Do you already know your way around a bong? Are you returning to marijuana after a lengthy break and seeking some pointers? Here are marijuana hacks for the average user, the cannabis enthusiast who enjoys getting high but is looking to take it up a notch:
1. Construction Paper Can Keep Your Buds Fresh
There is no such thing as an expiration date for marijuana. It is a dried herb and can last a long time if aged correctly and stored properly. One of the most popular storing method is glass. Mason jars are awesome and can be found just ab0ut anywhere. With glass, your marijuana stays consistent … nothing gets in or out of the jar until you open it and allow oxygen to enter.
But sunlight is an enemy of cannabis; it loses potency the longer it is exposed to light. The solution? Pick up some construction paper (found in craft stores) and cut enough to wrap around the inside of your glass jar.
RELATED: Cannabis Pro-Tips: 8 Ways To Properly Store Marijuana For Freshness
Your bud will be protected from the light, stay fresher longer and maintain its potency.
Tip: Use different colors for different strains. For example, use black for indicas and navy blue for sativas.
2. Put A Penny (Or Dime) In Your Grinder
Most intermediate cannabis enthusiasts know what kief is. But there are some of you out there who are not entirely sure how to get it.
The word keif comes from the Arabic word kayf, meaning pleasure or intoxication. Basically, it is the resinous trichomes that collects after cannabis buds are sifted either through a grinder or sieve.
Kief is a powder loaded with THC. And it can be found at the bottom of your grinder. But there is a simple way to get more kief while grinding your bud: Put a coin in the grinder. Find a dime or penny and get it clean with rubbing alcohol. Place the coin in the grinder chamber that your cannabis falls into. Shake the grinder a few times. And there you have it: More kief.
3. Remember CDs? Keep A Few Around
Before iTunes, Pandora and other streaming music sites, you had to buy CDs in order to listen to your favorite music. I know, how barbaric.
If you still have a few CDs around your home, keep a few near your stash. Here’s why:
When loading a bowl, put the CD carefully on top of your pipe, with the CD’s center directly over your bowl. Drop your ground cannabis through the hole. No wasteful spillage!
4. Do You Have An Orphan Sock? Save It
Next time you do a load of laundry and your dryer eats one of your sock, keep the orphan sock. Or if you are about to toss out a pair of socks, keep one.
Socks are great to store and carry gear. It’s not elegant and there are great cases for sale at most cannabis retailers, but it will work in a pinch. You can use the sock to store and carry grinders, pipes, jars, etc.
5. Sea Salt And Rubbing Alcohol Work Wonders
Isopropyl alcohol, commonly known as rubbing alcohol, is a must for any cannabis enthusiast. It is the go-to cleaning solution for glass.
RELATED: Marijuana 101: Spring Cleaning For Your Marijuana Gear
Place your pipe or bong in a ziplock bag with rubbing alcohol and sea salt. Carefully shake the bag for 5-10 minutes. Keep the piece in the solution for another 20-3o minutes. Rinse with warm water.
It is always a better user experience when your pipe is sparkly clean. And if you are sharing, your friend will appreciate the gesture. It’s the polite thing to do.
6. Keep Your Lips From Drying Out
Consuming cannabis can give you cotton mouth, red eyes and dry lips. So hydrate, keep Visine handy and buy lip balm.
Seriously, lip balm is underrated. Keep some in your pocket. In your purse. In your car.
Added bonus: There are some hemp-based lip balm lines out there. Find some and stock up.
7. Brushing Your Teeth Never Felt So Good
This may sound strange, but it is true. Dentists recommend brushing for at least two minutes, but do you really take that much time? If you are a little high, time flies and you may even exceed the two-minute rule and continue brushing.
If you have an electric toothbrush, even better! The sensation is enhanced and it just feels so much better.
Added bonus: Once you have cleaned your teeth and your mouth is all minty, it may dissuade you from the munchies. Who wants to eat Doritos after brushing your teeth?
