Can You Smoke Weed From an Ordinary Tobacco Pipe in 2021?
Pipes have been with cannabis consumers for thousands of years. Every self-respecting stoner should at least once smoke out of a classic pipe to cherish the flavors, convenience, and a nice buzz that’s gentler than with a bong but packs more punch than a joint.
Are you a fan of on-demand smoking?
That’s great because we’ve prepared a special article for you.
Pipes come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, features, and designs. From classic hand pipes to bubblers with percolators and everything in-between, the choice is overwhelming.
With those unique and fancy units available at hand, some cannaisseurs become fond of a traditional hand pipe — and what comes to your mind when you think about traditional hand pipes?
Sherlock Holmes, the legendary detective.
Can you actually smoke weed from an ordinary tobacco pipe?
Are sherlock pipes any better than those designed specifically for smoking weed?
Read on to get the answers.
What is a Sherlock Pipe?
If you think about the kind of pipe that your grandpa used to smoke his tobacco from, or recall the image of Sherlock Holmes holding his pipe, then you’ve got a basic idea of what a Sherlock pipe looks like.
Also known as a saxophone pipe, this is the most classic hand pipe you’ll ever come across. Sherlock pipes has been designed to smoke tobacco; they have a bowl at one end with the mouthpiece placed upward and away from the bowl.
Unlike spoons or chillums, the arched design of sherlock pipes allows for smoother and cooler hits before inhalation. This reduces the chance of coughing due to harsh hits that dry hand pipe tend to produce.
A classic Sherlock pipe is made out of wood, but you’ll also find glass sherlocks and metal sherlocks. However, nothing can substitute the taste provided by a wooden piece.
Okay, so you know what the ordinary tobacco pipe is about — but how about some less obvious features?
Let’s answer the next question.
Can You Smoke Weed From an Ordinary Tobacco Pipe?
Yes, you can use a regular tobacco pipe to smoke weed. It will work pretty much like any other weed pipe, save for the aforementioned arched design that produces smaller yet gentler hits.
There are a few principles you should abide by when using an ordinary tobacco pipe for your next sesh.
First up, make sure you use the sherlock pipe for weed and weed only. If you typically use the piece for smoking tobacco, then you need to give it a thorough wash before you even load a small piece of bud into the bowl. The tobacco resin that sits at the bottom of the pipe will combust once again, leaving a nasty aftertaste on the exhale and exposing you to harmful toxins such as carcinogens.
Ordinary tobacco pipes have more capacious bowls than weed pipes. When using a weed pipe, you just put a relatively small amount of weed in its bowl, ignite the herb, and inhale — puff, puff, pass, that’s it!
If you want a tobacco pipe to burn your weed evenly and make the most out of your material, you need to fill the bowl generously. This is why sherlock pipers are better for those who practice wake n’ bake and like to pace themselves nicely throughout the sesh.
Since the mouthpiece of a regular tobacco pipe is smaller than most pipes, you’ll need to ensure consistent maintenance over your piece; otherwise, it may clog.
Why Would a Tobacco Pipe Be Any Better Than a Weed Pipe?
Despite not being the most popular kind of pipe among weed smokers, a tobacco pipe offers several perks that can make you want to reconsider your choices.
Here are some of the most vivid advantages of tobacco pipes:
1. Tobacco Pipes Pack More Weed
As mentioned, sherlock pipes were used to smoke tobacco slowly and evenly so that the user could watch the news while drinking some coffee and toking on the pipe. Given this, their capacity had to be designed accordingly.
A tobacco pipe is great if you expect something more than just a one-hitter — a device that will allow you to revel in the flavors of your strain in the most iconic way ever. If you can handle the capacity, you may empty the bowl of your pipe once at a time. But on the other hand, if you want to divide your session into several intervals, a tobacco pipe will serve you for a good couple of hours.
2. Tobacco Pipes Are Great for Smoking Outdoors
The biggest problem with most weed pipes is that you need to light them up each time you want to inhale. Now, imagine that you’re taken aback by crazy wind when taking a walk in a park. With a weed pipe, you’re going to throw curses into the wind because even if you manage to light up the weed, you’ll be able to take maybe one or two puffs.
Tobacco pipes are less problematic. The bowl is so deep that when you smoke your weed, it will keep burning evenly as you continue to stroll down the alley.
2. Tobacco Pipes Accentuate the Flavor of Your Weed
Cannabis has many different terpenes inside, which are responsible for its distinct aromas. Some terpenes are citrusy, others are pungent, but there are also strains that carry noticeable woody notes.
Many people prefer to blaze their weed through a regular tobacco pipe because it spices up the sensory experience — sometimes, the woody undertones from the heated pipe can add a nice touch to the overall aroma profile of your strain.
Again, we need to stress the importance of cleaning your pipe and not using it for smoking tobacco. Otherwise, you’ll destroy the entire flavor with the residual tobacco or debris.
Final Thoughts on Smoking Weed From an Ordinary Tobacco Pipe
Most people wouldn’t ever think of smoking weed from a regular tobacco pipe, because hey — there are pipes designed specifically for smoking cannabis so why even bother yourself?
But as it turns out, not only is it possible to smoke weed from an ordinary tobacco pipe, but this consumption method also has a few perks to offer smokers on its own. From undeniable convenience to drawing out interesting flavors, tobacco pipes and cannabis seem to be like birds of a feather.
As long as you don’t neglect its maintenance, a Sherlock pipe can be a nice alternative to how you typically smoke your stuff.
What do you think about using a tobacco pipe for smoking weed? Yes or no?
1 comment
420 Forester
This post is spot on! I love burning cannabis in quality tobacco pipes and agree with every point and tip provided in this write-up. Cant stress enough keeping the baccy separate from your bud bowl. Once tobacco hits it, it’s there for good. I would also recommend a metal brush pipe cleaner once a week, soak it in alc, run it through the bowl and draft hole, soak the brush in alc and repeat in a week. It’s an acquired taste and best suited for personal smoke, amazed it hasn’t caught on but the headshops are not trying to stock quality wood pipes when glass is a fraction of the cost and so fragile. Add a carbon filter and it’s dry smoke perfection. Cheers!