Thousands of years ago, cannabis had already cemented its reputation as a healing product utilized by the ancient Chinese, but using it recreationally was only practiced in the early 20th century. The Mexicans brought weed to the United States, which penetrated the American culture.
The addictive effects of marijuana prompted many states to criminalize it in the 1930s. But now, it’s creeping into the mainstream for medical and recreational purposes. One such way is through cannabis dabbing.
What Is Cannabis Dabbing?
Historically, marijuana was consumed by rolling it into a joint and smoking it like a cigarette. Now, there are many ways to consume marijuana. There are gummies, oils, creams, balms, and even candies. Cannabis dabbing is the inhalation of vapors from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) derivatives of marijuana. Dabbing is a slang term used by the young generation to describe inhaling THC from oils, extracts, and concentrates.
What Is THC?
Tetrahydrocannabinol is the principal psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. It’s the ingredient that causes the feeling of high that many seek for recreational reasons.
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Cannabis dabbing, in recent years, has become the most popular way of taking THC. You can get the most of THC in the quickest way possible by dabbing. But before trying it, you need to know a few essential things. Here are some of them:
- Use The Correct Tools
You need an effective dabbing kit to get the best experience out of dabbing. A dabbing kit must have a dabbing rig, a chamber typically made of glass that holds the water to aid the vaporization. The kit must also have a nail and an e-nail controller to produce potent vapor. When you buy a dabbing kit, make sure it comes with a loading tool. The loading tool is typically steel, something you see on a dentist’s table. It’ll give you an easier time handling crumbly and sticky concentrates.
- How’s It Made?
Dabs come in many names. Some call it ear wax; others call it to shatter, budder, and honeycomb. The concentrated product is the outcome of incorporating butane oil through a chemical process called blasting. Blasting, more aptly named BHO or butane hash oil, extracts THC from weed by using butane, a highly flammable, odorless, and colorless gas, as the primary solvent. Even if you live in California or Colorado, where recreational marijuana is legal, making dabs at home using butane oil is illegal because of its hazardous fire properties.
- Be Aware Of State Laws
Recreational use of marijuana is only allowed in 20 states out of 50. In some states, there are specific regulations. In New York, only those 21 years old and above can have possession of only up to 3 ounces of weed and only 24 grams of concentrated cannabis. To prevent from getting sanctioned, it would be best that you orient yourself about your state’s law before trying cannabis dabbing.
- The Risks Of Cannabis Dabbing
Many believe that if you don’t inhale the weed like when you do when you smoke it, it can have a reduced negative effect on your lungs. While that may be true, the vapor from dabbing is still potentially hazardous. The THC concentration in dabbing could go as high as 90%, whereas smoking joint only has a 20% concentration.
For this reason, many have suffered from its intense effects, and several side effects were witnessed, including the following:
- Psychotic symptoms
- Rapid heartbeat
- Blackout
- Memory loss
- Unconsciousness
- Paranoia
- Hallucinations
The elevated levels of toxins in dabbing are heightened by the intense heat it’s exposed to, and this can produce irritants that may also be carcinogenic.
If you buy from unverified sources and unlicensed dispensaries, you may expose your body to harmful chemicals, including benzene and methacrolein. Benzene is a group one human carcinogen. Methacrolein, meanwhile, is highly irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Some dabbing concentrates from dubious sources have high levels of pesticides.
- The Danger Of Addiction
Long-term exposure to cannabis dabbing can lead to addiction, which could be detrimental to one’s mental health, career, and relationships. Once your body succumbs to addiction, there’ll be instances when you feel like you wouldn’t be able to function without it, and this can cause a significant issue in your life.
You may feel like you wouldn’t be able to feel normal without it, which can hold you back from being at your best in your role as a father, provider, brother, or son. When you finally find the resolve to stop, you may feel intense withdrawal symptoms such as the following:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of appetite
- Agitation
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
Conclusion
Using cannabis recreationally comes with many responsibilities. It would be best to wait if you’re not yet of legal age and responsible enough to handle the implications. You need to know about correct usage and tools, governing laws, and the risks and dangers. When guided by these, only then would it be safe to say that you may give dabbing a try.