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CategoriesMarijuana News by

New Jersey Legalizes Weed but Criminalizes Possession

New Jersey will arrest anyone with the smallest possession of weed.

29 U.S. states have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana. The State of New Jersey recently legalized weed but the criminal justice system still treats everyone like it never happened. New Jersey officials will even arrest people for having a half smoked joint in their possession while in public.
Or having a car freshener hanging in the rear-view mirror. Having a freshener hanging is enough to give police probable cause. Cops use this to search drivers they suspect of having weed.  States like Oregon require drivers to have cannabis out of reach of drivers or have it be in a sealed container. But New Jersey doesn’t want cannabis in the car at all.
Just smelling like weed while walking along the road is enough for cops to frisk a person. In 2014, New Jersey arrested over 25,000 people for possession. Many of the people targeted were tourists but even locals were charged. Residents and tourists beware; New Jersey will charge for possession and let the courts figure out guilt.
Carmine Villani is a criminal defense lawyer in New Jersey. She says that possessing weed (anywhere from 0 to 50 grams) will lead to a disorderly conduct fine. If the cop is in a bad mood, you might get 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine. If you get caught with it in your car you could lose your license. If you are caught with an already smoked joint, a resonated pipe or left over shake it doesn’t matter. Your life will be ruined. In New Jersey, getting caught with the smallest amount of pot is a life altering affair.

New Jersey will take away professional licenses for those caught with weed.

Carmine also says that people who work with children as a profession could lose their license. They lose the ability to work with children when they are caught with possession of weed. First time offenders have a sliver of hope although.
People caught with 50 grams of marijuana or less have a change of getting a reduced sentence if it is their first time. If defendants pass a urine test and undergo a year of probation they can avoid the fee and jail time. Repeat offenders have no option but pay the fine and/or do the time.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is responsible for marijuana enforcement.

Gov. Christie is against cannabis and hates everything about it. He drafted and passed a cannabis bill that only supports the sickest and near dead members of society. Patients with cancer and are close to death got an exemption. They can obtain a medical marijuana card but still face the prospect of arrest and harsh penalties if found in possession. Things get even worse if they have it in their car or are caught with it in public.

The cops don’t require much to ruin a person’s life.

Having paraphernalia is enough for police to arrest and later convict a person. Also, if the cops suspect that the resin they see contains a derivative of cannabis, they use a test called the Duqeunois-Levine Test. If the test drop turns purple, then the substance tested positive for a derivative of cannabis.
The most insane part of all this is that it takes several months for the test to come back. One woman in New Jersey was going to get a job in September, but got arrested in August. She had to wait till March for her case to resolve. People with sticky fingers can also be tested for cannabis derivatives with the Duquenois Test.

New Jersey will not decriminalize cannabis any time soon.

Maybe the governor will decriminalize cannabis because elections are coming up. However, it looks unlikely. If city officials decriminalize marijuana, currently a misdemeanor, the penalty will be relabeled.
For example, instead of a possession charge, having weed in the car will become a driving under the influence charge. But the test cops use for THC doesn’t give accurate results. Having any THC in your system results in a charge. But THC stays in the body for up to a month or more. If a person smoked a jay in the beginning of the month they should wait a month for the substance to leave their system before they can drive again.
New Jersey police currently use outdated field sobriety tests.
The departments methods were designed in the early 70’s. They were also designed to combat alcohol, a very different drug. A person can be high and still can lift a leg or walk a straight line. Because of how easily cannabis users can pass a sobriety test, police have started ambushing people.
Many New Jersey cops park at the PNC Bank Arts Center and bust kids and adults in the parking lot. They’ll arrest people if they think they were smoking a joint or if they are find residue somewhere nearby. Basically, the PNC Bank Arts Center houses the New Jersey police barracks.
Many can’t believe how strict the cops are when it comes to a small amount of weed. But the New Jersey cops don’t care. Gov. Christie has a no non-sense policy when it comes to the possession and use of cannabis. And it will continue to be that way until Gov. Christie is out of office.

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CategoriesInterviews by

Microdosing Interview with Andrew Mieure

Microdosing is becoming a buzzword in the cannabis community, but what exactly does it mean? We caught up with Andrew Mieure, owner of Colorado-based Top Shelf Budtending and a leading authority on budtending for social use. He offers nuanced insights about microdosing, or as he’ll explain, microserving, and offers some helpful tips.
Weed Reader: What is microdosing and what are the benefits?
Andrew Mieure: Microdosing is the act of using cannabis in very small doses to reach a medical benefit without some of the unwanted side effects normally associated with larger doses of cannabis. (Anxiety, short term memory loss, sedation) The sizing of a “microdose” can vary per patient or consumer since each individual has a different tolerance, but, generally speaking anything 1mg to 5mg for edible products, extremely small dabs of concentrates (pin head sized) or 1 small (1-2 second) puff from a joint or pipe. This practice ensures that the patient or consumer is still getting a steady supply of cannabinoids without being too medicated to work, play or otherwise interfere with their daily life. Microdosing is a wonderful practice and I believe more consumers should start experimenting with it.
WR: What is microserving and why the distinction?
AM: With the emergence of cannabis social use and cannabis based parties, we decided that the term “microdosing” seems a bit too serious for parties. For many people “dosing” sounds like something your doctor would instruct you to do, or something you would read on the back of a Nyquil bottle, not exactly the thing you want to be told at an event. Even more important is the negative association that the word “dosing” has with “overdosing.” With much of the United States dealing with an opiate epidemic, we want to do our best to provide a safer alternative to harmful pharmaceutical drugs, removing the term “dosing” completely allows the guests to feel safer about the cannabis they are consuming. Instead, we have started to use the term “microserving.” Microserving is the exact same thing as microdosing, but geared more towards the social use and recreational consumer.
WR: What are some best practices for budtenders in social use settings?
AM: First, if you dealing with non-industry guests or guests new to cannabis, always be sure to inquire about their tolerance, experience with cannabis, preferred consumption method and normal place of consumption. You could do this all one-by-one with each guest or at the start of the event. Always start all guests out with small servings and monitor their progress throughout the duration of the party. We even go as far as creating a ticket system for joints and edibles to ensure that the guests are not consuming too much. Second, budtenders should be educated in social use specifically. While many budtenders are trained on how to tell patients what they may need in a dispensary setting, social use budtenders allow their guests to see, smell and sample the cannabis at the event, adding another layer of complexity to their recommendations and practices. Some of the biggest mistakes I have seen at social events would be some of the easiest and most simple things to keep in mind. Simple things like having alcohol swabs, wearing gloves, and keeping everything sanitary should be non-negotiables for any social use budtender. Finally and most importantly, have fun! While being educated, serious and airtight about what we do, it is imperative to make sure the guests are having an amazing time at our event.
WR: What advice would you give to cannabis novices who are attending their first social use event?
AM: First, please make sure to tell your budtender everything about your tolerance, experience with cannabis and if you have any types of allergies or specific medical conditions for them to take into consideration. Second, be very aware that consuming cannabis in social settings can feel much different than smoking in your home or at a comfortable location. We always advise brand new users to try cannabis at home first before coming to a cannabis event, as it is easier to dial in how you feel in a comfortable environment versus when you are in a social use setting which can cause some anxiety. If you do decide to use it at a social event, please only use very small amounts and do not mix it with any other drugs or alcohol.
Third, never, I mean NEVER give into peer pressure. If you do not want to try cannabis, there is no pressure. It is your body and your choice. Never let anyone else pressure you into using cannabis when you are not one hundred percent comfortable. Cannabis affects everyone differently. Just because your friend can smoke 3 joints back to back does not mean you can too. Tolerances vary wildly and some users are prone to anxiety. Cannabis is not alcohol and it is up to us to show the world that social cannabis use is a completely different experience where peer pressure has no place.
If you want to microdose flower, I would suggest getting small portable vaporizer or a small one-hitter pipe that allows you to put in only a tiny amount of flower, avoiding any of those accidentally massive bong rips.
Top image: topshelfbudtending

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CategoriesGuides by

Best Way to Get a Medical Cannabis Card for 2017

One of the most common questions I get is, “Is it difficult to get a medical cannabis card?” I always respond, “Not as difficult as you might think.” There are all sorts of ways of getting one, but we shall mention the obvious (and perhaps easiest) one first …
Telehealth
 Getting to a doctor that specializes in medical marijuana can be tough. Not everyone lives near one, and even if they do, a patient might go there and find out it’s too busy or they’re unable to book an appointment at a time they’d like. Plus, some of these doctors aren’t necessarily in the safest neighborhoods, which is sad but unfortunately true in some instances.
 Telehealth saves a person from all this hassle. You can literally:

  • Sign up
  • Fill out the medical marijuana evaluation form, attaching any relevant medical records you may already have proving your condition/s.
  • Talk to the doctor.
  • If you qualify, you will be given a signed recommendation letter.
  • This recommendation letter can be emailed to you, so you can start using your recommendation letter straight away.
  • A medical marijuana card can be sent to you via post – not necessary, but highly recommended.

Telehealth is a massive plus for sick and disabled patients who might have difficulty getting around, as well as those living out in the boondocks.
 Should you be worried about privacy and security, don’t worry. Any decent, reputable doctor will have a safe and secure website, with all of your personal information kept private in accordance to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Law Enforcement can access these records, but only by court order. This information cannot be given out to police departments willy-nilly.
The Direct Way
 You can call me, Doctor Frank, on +1 888-351-7807 and set up an appointment over the phone. My practice address is 4110 1/2 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065, USA, which you can come to once you’ve booked your appointment (no stalking, please!). I can help walk you through the process. However, whilst I do try and make time for all my patients, many find seeing me online to be just as quick and efficient, and you needn’t leave the comfort of your living room.
 Of course there are other Doctors out there and speaking to a friend or family member who uses MMJ might be able to advise you. Regardless of what route you take please make sure they are HIPPA compliant!
 What Conditions Usually Get Medical Cannabis Recommendations?
 Usually cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, AIDS/HIV, diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease and any chronic condition that may impact a person’s life over the long-term.
 I Want One Now! What Do I Need to Get a MMJ Card?
 Now that you know you want a medical cannabis card, all you need are the following things:

  • Any form of valid, state-issued U.S. identification (e.g. ID card, driver’s license, passport).
  • Proof of residency in the state of California (e.g. rent or mortgage agreement)
  • Personal health records proving your condition – not necessary, but helpful

Will My Insurance Cover Medical Marijuana?
 Whilst there are often vast differences in policy from one insurance company to the next, it is unlikely that most insurance companies will cover medical marijuana, especially as it’s a Schedule I drug. Unfortunately, using medical marijuana may put your insurance at jeopardy in some instances (especially if it’s health insurance paid for by an employer), so be careful and read all your terms and conditions on your health policy properly.
 As you can see, getting a medical marijuana card is a lot simpler than you might think. There’s no secret club. No special handshake. No magic words. It’s just a matter of is getting on the phone or computer and booking your appointment. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch.

10 Best Times To Get High
CategoriesVideos by

10 Best Times To Get High

A wise man once said “Everything’s better when you’re high. If you don’t smoke, I don’t know why.” That wise man was Cameron Thomaz, otherwise known as the Wizard of House Khalifa, in his song Up, released in 2010. 7 years later, I’ve still yet to find an argument against that statement. I literally cannot think of 1 single activity that isn’t more enjoyable when stoned, which raises the question: when are the best times to get high? I mean, we all love to get high before running Saturday errands, or while kicking it with the homies, but when are the tried-and-true best times to get high? For answers, we check in with our expert, ya boy (me, I, Dante Jordan). In no particular order, here are 10 of the best times to get high:
 

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CategoriesCulture, List by

5 Ways To Tell Your Parents That You Smoke Weed

So you want to tell you parents you smoke weed, but you don’t know how to? That’s fair. Been there. No matter what age you are, unless it’s just blatantly obvious that you parents are cool with it, it’s still kind of awkward to be like “Yo parents, I know as a kid you told me not to, but man…ya boy be blowing big kush. Like it’s really not a game. I gets high.”

Me personally, that’s kiiinda how it happened for me. Only, ummm..not as subtle. I was headed to my parents from The Grocery Store™ with a fresh sack of Dat Loudium in my pocket. I’m high as fuck, but the whole time I’m thinking “Yo remember to take that out of your pocket. Remember to take that out of your pocket.” What happens?

You: “You forgot to take it out of your pocket.”

Yup, you guessed right. I walked into my parents house with an eighth of skunkington in my right pocket. Gave my mom a hug with the right side, and then she goes “Aaaanddd you smell like smoke.” Up until this point, I’m fairly certain she knew that I smoked, but this was the first time it was just blatantly out there so I told her. Yeah, I smoke and I also get paid to write about it.

Chances are you’d prefer to not have a pocket full of goodies at your confession. For that reason, here are a few other ways to tell you parents that you enjoy a nice dose of THC every once in awhile:

1. Text

This is the most practical way. Just toss it out in a text and wait for the three dots to pop up. Just outta nowhere on a window hope into the family group chat with a “Hey, what are y’all doing?” Then when you get courtesy You?, hit them with a “Not shit, just smoking a blunt and chillin.” This gives you the power of disappearing if they start coming at you with crazy phone calls. But it’s already out there so next time you see them, the conversation is already warming up. Think of it as the appetizer before the entree.

2. Email a Dear John Letter

This is for everyone who wants to be taken seriously. Come at them with an email like a professional. Hit them with the To Whom It May Concern greeting, complete with a fire Thanks For Your Consideration signature. This right here says “Hey, i get high, but I’m still on top of my business.” Maybe even attach a resume of your cannabis career thus far: major in college; time in the industry; relevant experience, references; all of that.

3. Walk into Sunday Dinner with the red eye

This is for my people that want to say “Look, I smoke weed and you can’t do shit about it. This is me. This is who I am.” If you’re the type of person who likes to attack issues head-on, but you haven’t been able to do so with a parental cannabis confession for some reason, this is the method for you. Just walk into the crib/restaurant like a young Dank Lucas on your boss shit, and let it all out there. The message will be loud and clear: “Ya boy is high, are we thinking the calamari for starters or what?”

4. Hot Box Your Car then pick them up for lunch

This is for my passive-aggressive people. Hotboxing the whip then scooping up the rents for a club sandwich at McCalisters is a nice way of confessing. Cause if you don’t address the issue, they won’t. So you just wait for a comment about that smell then say “Well, I’ve been meaning to ask you…ya boy gets eights for $50, but if y’all wanna split something…” And if they don’t say anything, they’ll still talk about it amongst themselves which still gets the job done for you.

5. Start dressing like a stereotype

When you think pothead, the first image in your head is a person rocking Bob Marley tie-dye shirts, weed socks, and drug rug hoodies. I know I’m right because as soon as you see a stranger dressed as such, you automatically assume they’re high or know where to find that fire. Your parents are definitely no different. If you can’t bring yourself to straight jump out the window with I Smoke Weed tatted on your forehead, then try this silent approach. Grow your hair out, toss on a Rastafari wristband, and start talking about how y’all should take a family trip to Amsterdam. If that doesn’t work, then shit, you’ve got 4 other options listed above. Good luck, my friends.

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CategoriesCulture, Guides by

The Lowdown on Joints, Blunts, and Spliffs

There is a lot of slang in the cannabis industry.

Joints, blunts and spliffs are terms carried over from the black market to describe variants of the same experience. In an effort to avoid detection by authorities, the community adopted codes and slang. Breeders, dealers and users all have slightly different vocabularies when it comes to weed.
The constantly expanding code names and insider lingo makes it difficult for new or returning users to understand what they are asking for. A person may ask for a doobie, get passed a joint and after a few hits, put out a roach. In other words, ask for a marijuana cigarette, get passed one and put it out after people are done smoking.
As the legal market grows, more people are coming into contact with these code words. One example of slang being institutionalized is the term joint. Instead of calling it a marijuana cigarette, pre-roll or cone, many dispensaries call weed rolled in paper a joint. Even within a single dispensary, marketing can refer to joints as doobies, jays, J’s, pre-rolls, cones, and expect clients to understand that they all mean the same thing.

Even the simplest method to smoke weed is full of complexities.

What could be simpler than rolling weed up in some paper and setting fire to it? Instead of buying expensive glass pipes or vaporizers, go all Lone Ranger and roll weed up by hand to enjoy. I talked about how to roll the perfect joint in a previous article so check it out HERE if you want to learn the secret.
To help clear up the confusion, lets discuss the differences and similarities between joints, blunts, and spliffs. Essentially, they are all weed rolled in a type of paper. But there are some specifics that can make a major difference in how enjoyable the experience is.
But after we cover the differences between joints, blunts, and spliffs, lets touch on some of the elements that contribute to a good smoke. I specifically want to highlight the importance of grind quality, air-flow, and structural integrity.

Joints:joints in progress

The marijuana equivalent to cigarettes, joints contain up to (or a little over) 1 gram of cannabis. Joints can have less than a gram of weed as well. An especially thin joint is called a ‘penner’ as it resembles a pen. Joints are normally rolled on hemp papers but empty cigarette tubes can be used as well.

Blunts:

The marijuana of cigars are called blunts. They contain at least 2 grams of cannabis and have no upper limit on size. Because of how heavy they get, blunts often use cigar paper or ‘blunt wraps’. Many blunt wraps come in specialized flavors like grape, sour apple, and chocolate to name a few.

Spliffs:

Marijuana cigarettes that contain tobacco are called spliffs. They can be any size but must contain tobacco to be considered a spliff. This can be in the form of leaf sprinkled in with the marijuana or a tobacco based paper.

The grind is real.

Grinding up marijuana is one of the absolute best ways to ensure consistency while rolling. It also takes less weed to make a joint if the marijuana is ground first. There are a few methods for grinding but some are better than others. Just remember to pick out as many seeds and stems as possible before grinding up the weed.
Mechanical grinders like the Cali Crusher and the Mendo Mulcher are designed to do a great job. Three piece grinders push the weed through blades before storing it in a small chamber below. Because of how they work, everything comes out evenly. Two piece grinders need more attention or the weed gets too finely ground.
Tearing weed apart by hand is slower than a grinder. Hand grinding also tends to crush the weed which results in uneven airflow. Plus the pieces tend to be too large to provide optimal surface area for smoking. While still a valid method, people generally prefer the tighter, cleaner and overall better results of grinders.
Coffee grinders have the opposite problem from hand grinding. Using a coffee grinder will quickly over-pulverize the product. Grinding for more than 2 or 3 one-second pulses will produce powder. The high speeds of coffee grinders are great for beans but they can damage gooey trichomes.
Mortar and pestles are terrible for grinding up weed to roll. Not only do mortars and pestles smash the weed, they make extracting wet plant matter almost impossible. Stone models can easily grind pebbles and sand into the weed as well.

Pack joints, blunts, and spliffs snugly.

Smoking requires a balance of surface area and air flow to work. While grinding can provide better surface area, airflow can stop when a joint or blunt gets packed too tightly. Before lighting the joint, always try to draw air through it to ensure it has good airflow.
Pre-rolls, cones and joints need air going through their interiors to burn ganja. Too much air causes the paper to burn before the weed has had a chance to combust. Too little air makes getting smoke to pull through the paper tube impossible. Luckily, there are some steps people can take to fix airflow issues.
If a joint is difficult to suck through, roll it between the thumb and first or middle finger gently. Continue gently rolling up and down the full length of the joint. This will coerce the weed to rearrange slightly without crushing it. The goal is to open small airways through the interior of the joint (like cracks in the earth) without losing structural integrity.

Maintaining structural integrity means many things.

If a joint is packed too loosely, it will bend and weed could fall out. Passing such a joint is awkward and smoking it is difficult. But if a user packs a blunt too tightly, the paper will rip.
Joints, blunts, and spliffs with ripped paper are almost impossible to smoke. Dampening the paper slightly can help repair a small tear but increases the risk of additional tears happening. For these reasons, it is advised to discard any ripped, torn or punctured papers.
Filters or ‘crutches’ serve several structural purposes. They ensure everything stays in the joint until smoked and prevents saliva from making the tip soggy. Filters can be added during or after the rolling process but are worth the extra time and effort for most users.

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CategoriesCulture, Guides, List by

Most Popular Facebook Groups for Stoners

Facebook groups are the best part of the social media site.

The social media colossus started out as an ivy league idea that grew into an international marketplace. The key to that growth has been how the site connects users to each other through their Facebook groups. Anyone with a Facebook account can request to be a member of these growing communities.
Facebook groups are collections of users who have similar views or hobbies. Cannabis is common on Facebook, with thousands of active groups at any given moment. The best groups have more than just a lot of users. They are able fun, engaging and growing.
It takes some good moderators, admins and plenty of engagement for a Facebook group to take off. Even then, trolls can ruin a great thing. Remember to not feed the trolls and enjoy meeting new people, seeing new things and enjoying some great marijuana.

Here are some of the most popular weed groups on Facebook. growing weed facebook groups

This list is in no particular order but each of these groups are top notch. Some focus on growing, some on medical, and others are more general. All are growing and provide their members with something special. Check them out, you might just like it.

1. Cannabis Oil Success Stories

Current Members: 125,527

If you are looking for information on Rick Simpson, Phoenix Tears, “RSO” you will find this Group useful. This group is growing quickly and hones in on educating members on sensible Cannabis Oil. They also highlight members with success stories of their own.

2. Growing Cannabis Outdoors

Current Members: 23,166

Facebook groups like this specialized for outdoor growers. They cover tips and tricks for better outdoor growing. The content revolves around soil preparations, fertilizers, and mold prevention. Basically all that stuff that’s useful to know about growing outdoors. This is not the group to post random stuff and memes because they are ALL about growing cannabis outdoors.

3. Cannabis Oil Success Stories CBD

Current Members: 16,943

CBD Oil Success Stories is similar to the group above but specializes in high quality CBD. This group is making a name for itself and highlights CBD Cannabis Oil. They also highlight the struggles and triumphs of members with success stories of their own.

4. My MD Cannabis™

Current Members: 14,644

My MD Cannabis grants its members free access to a continuous stream of informative medical cannabis related news and articles. These articles have been professionally produced and vetted. Facebook groups like this promote/facilitate interaction with other likeminded group members in a professional and supportive environment. They even allow group members to post additional cannabis/hemp news and articles to the group for members to review and comment.

5. Cannabis Growers Helping Growers

Current Members: 31,491

This is a group for legal marijuana growers around the world to share knowledge and opinions respectfully. They also promote/facilitate interaction with other like-minded group members in a professional and supportive environment.

6. Cannabis

Current Members: 224,876

The official group of cannabis! This is the perfect place for sweet memes or some smoke trick videos. They regularly post additional cannabis/hemp news and articles for this Facebook groups members to review and comment.

What Facebook groups do you like?

There are a lot of amazing Facebook groups. Let us know in the comments below what groups you think should be on this list. Thanks for reading.
Updated: 17th July 2017

dabrig
CategoriesCulture, Guides by

Dab Rig: The Ultimate Buyers Guide

What’s the deal about getting a Dab Rig?

To those who haven’t heard about them before, using a dab rig sound confusing. Unlike bongs, pipes or joints, a dab rig shouldn’t be catching anything on fire. Instead, it uses a heated surface called a “nail” and a tool to apply or “dab” concentrates. The nail is heated with a torch or electric heating element until it can vaporize the concentrate. The key is that the platter is cool enough to prevent the THC and other cannabinoids from combusting.
One the platter is heated and the concentrate applied, the vapor is cooled with water before the user inhales the cloud. Because of how potent concentrates are (they can be up to 99.9%), users normally only take one or two hits instead of multiple like is done with flower. Many medical patients need large doses of cannabinoids to treat their diseases and dabbing offers a more efficient way to medicate than smoking flower.

Where did Dab Rigs come from?

Concentrates like oil and wax became big in the 1960s, but hash is a concentrate that has been around for centuries. Even so, dabbing didn’t become popular until around 2010. This is partly due to marijuana law reform. One cannot ignore the impact of the health movement on cannabis though and many choose to switch to reduce wear and tear on their lungs.
As more and more people discover dabbing, demand has continued to grow. When Colorado and other states started permitting recreational sales, things kicked into high gear and dabbing now dominates the industry. As more states reform their draconian marijuana laws, new artists are taking a stab at producing the perfect dab rig.

Careful, that’s hot! BK dab rig

Dabbing has a few safety issues that need to be addressed in order to have a good experience. The main tip to using a dab rig is be careful when heating the nail with a torch. It is easy to accidentally burn pretty much anything on the other side of the torch. Try to keep several feet away from combustibles, an eye on angles (so you don’t heat other parts of the dab rig), and use the smallest flame you can.
A few other safety tips include:

  • Don’t overheat the Nail. Overheating a nail can cause it to fail. Nail failure normally includes a bunch of red hot nail parts burning holes in everything (including you).
  • Clean your rig regularly. The residue (called reburn) accumulates and clogs things up. It can also catch on fire.
  • Don’t dab solvents. You can avoid the worry of residual solvents by only using high quality concentrates from legal and reputable sources.
  • Using a nail with a dome can reduce the risk of burning yourself but electronic coils are best.

RisksSpined Dab Rig

The most notable risk involved in using a dab rig is getting burned. Rigs with a domeless nails leave the heating element exposed. As long as you remain aware of where the hot parts are, the chance of getting burned is relatively low.
Using a torch to heat up the nail holds inherent risk. If that risk is especially worrying, an electronic nail may be the right solution. It eliminates open flames and is normally easy to use but doesn’t run the risk of breaking like crystal or ceramic nails.
A good dab rig can last for years but even the best maintained piece will eventually break. Using metal tools, being rough or not paying attention to how you heat the rig will all wear it more than normal. Using silicone tools and cleaning the piece regularly can extend the expected operating life of a dab rig significantly.

Nail StylesBig Dab Rig

Debate rages about which type of dab rig nail works best. At first glance, it doesn’t seem like a big deal. However, the nail is where you heat the concentrate into a vapor. Ideally, the nail should heat up quickly and be able to retain heat for enough time to take a hit. Some materials are more durable than others which is why nails made of glass are going to wear out faster than ceramic or titanium ones.

Glass:

Borosilicate glass is so strong it is used in the highest quality bongs and pipes around the world. Although as a nail, it misses the mark. While glass nails are pretty ubiquitous, it is due to how cheap they are, not their quality.
Glass is sensitive to heat fracturing and glass nails don’t tend to last very long. In addition to being brittle, glass doesn’t retain heat very well which leads to a lot of wasted concentrate. In the long run, you’ll end up paying more with glass than other options.

Ceramic:

Like glass, ceramic is easy to break. It holds heat better than glass but takes a long time to warm up. It can also be difficult to accurately judge the temperature of ceramic pieces which can lead to wasted product or inferior experiences.

Quartz:

Quartz nails are the performance standard. It is significantly more durable than glass or ceramic and almost impossible to overheat. The downside is that quartz doesn’t hold onto heat very long.  This can be an issue if you take long, drawn out hits or consume in an area exposed to the elements.

Titanium:

Experienced dabbers prefer titanium nails for a few reasons. Titanium is almost immune to corrosion, retains heat incredibly well and is one of the strongest materials around. The only real problem with titanium is the risk of overheating it. It doesn’t normally change color when heated like the other materials so it can be hard to judge the actual temperature.

E-nails:

Few can afford them, but e-nails are great for consistency. Normally made of a titanium platter wrapped with an electric coil, E-nails normally come with a display to indicate the coils temperature. While even a basic unit is significantly more expensive than a high-end torch, they have the benefit of never needing to be refueled (if you don’t count plugging it into a wall) and offer better temperature control.

What size should a dab rig joint be?Skull Dab Rig

Anyone that has purchased a bong or dab rig before understands that glass joints come in different sizes. There are three common ones: 10, 14 and 18 millimeters and come in both male and female variants.
The joint size dictates the airflow through the chambers while the sex indicates which kind of nail to buy. For example, ten millimeter joints are better for small rigs because they restrict airflow which allows it to cool before hitting your lungs. If you are looking for a bigger hit, try something with a larger joint.

Are male or female nail joints better?Percolated Dab Rig

Each style of nail has its own benefits and drawbacks. While neither is inherently better, most people gravitate towards one or the other. Female nails drip reclaim on the outside of the joint which will quickly cause the dome to stick. Male nails are cleaner but should have dropdown nails inserted to prevent damage over time.
I prefer to use quartz buckets known as bangers to convert a standard bong into a dab rig. They come in both male and female varieties and are super cheap.  I like them because they don’t interfere with the terpene profile of the concentrates I use and work with my existing glass collection. The bucket can even handle large dabs without making a mess and maintenance is cake.

What else is needed to dab?Personal Dab Rig

In truth, there isn’t much needed to dab. That hasn’t stopped companies from making all kinds of gadgets and attachments. From heady carb caps to silicone containers and mats, merchandisers are coming up with new toys to try out every day. Some are actually useful (like dab mats) while others can be dangerous (big propane torches).
Getting the right torch will go a long way in making the overall dabbing experience better. Cheap propane torches are big, bulky and produce WAY more heat than is needed. It’s like using a missile to light a candle-overkill. Butane torches are cheap, available online, refillable and tend to go through less fuel.
Besides that, don’t be afraid to experiment a little and let us know what you think in the comments down below. Thanks for reading.