Big Glass Bongs

Big bongs are the way to go if you want big hits with less risk. But, then, you won’t have any problem showing off your new favorite piece at a stoner party or just sitting on it while watching TV daily!

From the 1920s to the 1970s, big glass bongs were famous for people to smoke marijuana. The design of these smoking devices is still used today in modern home grow setups and on some commercial farms. Learn about the history of this classic piece of pot-smoking equipment.

In 1972, an Englishman named David Watson invented what he called “the greatest invention since sliced bread.” It was a simple device that allowed him to smoke cannabis through water or, more specifically, by using the resin from cannabis plants as fuel.

He dubbed it a “water pipe,” but many people referred to it as a “big glass bong” (or sometimes just “a bong”). Then, in 1976, a Dutch immigrant named Arie Haagen-Smit came up with a similar idea and patented his version under Sesh Pipe.

Both men went on to sell millions of their gadgets across the world. As a result, hundreds of designs are available today, including those made by companies like Grav Labs and Waxy Oven. Some even look like they’re straight out of science fiction movies!

On the following pages, we’ll take a closer look at the history of this classic piece of marijuana-smoking equipment. We’ll also discuss how you can use them yourself.

History of Marijuana Smoking Equipment

When the first Europeans arrived in America, one thing they noticed right away was the native peoples’ love of smoking things. But, unfortunately, they didn’t have any tobacco, so they started experimenting with other substances they found around them.

One of these substances turned out to be very special — Cannabis sativa. Native Americans had been growing hemp (flax) for clothing and rope, but when Spanish explorers landed in Florida in 1513, they saw that the plant produced much stronger fibers than flax.

As a result, the Spaniards brought back seeds of C. Sativa and planted them along the coasts of Mexico and South America. These plants thrived and soon spread inland, where they could be grown quickly.

European settlers in North America discovered the same thing: This new weed seemed to produce a extremely strong and durable fiber. However, unlike the hemp variety, which grows well in cold climates, this new strain of cannabis only grew well in warm places.

Since it’s not a hardy plant, it must be replanted yearly. That means that once it became widespread in Europe, it never took off in North America.

It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that the two types of cannabis began crossing into each other’s territory. By then, the French aristocracy had already developed a taste for the finer things in life and wanted to enjoy them without the hassle of having to till the fields.

So they imported seeds of both varieties of cannabis and used them to create hashish. Then they transported it to India, where it was smoked throughout the country. Hashish quickly caught on among European aristocrats who traveled to India to partake in its pleasures.

After a while, however, the Indians got tired of being forced to grow the stuff, and they stopped sharing their knowledge of processing it. But hashish did become fashionable in Paris, where the elite would go to clubs owned by wealthy foreigners to consume it.

As time went on, the popularity of hashish waned, and the market shifted towards consuming cannabis. Unfortunately, there weren’t enough rich people left anywhere else to keep the production going, especially after World War II.

Eventually, the price dropped too low for regular consumers to pay.

But the demand for high-quality cannabis remained. So people continued to want to get stoned and kept finding ways to do it. Over the years, several ingenious inventions came onto the scene. Many of these were created by hippies looking to avoid paying excessive taxes on homegrown products.

Others were designed by scientists trying to figure out how to control combustion better. And some were created by entrepreneurs hoping to capitalize on the newfound interest in recreational drug consumption.

We’ll talk about some of these inventions later in this article. But, for now, let’s focus on the original big glass bong — the kind that Watson and Haagen-Smit came up with.

How to Grow Your Own Weed Garden

Before we delve into the history of big glass bongs, it helps to understand why they work. When you light up a joint, you don’t inhale directly from the end of the cigarette. Instead, you hold it between your lips and suck air through the tip.

The reason you suck is that you need oxygen to burn the sticky material inside the cigarette. Otherwise, it will just smoke and collect ash.

Similarly, if you try to smoke through water, you won’t get anything unless you force air through the substance. If you’re smoking weed, you’ve probably heard someone say that you should breathe through the stem instead of sucking.

Although you might think it sounds strange, breathing through the stem allows the smoke to pass down through the leaves and into the bowl below, where it becomes airborne again. This process creates a smoother hit because it eliminates the harshness caused by burning particles.

Also, since the smoke passes through multiple layers of leaves before reaching your lungs, it doesn’t absorb as much moisture and therefore delivers less THC into your bloodstream.

So, although countless homemade models are available, most people find that buying a prebuilt unit provides superior performance. A good model will come with a screen to help filter out larger chunks of the herb, and some include filters that allow smaller particles to pass through.

Most units will also feature adjustable stems, making it easier to achieve proper airflow. Some users prefer to attach small tubes to the main chamber to increase the surface area that the smoke hits. Because of this, some manufacturers offer versions with separate chambers for vaporizing oil and the actual smoking of the herb.

If you’re interested in learning more about growing your weed garden.

Marijuana Gummies

Although big glass bongs and pipes are great tools to get you high, they aren’t appropriate for everyone. Kids, old folks, and patients suffering from respiratory diseases shouldn’t use them. Unfortunately, many people assume that you can safely eat the buds of cannabis plants, but that isn’t true.

Not only does eating raw bud cause nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and death, but it can also lead to lung problems. On top of that, edibles often contain large amounts of alcohol, making them dangerous to combine with any depressants like drugs or cigarettes.

Thankfully, gummy candies and chocolates on the market contain little to no alcohol yet still deliver the effects of marijuana. These treats are usually flavored with extracts containing cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical compound that has a calming effect on your brain.

CBD may also reduce anxiety and depression. Just check the labels carefully to ensure that none of the ingredients include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Edible oils are another option. Instead of being chewed, you apply the oil to your gums and swallow it.

Smoking Pipes

Today there are dozens of different styles of smoking pipes on the market. Traditional Asian bongs inspire many; others by the American Indian tradition of using clay bowls and others by the European practice of using long straws.

Some pipes even resemble cigars or cigarettes. But, whatever form they take, smoking pipes have been around for thousands of years.

While they vary greatly in size and shape, all smoking pipes start with a tube. The simplest ones consist of a single tube attached to a mouthpiece. Other pipes incorporate a second tube that leads up to a bowl, which contains either loose-ground cannabis or tightly packed cones known as nugs.

Still, others use a double-cone system incorporating a central column with multiple holes drilled into the sides. The bottom of this column typically features a screen mesh that prevents larger herb pieces from falling into the bowl.

Pipes can range in price from $10 to $300 depending on the materials used, the number of holes, and other factors. Most smoking pipes are made from metal, plastic, acrylic, or wood. However, you can buy bamboo, ceramic, or stone smoking pipes.

Because of their wide variations, you can choose a pipe based on what looks cool rather than what works best. For example, you wouldn’t necessarily want to use a skinny wooden pipe for smoking a fat blunt, no matter how attractive it might look.

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