As more and more states legalize marijuana, there’s naturally been an increase in interest regarding cannabis use. The most traditional way to partake in marijuana is by smoking it. However, if you’re new to the world of marijuana and smoking in general, you may be at a bit of a loss when it comes to getting started. Beginners likely won’t have the necessary equipment to begin smoking just yet. Luckily, the equipment is pretty affordable and easy to source.
What Equipment Do I Need to Smoke
Obviously, you must start with some weed and a lighter. Beyond that, you have several options for smoking. There’s no right way to smoke weed. It all depends on your personal preferences, lifestyle, and what you have available. Generally speaking, you may choose to smoke your marijuana flower in one of three ways. These are:
- Smoking weed in a joint or blunt
- Smoking from a pipe
- Smoking from a bong
Joint/Blunt
A joint is essentially a marijuana cigarette, with the weed rolled tightly in a thin rolling paper. A blunt is similar in concept but is usually made from a hollowed-out cigar or rolled in a cigar-like wrapper. A “good” joint should be rolled securely with the flower well-compacted inside, which ensures a slow, even burn.
This is one of the simplest ways to smoke weed because it doesn’t require much more than just your rolling paper and flower. However, rolling a good joint or blunt takes some practice and skill, so it’s not the most beginner-friendly method. If you have access to a marijuana dispensary where you live, you may be able to buy pre-rolled joints, called “prerolls.” You can also purchase different tools to make rolling joints easier (but more on that later).
Pipes
Pipes have been used for tobacco smoking for centuries, so it’s no wonder that it makes the ideal vessel for smoking weed. They come in different sizes, shapes, and materials. For smoking weed, a glass pipe is the classic way to go. Glass is inert, so lighting up won’t result in any harmful, chemical fumes. Glass pipes are also easy to clean, relatively cheap, and easy to find. Just walk into any smoke shop to browse their selection of pipes. Glass pipes can easily be purchased online, as well. Along with glass, you can also find pipes made of wood or silicone, both of which can also be used to smoke weed.
Bongs
A bong is a glass smoking device with multiple components, but the key parts are the bowl, the stem, and the chamber. The bowl holds the weed, the chamber holds the smoke, and the stem provides the pathway for the smoke to travel from the bowl into the chamber. Bongs require slightly more preparation, but the high is known to be longer and more intense. This is mostly due to the fact that you can take a much larger hit from a bong compared to a joint or pipe. Another benefit of bongs is that the chamber holds water, which cools the smoke and makes for a smoother hit. You can even add ice cubes to the water to make the smoke even cooler and smoother.
Bongs are generally more expensive than pipes. However, many smokers find the investment worth it for the quality of the high alone. It’s also a good way to share marijuana among friends.
Other Optional Equipment
All you really need to get started is your weed, lighter, and your smoking vessel of choice. However, you might be interested in some other pieces of equipment to enhance your smoking experience. While not necessary, these items are commonly used by veteran smokers.
Grinder
A grinder is useful for tearing up your flower into very fine pieces, or “shake.” The finer it is, the easier it is to pack and burn. Without one, you’d be left with tearing your flower up with your hands. That isn’t a bad way to prep your weed for the bowl or joint, but it often results in sticky fingers and uneven, inconsistent pieces of flower.
Screen
For pipe-smokers, a screen is a mesh or glass cover you can put in the bottom of your bowl to keep pieces of weed from falling through and eventually ending up in your mouth.
Rolling Machine
If you really enjoy smoking joints, you should probably get a rolling machine, a contraption that will roll the joints for you. They can be either hand or battery-powered and are useful for making perfect joints quickly.
In general, joints and blunts are cheap but require some expertise when it comes to rolling them. Bongs are expensive and slightly more advanced, while glass pipes are cheap and easy to use. As you can see, you have several options for smoking marijuana. Consider your budget, your lifestyle, and your preferences to choose the right method for you.
