In this article we talk to you about the habits of people smoking cannabis around the world. Each with its own traditions or specificities. Marijuana is smoked in every part of the world, only the way changes but the "substance" remains the same everywhere. Read the whole article to find out how people around the world smoke, the customs and traditions related to the world of cannabis. We will tell you about:
- The origins of cannabis
- Cannabis and religion in history
- Cannabis and medicine in history
- Recreational cannabis
- Joint what is it
- Ways to do joints
- Bongs
- Apple Pipe
- Corn stalks
- Hot knives
- Pink Blunt
- Gravity bongs
- Vaporizer
Tell me how you smoke and I'll tell you who you are... It could be a fun game, since there are dozens and dozens of ways to smoke weed!
It's funny that there are so many ways of smoking weed , created by the galloping imagination of the most avid smokers: it almost seems like the great confirmation of the theory (absolutely proven and shared) according to which smoking weed stimulates creativity . In fact, there are curious, original and sometimes even complex techniques to avoid getting caught up in the habit and abandoning yourself to the paper and filter routine.
Here is a short guide that will help you not get lost in the jungle of a thousand smoking techniques!
But let's start from the beginning!
The origins of cannabis
Consuming cannabis is an ancient action , which has a very long history.
In several archaeological expeditions , burned cannabis seeds were found in the tombs of shamans in China and Siberia dating back as far as 500 BC
In Asia and in some areas of Mexico, cannabis plants grew naturally and the population was used to seeking medical remedies among the plants and fruits offered by nature. They soon realized the calming and analgesic properties of cannabis and therefore began to grow it.
However, most ancient cultures did not grow cannabis for recreational purposes, but to supply their herbalist's shop , a true pharmacy of our times. The hemp fiber was then processed and used to make clothes, paper, sails and ropes, while hemp seeds were used as food.
In short, we don't know exactly when the first one was smoked and it is likely that at the beginning pipes and chillums were used to consume cannabis. Subsequently they would move on to consuming cannabis in tobacco leaves and at the same time experimenting with the mixture of tobacco and cannabis.
There is various evidence in favor of the thesis that ancient cultures knew the psychoactive properties of THC present on cannabis plants and therefore consciously used it during religious ceremonies to make participants more perceptive and in healing rituals to relieve pain of various kinds .
From Central Asia, the habit of consuming cannabis and growing hemp spread rapidly, reaching Africa, Europe and finally America.
The important history of cannabis cultivation in America begins around 1600 . In a short time, hemp became one of the most important sectors of the agro-industrial reality of the time. It was cultivated for the production of fabrics, ropes and paper. It was Benjamin Franklin around the mid-18th century who exploited the potential of cannabis to produce paper, founding the first hemp paper mill. The first United States Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.
Several years later, some political interests led to the criminalization of marijuana in the United States, which only in recent years has managed to legalize cannabis again in some of its states, with extraordinary economic and social effects for all those involved .
Cannabis and religion in history
As for pagan religions, cannabis has always found a place in religious rituals and gifts to deities as a sacred plant , considered a symbol and source of fertility, beauty and wisdom.
Herodotus also testifies to the presence of cannabis in the religious ceremonies of Ancient Greece and mentions in several passages the collective consumption of cannabis as part of religious rituals.
Consuming cannabis has also played a central role in Hinduism . Entire paragraphs dedicated to marijuana can be found in Hindu sacred books, described as a sacred plant capable of opening the mind and giving freedom. During religious practices, Hindus used to consume cannabis in the form of milk to purify themselves. Or they smoked it in particular pipes in the form of buds or charas, a type of hashish typical of India, born in a religious context.
Even in Buddhism , consuming cannabis seems to have been a recurring activity since its origins, together with that of eating hemp seeds, so much so that it is said that during the days that separated him from enlightenment, the Buddha would have fed only and exclusively on hemp seeds.
There appears to be no trace of cannabis in Christianity , however, around the 1930s , a new religious political movement developed in Jamaica , which presents itself as a current of Christianity. This religion still exists and has several followers, known for their dreadlocks and their attitude towards consuming cannabis sativa.
Consuming cannabis for Rastafarians is a sacred and meditative activity , which has nothing to do with recreational use and which many Rastafarians practice regularly. Even before the scientific journals proved them right, the followers of this religion had also understood the therapeutic properties of the cannabis plant and, being preachers of mental and physical well-being, they have always benefited from this substance.
Rastafarians preach moral discipline and self-control , so although they love consuming cannabis, in a very interesting and explanatory way, they reject alcohol and any type of narcotic substance . They practice a correct and healthy diet and lots of physical exercise.
In this article , the Corriere tells of the curious case of a man, who was found in possession of a hectare of marijuana and initially sentenced to a prison sentence of more than a year, but was later declared innocent, precisely because he had confessed and evidently having demonstrated that he is in all respects a practicing Rastafarian.
Being a follower of Rastafarianism, which allows the consumption of cannabis up to 10 grams per day , saved a man and also aroused predictable controversy from politicians.
Be careful, it's not like if we all become Rastafarians, we can grow and smoke whatever we want. Most followers of this religion really follow strict rules , in some cases extreme and very questionable, such as refusing to undergo surgery or receive transfusions if necessary. Seen this way, consuming cannabis remains one of the few truly sensible things about Rastafarianism, but we would need to know it more in depth to be able to express a judgement.
Cannabis and medicine in history
In the 1830s , a European doctor named O'Shaughnessy realized and made it official that cannabis extracts helped reduce chronic stomach pain and vomiting in people suffering from cholera.
By the late 1800s , cannabis extracts were regularly sold in pharmacies and doctors' offices throughout Europe and the United States to treat stomach problems and other intestinal disorders.
Subsequently, in 1942 , a researcher discovered CBD (cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant and currently the basis of cannabis light. CBD is used for the first time in the treatment of epilepsy and is successful, but it is still too early and we will have to wait until 2020 for Epidyolex (the first CBD-based antiepileptic drug) to enter the market.
In 1964, scientists discovered that THC was the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effects of smoking a joint. Thanks to an in-depth study on THC they also discovered the existence of endocannabinoids, i.e. natural cannabinoids produced by our body.
From here the further intuition of the existence of our endocannabinoid system and the relative ability of cannabinoids coming from cannabis to interact with it, began to explain how and why THC, CBD and then CBG (cannabigerol, another non-psychoactive cannabinoid) are able to intervene positively on some pathologies of humans and animals. Among the main ones: epilepsy, chronic pain, mood disorders, loss of appetite, nausea and insomnia.
For all these reasons, since 2016 also in Italy , doctors and specifically those specialized in pain therapy can prescribe therapeutic cannabis , but only to patients suffering from certain pathologies.
The cost of the drugs is borne by the patient, reimbursement and prescription are limited as per law ( DM 9/11/2015 ) to the following cases : chronic pain and that associated with multiple sclerosis as well as spinal cord injuries; to nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, HIV therapies; as an appetite stimulant in cachexia, anorexia, loss of appetite in cancer patients or those suffering from AIDS and in anorexia nervosa; the hypotensive effect in glaucoma; reduction of involuntary body and facial movements in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.
Recreational cannabis
It was physiological: while the habit of consuming cannabis spread throughout the world, the "joint" for purely recreational purposes became increasingly popular until it is now one of the most deeply rooted habits in the world's population.
Dozens and dozens of cannabis strains have appeared for every taste and need, numerous varieties of hashish and even THC-based edible products such as the famous space cake .
Awards have been established in his name, the rod has become a transversal and timeless cult.
Most people who like to consume cannabis do so to relax, to unwind after a long day , to be able to fall asleep but also to improve their mood.
Furthermore, although it is difficult to imagine these days, consuming cannabis has for a long time constituted a moment of aggregation and sharing with lifelong friends or perhaps the pleasant accompaniment during our favorite concert.
However, despite a ruling from the Supreme Court of Cassation classifying the possession of a few small plants as an administrative offence, consuming cannabis with normal or high THC content is not yet legal in Italy and neither is cultivating this type of marijuana.
In many European countries such as Holland with the Coffee Shop model or Spain and Portugal with the Cannabis Social Club model, the path to legalization has already been chosen for some time. The same thing happened in several countries in the United States. All countries that have chosen to legalize have seen benefits on an economic and social level , with large revenues for the state and a decrease in the use of hard drugs, especially among young people.
Joint what is it
Joint is the term most used among cannabis users to refer to the joint , as we know it: a mixture of tobacco and cannabis, often rolled into a paper . I can vary the quantity of tobacco and cannabis by making the joint more or less loaded and I can vary the type of paper.
Instead of opting for classic papers, there are those made from natural fibres . Hemp leaf papers or directly tobacco or hemp leaves can also be used, which are decidedly more natural than normal papers.
In this case we talk about "Blunt ". Both tobacco and hemp leaves give an additional flavor to our joint, making it more pleasant to the taste and enhancing its natural aroma.
The joint can be pure and not contain tobacco . In Italy we call it "purino" but in other places in the world such as Jamaica, or some areas of Mexico and the United States, the term joint can also be used to indicate a pure joint without tobacco.
The slang around cannabis is varied and the same term is often used to refer to two different mixtures.
In general, the joint is also one of the methods most used by the majority of cannabis consumers, who have also become accustomed to the ritual of preparing the mixture and rolling it , in addition to the fact that the combustion of the paper is slow and makes the smoke last longer. for a long time than a vaporizer, which however certainly remains the healthiest solution.
In fact, the joint of the new millennium is the vaporizer , more precisely a portable vaporizer capable of regulating the temperature. Consuming cannabis will still last a long time, you can do it even without tobacco and combustion will be eliminated, significantly reducing the side effects linked to cannabis consumption.
Ways to do joints
The classic way to make a joint is to prepare a mixture of well-crushed weed or hashish, mix it with tobacco and roll it in a paper , placing a filter on the right and closing everything with saliva.
An alternative that is popular with most cannabis users is the flag-rolled joint . This method allows you to use only the amount of paper that is really necessary and involves eliminating what is not needed. It consists of rolling the joint on the paper backwards and the filter to the left. Once the barrel is glued and closed, there will be some excess paper left to peel off.
Rolling means joining the two ends of the map and slowly turning, bringing the part of the map closest to us under the other and then closing it. It's harder said than done. To roll well you need a little practice but it's nothing complicated.
A rod can be small but also huge. There are maps by the meter , which allow you to have a potentially very long map.
Then there is what some cannabis users call "bengal" . It involves joining the papers on top of each other to create a chubby and thick paper.
There are creative and experimental rods, with unusual and strange shapes, from the hammer-shaped ones to the heart-shaped ones , passing through those in the shape of a rugby ball , there is truly something for all tastes, but in terms of " smokability" we cannot guarantee. Some are collected in this article.
For those who are not really familiar, it may be useful to purchase a pre-rolled joint . It is an already closed barrel into which the mixture can be inserted from above. Pre-rolled joints can be made with regular papers or tobacco or hemp leaves.
As regards the mixed one, however, you can opt for tobacco and cannabis, for cannabis alone or for cannabis mixed with legal marijuana instead of tobacco. Legal weed, which can be chosen in different varieties and with different percentages of active ingredient , is completely natural and has no side or psychoactive effects, so it can give consistency to our joint without harming us.
On our website you can find all our varieties of light cannabis, CBD or CBG , strictly organic and grown naturally. Ideal to become your new rod or to customize your usual ones in a safe and healthy way.
BONG
The bong isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you love big hits and are a regular smoker with good stamina, you'll certainly find it interesting. The world of bongs is varied, there are many shapes and sizes , and you have to be careful not to make a choice dictated only by aesthetics. In general, all bongs generate a large amount of smoke per single hit , much higher than that of any other instrument.
The main advantage of this method lies especially in the water contained in the bong , which cools the smoke and also works as a filter , reducing components such as resins and nicotine to a minimum.
PIPE APPLE
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. So why not add it to your weed routine too ? Using the apple is a very creative and practical trick to smoke weed in a different way than usual. It is not difficult to prepare and will give a different flavor with every puff.
How you do it? First, take an apple and dig a small brazier at the top; that's where you'll place the marijuana . It is then necessary to create a channel for the smoke to flow, so you will have to empty the center of the fruit a little. The third and final step is to create a hole on one of the two sides, from which the smoke can escape. The apple pulp will give a whole new flavor to the smoke, you will like it!
CORN SHEALS
Corn bracts are the new frontier of the traditional smoker. This is an alternative solution to using papers , in fact they have become very popular especially among smokers who are careful about their health. In Jamaica and California, corn husks are used regularly as an alternative to rolling papers.
After being dried, the corn bracts are very easy to roll and, being fibrous, they burn slowly and can be closed firmly.
HOT KNIVES
The hot knife method is perhaps the oldest technique for smoking cannabis or hashish . It's simple and doesn't require anything that isn't already in your home. All you need are two knives and a heating element.
You need to light the stove and place the knives on it; when they are hot, place some weed /hash on one knife and press with the other. It will soon start to smoke, that 's the time to vacuum !
Some smokers prefer to inhale the smoke freely, without using a tool to direct it in one direction, while others prefer to use a plastic bottle cut in half or a cardboard roll of kitchen paper.
PINK BLUNT
The rose blunt is almost never mentioned when talking about alternative methods of smoking, but many say that it is a fun and not too complicated way to change the way you smoke. And to do it you only need 3 rose petals and an oven!
Preheat the oven and – when it is hot enough – place the petals in a pan inside for about 10 seconds. Take out the pan, lick the rose petals and glue them together to form a blunt.
Put them back in the oven for another 10 seconds, without letting them become too dry. If they become dry they will not roll well and will crumble. Take them out of the oven, let them cool for a moment and roll a rose blunt.
GRAVITATIONAL BONGS
A gravity bong is a water-powered bong that produces highly concentrated smoke. It is made using two empty containers that funnel the smoke through the water and towards the exit passage.
The effect is achieved by combining gravity with increased water pressure.
Unlike a regular bong, this tool pushes smoke through the exit hole and directly into your lungs, delivering a potent dose of THC in one go.
For this reason, their use is not recommended for beginners. Unfortunately, gravity bongs are difficult to find in regular head shops and are illegal in many countries, including the United States.
This is a shame, because they may be the best solution for medical smokers , since they allow you to take a strong dose of THC in a single puff.
VAPORIZER
Vaporization is a method that consists of overheating Cannabis until the THC and other cannabinoids contained within a bud are inhalable in the form of vapor . This is much healthier than burning and is considered one of the best ways to take weed medicinally .
Vaporization requires much lower temperatures than combustion, so the buds will only be "overheated" without generating smoke or other harmful compounds ! By using a vaporizer you will find that the buds release much more intense flavors.
Vapor contains a higher cannabinoid content, so you will have to consume less weed to get the same effects as a joint. Furthermore, the so-called AVB - Already Vaped Bud , i.e. already vaporized buds, can be recycled to create delicious recipes, to make the most of the full potential of your buds.
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