What You Need in Your Cannabis Toolbox
These are the essentials you'll need when you want to smoke cannabis like a pro. Written by Tom Searcy.
Why do you need a cannabis toolbox?
Smoking cannabis can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. With so many different options for consumption, the way you choose to imbibe can be very personal and potentially ritualistic. Some people love the liturgy of pulling out their stash box, grinding the flower, laying out the rolling materials on a tray, then lighting the joint precisely and with intent. Having the right weed accessories to facilitate the ritual is an important way to appreciate your own relationship with cannabis.
On the other hand, some people just want a quick THC booster to get on to the next task in their day. Having the right weed products or tools for the job will streamline consumption and in turn, make your day flow better with more time to accomplish daily goals. However you choose to utilize this sacred plant, here is a list of cannabis accessories you may want to consider keeping in your cannabis toolbox to make life easier.
Grinder
The purpose of the grinder is to break down smokeable flower or nugs to be used in a rolled smokeable device like a joint or blunt. Some folks like to grind their cannabis for use in bongs as well - to each their own. Not only is ground flower easier to roll, but it also helps oxygen flow which makes the joint or blunt burn smoothly and evenly. Grinders come in all shapes, sizes, materials, and functionalities. Many simple hand grinders are made from wood, plastic, or metal. Herb grinders usually come in several pieces, stacked on top of each other and divided by screens.
How to Use a Cannabis Grinder
The cannabis usually goes in the top compartment where the grinding teeth are and it is ground on this level. The ground cannabis falls to the next level below where it can then be removed for rolling. Below the ground cannabis is another level with a screen that separates the kief, which is potent THC dust, from the ground flower. Kief is great for topping bowls or sprinkling into a joint.
Like most cannabis accessories, you get what you pay for, and investing in a quality grinder will benefit your consumption. For starters, many cheap grinders are fabricated with plastic, metal or other cheap materials.
Using a grinder made of cheap materials means you may be able to create enough friction while grinding that you are actually adding small amounts of plastics or metals to your mix, and those are certainly substances you don’t want to inhale in a combustible form. How do you prevent inhaling and ingesting plastic and metals from poorly manufactured grinders? Invest in an American made quality cannabis shredder that is made from quality materials.
Brands like Santa Cruz Shredder, The American made titanium Space Case, or SharpStone are widely available at smoke shops or online headshops. If you’re into smart devices and the newest tech, Otto by Banana Bros makes a grinder that uses smart technology to grind your weed to the perfect consistency and it will fill a pre-rolled cone as well. To put it simply, all you need to do is put weed and a paper into the Otto machine and a rolled cone filled with cannabis comes out. This next level tech is a must have for your stoner tool box!
Poker
You’re going to want to get a poker. We know you could alternatively use a paperclip or cannabis stem, but in all reality having a poker that was designed to be a poker will keep things cleaner in the long run. Furthermore, having a designated poker will ensure it doesn't get accidentally thrown away or mistaken as trash.
Over the course of time when smoking out of glass, high concentrations of resinous film can form on the inside of the device, eventually building up to a clog. It happens to glass and ceramic pipes, bubblers, and bowl pieces, etc. Any place on a glass or ceramic smoking device that the smoke travels through will build resin and eventually stop air flow, making the piece useless.
Having a good poker made of metal is a great way to remedy this issue. Some stoners like to heat their poker up slightly before using it to dislodge resin. The small amount of heat can help melt the resin and loosen it, making removal easier. As you can see, a poker is a must have smoking accessory.
Rolling Tray
Rolling trays are probably one of the oldest tools used when preparing to smoke weed. A rolling tray is a lap sized or smaller tray used for rolling cannabis cigars, joints or blunts. The tray’s purpose is to keep all of your ground cannabis flower in one workstation to make it easy to complete the rolling task. It also ensures you have a clean surface from which to work.
Trays come in a variety of colors, designs, and materials. Some brands have fabricated LED lights into their glow trays to give it a glowing effect, which makes for easy rolling in a dark environment.
Dab Tools
Not all cannabis extracts are made the same, and the same can be said about dab tools. Dab tools come in a variety of shapes, materials, and brands. Many dab tools are shaped according to what THC extracts they are intended for. . Wax, rosin, shatter, butane, and hash oil are all forms of concentrate that can be vaporized in a dab rig. A “dab rig” is another word for a water pipe that is used for concentrates.
When it comes to shape, you may want to use a scoop shaped tool when manipulating water hash or diamonds, while you might need a spade shaped tool for shatter or rosin. Glass or stainless steel are the most common materials for tools as they can withstand heat and are easy to clean leftover residue.
One popular brand that is setting accessory trends is Skillet Tools. This brand produces a line of cannabis concentrate tools made of stainless steel or gold alloy for those who want a more luxurious look. Also an innovation in dabbing, they have miniature sized tools that are sold on a small chain so you can keep it around your neck, which are perfect for cannabis events so you always have your dab tool within reach.
Papers
Rolling papers are one of the most common ways to consume cannabis across the globe. They can easily be carried in a pocket, aren't fragile like glass, and can be utilized virtually everywhere smoking is permitted. This is also a relatively inexpensive way to consume cannabis. Papers are a great option for cannabis consumption as they let you taste distinct subtleties in the flavor of the cultivar you’re enjoying and can be made in whatever size rolling paper you choose.
Cannabis paper comes in a variety of materials. Bleached paper, unbleached paper, hemp, rice paper, plant cellulose, and 24k gold are all examples of materials that companies use for rolling papers. They all burn differently and give the cannabis flavor a different edge. Among all of the stoner accessories, papers are definitely a must-have.
DISCLAIMER: THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.
All information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other materials contained on this site are for informational purposes only. No text, graphics, images or other materials on this site are intended to be professional medical advice or a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional medical advice because of something you have viewed on this site.
DISCLAIMER: THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.
All information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other materials contained on this site are for informational purposes only. No text, graphics, images or other materials on this site are intended to be professional medical advice or a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional medical advice because of something you have viewed on this site.