Don’t Torch the Bowl, Pipe or Joint

Lighting too much of the bowl ends up being wasteful and can result in a massive hit you weren’t prepared for. As for a joint, well if you take a lot you’ll seem greedy. Be modest, there’s no rush.

Don’t complain

Words hurt. If you don’t like it when someone rolls a jay, just don’t smoke it. Rather offer to roll it yourself. Everyone likes the guy that rolls for them.

Pass to the Left

Left is law here and probably one of the most important points in weed etiquette. You don’t need a fancy figure or whatever. Keep it simple and make sure no one misses out. That is poor form and will get you shunned, faster than you can say “pass the jay.” Be sure to warn the next in line if you think the bowl or jay is done. If you want to impress everyone, refill it or light a new jay.

Keep the Mouthpiece Dry

There is nothing worse than waiting patiently to receive a soggy joint or slobbery end of a pipe. Keep it dry, or at the very least, wipe it off before you pass it on.

Don’t Be Clumsy

Be careful not to break anything, spill the bong water or make a mess with the weed. If you do, it’s a bit of a chore to clean it up. Take care while handling and be gentle. If you damage someone’s belongings, be quick to offer reimbursement or take them to buy a replacement. Smashing someone’s gear is like breaking their heart. Be kind to your fellow cannabis enthusiasts.

Know Your Limit

A common mistake that nearly everyone makes one way or another. Take some time between your hits. You’re not having a race, are you? Keep in mind that different strains and methods of consuming weed will yield different effects. Edibles and concentrates can be easy to overdo it. Be patient so that you reach that sweet spot without spoiling it. One more thing: never force others to over do it. Not everyone has the same tolerance as you. When you have someone who’ll try it out for the first time, try a strain that’s won’t hit your friend too hard. It’s easy to ruin the experience.

Pick a Safe, Calm Spot

Never get high in a place you don’t feel safe. This is never a good idea and is more than likely going to leave you or someone you’re with feeling paranoid and anxious. Make sure you are comfortable with the group you are smoking with – you always want to be in a safe, carefree environment when you are getting high. Alternatively, don’t be obvious about smoking cannabis or being high in public.

Bring Bud and Food

No one likes the person who always sponges on the others for getting high. Don’t be that person. If you don’t have bud, opt to bring some food or drink for everyone to enjoy. The best stoner buddies always has some new smoking papers to try, some new gadgets to show off or have some amazing munchies on hand. It’s not a real necessity of weed etiquette but it save you and your friends a trip to the store.

Never Blow Smoke in Someone’s Face

This is obvious but, NEVER blow smoke in someone’s face. As an accident or a joke. It’s a sure-fire way to kill the mood and it is plain rude.

Have an Activity or Two Planned

If you want to prevent the inevitable, have a suggestion in mind before you get high. his will save a lot of time and will be appreciated by everyone. It’s annoying if there’s a constant back and forth because people don’t know what to do. Think about local places within walking distance and do something fun. If you’re extremely lazy, that’s why you have the Internet and Google.

Never Joke about 5-0

Joking about the cops will kill the mood and get everyone worked up. Just avoid the subject at all costs.

Keep Up the Good Vibes

Be courteous and make sure everyone feels welcome and at ease. This goes a long way. If you make people feel uneasy or unwelcome, intentionally or not, chances are they won’t want to light up with you again.

Overall, getting high in a group should be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Make sure you accommodate everyone and follow tips on weed etiquette above. It might just help you.

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Secreted in the same glands that product cannabinoids like THC and CBD, terpenes are the pungent oils that give cannabis its variety of distinctive flavors like citrus, berry and mint. Medical research on cannabis has so avidly focused on cannabinoids that there hasn’t been a lot of research done on terpenes

Terpenes are synthesized in cannabis in secretory cells inside glandural trichomes, and production is increased with exposure to light. These terpenes are mostly found in high concentrations in unfertilized female cannabis flowers prior to senescence (deterioration with age). The essential oil is extracted from the plant material by steam distillation or vaporization. Many of these compounds vaporize around about the same temperature as THC, but some are more volatile than others. Terpenes also play an important role in providing the plant with natural protection against bacteria, fungus, insects and other environmental stresses.

There are many factors that influence a plant’s development of terpenes, including climate, weather, age and maturation, fertilizers, soil type, and even time of the day.

It is a well established fact that marijuana is capable of affecting the mind, emotions and behavior of its user. The main psychotropic cannabinoid, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been intensely studied. However, many of the other cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids found in cannabis that play a big role in boosting the therapeutic effect of cannabis remain understudied.

Terpenes are common components of flavorings and fragrances. Unlike cannabinoids, they are responsible for the aroma and taste of cannabis. The FDA and other agencies have generally recognized them as “safe.”

Terpenes act on receptors and neurotransmitters.

Characteristics of terpenes

• They are prone to combine with or dissolve in lipids or fats;
• Act as serotonin uptake inhibitors;
• Enhance norepinephrine activity;
• Increase dopamine activity;
• and they augment GABA.

Even with all the data, more specific research is needed for improved accuracy in describing and predicting how terpenes in cannabis can be used medicinally to help treat specific medical conditions.

Terpenes and Their Characteristics

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Fortunately, there are ways to smoke a jay without getting caught. There are devices and smoking methods that will minimize the smell of marijuana smoke. No, we’re not referring to vaporization, but smoking and getting away with it. Here are a few ways:

Eliminate Weed Smoke Odor

We don’t recommend relying on sprays to eliminate the smell of weed. People will still know what you’re up to because weed has that certain smell about it. To eliminate the odors created during your smoke session, use smoke odor eliminating candles.

This is exactly why you’re better off using a smoke odor eliminating candle. They’re less intense smelling than a spray which may disturb people around you. Additionally, they have been found to be effective in eliminating the smell of cannabis.

Light a smoke odor exterminating candle before you start your smoke session. The longer the candle is active, the quicker it will eliminate smells.

Leave the candle lit for about 30 minutes after your smoke session. This ensures that the smell weed will be eliminated.

Use Pipes

When you use a bowl, bong or pipe, only pack enough weed for one hit. The goal is to smoke all the weed you packed without leaving a cherry. If there is no cherry, there will be no smoke leaving the bowl.

Steer Clear of Papers and Cigar Wraps

Unless you intend on smoking outside or hanging your head and joint completely outside the window during your entire smoke session, smoking a blunt or joint is not recommended. If you want to be stealthy, it’s best to stick with your bowl, bong, pipe, or one hitter.

Last Hit

If you’ve at least got access to a private room with a window, you should be able to get away with smoking weed. Just be sure to place a moist towel over and cracks under your door to absorb the smell of weed. Also make sure you give the room sufficient time to air out before leaving after a smoke session.

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Is there a perfect temperature?

This is probably one of the questions you’d like to ask, so here are the key findings:

There’s a temperature range in which different compounds of cannabis are released, each showing unique qualities in effect. While only experimentation will show you the high that suits you best, an ideal temperature to extract a wide range of psychoactive compounds is 365ºF. The optimal temperature range for cannabis is between 347ºF – 392ºF (175ºC – 200ºC). Temperatures below 374ºF (190ºC) tend to produce a more cerebral high while temperatures above that tend to induce a body high.

Cannabinoid Temperatures

The range of temperature is in which all cannabinoids evaporate lies between 314ºF (157ºC) and 428ºF (220ºC) . As all Cannabinoids have different boiling points, vaporizing the same load of herb at different temperatures will generate different results. In general, there’s two main effects, which is a cerebral high and a body high. As mentioned above, lower temperatures will have a heady effect, whilst higher temperatures will have a more body load effect.

Please note: Although some of the cannabinoids in these lists require temperatures about 392ºF (200ºC) to evaporate, vaping at that temperature runs the risk of causing combustion, which should be avoided.

Combustion: Dry weed can begin to combust at around 392ºF (200ºC). The maximum heat weed can take before starting to burn is around 446ºF (230 °C), depending on how dry your weed is.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids, like terpenoids, are not that well known compared to cannabinoids. They are are a large class of plant pigments that are sometimes referred to as Vitamin P. Terpenoids and Flavonoids are partly responsible for the looks, taste and smell of a particular strain. they are the reason why cannabis enthusiasts take a whiff of a strain because their smell reveals a lot about the character of the plant.

They are also thought to have secondary health benefits, which will be explained in the following table:

Terpenoids

Terpenoids are structurally related to terpenes and are naturally occurring in a wide range of plants. They play a role in what gives plants their unique aromatic quality. The scent of cinnamon and menthol are examples of well known terpenoids.

The following table outlines the effects and vaporization temperature of terpenoids:

Toxins

Toxins are chemicals that can be harmful to your body. The advantage of a vaporizer lies in its unique ability to extract the active ingredients of cannabis, but without the toxins of combustion, such as tar and carbon monoxide. In short, vaping does not expose your lungs to as much harmful chemicals as smoking does.

Vapor can still contain trace amounts of toxins. Compared to the over 100 different PAHs found in smoke, the one single PAH discovered in vapor is obviously a massive improvement. On the other hand, toxins that come from pesticides, herbicides and other chemical agents will also concentrate in vapor – making organic cannabis a smart choice.

The following is a small selection of some of the toxins that are released through combustion:

Cannabis Moisture and Vaporizer Temperature

When you use a bong or smoke a joint, extremely dry cannabis ruins your whole smoking experience. Vaping it is still a delightful experience. The dryness, however, will cause it too vaporize much faster. If it is too hot, you run the risk of flash boiling the active ingredients, eliminating the taste and flavor of your bud. As it is largely dependent on the situation and strain you are using, there is no definitive guide on how you can vaporize particularly dry weed.

Note: Set your temperature lower judging by how dry your weed is. It might take a bit of practice at first but once you get the hang of it, you won’t have to worry about flash boiling it.

Conversely, if your bud is fresh, it may be very high in moisture. As a result, it can sometimes be hard to vaporize it efficiently. To deal with this, you can set your vape between 280ºF (138ºC) to 298ºF (148ºC). You’ll gain a load of flavonoid vapor whilst slowly drying out your cannabis. After you did this, your pot should be dry enough to vaporize efficiently at the cannabinoid temperatures.

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Proper cannabis use has noticeable benefits. In fact, all of the health issues and problems associated with potentially harmful smoke can be avoided. If the herb is slowly heated below its combustion temperature, you get all the desired cannabinoids without igniting the material. This is what a vaporizer does.

Accordingly, a variety of devices have flooded the market, especially within the past 2 years. In fact, today there are numerous products to help facilitate this process including pen vaporizers, portable vaporizers, and stationary vaporizers. Despite the wide selection, all vaporizers consists of two things: a heating source and a delivery system. Here we will look at the different types of vaporizers, heating sources, delivery systems and which patients prefer from a wellness perspective.

Types of Vaporizers

Pen Vaporizers

Pen vaporizers are essentially small vaporizers shaped like a pen or e-cig. They are typically discreet, easy to use, and a lot cheaper than the more robust portable or stationary vaporizers. Vape pens almost always use conduction heating, making it important that you understand how to operate it to ensure your product doesn’t get overheated or even burned. There are a large number of vape pens out there.

Portable Vaporizers

Portable vaporizers are growing in popularity as vape technology continues to advance. It is a slightly larger than a vape pen, but it can be used on the go. If you travel a lot or want to medicate wherever you are, a portable vaporizer might just be the thing. Most of them uses convection heating but there are a few others. The majority of them are rechargeable but there are the occasional butane one lying around somewhere.

Stationary Vaporizers

Stationary vaporizers are the “stay at home” vaporizers that typically needs to be plugged for it to work. Although they aren’t portable, desktop vapes generally deliver much higher quality vapor through a convection heating source and offer many more features. For instance, you get balloon attachments that are exclusive to stationary vapes. Also, stationary vaporizers sometimes allow for group vape sessions, as opposed to vaping solo all the time. They typically come fitted with larger bowls and more robust heating systems that make vaporizing herbs a trouble-free and fulfilling experience.

Delivery Systems

Whip / Tubing Vaporizers

Whips are generally made of silicone piping and are around three feet long. One end of the whip is a mouthpiece, while the other is a glass connection that holds your herbs and slides over or into the heating element. The end that holds the herb is typically referred to as a “wand” and contains a screen to ensure no material is drawn through the hose and into your mouth.

Balloon Style Vaporizers

Bag style vaporizers make use of food grade plastic. The bags can attach and detach from the unit using a valve that prevents vapor loss. A mouthpiece is inserted into the valve when the bag is detached from the unit, allowing the bag to pass between two or more users.

Direct Draw Vaporizers

Direct draw is most commonly found with portable/pen vapes. These vaporizers offer mouthpieces which are found attached directly to the unit and allow the vapor to flow directly from the heating element to the user. Some direct draw vaporizers offer a removable stem or extended mouthpieces, while others have a permanently attached mouthpiece.

Heating Sources

Conduction Heating

Conduction heating works by utilizing direct contact of the herb with an electrically heated surface, often times solid metal or a screen. A common problem with vaporizers like this is burning of the herb due to poor heat distribution. It is very difficult to regulate the temperature with vaporizers that use conduction. Included in this category are e-cigarettes, vaporizer pens, and a majority of portable vaporizers currently on the market.

Convection Heating

Convection heating, on the other hand, works by passing precisely heated air over the dried herb, vaporizing the material more evenly and efficiently. This makes convection heating the preferred choice for many patients looking to get the most of their vaporization experience. The herb never comes in touch with the heating element, instead air is either forced by a fan, or through inhalation, over the herbs and through the delivery system. Heating elements for convection vaporizers are typically made out of ceramic, though some are made out of stainless steel or other types of metal. Ceramic heating elements retain heat extremely well and are unaffected by cool air drawn through the system.

Infrared Heating

Radiation vaporizers use radiant energy either produced by electricity or a light source to provide heat. The herb absorbs the radiant energy, increasing in temperature until its components vaporize. These types of vaporizers are more rare, and are on par with convection vaporizers in terms of the quality of vapor produced.

Forms of Marijuana Used

Dry Herbs

Vaporizers designed to heat cannabis in its raw form are known as dry herb vaporizers. Dry herbs of all sorts have been used for centuries for meditation, relaxation and medicinal purposes. Certain flowers and herbs can be dried, crushed and then inserted into a dry herb vaporizer. The vaporizer’s oven chamber will heat up the dry herbs to a selected temperature,releasing vapor for you to inhale. To get the most out of your vaping experience, use a herb grinder to grind your material quite finely to create more surface area for the heat to reach.

Concentrates

Waxes, shatters, crumbles, and oils are all concentrated forms of cannabinoids and terpenes referred to as cannabis concentrates. Due to these products being a concentrated mix, you have the benefit of only needed a very small amount to get the same effect as you would with larger amounts of dry herb. If you are looking to vape concentrates you will need a vaporizer that is compatible of doing so as not all vaporizers have this functionality. Many vaporizer manufacturers now offer special attachments to convert standard ovens to be compatible with concentrates but it often costs a bit extra.

Temperatures

Studies have found that the sweet spot fir vaporizing cannabis is around 338ºF, even though cannabinoids begin to vaporize at 285ºF. At this temperature, the active cannabinoids in cannabis are converted to a vapor that can be inhaled as opposed to a joint burning at 2000ºF or higher.

While the exact amount of components released depends on the compounds present and the temperature, it doesn’t contain any of the toxic bi-products of smoking plant matter in the vapor. The vapor you inhale will have a higher percentage of desired cannabinoid/terpenoid content when compared to smoke.

Many vaporizers typically feature a digital temperature control that allows you to alter the ratio of active components you’re vaping. When you ignite cannabis with a lighter, you are releasing all the cannabinoids at once, often destroying desirable cannabinoids and terpenes that give cannabis its unique flavor, smell, and effects. Since terpenoids have the lowest boiling pint, around 132ºF, they are typically the first compounds to be released. If you are looking for a tasty, aromatic hit, start with the lowest available temperature setting and slowly work your way up to 350ºF to finish off your material. As you approach the boiling points of other compounds, you are increasing the quantity of the compounds that are vaporized.

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