Club, cannabis-infused desserts have already become somewhat of a staple at dinner parties around the city.

So although someone pulling out a joint at a dinner party may not come as a surprise, here are some surprisingly easy steps for ensuring your next cannabis-friendly dinner party is a success.

Choose your strains wisely. You may think that “pot is pot” and whatever you smoke will “get you high” and there’s nothing more to it. 

But, as any cannabis aficionado will tell you, cannabis has a very robust profile when it comes to its psychoactive effects.

The differences across strains can provide intensely different effects.

An indica-dominant strain will usually give you a body buzz, make you feel relaxed but also very, very sleepy. Unless you want your dinner guests dozing off, this is not the kind of strain you would want to offer at your dinner party. 

Sativa dominant hybrid strains are a good choice if you are looking to feel both relaxed and uplifted, while maximizing your creativity and your already oh-so-smooth social skills. Look for a 60 per cent sativa, 40 per cent indica blend to get the party started.

Know your dose. If you know your limit for having a really good time is three glasses of Pinot, then begin to build that awareness about your cannabis intake.

If you are looking to enhance your appreciation of your company, the amazing food your host has prepared or sitting through another one of Darlene’s stories, then make sure you’re within your cannabis equivalent of three glasses of Pinot. 

If you’re new to the scene, be sure to take it slow and pace your cannabis intake throughout the evening.

Keep in mind that not all dinner party etiquette is cannabis dinner party etiquette. 

Don’t pull a “They’re so good, I just have to have another one!” on those weed brownies. Depending on the dose of the infused dessert, one brownie — or less! — may be more than enough.

The psychoactive effects are much stronger with edibles than they are with smoked or vaporized cannabis. 

There’s no need to “be polite” and help yourself to seconds just to demonstrate how delicious a dish is. 

If you are keen on consuming a large quantity of cannabis-infused foods, consider keeping your THC-infused edibles low dose and incorporating non-psychoactive CBD-rich strains into the mix.

Surround yourself with good company. 

Cannabis has an incredible ability to foster a sense of belonging and connectedness and inspire great conversations.

It can enhance the taste of food and make the dining experience more enjoyable.

So make sure you pair your cannabis with people who will add to the experience not take away from it.