How to Use a Bong: Step-By-Step
One of the best and most popular methods to smoke cannabis is with a bong. Of course, you may just now be coming into the world of weed and are unfamiliar with the tips and tricks for using a bong for maximum results. Fortunately, we can catch you up quickly with this flash guide. We’ll also explain how to set up a bong for those that aren’t sure of the prep work.
Step-By-Step Guide on How to Use a Bong
Okay, you’ve got your bong in hand and picked out your favorite cannabis strain. Where do you even get started?
Step One: Fill the Bong with Water
The first step is to learn how to set up a bong. And fortunately, the bong does most of the work for you. The most you have to do is fill it with water and keep it clean. Typically, you’ll pour it in through the large mouthpiece opening at the top.
How Much Water Do I Put in My Bong?
Ideally, you want your bong to have enough water that the end of the downstem is submerged 2 to 3 cm below the waterline.
The amount of water this takes will differ, sometimes drastically, from bong to bong, depending on the size. Use this submersion rule to ensure your bong always has enough water.
Step Two: Grind Your Bud
If you haven’t already, it’s time to grind up your weed. Before you can fill your bong’s bowl, you’ll need this step taken care of. However, it’s totally fine if you already got this step out of the way before you got started!
Step Three: Put a Screen in Your Bowl (Optional)
There are glass screens, metal mesh screens, and also bongs that just don’t need them. It’s your choice whether you use a screen or not. The bong you use also plays a role in how much you may need a screen.
Alternatively, just don’t grind up your bud as finely if you don’t use a screen. This helps to prevent any precious product from being lost in the water below. Talk about a tragedy!
Step Four: Fill that Bowl!
Next, and a step that some smokers find fun, is filling up that bowl. Loosely pack your bowl, but not too loosely that you’ll be done with it in one puff. If you find yourself having to pull too hard to get a hit, lighten how much you’ve packed it.
Step Five: Let ’Er Rip
It’s time to reward yourself for all the hard work of learning how to set up and use a bong. You’ve done it!
Now, hold the chamber of the bong with your non-dominant hand. Place your mouth against the mouthpiece and apply enough pressure that it forms a seal.
Then, light up just a corner of the bowl. At the same time that you light the bowl, inhale. This pulls the flame down and actually lights your weed. You don’t want to torch the whole thing with the lighter, as the inhalation will spread the flame to the rest of the bud; your lungs will thank us, we assure you.
You’ll only need to light the bud for a second or two as you inhale. Once the weed is lit, you can remove the flame from it. Do keep inhaling, though. As long as you’re pulling air through the bong, the flower is likely to stay lit.
Finally, remove the bowl and inhale all the smoke. Make sure you exhale immediately—don’t hold your breath. Research shows that you absorb all the THC and other cannabinoids within the first milliseconds of your inhale. And with that, we hope you enjoyed your first bong rip!
Ready to light another bowl? Be sure to check out Greenside Recreational for all your dispensary needs. Greenside Rec has two Seattle area dispensaries, in Des Moines and Aurora, so wherever you are in the region—we’re not far away.
