{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/bong/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_3941-markdown","title":"How to Use a Bong","slug":"how-to-use-a-bong","content":"Smoking is an easy, time-honored way to consume cannabis, but burning weed produces toxins, and its hot smoke can irritate the throat and lungs. Bongs can deliver the pleasures of smoking in a [healthier, more comfortable format](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/using-pipes-and-bongs-to-smoke-medical-marijuana) that's easy for newcomers and seasoned cannabis users alike. \n\n![How to use a bong](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/cannabis_bong_e616f0f8d5.png)\n\nHere we take a look at how to enjoy your favorite weed strains with a bong.\n\n### What's a Bong?\n\nBongs are [receptacles that filter combustible smoking materials](https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Water-Bong), like cannabis,\nthrough water. Though the earliest bongs were probably made of bamboo or carved wood, today's varieties include bongs made of glass, ceramic, or metal, with artistic touches that often turn them into functional works of art. \n\nIn [all their many forms](https://worldofbongs.co/blogs/news/different-types-of-bongs), bongs contain three essential pieces: a chamber that holds water, a mouthpiece for inhaling the smoke, and a bowl that contains a smokable substance, such as ground marijuana flower.\n\n![How to use a bong](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/How_to_use_a_bong_7f038a196b.png)\n\nResearch reveals that using a bong is [healthier and safer](https://www.magneticmag.com/2020/01/spotlight-5-benefits-using-bong/) than simply [lighting up a joint](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/why-some-patients-prefer-smoking-joints). Burning any smokable substance produces toxins,  which [enter the lungs](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/marijuana-and-your-lungs-should-you-be-worried0) as well as the surrounding air. \n\nWith a bong, the smoke produced by combustion is first filtered through water, which considerably reduces these toxins. Bong users also say that water filtration produces a smoother, purer smoking experience than combustion, without irritating the throat and lungs.\n\n### Supplies for Smoking a Bong\n\nIf you're a newcomer to cannabis, a bong can seem intimidating. Bongs require a few more steps than simply lighting up, but this way of consuming cannabis is easy to learn and offers a pleasant and relatively safe introduction to the weed. \n\n![How to use a bong](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2022_04_15_at_5_05_13_PM_1d6494495d.png)\n\n- Bong of your choice. A basic, starter bong should include a downstem and a bowl that can be removed for cleaning.\n\n- Marijuana flower - coarsely ground. Finely ground weed can escape into the bong's downstem and collect inside the bong's water chamber.\n\n- A lighter or hemp wick. A lighter can ignite the contents of the bowl quickly, but it can also leave butane residue behind. A hemp wick (also called a \"beeline\") has a long string that can be lit and touched to the bowl without introducing any additional toxins. \n\n### Steps for Using Your Bong\n\n- 1.) Grind your favorite flower, but not too finely\n- 2.) Make sure your bong is clean and dry\n- 3.) Have a lighter or hemp wick on hand\n- 4.) Add water to the chamber to an inch or two above the end of the downstem. Water temperature is a matter of personal preference. Some prefer cold water for a smoother smoke, while others like warm or hot water for the moisture it brings to the lungs.\n- 5.) Remove the bowl from the downstem and fill it loosely with ground flower. Don't pack the bowl too tightly, or it might not burn evenly.\n- 6.) Replace the bowl into the downstem, making sure it fits snugly.\n- 7.) Hold your bong securely by the neck or rest it on a stable surface while you're lighting the bowl.\n- 8.) Put your lips inside your bong's mouthpiece so that it makes a solid seal. It's considered bad bong etiquette to put your lips on the outside of the mouthpiece and your seal won't be as tight. \n- 9.) Light your hemp wick or lighter and hold it to the edge of the bowl to ignite the flower. Inhale at the same time in order to pull the flame into the ground flower. \n- 10.) Continue to inhale as the smoke disperses through the downstem and into the water. Enjoy the bowl solo, or share it with friends.\n- 11.) After use, or at least every few times, clean your bong with a isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt mixture. Soak parts individually in a zipper storage bag and scrub them gently to remove residue in the chamber, downstem and bowl. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry.  \n\nBongs deliver a safe, clean smoking experience that anyone can enjoy. Whether you're a beginner or an old hand, there's a bong to suit your lifestyle and your budget.\n\n### Get a Medical Marijuana Card Online\nIt's easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online [Telehealth service HelloMD](https://hellomd.com/get-started). Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don't pay unless you're approved!\n\n\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAANCAIAAAAmMtkJAAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAADJElEQVQozwEZA+b8AAoNEwwQFwEGDn6JieX08tnm5ujz8uby8tbk4+Ht6+n19dXj49nn5+Lv79zo56GlonlsY0gxKx8XGCcgHwAOEBUPExkABg55goPn9PLX5ePk8O/h7+/O3dvd6OXm8vHY5uXX5eXe7OzL2NWwtK5oVEtKNC0ZExUrHRwAERMYEBUbAQgPd3+A5PHt1ODe4Ozq3urpyNXR1eDc4+7t0d7b1uHf5u7s5NvXurCkWUY8NCMhCAgNRy8qABMVGhMZHQIJD2pzdOj28tvo5uPv7ePv79Th3tXh3er399rt7+Ho5vzq6OjIwt/OxYRwazwrJEkrIXNSRQAVFxsUGB0IEBeXlpj38/Hp4uDm8/Ln8/Hf6Obq7+3q5OHSu6C6mH7ly8Taxbn239nx1dHJk4F4Piaad2YAFhgbDhMYJi0z39PS/Orn79XS9unn9O7s9+Lf++nn9NLOq3JYlWhP8cvD0LSd9djP6qeYtmdNeD4qvKaYABgYHAgLEE9WW+7Z1vTe2/be3P7l4v3l4vvb1/ra1biGe286MHxjWLeReMSXXI9lS3FEM2VBL1IzKs7DtgAYGBwKDRJGTFG/oJng2NT42tbjxcDKv7zTzcne0cu8tayghneAVkWVdEPxznySbkQtIiQLCg8iHB3BnocAFhYaEhYbGBwhPjY4w87Ls8DAo7u9qMTHtMzLyOHfopyWk25jiGtal3hc6uG/kXZcLR4eDwwQdVdJvYxyABQVGRQXHA4UGhAaIaS3t63JzKK9wLbMz8LS08rb2qahnZJqXqSRhYhuWKyRdnFVR0EvKTItLs66qsWdiAATExcTFhoQFhwRFx2XqKm0ztCct7vC1tfK2tm8zszCzctkWFRLRklMPjlWPTBtTj5tTDqWdmDi0b7GpY4AERIWEhUaEBccChEXh5eZxt3ev9LT2ejnzNzZssK+1+bjoKSiJiEhFhIVHhcaHRUXIhgZQCske1lElXNZAA8QFREUGRAWGwUMEoaTlOX19Nrn5+Hu7tXk48TSzuHs6vT//6arqjkvLE9HQTovLCshIBsWGCAXGTYlIbX4qF8KqzHqAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/ee604/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.png","srcSet":"/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/69585/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.png 200w,\n/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/497c6/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.png 400w,\n/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/ee604/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.png 800w,\n/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/f3583/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.png 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/58556/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/61e93/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.webp 200w,\n/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/1f5c5/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.webp 400w,\n/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/58556/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.webp 800w,\n/static/089cad1c0e5019dd5c8668ba00b8a233/99238/7f3d0948051265cb78b9454d773aec6c.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2475-markdown","title":"Using Pipes & Bongs to Smoke Medical Marijuana","slug":"using-pipes-and-bongs-to-smoke-medical-marijuana","content":"At this point, we’ve covered the [reasons why patients smoke joints](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a2acaa2100a820006562ebc/why-some-patients-prefer-smoking-joints), along with why some folks avoid smoking entirely. In this article, part of a series for folks new to cannabis, we’ll focus on the other methods used to smoke cannabis, specifically pipes and bongs. While these methods also involve the inhalation of cannabis smoke, they can differ quite a bit in terms of their effects and how patients respond when using them.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### How to Smoke Cannabis With a Pipe\n\nSmoking from a pipe is one of the most common ways to consume cannabis, and it’s a method that’s used by many. For those who aren’t familiar with this method of consumption, pipes are a smoking device usually made from glass, wood or metal. Most pipes consist of a bowl, where ground marijuana is burned, that’s connected to a neck through which patients inhale the cannabis. Many pipes also have a small hole called a carb that sits on the side of the bowl and helps control airflow through the pipe. To use the carb properly, hold your thumb over the carb while inhaling and then let it go when your inhalation is over.\n\n### Reasons Patients Use Pipes to Smoke Marijuana\n\nFor some cannabis users, pipes are the preferred way to take their medicine. But why choose a pipe over other methods? For some, it comes down to time and convenience—rather than having to go through the sometimes lengthy process of rolling a joint, all you have to do with a pipe is:\n\n* take a pinch of flower.\n* grind it either by breaking it up with your hands or using a grinder.\n* pack it in your pipe—not too densely at the bottom to allow easy inhalation\n* light up the flower and smoke it.\n\nFor patients who need to get in a quick dose here or there, a pipe can be a much easier solution.  \n\nAnother common reason for using a pipe is having heightened control over the amount being smoked and the size of the inhalation. Some find a single joint makes for an overly hefty dose to have in one sitting—and they don’t like smoking their joint a little bit at a time. With pipes, you can take as small or large a dose as you need, and can even choose your pipe based on your preferences.\n\nIf you like to take very small doses, look for a little pipe with a small bowl and thin neck. This will reduce the amount of smoke you inhale at any given time. On the other hand, those who prefer larger doses can find larger pipes with big bowls and wide necks. These will allow for much larger inhalations. \n\nA final consideration is around preferences for the type of effect that pipes offer. As with other methods, even slight differences in how cannabis is consumed can alter the way it affects the user. The only way to know how this method will affect you is to try smoking cannabis with a pipe. \n\nRELATED: [MARIJUANA & YOUR LUNGS: SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56cba036cecb1b0008000088/marijuana-and-your-lungs-should-you-be-worried)\n\n### How to Smoke Cannabis With a Bong\n\nBongs are another popular device used to smoke cannabis, and while they share some similarities with pipes, they also have some big differences. For instance, a bong is often larger than a pipe (although there are tiny bongs and large pipes that might not fit this general rule); it’s usually placed on a table during use, rather than held in your hand.\n\nA bong, which is often shaped like a vase—larger at the bottom with a long neck to inhale through, gets filled with water. That water acts to cool and filter the smoke. The bowl where the cannabis is burned sticks out of the bong’s base. Patients using bongs can light the medicine in the bowl while inhaling through the top of the bong. This action pulls smoke into the bong, where it collects until the patient is ready to inhale the full dose. When they’re ready to inhale, all they have to do is pull the bowl out of the bong and inhale through the neck. This clears the rest of the smoke at once, giving the patient a large dose of cannabis. \n\n### Reasons Patients Use Bongs to Smoke Marijuana\n\nBongs make it possible to consume large doses of cannabis in one go. While many patients don’t need such large doses to treat their symptoms or conditions, some folks can only find relief in this way. I’ve worked with PTSD patients, for example, who report that bongs are the only way they’re able to manage overwhelming thoughts about their traumatic experiences. Without cannabis, they might sit for hours staring into space, trapped in a traumatic memory. But if they take a large dose of cannabis through a bong, they say they’re able to snap themselves out of the flashback and carry on with their day.\n\nPatients with chronic pain also tend to need larger doses of cannabis, sometimes due to the severity of their symptoms and other times due to the slow increase in tolerance that can come from using cannabis over time. For many, a bong can be the simplest and most efficient way to take a large dose quickly. \n\nAnother reason patients use bongs is because they allow you to cool and filter the smoke with the water that’s added to the device. Hot smoke is no friend to the lungs, so cooling it down can be helpful in reducing the irritation that might arise.\n\nPatients looking to use the water in bongs as a filter for harmful elements should know that the research isn’t all favorable. While water can filter certain noxious elements from the smoke, it can also reduce the THC content being ingested. Some studies have shown that [water can produce 30% more carcinogenic tar per cannabinoids than an unfiltered joint](http://www.canorml.org/healthfacts/smokestudy.html).\n\nSo, if you’re looking for an extremely potent level of cannabinoids or a lower concentration of tar, you may be better off hitting your bong without the water. On the other hand, if you want to reduce the irritation caused by the heat, by all means add water.\n\nIf you think a bong may be a good option for you, but haven’t used one before, **check out our how-to video**:\n\n`embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcp-4b7qE2Q`\n\nIn the next installment of the Cannabis for Newbies guide, we’ll talk about cannabis concentrates and the many ways to use them. Need a medical marijuana recommendation? [Consult with one of HelloMD’s knowledgeable doctors](https://www.hellomd.com/); it's 100% online, private and easy.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/14b42/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.jpg","srcSet":"/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/f836f/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.jpg 200w,\n/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/2244e/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.jpg 400w,\n/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/14b42/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.jpg 800w,\n/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/47498/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.jpg 1200w,\n/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/f3b94/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.jpg 1471w","srcWebp":"/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/58556/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/61e93/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.webp 200w,\n/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/1f5c5/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.webp 400w,\n/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/58556/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.webp 800w,\n/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/99238/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.webp 1200w,\n/static/69746a2bbfab7afcb0c9b0a1cb664e83/d3a04/9e5282a229869b6087435ddcff895a53.webp 1471w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5010,"name":"Bong","slug":"bong","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}