Unfortunately, the marijuana coffers aren’t always overflowing. Just to quote Boston George’s father from Blow, “Sometimes you’re flush, and sometimes you’re bust.” Whether you’re between jobs or between dealers, it’s worth knowing how to best conserve your weed. We put together this guide to blazing on a budget to help you extend the life expectancy of your stash.
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Don’t Roll Joins
As much as we love joints—they’re my favorite way to smoke—they’re horrible for weed conservation. Every swirl of smoke that spirals off of the cherry and into the sky? That’s wasted weed, because every second that joint burns and your lips aren’t locked on it, Mother Nature is bogarting your bud. If you just love to smoke joints, here are three tips to help make your weed last: avoid sparking up in high winds, roll regular size papers, opt for a pinner roll instead of a cone shaped cannon.
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Use a 4-Piece Grinder
When smoking at home, using a quality 4-piece grinder is a smart move. Finely ground herb is preferable for all smoking styles, whether you’re vaping, rolling a joint, or packing a bong. Plus, that kief collection will be a life-saver when your stash runs out—it’s like an insurance policy on your supply. Of course, if you’re on the move, a grinder can be impractical, in which case a Grinder Card will also help you conserve cannabis.
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Get a Snap Bowl
The snap bowl is a must-have for a bong smoker who is trying to conserve their weed. Bigger bong bowls are meant to be “cornered,” which means a smoker can torch a section of the bowl and leave “greens” for the next person. On the other side of the spectrum, a snap bowl is personal-sized. No need to order an XL-pizza when a slice will do, right? Buy a snap-sized bowl from your local smokeshop, and pretty soon you’ll understand why some bong smokers swear by these babies—they’re compact, powerful, and effective, much like a sawed-off shotgun. -
Pack a One Hitter
This is my preferred method for smoking on the go while trying to conserve weed. Not only does the one hitter effectively pack a punch for such a small and simple smoking device, but it’s also the most reasonably priced pipe you can buy. Not to mention, metal one hitters are virtually indestructible, so you don’t have to worry about breaking an expensive glass piece. -
Pre-grind your Flower
The size of a nug doesn’t matter—it’s the density that counts. That said, nug size can be misleading, and the best way to figure out exactly how much weed you have is by pre-grinding your flower. Especially when you’re nearing the end of your stash, grinding up that flower will help you better gauge your arsenal.
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Direct Inject vs. Carb Pipes
Carb pipes have little thumb holes on the side of the bowl that may seem somewhat useful—but in reality we think they’re pretty pointless gimmicks. Direct-inject pipes ensure that all of the smoke hits you where it counts, and none of it swirls stupidly out of a hole on the side. You want a streamlined airflow—like a one-hitter—for increased smoking efficiency.
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Go For a Glass Blunt
Another highly-underrated smoking device, the Glass Blunt swings high above its weight class. It can be loaded like a chillum and hits like Barry Bonds on steroids. After the one hitter, the Glass Blunt is my second choice for squeezing out a maximum high from minimum weed.
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Pick the Right Strain
Some strains get you higher than others. It’s important to know the difference between a lightweight sativa and a heavy hitter indica. We recommend speaking to your local budtender, or, if that’s not an option, to do some research on strains on a site like Leafly.
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Buy Better Pot, and Buy More of It
This seems counter-intuitive, as better green costs more green, but paying more upfront means that your stash will actually last longer. If two hits of top-shelf will get you high versus four hits of mid-grade, it’s well worth the extra cash. Consider buying premium flower a long-term investment, and then it’s easier to stomach the upfront loss of funds. In the same vein, buying in bulk seems like a rookie mistake, but it’s really an intelligent play with the price breaks. As long as you have decent self-control and don’t mind smoking the same strain for a while, buying an ounce or a half ounce instead of an eighth or a gram will stretch your dollar further. -
Sip a Little Coffee
We are big fans of a morning cup of java and a joint—it’s how we start nearly every morning before sitting down to work. Even if you can’t make a joint happen, pair a little coffee with a bowl or an espresso shot with your bong snap. It’s scientifically proven that enjoying coffee with your cannabis actually extends the life of your high.
