April 12, 2024

With the evolving and legalizing of the cannabis industry, you can explore various smoking methods and find the one that resonates with you the most. Once you discover your favorite method, it's common to develop a preference and continue using it for a significant period of time.

Each method can provide a unique experience, so it's worth experimenting to find what works best for you.

Indeed, determining the "best" way to smoke weed can be subjective and dependent on individual preferences. With the ever-expanding array of methods available, it can be challenging to recommend a universally superior option. Factors such as ease of use, efficiency, discretion, frequency of use, health considerations, cost, and convenience all play a role in determining what works best for each person.

Ultimately, the best way to smoke weed is the one that aligns with an individual's specific needs and priorities. It's important to explore different methods and find what suits you personally.

1. Dry Herb Vaporizers

Vaporizers were introduced as an alternative to traditional smoking methods, primarily targeting cigarette smokers with the aim of offering a potentially less harmful option. Over time, cannabis enthusiasts also began to explore the use of vaporizers, applying the principles of herb vaping to their marijuana consumption.

An herb vaporizer is a device that allows you to consume cannabis without combustion. Instead of burning the herb, it heats it to a temperature that enables the cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, to vaporize without reaching the point of combustion.

The vapor produced typically contains fewer harmful byproducts compared to smoking, such as tar and other potentially harmful chemicals.

This method has gained popularity among individuals who prioritize a potentially cleaner and more controlled cannabis consumption experience.

Related article: Vaporizer high or Smoking high

 

Pros:

• Enhanced Flavor and Healthier Experience: Dry vaping weed offers a cleaner and smoother experience, improving both taste and lung impact. This method allows you to enjoy classic and hybrid flavors more intensely.
• Potent Effects: The strength of the vapor can deliver a powerful high, satisfying those looking for a potent effect from their cannabis.
• Discretion: Vaporizers emit a less noticeable smell and are visually discreet, making them ideal for subtle public use.

Cons:

• Increased Consumption for Desired Effects: It may take more hits from a vaporizer to achieve the desired high compared to traditional smoking methods.
• Higher Initial Cost: High-quality vaporizers can be expensive, representing a significant initial investment.
• Maintenance and Learning Curve: Vaporizers require regular maintenance, and there might be a learning curve to using them effectively.

 

So if you were a regular marijuana smoker, a nice high quality vaporizers can be a great investment, you will pay more, but it will save you a lot for the long run.

2. Glass pipes

When you want to get high and are looking for a quick and efficient way to do it, a glass pipe can be a convenient choice. Glass pipes, also known as bowls, are popular among marijuana smokers. They offer a straightforward and user-friendly experience. Just load the bowl with your desired amount of marijuana, apply heat, and inhale.

Most glass pipes nowadays are made of high-quality borosilicate glass, which is the ideal material for exposure to high temperatures.

Related article: 7 Tips For Your First Time Smoking Marijuana

Pros:

• Portability and Ease of Use: Glass pipes are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry and use on the go. They require minimal setup and are straightforward to handle, perfect for quick sessions.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Glass pipes are often handcrafted by skilled artisans, featuring unique colors, patterns, and shapes. This artistic element makes them not just a tool but a collector's item that can be displayed with pride.
• Flavor Preservation: Because glass does not affect the flavor of the smoke, users experience a pure taste. This is particularly appreciated by those who want to fully enjoy the natural flavors of their marijuana.

Cons:

• Limited Hit Size: Glass pipes typically offer smaller hits compared to other smoking devices like bongs. This can be a downside for those who prefer a more intense experience from a single inhalation.
• Fragility: The glass construction makes these pipes prone to breaking if dropped. Even high-quality borosilicate glass can shatter under the right conditions, requiring careful handling and protection.
• Not Ideal for Groups: Due to their size and the need to reload frequently, glass pipes are not the best choice for larger gatherings. They are more suited for individual use or small groups of up to three or four people.

 

3. Bongs and bubblers

A bong, or a water pipe, is a water-based device that allows smoke to pass through water before inhaling it through the mouthpiece. Its main advantage is that you get smooth hits that don’t burn your throat, especially when you use cold water or add ice.

The water not only cools off the smoke but also filters it from resin and some harmful chemical components.

The base water can be flavored to enhance the sweeter taste of the herb. There are various and very creative designs of bongs, so make sure to look around before you buy one.

A bong, or a water pipe, is a water-based device that allows smoke to pass through water before inhaling it through the mouthpiece. Its main advantage is that you get smooth hits that don’t burn your throat, especially when you use cold water or add ice.

The water not only cools off the smoke but also filters it from resin and some harmful chemical components.

The base water can be flavored to enhance the sweeter taste of the herb. There are various and very creative designs of bongs, so make sure to look around before you buy one.

Pros:

• Enhanced Cooling and Filtration: Compared to glass pipes, bongs provide bigger, cooler, and smoother hits. The water cools and filters the smoke, making inhalation easier on your throat.
• Efficient High: It doesn't take much effort to get extremely high, considering the amount of smoke you can inhale with just one puff. The bigger the bong, the bigger the hit.
• Customizable: You can enhance your smoking experience by adding flavors to the water or choosing from a variety of creative designs.

Cons:

• Bulkiness and Higher Consumption: Bongs can be bulky and use more weed, especially in large groups, making them less portable and economical.
• Health Risks with Certain Materials: Beware of plastic or acrylic bongs; they can be more harmful to your health compared to glass ones.
• Less Portable and More Expensive: The size and complexity of bongs can make them less affordable and harder to transport compared to simpler methods like joints or hand pipes.

4. Blunt

A blunt is a cigar that's been rolled with a tobacco leaf and then hollowed out to be filled with your favorite herbs. These days, it’s mostly used for smoking weed. Smoking a blunt can give you a combined buzz from both the nicotine and weed, offering a unique high. It might not be your thing, though, but you won’t know until you try it. Flavored blunts are known to enhance the sweet tang on the inhale.

Pros:

• Durability and Slow Burn: Compared to a standard joint, blunts last longer and burn slower, which is great for extended sessions.
• Capacity and Flavor: Blunts can hold more weed and often taste better, thanks to the tobacco leaf wrap. They are also easier to roll and deliver bigger hits.
• Social Smoking: Their size and durability make blunts perfect for sharing in a large group, making them a social favorite.

Cons:

• Health Risks: Blunts contain nicotine, which is harmful to your lungs and can be addictive.
• Efficiency: They can be a bit wasteful as they require more weed than what you’d typically use for a bong or bowl.
• Stronger Effects: The combination of tobacco and cannabis might be too intense for some, especially for those not used to nicotine.

5. Joint

Sometimes you need to go back to the old traditional ways which our parents used to smoke weed. Joints provide the joy of a simple way to consume marijuana.

Joints have been a longtime favorite among marijuana smokers for their simplicity and ease of access. You can find rolling papers in pretty much any convenience store. Roll it, and you're good to go.

Knowing how to roll a nice tight joint is not only impressive, but it's also a great skill to have, especially if you consider yourself a stoner. It's something I've been working on for quite some time.

Pros:

• Cost-Effective: Of all the ways to smoke weed, rolling a joint is the cheapest.
• Healthier Option: It's highly effective and doesn't contain nicotine, making it less harsh than a blunt—unless you decide to roll a spliff.
• Efficiency: It’s not as wasteful to your weed as bongs, making it a more efficient choice.

Cons:

• Quick Burn: Joints burn faster, which can lead to a quicker loss of flavor.
• Physical Discomfort: Using a joint can result in fingers and lips burning if you're not careful.
• Frequent Reloading: Due to their size and quick burning, joints may require more frequent reloading during extended sessions.

6. Dab rigs

For those who have a high tolerance and are looking for a buzz like they've never experienced before, your only options are either to take a tolerance break or to try dabbing. Although dabbing requires more tools, the intensity of the high it delivers makes it worth considering.

First, the smoker needs to heat up the dab rig using a torch, aiming it at the nail. After allowing it to cool down for 10-15 seconds, they take a dabber, apply the desired amount of concentrate, and then touch it to the nail while inhaling simultaneously. Unlike other smoking methods, it may take as few as one hit to get you wickedly stoned. If that doesn’t work, dude, it’s time for a tolerance break. It’s getting too expensive for you.

Pros:

• Intensity and Speed: Dabbing is the best way to achieve the highest intensity high in the least amount of time—far more efficient than smoking an entire joint.
• Potency: The concentrates used in dabbing are much more potent than traditional forms of marijuana, ensuring a strong effect even with small amounts.
• Flavor: Dabs provide a cleaner, purer taste, allowing for a better appreciation of the flavor profile of the concentrate.

Cons:

• Cost: Dabbing is expensive, not only in terms of buying all the equipment (a torch, dab rig, and dab nail), which can be a hassle, but also in purchasing the concentrate itself.
• Complexity: The process requires specific tools and a bit of skill, which can be daunting for beginners.
• Tolerance Issues: Once dabbing becomes less effective due to extremely high tolerance, it leaves you with few options for increasing the intensity of your high.

7. Hookah

You know that thing the caterpillar was smoking in Alice in Wonderland?

We all know that having friends over and lots of marijuana go well together, no question. However, with a hookah, it becomes a social event. A hookah can have four or more nozzles attached to it, allowing you and your pals to share the smoke at the same time without the need to puff-puff-pass.

Make sure to grind your weed and mix it well with shisha tobacco, and it would be nice to sprinkle some kief in there too. Coating your weed in shisha helps to slow cook the weed. For lack of better words, it "vaporizes" the weed rather than smoking it.

It will definitely give you a different high since it's mixed with shisha, which is basically flavored tobacco. However, it's not like smoking a spliff.

Here’s a tip for you: pay attention to the coal. Don’t let the coal touch your blend when you smoke; the heat coming from the coal will be enough (maybe leave a 0.5-inch gap between your blend and the coal). Also, make sure to clean the hookah very well right after your smoking session to avoid any unwanted tastes.

Pros:

• Social: It’s perfect for a group of people who want to relax and enjoy the evening without getting high instantly.
• Comfortable: You can lean back and comfortably get high, making it an enjoyable, laid-back experience.
• Flavorful: Mixing weed with flavored shisha can enhance the taste, making the session more pleasant.

Cons:

• Inefficiency: Using a hookah can be a wasteful way to smoke weed, as it often consumes more cannabis than other methods.
• Maintenance: Hookahs require thorough cleaning after each use to prevent flavors from mixing unfavorably.
• Complex Setup: The setup and operation of a hookah can be more complex and time-consuming compared to simpler methods like joints or blunts.

And here is an extra method for you: Gas mask

Personally, I’m not a huge fan, but using a gas mask bong is one of the craziest ways you can smoke weed. A pipe from the smoking bong is channeled into the gas mask. With the gas mask, you can regulate the incoming weed flavor from the bong. Unlike smoking a blunt, joint, or using a bong, the gas mask allows you to savor the entire smoking process.

Pros:

• Intense High: It will get you very high, very fast.

Cons:

• Safety Risks: The gas mask can easily burn your face or even mess with your nostrils.
• Breathing Difficulties: It can also cause breathing difficulties, making it less suitable for prolonged use.
• Comfort: The setup can be uncomfortable and cumbersome to wear, especially for those not used to it.

In conclusion, as I mentioned at the beginning of the post, there are so many ways to smoke weed. Marijuana has been trending for some time and this popularity has spurred more innovative and creative ways of consuming it. The best way to discover what works for you is to try out different methods yourself. Sometimes, you might want to get high slowly, while at other times, you might want to get totally blasted quickly.

Your preferences might change depending on whether you’re trying to save money, enjoy a session with a group of friends, or simply based on what methods are available to you. So, weigh your options and figure it out for yourself.

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