The Truth About Bong As A Water Pipe for Cannabis
Bongs are water pipes used for smoking cannabis, tobacco, and other herbal consumables. They are commonly known as billies, bubblers, or bingers in slang. They are used as filtration devices by smokers to cool and improve the taste of herbal substances. Even though bongs may look more complicated than a bamboo stick, they are more or less the same.
Numerous myths and controversies are revolving around the use of a bong for cannabis. While some of these allegations are true, some have no scientific evidence to back them up. That said, this article seeks to explore more about the use of bongs for cannabis consumption.
Depending on the type, a bong can come in different shapes and sizes. There is a basic type that comes with a bowl and chamber. With modern adjustments, some bongs come in different colors and are iconic works of art. However, no matter the design, they still serve the same purpose. Their main role is to filter and cool the smoke that is produced when marijuana is burnt.
The small bowl on the bong is used to hold dry cannabis. When the weed is lit, it begins to combust. As the smoker inhales, the water at the bottom bubbles as the smoke rises through it. The smoke passes through the water and the chamber then finally reaches the nose before entering the lungs. The water makes the smoke to be cooler and smoother.
As stated by many smokers, smoking using a bong is more delightful than smoking weed directly from a rolled paper. This is because the water in a bubbler gets rid of the dry heat that comes from a burnt joint. This makes the smoking effect cooler, creamy and smooth. This smoking tool is, therefore, preferred by smokers who do not like the harsh smoking effect.
The greatest myth about a bong is that it is healthier to use than smoking a joint directly from a paper. Many smokers believe that because the effect is cooler and less harsh, then the health effect on their lungs is minimal as well. Unfortunately, all this is not true.
The effect of the smoke is still as bad even when a bong is used. Although the water chamber filters out some particles from the smoke, it does not make much of a health difference. Additionally, there is no scientific evidence to back up the allegations that smoking using a bong is a healthier option.
According to WHO, as well as other medical and science institutes, any kind of smoke is harmful to the lungs, specifically because of the carcinogens produced during the combustion process. Smokers need to be more aware of this fact, even as cannabis is being legalized in various countries. Most importantly, the damage caused by smoke to the lung tissues is hard to reverse, and smokers need to be conscious of this fact as well.
In conclusion, deep inhalation of smoke, as well as the tendency to hold one’s breath, is what increases the harmful effects of smoking. This is because as the smoker holds their breath, they inhale more tar per breath. A bong worsens the situation because it gives the smoker a way to inhale more smoke per breath while making the process more pleasant. It is so much easier to hold breath when using a bong than when smoking a normal joint. So yes, it could actually be true that using a bong is more harmful than the traditional way of smoking cannabis.