Dabbing is the hottest trend (literally) in the cannabis industry. Dabbing involves vaporizing a cannabis concentrate (wax, rosin, or oils) using a special dab bong or pipe: a dab rig.
Dabbing was already very popular in America but has now also made its way to the Netherlands. Across the ocean, it had long been the preferred method of cannabis consumption. Fortunately, it's now becoming increasingly accessible in our little country, partly due to the legal cannabis experiment. While the sale of THC concentrates was previously illegal, they are now readily available at most coffeeshops in the participating municipalities!
What is a dab?
Dabs are concentrated doses of cannabis made by extracting THC and other cannabinoids with a solvent like butane or carbon dioxide, resulting in sticky oils. Depending on their consistency, these cannabis concentrates are also known as wax, shatter, budder, butane hash oil (BHO), or simply dab. The increasing popularity of vaping concentrates is mainly due to their purity. The average cannabis flower contains 10–25% THC, but cannabis concentrates can sometimes contain 40–80% THC! Just thinking about it is enough to get you incredibly high!
What do you need?
To dab, you need a dab rig. A dab rig is similar to a bong but contains special components designed specifically for dabbing. The dab rig filters and cools the smoke, providing clean and smooth hits brought to the ideal temperature to maximize your THC experience.
Additionally, you'll need:
- Nail: The nail or banger is the bowl of the rig. This is where you place and heat the concentrate.
- Dabbing tool: this is a small tool used to carefully place the concentrates into the nail.
- Butane torch: used to heat your nail.
Dabbing might seem difficult, but it doesn't have to be! With proper guidance and a little help from an experienced dabber, you'll quickly enjoy the flavor and high of amazing extracts.
Step by step
- Heat the nail/banger: The nail or banger needs to be heated. Use a butane torch for this and heat the nail or banger until it is red hot. Depending on the material, this takes 20-40 seconds.
- Let the nail/banger cool down: Allow approximately 20-45 seconds for the nail or banger to cool down. If you dab too hot, it will hurt your throat and lungs, and you'll get a nasty, burnt taste.
- Place the concentrate: Place the concentrate into the nail or banger with the dabbing tool and inhale through the rig. Position your mouth over the water pipe or rig and prepare to inhale. Apply the concentrate to the heated nail and rotate the dabber.
- Inhale the vapor slowly: Make sure to inhale the vapor slowly and avoid taking in too large a cloud at once to prevent excessive coughing.
Benefits
One of the reasons people love dabs is their immense potency. Dabs deliver stronger effects that last longer. Most people also describe the high as more stimulating and clearer.
Additionally, like with a vaporizer, dabbing is tobacco-free. So, if you're looking to quit smoking tobacco, dabbing might be an excellent solution.
Educate yourself as much as possible before dabbing, focusing only on reliable sources of information. Once you've done that, first build your tolerance with CBD dabs. After that, you can gradually try higher THC concentrations. Always dab in a comfortable environment, and only acquire extracts where you know what's in them. Good luck!