One of the quintessential lessons in consuming cannabis is learning how to pack a bowl. Most find this to be much easier than rolling a joint. Whether you are packing a pipe for yourself or a group of your friends, here are the key fundamentals that will help you optimize smoking a bowl.
Pipes used for cannabis come in all shapes and sizes. They have been adapted from traditional tobacco pipes.
Cannabis pipes have a few key features. First, there’s the bowl where your marijuana goes. There’s also an airtight channel that delivers air to the mouthpiece, and some pipes also have a secondary air channel, known as the carb. The carb is used to manipulate the airflow from the bowl to the mouthpiece. You may want to use a screen to stop the flower from being inhaled through the mouthpiece. If you don’t have a pack of pipe screens you can use the screen from a faucet or a paperclip. We caution you from using an aluminum can tab because they are coated with chemicals.
Items Needed to Pack and Smoke a Bowl
In order to smoke, you are going to need the cannabis flower, something to light the cannabis, and, of course, a pipe.
A standard lighter is the most traditional way to light your cannabis, but there are a variety of other options on the market, too. Hemp wicks, glass wands, vaporizers and other devices are more effective at controlling the heat applied to your flower.
Regardless of what you choose, your goal is to heat the cannabis flower to a point where it will vaporize, delivering the cannabinoids and flavor, while eliminating combustion smoke. Using an alternative heating device instead of a lighter will give you a lighter, more controlled hit.
Breaking Down the Flower
Remember to break down the marijuana a little bit to make sure that you get an even burn that will still allow for air to pass through freely. You don’t need a grinder, but it does make the job easier. Just be sure not to grind your marijuana too finely.
Packing the Bowl
- Take your pipe and add the pipe screen/water faucet screen/paperclip to the bottom of the bowl.
- Add your cannabis to the bowl. When adding the weed to the bowl, the bottom should be packed lighter than the top, providing a more even burn and a “cherry” in the bowl.
- Light the flower using a heat source, like a lighter, to light a corner of the cannabis in the bowl.
Share your tips and tricks for smoking a bowl in the comments below!