Cannabis smoking
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Consumption
Cannabis smoking is the process of inhaling the smoke created by burning cannabis, mostly either the flowering buds or hashish, a preparation of the cannabis plant. During this process the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. It is then transported to the brain where it binds to cannabinoid receptors. It has also been found that heating of cannabis results in the production of additional THC from the decarboxylation of the non-psychoactive Δ9-tetrahydrocanabinoid acid (THCa)[1].
While cannabis can be consumed orally, the effect is quite different, being less predictable, stronger and longer lasting, and the great majority of consumed cannabis is smoked.
Vaporization
It has been shown that using a vaporizer results in less tar and carbon monoxide inhalation than smoking the same amount of cannabis[2].
A vaporizer heats herbal cannabis to 365–410 °F (185–210 °C), which turns the active ingredients into gas without burning the plant material (the boiling point of THC is 392 °F (200°C) at 0.02 mm Hg pressure, and somewhat higher at standard atmospheric pressure). Lower amounts of toxic chemicals are released than by smoking; this varies with the design of the vaporizer and the temperature at which it is set. A MAPS-NORML study using a Volcano vaporizer reported 95% THC and no toxins delivered in the vapor. However, an older study using less sophisticated vaporizers found more toxins. The effects from a vaporizer are noticeably different to that of smoking cannabis. Users have reported a more euphoric hallucinogen type high, because the vapor contains more pure THC.[3]
Smoking
Cannabis can be smoked in a variety of ways, including the use of implements such as bongs and smoking pipes, or rolling joints[4]. These methods differ by:
- the preparation of the cannabis plant before use;
- the parts of the cannabis plant which is used;
- the treatment of the smoke before inhalation.
Mixing with other herbs
Some users prefer to mix or layer tobacco with cannabis when rolling joints, sometimes known as "lacing" or "spinning". The tobacco that is added to the cannabis is commonly known as "spin", "T-Bo" or "Bunkie". Mixing with tobacco is more common in Europe than in the Americas, however some U.S. users, influenced by media role models, smoke blunts rolled using the outer tobacco leaves from cigars. Moroccans and other traditionally or historically hashish-using peoples may smoke cannabis in combination with tobacco. The use of tobacco in smoking marijuana is often known as "batching", and the tobacco portion of finely ground or chopped marijuana and tobacco can be referred to simply as "batch", or batch can refer to the whole mixture.
Spinning
In Australia the preferred term for mixing tobacco with marijuana is called "spinning", the tobacco being referred to as "spinner" or "spin" and the adjective describing the mixture "spun". "Spin" or "Spinning" is also a practice of smoking a Marijuana-Tobacco blend, typically [70%-30% Marijuana][30%-70% Tobacco] which is finely cut and blended in a bowl or shot glass, and usually smoked in one hit in a "bong". The sensation can be numbing[5] and accelerating at once. Some say the full peak of the marijuana is achieved instantly with the aid of nicotine, and thus the smoker is enraptured in this psycho-active blend. Often the smoker's arms and hands may become numb and the heartbeat irregular. Another name for chopped-up cannabis with tobacco is "Roppies". The process of chopping up one's marijuana with tobacco in a shot glass with sharp scissors is called "Ropping". Hence, you therefore "rop up a rop" of "roppies" for "ropping" in a "roppie-bong machine". Other terms include "Chop Bongs" "Mulling" or "Taking Mokies".
The Mix
Tobacco can also be mixed with cannabis resin, Known as making a "Mix". This involves burning the resin into a bowl and making a fine dust. The tobacco is also heated but not burnt, and is rubbed into the resin dust and heated slowly. The mixture is continually rubbed until a fine powder is produced. This is then used in bongs, pipes etc.
The smoking of tobacco to either mask the odor or improve the taste of other drugs is common in Europe and Australia, but originated in China in order to make smoking opium a more pleasurable experience (and to keep opium addiction down, but actually replaced it with nicotine addiction).
Although smoking marijuana with tobacco increases your chances of smoking-related illness, the user experiences the psychoactive affects of both THC and nicotine and increased tendency toward addiction to the latter.
Alternative herbs
To avoid mixing with addictive tobacco, many attractive alternative herbs are available at health food stores-- and cheaper than tobacco ([1]).
The species botanically closest related to cannabis is hops (Humulus lupulus). Its yellow flowers are very delicate and mild and add no irritation whatever. Particularly mild herbs include damiana, nettle (Urtica), dandelion, tarragon, and any flower petal such as camomile. Other valued smoking herbs include basil, marjoram, oregano, sage (Salvia), savory, thyme, peppermint, spearmint, pennyroyal. Grind through a 1/16th inch screen strainer for uniform particle size and low burning temperature; do not attempt to smoke anything which does not pass through the screen (use for tea instead).
Khoi
In South-East Asia the Siamese Rough Bush, or Khoi tree is widely used as a cooler. Small shreds of Khoi wood mixed with the cannabis for a use with a bong or a water pipe allows smoother intake and without the sharp irritation of the throat associated with inhaling cannabis smoke with a bong.[citation needed]
Spotting
'Spotting' is sometimes referred to as 'blades' or 'hot-knifing'. The cannabis is broken off into small chunks, or rolled into small balls ('spots'). Two red hot knives are heated on a gas or electric stove-top. One knife is gently pressed onto the 'spot', which will stick to the hot metal. The spot is then compressed between the two knives and the resulting smoke is inhaled through a tube or custom - designed bottle (a 'spottle'). Practitioners of this method claim that the absence of an active flame minimises waste through combustion, and maximises release of THC without the expense of a vapourising unit. This method of consumption is very popular in New Zealand, which has one of the highest per capita consumption rates of cannabis in the world.
Smoking Pipe
Smoking pipes, often called bowls or pieces, can be made of blown glass, wood, ceramic, stone, or a nonreactive metal (to avoid inhalation of undesirable metal vapors). When speaking about a specific pipe, the term "bowl," "cone piece" or "crater" often refers to the indentation where cannabis is placed in order to be smoked.
Blown-glass pipes are usually intricately and colourfully designed, and can contain materials that change color or become more vivid with repeated use. Such pipes usually have a rush, choke, carb (short for carburetor), or shotgun hole which is covered with a finger during inhalation, and then uncovered to clear the pipe of smoke and cool the burning cannabis.
Metal pipes are often assembled with various fittings that screw together, with interchangeable, and frequently decorative, parts. Metal pipes may get hot because metal is a good conductor of heat; this is avoided by having a crater-diameter narrow enough to maintain low burning temperature.
Tobacco pipes are occasionally used, but are considered wasteful because the bowl is too wide, resulting in hot burning which destroys THC.
Bong
A bong is a water-pipe by which the cannabis smoke is filtered through water into a chamber. It should be noted that smoking from a bong loaded with cold water, ice, or snow will greatly cool the smoke and reduce adverse effects of the heat. However, if the bowl has too wide a diameter, as many do, the herb will burn too hot, nullifying this advantage.
Using non-carbonated alcoholic beverages, such as wine or liquor, as a filtering liquid is sometimes preferred by smokers and is said to make the smoke milder, although, as THC is dissolved in alcohol, some of it remains in whichever spirit was used.
Bong use is common[citation needed] and enables smoking techniques that are not possible with a simple smoking pipe[citation needed]. Some argue[citation needed] that bongs are more effective than other methods simply because of the sheer amount of smoke one can conceivably inhale after having it cooled in the chamber.
Homemade bong designs commonly[citation needed] use a carbonated drink bottle, although any container, even glass, ceramic, metal, or natural (according to the skill and preference of the user) can be used. A bong pipe (or other improvised bowl) is inserted into a small hole, usually burnt[citation needed] or somehow put near the bottom of the bottle, but leaving enough room to allow for the stem to pass through the user's choice of liquid. A carburettor may or may not be cut, bored or burnt into the bong, according to the user's preference.
Gravity bongs
Another design is a gravity bong, a term which covers several variations, including waterfall bongs, bucket bongs, "Depth charges" and torpedoes. The bucket bong is commonly called a bucky in New Zealand. In Canada it is called a bucket or sinker, and the method is called sinkers or taking bucket hits. It usually consists of the user placing the marijuana in a cone made from a standard bowl or socket set (13 mm) atop a plastic bottle with either a few small holes (2 cm diameter) in the bottom of the bottle, or a complete cut along the bottom of the bottle. The bottle is then lowered into a bucket of water so that only the cone is above the water level. From here, the user lights the cone and proceeds to pull the bottle upwards until the bottle is full with smoke from the marijuana. The cone is then removed by unscrewing the bottle cap, and the user then proceeds to place his or her mouth over the bottle, exhaling all air beforehand, then inhaling as they lower the bottle into the water. The Waterfall Bong is usually constructed using a drinks bottle with a large hole bored or burnt into the bottom. The bottle is filled with water with the user covering the hole with his or her hand, the cone is then inserted into the bottles top and the marijuana is lit as the user lets go at the hole at the bottom. The water rushing out of the bottle causes the smoke from the burning marijuana to fill it. When the marijuana is fully burnt the user removes the cone and inhales the smoke through the bottle top, the hole at the bottom of the bottle acting as a carb. This method is effective for inhaling large amounts of smoke in one go. Bongs, and gravity bongs in particular, are notable by some for producing a very intense experience.
Natural Perk
The Natural Perk glass pipe can be recognized by its "U" bend and bubbles blown above said bend in order for the water used to filter the smoke to break inside them to prevent the inhalation of water while in use. Natural Perks are beautiful pieces but are not very mobile and break more easily then dry pipes. Water transportation is also a concern however Natural perks can be used as a dry hitting piece as well.
Apple Pipe
The apple pipe is self explanatory. Using a standard apple corer, a hole is drilled into the side of the apple and met with another hole drilled from the top downwards, thus creating a pipe through the apple. Simply widening the hole at the top can serve as a bowl in which to place the mix, although a gauze is often used. This is a comparatively new form of smoking cannabis despite its simplicity. More popular in the U.S. than in other countries, the apple pipe is simple and provides a refreshing and fruity sensation to the smoking experience.
One-hitters
A one-hitter, mini-toke utensil, kiseru or midwakh has a narrower crater diameter (best: 1/4 inch or 6 mm.) permitting low-temperature burning of properly screened herb. These require a very small amount of well sifted cannabis (25 mg.) which can be smoked in "one hit" (the user must suck the air very slowly, an art which can be quickly learned through a little practice-- see hatha yoga). Attaching a long flexible extension tube permits the added protection of cooling the smoke before inhalation. Don't smoke any material that does not grind through a 1/16th-inch screen strainer-- it can be used in tea instead.
"Semi-vaporizer"
It should be remembered that delivery of THC occurs through heating, not burning the herb, and a slower burning process permits a higher percentage of this ingredient to vaporize prior to burning, being heated by adjacent material already burning. For this reason one-hitters may be considered semi-vaporizers-- inferior to a true noncombustion vaporizer but better than any hot-burning alternative such as a joint or wide- bowl pipe, which may burn the cannabis almost as hot as a usual commercial tobacco cigaret (1500° F/860° C), destroying a major part of the THC content and risking health damage.
Dugout
One-hitters are often made out of metal and painted to resemble a filtered cigarette. These may be accompanied by a dugout so that cannabis is transported and consumed without drawing attention.
Two traditional mini-pipes are the kiseru (Japan) and the midwakh (middle-east). Choose the narrowest crater-diameter, and a cylindrical (rather than conical) crater, in which a screen can be nested securely.
Make it yourself
Small-caliber pipes are easily improvised using aluminum foil, small plumbing fittings, a quarter-inch (or 6.0 or 6.5 mm) socket wrench, a barbed brass hose-nipple, or soda cans. (The use of plastic bottles is discouraged due to possibility of toxic fumes released from plastic through heat.)
Glass blunt
A "Glass Blunt" or "Slider" is, like the name suggests, a sort of hybrid smoking device. The user first loads the cannabis loosely into the larger glass tube, usually with a flared end. Another, smaller, glass tube that fits inside the first tube is then inserted into the back and made airtight with an O-ring. The smaller tube's end is also usually flared. The user lights the cannabis as they would a cigarette and inhales through the smaller tube allowing the smoke to travel through the two tubes into the user's mouth. As the cannabis is consumed the user pushes lightly on the smaller tube, like a syringe, expelling the consumed cannabis, "ashing" like a cigarette. A glass blunt also produces less excess smoke than a normal cannabis blunt, allowing a smaller amount of cannabis to be used.
Chillum
A chillum is a large conical pipe made of glass, ceramic, or natural materials, held vertically, with the bowl aligned with the mouthpiece, and without a secondary hole. This apparatus is traditionally used in Hindu and Rastafarian ceremonies.
Steamroller
A steamroller is effectively a tube, open on both ends, with a bowl sticking out of it. The end closest to the bowl is covered to hold the smoke while the smoker is inhaling on the other end. Once the tube fills, the smoker removes their hand and air rushes into the tube thus clearing the smoke.
Rolled
Rolling is preferred by many smokers because it is considered more convenient than smoking out of a pipe or bong, is easier to hide or dispose of hurriedly to escape law enforcement, and for purpose of mixing with tobacco.
Joint
A joint is created by rolling up cannabis, either manually or with a rolling machine into a cigarette-like product. Standard sized papers for joints are 70mm (standard size), 79mm (1 & 1/4 size) , and 110mm (1 & 1/2 size). Typically in the United States, a joint is smoked until it almost begins to burn the users fingers at which point it may be referred to as a roach. Many people turn to a roach clip or pair of tweezers to hold the joint so it can be smoked further. Smokers in Europe will generally roll a piece of stiff paper or card (also, confusingly, referred to as a roach) into the tip of the joint enhancing both the ease of smoking and rolling. Smokers in Eastern Canada commonly do the same, except this is referred to as a filter rather than a roach. The card inside the paper's packet or the packet itself can be used to roll the roach. A spliff is a term used for a joint which includes tobacco (and addictive nicotine); as such they are typically larger than joints. A joint may also be rolled using an unpacked cigarette, this method functions to disguise the joint.
Blunt
A Blunt is a method for smoking marijuana in which the marijuana is smoked inside the outer layer of a cigar. A Blunt outwardly resembles a cigar. They are commonly between 7 and 13 centimeters in length and between 1 and 1.5 centimeters in diameter, although there have been observed cases of blunts up to 20 cm in length and 3 cm in diameter [citation needed]. There are two main methods for producing blunts. The first method is to hollow out the interior of a pre-made cigar and fill it with cannabis. This method produces a blunt that more closely resembles an authentic cigar in both appearance and smell. The second method is to purchase a Blunt wrap (blunt wrapper), or a Dutch Masters cigar, known as a dutch, and either hand roll or use a rolling machine to roll the blunt with marijuana. Blunt wraps are available in many flavours and styles in internet shops, corner stores and other purveyors of pot paraphernalia in many flavours and styles. There are many benefits to smoking marijuana in a Blunt as opposed to other methods. One benefit, especially important to those in societies whose authorities persecute potheads for the pursuit of happiness, is the fact that a blunt, especially those produced using the first method, closely resemble cigars. this allows the users to smoke marijuana surreptitiously in semi-public areas without provoking the attention of those who would curtail their activities. Another benifit is that due to their size blunts contain a much larger amount of marijuana than most other methods of smoking. This property is especially useful when smoking in large groups or when participating in a hotbox Since the term Blunt can also refer to a type of cigar, the Phillie Blunt which became popular before the advent of large scale consumption of marijuana, it is likely that the name Blunt came from the fact that a hand rolled marijuana blunt closely resembles a cigar blunt, as well as from the fact that the construction of the cigar blunt makes them ideal for disassembling for the means of producing a marijuana blunt.
Shotgun
A shotgun (also known as a shotty, brainer, charge, super, or blowback) can have many meanings, but most commonly refers to one user taking a "hit" of a blunt or joint, turning it around so the lit end is inside the mouth, and blowing the hit out through the blunt/joint into the mouth of another user, who sucks it in. Also known as "Power-hit" it's a really intimate way for a couple to share a marijuana cigarette, since the lips nearly kiss (actual kissing works even better). A "Stinger" has the same concept except smoke is inhaled through the nasal passage. This particular method also works well on a low supply, because two people both get the effects out of only one hit.
Double toke
This sharing method permits two partners to draw on a single 25-50 mg. serving in a one-hitter or minitoke utensil by using a Y-shaped extension tube system.
- Each partner must draw twice as slow to maintain proper minimum burning temperature;
- You may wish to serve twice as many tokes;
- "Shotgun" options (above) remain available;
- In this way each partner receives half the heat, even though the burning temperature in the crater remains the same-- therefore it is arguably twice as mild a smoking method.
Hotboxing
Hotboxing is the procedure to smoke cannabis together in an enclosed environment letting the concentration of THC in the air rise, therefore increase high for all persons present in the room. In this way less cannabis is consumed compared to smoking in a non-enclosed room or outdoors. Any of the many methods for consuming the marijuana may be used, but the size of the enclosure and the need to pass the marijuana around makes certain methods preferred especially small bongs, blunts, joints, and pipes. Especially in the case of large groups participating in the hotboxing session it is common for more than one implement for smoking to be used at the same time, this helps increase the intensity of the marijuana smoke. The high level of particles in the air may cause respiratory harm to sensitive people, and therefore people with asthma are not advised to take part in hotboxing. Another form of hotbox is the "Hawaiian Hotbox" in which the hotbox is made in a steamy room (usually a bathroom with a hot shower running). The steam accentuates the THC that hangs in the air.
Breathbonnet
After any vaporizer use or single toke, when combustion is finished, breathing repeatedly as long as desired out of a tightly held paper bag or plastic sack of about one-liter capacity permits a user to obtain maximum THC absorption from minimal quantity of herb, without the extra carbon monoxide and other smoking hazards of additional tokes.
A hands-free version is achieved by taping the sack around a wire frame attached to rubber bands which loop around the ears, permitting safe easy removal any time.
External links
References
- ^ Verhoeckx KC, Korthout HA, van Meeteren-Kreikamp AP, Ehlert KA, Wang M, van der Greef J, Rodenburg RJ, Witkamp RF (2006-04-06). "Unheated Cannabis sativa extracts and its major compound THC-acid have potential immuno-modulating properties not mediated by CB1 and CB2 receptor coupled pathways". International Immunopharmacology. PMID 16504929.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Template:Cite science
- ^ http://nugreviews.com/vaporizer-review Vaporizer Reviews and Information
- ^ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2006), World Drug Report (PDF), vol. 1, pp. 187–192, ISBN 92-1-148214-3, retrieved 2007-11-22
- ^ citation needed
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