Beside of the occasional joint or blunt, there are plenty other ways to smoke weed. THC enters the bloodstream quickly when cannabis is smoked, triggering quick effects such as relaxation, altered perception and euphoria. While the high usually goes away in 2-3 hours, the duration and intensity of the effects are variable, influenced by personal factors like potency and tolerance. Let’s go into the 12 different ways to smoke weed.
1. Smoking a joint
The introduction into the world of cannabis often involves the humble joint. For many, including ourselves, the joint marks the first encounter with this magical plant. A joint is typically rolled with just rolling paper and weed. To enhance the smoking experience, a tip can be integrated into the joint, preventing the grounded weed from getting into your mouth. This way you also don’t burn your lips.
Joints come in various sizes, with the choice between long or short rolling papers adding a touch of personal preference to the ritual. A joint can produce a intensive high, as a lot of weed can be rolled into the rolling paper. Recognizing the challenge some face in mastering the art of joint rolling, the cannabis community has embraced the concept of pre-rolled joints.
Pre-rolled joints provide a ready-made solution and are sold in most weed dispensaries / coffeeshops. Crafted with care and precision, these joints offer a convenient option for those whose rolling skills are still in development. The pre-roll ensures an even burn, ideally for enjoying your smoke session.
2. The spliff
Smoking a joint with tobacco is not common in much countries, such as the United States. However in some European countries like The Netherlands you’ll see this a lot. A joint with tobacco is called a spliff.
In the 60’s and 70’s a lot of hash was smoked The Netherlands. Pure hash doesn’t burn easily in a rolling paper, so it was mixed with tobacco. Till this day many pre-rolls have tobacco in them, and a lot of people roll a spliff rather than a joint. But times are changing right now. Smoking with tobacco is more addictive than smoking pure, and it contains more toxic substances as well.
However, rolling up a pure weed joint is still quite rare, because most people aren’t used to that amount of THC. Now, there's a rising trend in alternatives to tobacco. At Open Your Mind, we've tried them all, and our go-to move is mixing up some THC weed with a bit of CBD weed. It smokes smoother than most tobacco substitutes, feels easy on the throat and lungs and the higher dose of CBD gives an relaxing effect.
One more benefit of the spliff is the way you can dose the amount of weed or hash you roll up. When you don’t want to be really high during the day but would like to smoke a bit, this is the ideal solution. Did you know that weed can improve focus? Too much THC can get you in a mental fog state though, it is all about finding the right balance.
3. Smoking blunts
Alright, so joints and spliffs you roll in with your regular rolling papers, but blunts are made from hollowed-out cigars. You roll pure weed into the tobacco wrap, in which you can play around with endless variations of flavors. Now, granted, not everyone likes that tobacco twist. No worries, though – there are tobacco-free blunts for those who want to keep it pure. Popular flavors are strawberry, mango, grape and many more. These blunt wraps come sealed up tight, locking in the freshness.
Be aware, blunt packs in more weed than your average joint or spliff. It's ideal for smoking weed with your friends. With that slow-burning tobacco wrap, a big dose of cannabis, and the length of the usual blunt, even the daily smokers might find it a challenge to blaze through the whole thing in one session. Of above three methods to smoke weed, this is by far the most intense one.
4. Hookah / Water pipe
Now, let's dive into the hookah, also known as a water pipe, which adds a completely different way of smoking cannabis than the previously discussed options. Originally designed for smoking (flavored) tobacco, it can also be combined with some weed or hash as well. The trick? Mix it up with some (nicotine-free) tobacco. Make sure to put in some tobacco first, then add your weed or hash and then another layer of tobacco. This way you can enjoy it for a longer period of time and don’t burn up all weed directly.
A hookah works by heating flavored tobacco and cannabis in a bowl. Charcoal is lit on top of the bowl, producing smoke that travels through water in the base for cooling and filtration. The smoke is then inhaled through a hose with a mouthpiece. Check valves in modern hookahs prevent air intake when not inhaling. Most hookahs have multiple hoses so it can be easily shared with your friends, making this an ideal way of smoking weed with a group of people.
5. Weed pipes
Weed pipes have a rich history, dating back around 3000 years, with ancient specimens discovered in Laos, Asia. Over time, technological advancements and material improvements have transformed these pipes into sleek and accessible tools for an enjoyable smoking experience. While joints and blunts have their charm, there's an undeniable attraction to the simplicity of a weed pipe, often considered the 'original' way to smoke weed.
True to their name, weed pipes are exclusively designed for smoking cannabis or other herbal substances, earning them the nickname 'pure pipes.' Using them is very straight forward, just grind some weed and load it, grab a lighter or match, and you're good to go. Weed pipes provide a pure and straightforward smoking experience, standing the test of time for a reason.
What do you think? Should we design a unique Open Your Mind weed pipe soon?
6. Hash pipes and spoon pipes
For us completely new and we can’t wait to try it out, a hash pipe. This is a authentic experience, with roots in Native America and adapted in Morocco. The Moroccan pipes are called ‘Sebsi pipes’, which are specifically crafted to smoking pure hash. The Sebsi ranges from 30 to 50 centimeters and can be crafted from wood, metal, or reed, often featuring bowls made from red clay. For those seeking a touch of Moroccan craftsmanship, this hash pipe can be directly sourced from Morocco, bringing an unique hash-smoking ritual.
On a more common front, there's the spoon pipe, a widely accessible option for hash consumption. With a spoon pipe the hash gradually burns, which makes it ideal for sharing in a group session. To partake, just place a small hash piece on the screen, light it up, and draw through the pipe, observing the hash burn as you taste the pure hash and get high quickly.
7. One-hitters
Drawing inspiration from ancient weed and hash pipes, the one-hitter has become a rising star in the arsenal of modern stoners. True to its name, a one-hitter is a compact pipe crafted from materials like glass, metal, or ceramic. Resembling mini chillums, these pocket-sized wonders feature a straightforward design – a small bowl at one end, ready for a single hit of cannabis. Load the bowl with a pinch of weed, light it, and inhale from the other end. It's that simple.
This simplicity is what makes one-hitters the go-to for on-the-go cannabis enthusiasts. Perfectly portable and discreet, these little pipes offer a quick and convenient option for enjoying a hit whenever, wherever.
8. Smoking weed with a beaker bong
When we talk about smoking weed, we can’t skip the bongs! Enter the classics: beaker bongs, the OGs that have etched themselves into the cannabis scenes of countless movies and shows. You know the ones – those bongs with the wide bottoms that have a presence of their own. Yet, there's more to them than just recognizable aesthetics.
That broad base isn't just about looks; it's a game-changer for a smoother smoking experience. This broad base ensures the stability of the bong, often made of glass or ceramic. Don’t worry anymore about accidental table tumbles and enjoy your smoke session!
But the real magic unfolds in the base. With their extra water-holding capacity, beaker bongs let you inhale longer and harder once you've got some expertise under your belt. It's an added bonus appreciated by most stoners, making beaker bongs the top choice for those who seek a robust and stable way of smoking weed.
9. Straight tube bongs
The classic straight tube bong has an easy-to-clean design and straightforward tubular shape. Typically on the larger side, ranging from 20 to 60 centimeters, these bongs are often crafted from a single substantial piece of glass, resulting in simplicity with a touch of elegance. However, be cautious – unlike the beaker bong, stability can be a concern due to its straight design and glass material, potentially leading to an unfortunate accident.
Yet, don't mistake simplicity for a lack of sophistication. Many straight-tube bongs step up their game with the inclusion of percolators. These sleek additions elevate your experience, ensuring that each hit delivers a richness in smoothness and effectiveness.
10. Gravity bongs
A gravity bong might sound like a piece of cutting-edge technology for smoking cannabis, but it's far from a complex gadget. In reality, it's a humble and often do it yourself creation that stoners also call: dubbed GB, Geeb, bucket bong, or occasionally, a waterfall bong. Using water, the gravity bong creates a vacuum that pulls smoke up, delivering an intense hit with every inhalation.
Here's the lowdown on how it operates: As the cannabis is burning, gravity takes the reins, pulling the resulting smoke into a bottle through the water in a container. It's this combination of gravity and water that collaborates to create the suction needed to fill the chamber with smoke. The simplicity of the design and the materials used in crafting a gravity bong contribute to its widespread popularity among creative stoners.
This way of smoking weed is favored by some for its ability to produce a potent and concentrated hit, making it an experience often reserved for the more experienced cannabis enthusiasts. However, given its DIY nature and the intensity of the hits it delivers, it may not be the go-to choice for those seeking a more relaxed smoking experience.
11. Percolator bongs
While not mandatory, percolators have become a standard feature on a lot of bongs, enhancing the smoking experience in several ways. The primary functions of a percolator are: preventing water splashback, cooling down the smoke, and providing additional filtration in a bong.
The concept of a percolator aims to make the smoking process smoother, and it's particularly valuable for everybody who've encountered the harsh throat burn from bongs lacking this feature. Percolators come in various types, each influencing the smoke differently. Using a bong with a percolator results in a cooler, filtered hit, significantly improving the overall enjoyment of a massive bong rip. Essentially, a percolator bong functions similarly to a traditional bong but incorporates additional filtration and cooling mechanisms for a more pleasant way of smoking weed.
12. Fruit bongs
Don’t have any rolling papers or feeling creative? There are many different ways of making your own bong, in which using fruit is among the most popular. Most households have some fruit laying around, and most types are easy to transform into an effective bong.
The process typically involves hollowing out the fruit, fashioning a bowl, and creating a pathway for the smoke. These inventive creations offer a unique and flavorful smoking experience, as the fruit imparts subtle undertones to the inhaled smoke.
Even though it is not a long-term solution, a DIY fruit bong are a fun and creative way to enjoy a unique smoking experience! What’s the most unique home made bong you have created? Let us know in the comments!
