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Bongs, chillums, dabbers, and vaporizers. We have invented increasingly imaginative ways to enjoy cannabis in the most original and healthy way possible. In ancient times, obviously, we did not have the means to fully understand all the properties of cannabis and the reasons why this plant is so special, which is why it was consumed in its most basic form, that is, through the of the entire plant. So for the ceremonies, the leaves and shrubs, and luckily also the tops, were burned, but as they were only a small part of the entire plant, the experience was certainly altered and less powerful. With time and in-depth studies, it has been possible to better understand which characteristics of cannabis interest us, thus being able to fully exploit them and create suitable tools to enjoy the plant in the purest and safest form possible. This is a short list of the most popular and effective accessories for enjoying cannabis to the fullest.
Bong
The bong is one of the most famous tools among smokers. Anyone who has smoked at least once, indeed probably even those who have never smoked in their life, will surely have at least heard of this object, and for a valid reason. It is a cylinder that can be made of glass, plastic, or ceramic, open on the top, with a small hole on the side, a brazier on the side opposite to the hole, and a “tank” on the base where water or ice can be placed. Once the brazier has been loaded and lit, you must inhale by placing your mouth on top while keeping the little hole closed with your finger. The accumulated smoke passes through the water, which cools it and stores it inside the cylinder. Once the bong is filled, you unplug the hole and inhale deeply. In this way, the smoke inhaled in a simple puff is certainly not small, but it is definitely cleaner.
The bong with its simple and practical design guarantees powerful and well-filtered tokes, therefore less irritating to the mouth and throat. The advantages are different, there are all types and materials, each with its own characteristics, from pocket-sized to 2 meters high, and this object always guarantees devastating effects with excellent filtering. This happens because the water retains ash residues and other impurities that we instead inhale with normal card-board filters. But don’t we run the risk of also retaining the active ingredient by filtering it with water? Well, no, because tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) molecules are hydrophobic, that is, they are not soluble in water: their structure does not allow them to bind with water molecules. The bong is a reliable tool that can satisfy the needs of the most avid smokers in many ways. From size to price, this object can vary a lot, but its effectiveness is unique.
Chillum
The chillum is among the oldest tools for smoking cannabis, with origins as mysterious as cannabis itself. In fact, it is not known with certainty who first used the chillum. The first reliable sources regarding its use date back to the 18th century. Indian holy men, Hindu monks, used the chillum in their rites to invoke Shiva and share hashish with the deities. In the 1960s, the chillum enjoyed renewed popularity again, thanks to its ability to evoke mystical and spiritual atmospheres. In fact, just like in ancient shamanic rites, the chillum was often used by several people gathered in a circle, increasing the sense of unity and family between them.
Even today, it is among the favorite methods of consumption among people of that generation. But what exactly is the chillum? It is a cone, usually made of wood, ceramic or glass, with a brazier on top and a hole for the mouth on the other end. Its structure is very simple and ensures very powerful effects to consumers. Once the brazier has been loaded, a filter must be applied to the mouthpiece, which can be made of cloth or thin paper. Once ready, light the brazier and inhale. The effects are multiplied compared to the simple joint.
Vaporizer
The vaporizer, on the other hand, has a much more recent history, this new way of consuming began to spread no more than 30 years ago: there were only a few types of vaporizers, which were not very widespread and quite expensive. Today we have stick vaporizers suitable for hashish, concentrates, and marijuana, which are portable and discreet, whereas once only “the volcano” existed. But how does the vaporizer work? This tool has revolutionized the way of consuming cannabis, for the simple but essential fact of being able to heat marijuana without burning it, but enough to still be able to smoke the active ingredients. This feature is very important for our health because it completely eliminates the risk of inhaling smoke into the lungs. In recent years, has also taken hold in the tobacco market for this very reason.
Over the years, numerous types of vaporizers have been put on the market, from the aforementioned volcano to the most modern concentrate vaporizers, but they all work more or less in the same way. The herb is loaded into the heating chamber, that is, where the heating element raises the temperature to the point of vaporizing the terpenes, trichomes, and without burning the herb. In this way, the combustion residues, which are harmful to our health, such as tar and carbon monoxide.
Modern vaporizers are very discreet, and their shape recalls that of a cigarette, so they can be placed directly in the mouth and inhaled normally, while the first models required a long time to heat up and specific smoking techniques. The volcano, for example, is called this way precisely because of its shape and its functioning. The heating chamber is placed on the “crater” of this volcano. While the contents heat up, a plastic bag is applied over the top, which stores the released steam. Once this process is finished, this bag full of THC vapor is ready to be emptied.
Dabber
Dabbing is a method of consuming cannabis that mainly involves concentrates, such as budder, crumble, or wax. This item is a cross between the classic bong and modern vaporizers. The operation and shape are very similar to those of the bong, it is a glass cylinder with a tank at the base and a “brazier” called a nail, which is used to place the concentrates. Usually, to be able to smoke, concentrates are heated with a blowtorch, but recently, e-dabs have also been put on the market. E-dabs (which stands for electronic dabs) heat the concentrate like a vaporizer, allowing us to enjoy the powerful effects of the concentrate without having to inhale harmful substances.
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