There’s no shortage of ways to smoke marijuana. Since discovering the plant, people have been very creative in coming up with different ways to inhale its renowned vaporous healing properties. From spliffs to blunts, bongs to balloons, aluminum cans to apples, there has never been a shortage of ways to puff the magic dragon. But no matter how much pot paraphernalia there is, nothing quite stands the test of time like the ever-popular and humble pipe.

Simple in its nature, a traditional marijuana pipe provides versatility, ease of transport, and instant gratification, rendering it a preferred smoking method for centuries. Learning to pack a pipe is more of an art than a science and a skill that any pot smoker worth their salt will want to acquire. 

The following are some useful tips to help you conquer the craft of packing and smoking a bowl of weed.

Picking a pipe

Peter picked a pipe to pack with. And you will too. Pipes come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, so deciding on one can be a daunting task for the untrained eye. While you can find pipes of the wood and ceramic variety, the most popular pipes tend to be made from borosilicate glass.

These pipes are reliable, durable, and easy to clean. If you are just starting, you can’t go wrong with this type of pipe as you wade your way into the weed waters. You can choose the size of the pipe based on how you plan on using it. If it’s mainly for personal use, you’ll naturally be fine on the smaller size. But if you want a party pipe, go bigger.

 Gathering the required materials

To pack and smoke a bowl, you’re going to need a few essential materials.

  • Weed
  • Pipe
  • Light
  • Grinder (optional)
  • Screen (optional)

The most important guest at the party is the weed. Without it, there is no party. If you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right by talking to your local budtender and educating yourself on the best marijuana for your experience. Or, if you prefer to grow your own, you won’t have a problem finding great weed gummies.

A pipe and lighter are the only other two essential tools you’ll need. Some people prefer to place a screen at the bottom of the pipe to block the hot herb’s remnants from entering the air channel and your mouth. It tends to provide a cleaner and more enjoyable smoke.

Another optional piece of equipment is a grinder. This can be a simple manual “hippy buster” hand grinder or can also be a blender if you don’t want to do the labor yourself. This provides a finer product that will smoke evenly in your pipe.

Packing the pipe

The key to filling a nice bowl is to make sure the air channel’s opening isn’t blocked. An excellent way to avoid this hazard is to pack the pot loosely at the bottom of the pipe near the air hole and then have a more compact pack at the top of the bowl. A nice tight pack at the top will allow you to form a “cherry” to keep the weed lit and maintain a smooth smoke.

The inhale

When it comes to inhaling marijuana, slow and steady wins the race. The goal is to avoid coughing while getting the most out of every toke. When taking a hit from your pipe, inhale it into your mouth first, rather than directly into your lungs. Once this has occurred, release the pipe and inhale the smoke into your lungs along with fresh oxygen. This will act as a cooling process and prevent you from hacking up a lung.

Exhale at the same pace that you inhale. Although many people consider holding it in as long as possible, believing it gets you higher, there is no science to back this notion up. The THC is absorbed as soon as you inhale, so holding it in provides no value and will likely just increase your chances of having a coughing fit.

Bowl smoking etiquette

If you are smoking with a group of people, the general rule of thumb is ‘puff, puff, pass.’ Nobody likes a weed hog. The only thing people like less than a weed hog is a lighter thief. If you’re the last one to have the lighter, make sure you don’t pocket it. Though it’s happened to the best of us, it’s never appreciated.

 

Conclusion

With the legalization of marijuana spreading like wildfire worldwide, it’s natural that more people are becoming cannabis curious. Whether you’re a first-timer or someone that hasn’t smoked since the 70s and is looking to get back into the game, hopefully, this refresher helped you dip your feet in the water and got you on your way to packing that bowl.