Every 4/20, publications that don’t typically give any air to weed smoke are suddenly puffing away on puns—and trying to be cool about it. On the other hand, Lifehacker has been bringing you important baseline ouid information for many years, because we want our readers to have an informed experience no matter where you are on your cannabis journey—or what day of the year it is. To that end, let’s tackle some of the most pressing beginner weed questions you might be wondering about but weren’t sure where to ask.
What is a dab, and why would I want to do one?
We actually did a whole piece about this topic recently, talking with cannabis concentrate pros about how to dab. For the TL;DR crew: A dab is when you heat a droplet of cannabis concentrate or any size to a specific temperature to release its vapor. It’s typically a potent experience, so beware, but that’s why many people love it so much. Using a vape pen is a great way to take tiny dabs if you’re born to be mild.
What is shatter, and what is the “terpene sugar” mentioned on the label?
This is a type of cannabis concentrate that has a brittle composition that cracks into little pieces—hence the name shatter. Terpene sugar is just a different form of the same type of solvent-extracted cannabis, which can take on many textures.
What can you do with concentrates besides dab them?
If you don’t have the equipment to dab, you can always add some to a joint or top off a bowl with a bit of extra-potent concentrate to elevate your experience. Small, personal vapes can make dabbing much easier, so it’s worth a shot if you enjoy the way it smells or tastes.
What is the difference between a joint, spliff, and blunt?
A joint is rolled up weed in a paper, while a blunt is the same in a tobacco leaf or wrap, but a spliff can vary depending on where you are in the world. NYC people call a spliff a joint with some tobacco or fronto leaf sprinkled in (fronto is a loose tobacco leaf commonly sold in NYC delis); but in Jamaica, a spliff is just a big-ass joint, no tobacco included.
What is resin, and what is live resin?
Resin sometimes means the leftover oils and gloop from smoking or vaping on your devices, but live resin is a term used to denote cannabis concentrate taken from a single source and containing all of the constituents of cannabis, not just the popular cannabinoids by themselves. Some live resins are also called rosin and are pressed to extract the goodness.
What is a gravity bong, and should I be afraid of it?
It’s a usually DIY (but sometimes store-bought) contraption that uses a body of water as a suction tool to pull smoke out of a lit bowl, which is then removed so you can hit the opening and suck out all the smoke. It’s a fun party trick and a good way to get extremely baked—but always take caution, as it’s a sizable hit.
Are there any major differences between a bubbler and a bong?
A bubbler is just a smaller bong that still has water inside, unlike a pipe, which has no water to run the smoke through.
Is a one-hitter useful?
A smol pipe that is discreet and hideable—oftentimes painted to look like a cigarette, but it can be any small pipe—usually holds less than .25g of weed for measurable hits.
What kind of weed do you put in vape pens?
Vape pens cover a ton of ground. There are three primary types of vape pen: prefilled with concentrate, add your own concentrate, or add your own flower. Some pens can take both concentrate and flower, while others are disposable after the battery dies or the weed tank is empty.
If it’s an add-your-own, you can use any weed you want! When it comes to vapes, better quality ouid tends to be more pleasant to vape than less flavorful strains—the more of the aromatic qualities it has beforehand, the nicer it will taste when vaped.
What are the key differences between a tincture and an extract?
An extract is any cannabis resin that’s been isolated from the plant whether “full spectrum” and “live” or distilled pure THC. A tincture is a medium that’s been infused either with whole flower cannabis or cannabis extracts. A tincture will be measurable and more dose-friendly to the layperson, while an extract needs a scale for accurate dosing.
Are CBD edibles you get at the dispensary better than the CBD you get at the grocery store?
There’s a huge battle happening between hemp-derived products and cannabis-derived products. The hemp vs. cannabis debate has been fueled by two things: the farm bill, and people’s outright demand to get high off weed that surpasses government intervention. Cannabis with less than .3% THC is often considered hemp to the feds, while cannabis grown with more than the federally allowed limit is the good weed we know and love.
Hemp can grow “hot” and develop “too much” THC, rendering the entire distinction pretty pointless to people with access to “regular” medicinal cannabis. Hemp can also be extracted and its constituents altered to create hemp-derived synthetic cannabinoids like delta-8, “hemp compliant delta-9,” and the gas station CBD mentioned above.
Dispensary CBD is generally a full-spectrum product, meaning it contains CBD and the full spectrum of minor cannabinoids and other components of cannabis plants, including some THC. Dispensary CBD is also held to incredibly high standards that gas station hemp is simply not required to uphold.
This doesn’t mean you can’t purchase full-spectrum but federally compliant hemp derived CBD products and extracts from trusted sources who share their COAs (test results!) and batch-track their inventory. Many people do it with integrity.
Do topical CBD applications work?
Officially, we don’t know, but studies lean towards hell yes, depending on the symptom. The best research to support CBD’s leap into beauty focused on how this cannabinoid interacts with endocannabinoid receptors in your skin to potentially ease inflammation caused by acne, eczema, and other environmental factors.
Is it true that some people don’t get high the first time they smoke?
Some people apparently don’t have the endocannabinoid receptors needed in the brain to feel a buzz until their brain builds it in response. The mind boggles, and we have so little research as to how this substance works in the body; we just know it does….things.
What are terpenes and what do they do?
Terpenes are the smelly parts of any plant, like pine, roses, pepper, clove, and other even non-pungent things. They can steer the ship of your high, so you have to figure out which ones you like over time before grabbing any lemon or gas strain and hoping for the best
Should you use tinctures on DIY edibles or make your own cannabutter?
This one is strictly preference. If you like the taste of cannabis, drop some tincture on any ol’ dish and dig in. If you hate it, making the ultimate strong-flavored treat to hide it would be better advice. You can also use this rule for potency. Love weed? Put it on anything. Worried about the experience? Make your own and follow the instructions on both butter-making and dosing the butter for a more mild effect.
Are there advantages to making your own edibles if you live in a state with legal weed?
Control! If you don’t like the taste of store-bought edibles or you want a fully curated, gourmet experience, DIY is the best option. It’s also better financially, if you want extra strong or extra weak treats, most store-bought edibles are strong dose for beginners, while “heads” need like four.
