There's something special about smoking cannabis. On the surface, it's not much different from smoking conventional cigarettes or cigars, yet it's associated with an entirely different lifestyle. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that marijuana has been illegal in many countries for decades and has only recently been legalized in various states and countries.
Having said that, it shouldn't be a surprise that people are constantly coming up with new and more innovative ways to smoke cannabis. Some of these methods could potentially be more harmful than others, and it's important to know the difference before you decide to try a new way of consuming cannabis.
The iconic joint is the classic and most common way of smoking weed worldwide. But you can also roll blunts or spliffs, make use of a bongs, a pipe, or a vaporizer. If you are new to the cannabis world and want to learn how people smoke weed and wonder which ways are least harmful, you've come to the right place.
Joints
As mentioned above, joints are the most popular way of smoking cannabis. They are easy to make, as all you need is some rolling paper and some weed. The method of rolling a joint is easy to master, and once you get the hang of it, you can roll a joint in a matter of seconds. You may also want to grind your kush to ensure an even burn.
It's safe to assume that a joint made out of a pure cannabis plant and clean rolling paper is among the less harmful ways to smoke weed. However, you still have to take into account the fact that you are smoking plant matter, which can include some amount of harmful substances. Also, if you roll your joint too tightly, it may cause you to inhale more smoke than necessary.
Blunts
Blunts are closely related to joints, in the sense that they are also rolled before smoking. The main difference, however, is that instead of using paper, a blunt is rolled with tobacco leaves. Needless to say, this makes the resulting product stronger and potentially more harmful than just smoking cannabis. The health hazards of tobacco don't need to be covered here as we've all heard the litany of issues.
Glass blunts are becoming increasingly popular, which can be a safer alternative to smoking tobacco as well as your weed. It's easy to check out a glass blunt tutorial, and you will see how easy it is to use one.
Spliffs
Spliffs are another way of combining tobacco and cannabis – in this case, though, the ratio is reversed. Spliffs can have a a varied amount of cannabis in each of them. Spliffs usually have more tobacco than, say, a blunt would have, so they will have even more of the energetic, buzzy effects of tobacco. A spliff is made like a joint, with rolling paper, but the filling has tobacco and cannabis mixed together.
Some weed enthusiasts prefer to mix tobacco and cannabis because they find that it makes their high more intense.
Bongs
Bongs, also known as water pipes, are the second most popular way of smoking weed. Just like joints and blunts, bongs are easy to master, and you don't need a lot of materials to get started. A bong is made out of a bowl, stem, base filled with water, and mouthpiece. You insert your weed into the bowl, light it up, and inhale through the top while the smoke is being filtered by the water.
The biggest benefit of water pipes is that they filter the smoke and make it more smooth. Or, more precisely, cool it down so that it doesn't burn your throat and lungs as much. Pieces with glycerin or ice catchers are some of the most popular ways for additional cooling of each hit. The fact that you can add different kinds of flavors to the water makes bongs even more attractive. And these days, the cool styles and options that designers are adding to their bongs can make them super stylish, fun and effective.
Pipes
When it comes to smoking weed, pipes are somewhere between a conventional joint and a bong. They are, in fact, pretty much the same as cigarette pipes. The basic principle is the same – you insert your weed into the bowl, light it up, and inhale the smoke through a stem.
Most pipes come without any filters, which allows for unobstructed smoking. However, this also means that you may inhale tiny pieces of plant matter, which can ruin your experience – classic, S-shaped pipes help prevent that. The biggest benefit of a pipe is that it is easy to carry around and doesn't require any additional equipment. However, just like a bong, a pipe doesn't filter out the smoking byproducts.
Vaporizers
Vaporizers are devices that heat your cannabis to a temperature that is high enough to produce vapor, but not high enough to produce any smoke. This vapor is filled with THC and other psychoactive compounds, while at the same time, it doesn't contain as many harmful substances as cannabis smoke, if any.
This means that vaporizers are among the safest ways to “smoke” cannabis – or, more precisely, inhale – as they don't expose you to the smoke and its byproducts. Vaporizers are becoming increasingly popular, and they come in all shapes and sizes. You can even use a vaporizer pen if you want to consume cannabis while on the go.
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Vape Pens
In the recent decade, vaping has taken the world by storm, and it's easy to see why. Vape kits are more effective than regular cigarettes, and they allow for a much more personalized smoking experience. And so, it was only a matter of time until people started using cannabis with vape pens.
Vaping cannabis has a small learning curve, as you need to understand how to best prepare and load the cannabis juice into the pen. However, if you are willing to invest your time in it, vaping is probably one of the safest ways to consume cannabis.
It is worth noting, though, that vaping is still being researched, and we don't have enough data on its long-term effects. So, if you are planning to start vaping, it's recommended that you check the potential risks and decide if it's something you want to do.
Dabbing
Dabbing is relatively new, and it's not as widespread as some of the other methods mentioned above. The main reason for that is the fact that it requires certain materials and equipment, which takes a bit more time to start as compared to rolling a joint and lighting up. But ask any dabber, adn they'll be sure to tell you it's worth the time and energy!
When dabbing, you heat up the dab, wax, or shatter to a temperature that is high enough for it to vaporize. Then you inhale the resultant vapor. This means that it is much more potent, but at the same time, it allows you to avoid chemicals that come in smoke or vape vapor.
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Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many ways to consume cannabis, and each of them has its own benefits and drawbacks. Each option covered here as its pros and cons and there are thousands of fans for each of them. If you are considering trying a new method, make sure to take into account all the factors mentioned above and then light up and enjoy!
It is up to you to decide which option is best for you. Just remember to consume responsibly and savor your high.