Smoking weed is far from uncommon in the United States.
Over 50% of adults in the country admit to trying it at least once in their lifetime. That, according to the same source, amounts to almost 130 million people, 65% of whom are parents!
Those are impressive figures. And, with more and more states talking about legalization, it’s natural to assume those numbers will only go up.
Are you just starting out in the wonderful world of marijuana smoking?
Well, sooner or later, you’re going to find yourself choosing between a bong vs joint.
Both are hugely popular ways to get high, but there are undoubted differences between the two. Be aware, as well, that marijuana can be a substance that forms dependence.
Everybody has their individual preferences when it comes to getting high. As such, there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ decision to be made here. There are, however, definite differences between the two smoking experiences.
Wondering about the key differences between blunts and bongs in your bid to get high?
Keep reading for 7 factors that may decide which option is best for you.
1. The Process
For total newbies to marijuana, the very terms ‘joint and ‘bong’ might remain a mystery.
The first step to deciding which is best, then, is knowing what’s involved!
Let’s start with joints, which are the classic way to smoke weed.
Here, you take some rolling paper (generally made from hemp or rice), place your weed on the inside and roll it up into a cigarette shape. Give the end a twist to seal it, light that up, and start smoking from the other end!
Water bongs come in a wide array of shapes and styles.
In general, though, they’re elongated tubes with a chamber at the bottom (to put water inside) and a small ‘bowl’ on the side (in which to put your weed). You pack the bowl, light the weed, and inhale from the top. As you breathe in, the water bubbles and smoke fills the chamber, which you then suck into your lungs.
2. The High
One of the primary differences between bongs and joints is the high itself.
Bongs are renowned for providing a swift and glorious high. All of the smoke they create goes straight into your lungs, which gets the cannabinoids into your system.
The high you get from joints is no less glorious, but it might take a while longer to hit. You absorb less smoke this way, which slows the rate of inebriation.
In fact, taking a giant bong hit might prove too much for total newbies. The amount of smoke created and the rate of consumption is like getting a punch to the head. Having said that, the same can happen when you draw too deeply from a joint.
As a basic rule of thumb, take it easy with both when you’re just starting out!
3. The Cost
Cost is always a factor too.
After all, good weed doesn’t come cheap. When money’s tight, you want to get the best bang for your buck. If this is the case for you, then bongs might be the better bet.
The cannabinoids get into your system far quicker this way, which means you can get high off less weed. In other words, your money stretches farther.
4. The Waste
This point relates to the last.
Joints create a level of wastage that you could argue amounts to wasted money too!
A bong hit is an individual endeavor that’s done and dusted in moments. You light up, breathe in, and bang, done. By comparison, joints are more about the experience.
You grind the weed, roll the joint, light it up, and smoke it over time.
You take pauses between draws and pass it around your friends. That’s all awesome, but it means the weed’s often burning without it being consumed. You’re basically burning money at the same time!
5. The Skills
Another consideration is the skill involved in both processes.
Basically, rolling a joint is far harder than it looks! Mastering it takes practice, dexterity, and a steady hand. It’s all too easy to end up with a crumpled mess and wasted weed.
That’s bad news when you’re in a hurry to get high.
Bongs, by contrast, are ideal if you’re a newbie. You simply put some water in the bottom, pack in your weed and start smoking!
6. The Equipment
Joints might be fiddly to roll when you’re first starting out.
But they’re also beautiful in their simplicity. All you need is some paper, your weed, and a lighter. There’s nothing stopping you from having a smoke with those at your disposal.
Bong hits require more equipment (aka, the bong itself!) and are far more hassle overall.
They’re big and bulky, which makes them difficult to store and transport. Likewise, there’s also the danger of breaking them.
Finally, bongs are problematic when you don’t want people to know you’re smoking weed! It’s easier to hide a tiny joint than it is a giant bong.
7. The Tradition
We said it earlier, but it’s worth repeating.
Smoking a joint is a classic way to get high. It’s been used throughout time as a go-to mode of weed consumption, which lends it an air of mystique and charm.
It’s arguably a more social experience as well. As we noted, you often share a joint with your pals, passing it around and enjoying the growing high as time goes by. There’s less of that when you’re taking it in turns to hit the straight shot bong.
Time to Choose: Bong vs Joint!
Tens of millions of Americans are getting high every single day.
And, as marijuana becomes legalized, we can expect more people to start doing the same!
As someone new to smoking, it won’t be long before you come across the bong vs joint debate. Both are hugely popular ways to get high, but there are undoubted differences between the two.
Rather than one being better than the other, though, deciding which to try first is a matter of preference and circumstance. Hopefully, this article has highlighted the primary considerations when making your choice.
Want to read more posts like this one? Search ‘weed’ on the website now.
