Did you know the oldest known bong in existence is 2,400 years old? In Russia, scientists uncovered pure gold bong. Someone was really smoking with style.
As cool as that is, we’ve come a long way since then. Smoking a bowl doesn’t have to be so intense. Still, if you’ve never done it before, it can be intimidating.
Everyone has to start somewhere. Read ahead to learn the ins and out of how to smoke a bowl.
Do Your Research
Know what you are getting yourself into. Cannabis is natural, non-toxic, and has many benefits. But it is still psychoactive and can lead to unenjoyable experiences for some people.
Furthermore, the possession and use of cannabis are still illegal in some places. It is always worth it to be up to date with the local laws.
Growers can produce cannabis with varying levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient. If you aren’t sure of your tolerance level, you might want to start with a milder strain.
Acquire the Necessary Items
A true artisan never blames their tools.
A seasoned veteran can create a water bong from a spoon, two paper clips, and a cold brew. But you might want something a little more convenient if you’re a beginner.
Just don’t forget the lighter. There is nothing worse than being all ready to go and realizing you don’t have one.
Picking a Bowl
Fortunately, you don’t have to be MacGyver to get lifted. And you don’t have to break the bank either.
Bowls, bubblers, bongs, chillums, and Sherlocks vary by shape, size, and material. In this article, we’ll be focusing on traditional bowls and hand pipes.
This website offers unique glass pipes that work great for beginners. Remember that some shapes and styles might be more fragile than others.
Grind the Herb
Now that you have everything, it’s time to rock n’ roll. Whatever you do, don’t commit the mistake of stuffing the bowl with a whole nug.
You have to ‘grind’ or ‘break it up’ first. This allows it to burn more uniformly, greatly increasing the efficiency.
You can use your fingers, an herb grinder, or scissors. Using a grinder is great because it breaks up the herb perfectly. You don’t get your fingers sticky and you can save the kief over time.
Pack the Bowl
Now that the herb is ready, it’s time to ‘pack’ the bowl. If you don’t know how to pack a bowl, this is for you.
Whether you have a bong or some type of hand pipe, the cannabis goes into the scooped out portion opposite the mouthpiece.
You can use your fingers or something to scoop. Load the bowl to the brim. There is no need to stuff it as this can lead to clogging of the pipe.
Taking The First Hit
The time we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. You talked the talk; now you’re going to walk the walk.
All jokes aside, let’s talk about how to smoke a bowl.
Grasp the Bowl
Most bowls have the carb on the left side when the mouthpiece is facing you.
Place the packed bowl in your left hand. Your thumb should cover the carb with your index finger on the other side. Your other fingers can go underneath and provide support.
Gandalf knew how to use a hand pipe. You can just imitate his style.
Light it Up
Your other hand is going to hold the lighter. Put the mouthpiece of the bowl in the tip of your mouth and create a seal with your lips.
You must do this before you put the flame over the herb. Also, your thumb should still be over the carb.
When you’re ready, apply the fire just over the herb and inhale to take a hit. The size of the ‘hit’ depends on how much you burn.
Respiratory Mechanics of Smoking Reefer
You probably didn’t think this article was going to be scientific, but here we are.
Hold the lighter over the bowl and slowly inhale. You’ll notice that the flame is pulled in towards the opening of the bowl. Naturally, this burns the herb and creates smoke that you will be inhaling.
Shut off the flame and withdraw the bowl from your mouth. Before you exhale the smoke, take in a breath of room air. Hold it in for a second or two and blow out that happy cloud.
Things to Consider
Smoking a bowl is quite intuitive. But there will always be tips and tricks along the way to help you the most out of your glass.
Here are some tips and etiquette to go from a newbie to a seasoned veteran.
A Dry Bowl is a Happy Bowl
Smoking is often a social event. Social distancing might prevent us from sharing a bowl for now. Still, the time will come, and many of us having smoking buddies in our bubbles anyways.
Pandemic or not, you should never pass someone a bowl with slobber on it. Wipe the mouthpiece if necessary.
Don’t Bogart the Bowl
Sharing is caring. There is nothing worse than sharing a bowl with someone who hogs it and leaves you the ashes.
It takes some practice, but try to burn as little of the herb as possible. ‘Cornering’ the bowl lets everyone get an even hit.
Also, if you took the first hit on round one. Let your buddy get ‘greens’ on the next one.
How to Smoke a Bowl Like a Pro
One of the best parts about getting into cannabis is exploring all the different ways to do it. Learning how to smoke a bowl is just the beginning of a journey like you take CBD seeds for better health.
Everyone has their preferences. In the end, what matters is that you have fun and stay safe.
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