Some of us smoke socially, some of us prefer to toke up in the privacy of our own space. Either way, there’s etiquette involved. When it comes to social smoking, there is the widely-known standard of puff, puff, pass. This exists with other conventions of social smoking; and is a consistent part of smoking culture, today.
Puff, puff, pass meaning
Vapes and edibles are catching on in a big way in the last few years, but there’s something about the good old joint; which maintains through generational, and industrial change. It’s nice to stand with a group of friends, or fellow-smokers, and share a story or a laugh, while passing a joint around. Is there really any specific rule for doing this? Of course, not!
However, despite a lack of formal literature on joint smoking etiquette; the convention of puff, puff pass, has embedded itself into social smoking society. And in the end, its really mainly a matter of having respect. Sure, everyone wants to make sure they get their own buzz-on, but its important to think about the group.
The term ‘puff, puff, pass’ is nothing more than a format. Each member of the smoking circle gets to hit the joint two times, before passing. The pass is generally to the left, but this is less important than making sure everyone gets a fair shot at the joint. There is nothing about how long a toke can be, so a person is free to hit the joint as hard as they want, when its their turn.
This tradition continues on as a word of mouth ritual. With no rules to govern it, or official cap on the number of tokes allowed in a turn; it shows one interesting thing. That people search for some kind of order and fairness, even when no one is making them. Somehow we always gravitate back to this model, in most any social smoking scenario.
There’s no rule saying that in a social environment, a person must share their weed. But I’ve found through life that if you show up to a party with weed, and choose to smoke it in a corner without sharing; you might get the evil eye from those around. It is understandable that many won’t want to share their well-earned stash; but its also good to remember, that sharing yours now, means getting included in someone else’s share, later.
Puff, puff, pass history
According to Emily Earlenbaugh of Cannabisnow, the phrase puff, puff, pass proceeded another popular word from 1960’s and 70’s US smoking culture. Back then, if you hogged the joint at your term, someone was sure to shout out ‘don’t ‘bogart’ the joint!’ The word ‘bogart’ is a slang term used beyond the world of weed, to indicate a person is keeping something for themselves, and not sharing with others.
That term actually does come from famous actor Humphrey Bogart, who was known to have a cigarette stuck into the side of his mouth, but with no apparent drawing on it. He wasn’t actually keeping anything from anyone; but the idea of holding onto something endlessly, stuck in its application with social smoking. It’s also applied to shared cigarettes. While this term was much more popular many decades ago, its still heard often enough today, if something holds onto the joint too long.
Earlenbaugh, however, gave no further uncovered information about where the term actually originated. Unlike a lot of modern terminology that is easily traced back to the statement of a person, or an event; this is a little bit harder. Apparently, where puff, puff, pass originated is not as well-known as the phrase itself. In fact, I can’t find a single entry online that is able to explain how this term came to be.
What we do know, is that it doesn’t seem to show up in the language as a coined term, until after the hippy era. Some even grew up with the simpler ‘puff, pass,’ which only allows for one toke per turn. I could not dig up anything more on it either, which means the ability to know the origin of this phrase; may be gone with the wind.
Critics of puff, puff, pass
Critics abound everywhere, even when the arguments make very little sense. If nothing else, as I mentioned, puff, puff, pass shows an interesting desire to move away from chaos and toward order. Something that people nearly universally choose to do when it comes to smoking weed socially; even though no laws prevail. Even the biggest outlaw sorts, will still hold true to smoking etiquette, because its such a standard thing to do.
What are people unhappy with? In her article on the phrase, Earlenbaugh brings up a couple things, that get repeated in other places, as well. You can decide for yourself whether you want to care about these things, or not.
The first is about disease. Despite the fact we’re a species that procreates by sexual encounters that explicitly don’t involve condoms; and despite the fact we’re social animals that crave touch, and come from societies with such thoughts baked into the very crust of existence (think of the double cheek kiss); people still get weird about passing a joint. We can literally watch other animal species sticking their wet noses into each other’s wet noses, or genital areas; yet this logic of basic humanity and animalism, is often lost to modern culture.
Yes, things can pass from one person to another. This can also happen at a family meal, on the subway, having any conversation with a person face to face, in a restaurant, at work, school, church, the supermarket, during sex, and anywhere else. I mean, its so easy, that’s how the fear of corona took off so badly. But that’s also a part of what we are, beings that build our immune systems through exposure. If this frightens you, or you think you see a cold sore on the lip of a person in the circle, opt out. Or don’t get closer with shotgun antics. It’s your choice in the end.
The other complaint centered on the idea of sharing. The writer, as a medical patient, didn’t necessarily like the idea of having to share one’s weed. But I think that gets a bit nit picky. If its medicine, its medicine. But if you’re going to go to a social place and smoke the stuff in front of other people without trying to be inconspicuous about it, and take the attitude of turning anyone around down…well, I mean, you might not be the most popular person at the party. Even so, its an option; as is explaining to those around that you’re sick, and this isn’t about getting stoned.
She argues that medical patients might require large amounts, and therefore the cost of sharing can pose difficulty. To be honest, I expect the majority who are sick enough to need that much weed, aren’t likely to be in the middle of tons of social situations with people they don’t know. When with regular friends, the situation is probably known; and without the pressure of being around new people who want to get in on it. If this is actually an issue for anyone, perhaps its best to find those with similar situations, to share between.
And if you don’t want to share all your weed…
Sometimes you show up to a social situation and everyone has something to offer. Sometimes you show up, and its just you holding green. While I fully promote the idea of puff, puff, pass, and sharing in general in social situations; I also know the weight of it falling on one person; and the disappointment of realizing after one night out, that your stash is almost gone.
One way to handle it is to keep your weed private, and smoke it privately only. Take a walk away from the crowd, offer to pick up snacks so you can get away for a bit, or take it in a way that other people are unaware, like an edible. If you want to get high without sharing, that’s cool. Just maybe be cognizant of it if a lot of people are around, and you know they want a hit.
Another option, best for when you know you’ll be around a lot of people; is to roll one or two for social use, and then use the rest privately. No one said you have to share everything you have. I’ve even rolled joints out of cheaper weed, and kept the better stuff for myself. The benefit of this is that you’re not seen as a non-sharer, but you don’t have to give it all away either.
Conclusion
I have smoked many people out in life, and been lucky enough to get a few hits, even when I had nothing to offer. The weed world of social smoking can be a beautiful example of sharing and caring; characterized by the practice of puff, puff, pass.
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Millions suffer, but relief could be here thanks to science and a simple plant. Here is how cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea.
It is an uncomfortable topic to discuss, but the painful truth is a majority of women will suffer it at some point and finding relief is invaluable. Around 80% of women experience period pain at some stage in their lifetime. Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain or discomfort during menstruation. It is a common gynecologic problem, but the pain can range from dull cramps to indescribable agony. Here is how cannabis can help with dysmenorrhea.
Medicinal cannabis has emerged as a potential treatment option for dysmenorrhea, offering hope for the tens of millions of women who suffer from menstrual pain. Current medical management options primarily consisting of over-the-counter pain relievers and hormonal contraceptives. The effectiveness of these treatments vary greatly.
The endocannabinoid system plays a role in uterine function and pain perception. Cannabinoid receptors CB1R and CB2R, as well as TRPV receptors, have been identified in human myometrial tissue. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a primary component of cannabis, can act as a cannabinoid agonist, potentially triggering myometrial relaxation and easing menstrual pain.
The potential benefits of cannabis for dysmenorrhea includes pain relief, improved sleep quality, and reduced reliance on pharmaceutical pain relievers. While research specifically on cannabis for dysmenorrhea is growing, studies on chronic pain provide some insights:
A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials found that synthetic cannabis products with high THC-to-CBD ratios may offer moderate improvement in pain severity.
A meta-analysis of 32 trials showed that medical cannabis or cannabinoids resulted in small to very small improvements in pain relief, physical functioning, and sleep quality among chronic pain patients.
There is significant interest in using cannabis for gynecologic pain management:
A survey found that 61.2% of women who had never used cannabis and 90.0% of those who had were willing to try it for gynecologic pain.
After cannabis legalization in Canada, current cannabis use increased from 13.3% to 21.5% among women with self-reported moderate-to-severe pelvic pain.
With th American Medical Association, American College of Physicians and even AARP recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis, it is critical more research is funded. Millions of women may be in pain needlessly due to untreated dysmenorrhea.
The holidays are fun and full of family, activities, and food. But does marijuana have a natural secret weapon to help you at least not gain weight this season?
The holidays are here – turkeys, pie, and family favorites. Along with Christmas cookies, holiday cocktails, everything adds up and starts to make a difference in how clothes fit. On average, people gain between 1-2 pounds in November and December. Some studies suggest people gain more, with an average of 2–5 pounds. But is marijuana’s THCV your natural holiday weight loss plan. While Ozempic has been the wonder drug of weight loss, cannabis a natural plant used for thousands of years in medicine. Why not use to look good also? Here is some information and also advice on how much to take and how it works.
The most famous cannabinoids are THC or CBD. Legal to over 50% of the country and used by millions across the country. While they are the most commonly used cannabinoids, the cannabis plant contains many other medically beneficial cannabinoids including THCV. Although THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin) is similar to THC, it contains its own unique benefits.
Research points to THCV’s ability to block the body’s rewarding sensations while eating different foods. If you’re looking to keep your food cravings at bay or prevent the munchies, check out strains high in THCV, which will suppress your appetite, especially during the holidays.
It has also been found that THCV in its purest form can calm the unreasonable urge to overeat while also reducing hunger cravings. Thus, consumption of THCV can be beneficial for those who struggle with weight gain and/or food craving. Since THCV can help curb one’s appetite, researchers believe there’s a potential for THCV helping people fight obesity and other related health issues.
It is important to manage the dosage. Start with a low dose of 5-7.5mg of THCV for appetite suppression effects. Options for taking THCV include gummies, tinctures, vapes, or THCV-rich cannabis strains Take THCV in the morning to help with focus and energy. Start on teh weekend so you can make sure it works in a way which is comfortable. Consume it with food to increase absorption.
Gummies and tincture/oils are the easiest ways to consume to manage the dosage. Start with half a gummy or 1 full gummy (typically 10mg) and adjust based on your response. You can increase to 2 gummies per day if needed. For tinctures, start with half a dropper or less and adjust as needed. Take THCV about an hour before you normally start feeling hungry
THCV should be part of a healthy routine including exercise and proper rest. Research on cannabis continues, to using THCV is not a long term solution, consider it for the holidays. As usual, take to your health professional to make sure it doesn’t interact poorly with any prescribed medications. Start low and grow so you can pay attention how your body and mind reacts.
As it it becomes available to more people, there is a positive health change going on according to data.
Cannabis is becoming more mainstream and and the side effects are doing even better than expected. It seems the availability of legal marijuana is helping with the health of the general population. Studies in California, Canada and the now New Zealand have shown the upside of legalization. While cannabis has been used for health benefits for millions of years, reduction in more harmful intoxication products is another important wellness trend.
Alcohol consumption is associated with significant health risks, including liver damage, cardiovascular issues, and certain cancers. In contrast, marijuana has not been linked to the same level of severe physical health consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 36,000 annual U.S. deaths are attributed to chronic alcohol use, while there is no comparable category for marijuana-related deaths. Alcohol is also much more addictive than marijuana, causing long term physical and mental issues.
A study from New Zealand has found some interesting trends regarding the relationship between marijuana legalization and the consumption of alcohol and opioids.
Following the legalization of marijuana in New Zealand, researchers observed a notable decline in alcohol consumption:
The study found no significant impact on underage drinking rates among those aged 12-20.
This suggests for adults, marijuana may be serving as a substitute for alcohol in some cases, particularly when it comes to heavy drinking episodes.
The relationship between marijuana legalization and opioid use appears more complex:
There was no clear evidence of marijuana legalization directly reducing opioid use or abuse.
However, some research indicates that people who use cannabis are more likely to initiate opioid use, with an odds ratio of 2.76 compared to non-cannabis users.
The likelihood of transitioning from opioid use to opioid use disorders among cannabis users was found to be 2.52 times higher than non-cannabis users.
The study also revealed some additional findings regarding substance use patterns:
Marijuana use increased by 16% among adults aged 21 and older following legalization.
There was a 5-6% increase in marijuana use initiation among adolescents and young adults aged 12-20. This would be go with the greater North American trend of California sober and Gen Z drifting away from alcohol and more into marijuana.
No significant changes were observed in the use of hard drugs like cocaine or heroin in any age group.
These findings suggest while marijuana legalization may lead to decreased alcohol consumption among adults, it does not necessarily translate to reduced use of other substances, particularly opioids. The relationship between cannabis use and other substance use behaviors is complex and multifaceted. Time and more research should yield more benefits.