Cannabis Dabbing: How It Works

So, what is dabbing? Dabbing is one of the ways you can smoke, but it is more often used to smoke cannabis. A cannabis concentrate is often used in dabbing, and there are different concentrates that can be used, along with different methods for dabbing.



A dab is when a single dose of concentrated cannabis is inhaled through vaporization. It often uses extracted tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), but other substances have also been increasingly used such as cannabidiol (CBD) and terpenes. A solvent such as butane and carbon dioxide is often used, which gives a sticky oil. This sticky oil comes in a range of consistencies, which gives different names such as wax and butane hash oil (BHO).

Though many different compounds have been increasingly used, THC is the main culprit which gives a high feeling. Aromatic oils such as terpenes, which gives the flavor of cannabis can be extracted too, but it is harder to preserve them during the process. There are also many creative ways to smoke dabs that you can try.

What potential dangers will I face when dabbing?

One of the most important and dangerous parts of dabbing is the process of extraction. The process of extraction can be very tricky and difficult but many have tried out the process on their own. Many of these are often done at homes, which can be very dangerous when people try to experiment on their own. The combination of flammable gases and substances being released during the process can pose a danger as it increases the risks of an explosion occurring. In addition, the oils can easily be contaminated if one is not careful, which can become health hazards to consumers.



There are ways to reduce and remove these risks that are associated with production such as to incorporate scientific labs to do testing of the purity of the concentrates, to use better quality solvents, or to regulate the production process more closely and strictly to ensure a safer environment for the workers to produce safer products for the consumers.

From the perspective of a consumer, dabbing may not be as dangerous, however, one should still take precautions to dab safely. People who are new to dabbing often use the cheapest tools such as a nail attachment and a blow torch which could be very dangerous if not done properly. In recent years, thanks to technology and the demand for safer methods, many companies have started to produce devices which do not require any torch, such as the electronic nails, or for short, e-nails, which removes the use of a torch, and is overall a safer alternative method for dabbing.

Overdose

You honestly don’t need much to become high, as the extracts often test between 60- 90% of THC. However, if you smoked an amount which is much higher than your normal dose, you could start to feel uncomfortable as the experience could become too intense for you to bear. The good news is, that you cannot die from an overdose, but it is not a good experience when you do. One piece of advice is to always try out with a small amount in order to find a balance for yourself before you increase the dose.

Other than the dose and concentrate of cannabis, the other constituents in the concentrate are relatively unknown, and it could cause potential issues in the future after long term usage. More research is needed to ascertain the danger of excessive or long term usage of the other constituents in the concentrate. Only when these risks are evaluated, will we have a better idea of the potential risk of long term and excessive usage of the smoke.

Benefits

Though dabbing comes with many negative connotations, there are actually many benefits that come with dabbing when used in a safe and clean way. Dabbing is very fast, smooth, and is one of the most potent ways of smoking. Many people with long term pain or discomfort often comment about how it is the best choice for effective and quick relief of the symptoms.

A clean and pure extract of cannabis would also go easier on the lungs to give a more smooth experience without a drying effect. During the process of smoking, the burning of the plants would release smoke and resin which is normally removed by the extract, which also contains the cannabinoids and other substances.

Another benefit of dabbing is not the physical experience that it brings, but the demand for improved technology that it brings about. The increase in demand for dabbing has pushed users to develop more convenient and safer products for consumer use. Such technologies that were pushed for dabbing include distillation for cannabis, high tech tools for dabbing, and better extraction methods for the purer extraction of cannabis. Although not everyone uses dabbing as their consumption method for smoking, the interest in cannabis wax has so helped to push for improvement and development of the entire industry altogether.



Last but not least, the increase in usage of dabbing has sparked interest from activist groups, especially those of the younger crowd, where they push for more regulations, control, and law enforcement for the elimination of cannabis, as well as other smokes such as marijuana. More and more young people have taken an interest in these activist groups, bringing light to the whole industry.

Conclusion

Although dabbing is often met with a negative connotation, there is still a lot to dabbing that we are unknown to. More research needs to be done to ascertain the risks and benefits associated with dabbing, as well as the medical impacts and reliefs that it can bring. As for the current consumers, dabbing remains one of the easier ways to use, as it is one of the more convenient and quick methods to get the smoke into the system for instant relief. With the many available methods available to smoke, dabbing is still gaining popularity and becoming more common among young smokers. Perhaps in the future, when the dabbing industry gains more recognition and attention, there could be an even better form and method which brings a purer and safe smoking experience for the smokers.