How the Pandemic has Changed the Way We Pass the Pipe
By Rian Kochel
There’s something special about sharing a pipe or joint with another person or group of people. It’s seated in ritual -an experience unique to humanity-driven by symbolism and spread through appropriation. Despite this, the sense of connectivity the ritual fosters between people is unwavering and universal.
Arguably, one of the biggest ironies created by cannabis prohibition in the U.S. was the subculture of the cannabis smoker. Misfits seeking out other misfits to revel in the degenerate behavior of sharing a doobie. This interaction is foundational to a range of human-centric experiences -from ancient, Indigenous tobacco ceremonies to catalyzing a friendship between strangers. There is simply no other human encounter like it.
In the face of a global pandemic, how do we honor this timeless tradition while taking appropriate measures to make sure we aren’t spreading illness?
A welcome trend (that really shouldn’t have taken a pandemic to inspire) is to start with your own gear. Clean your bongs, people! Change the water and sanitize mouth pieces frequently. Not only will it keep your humble abode from smelling like a forgotten frat house, it will also help minimize the spread of germs.
There has also been a marked rise in consumers choosing edibles instead of flower due to the pandemic. Reports indicate that this demographic of cannabis consumer represents a pretty even keel of folks. New to experienced users alike are drawn to the ease and reliability of dosage, as well as the discreetness edibles offer when compared to smoking traditional flower.
It’s definitely become my preferred method of imbibing, with reliable dosing being a huge draw. I can confidently eat a 5mg mint and know what I’m in for. Gone are the days of white knuckling my way through an existential crisis, spurred by going one toke over the line. Or being that uncomfortable kind of high where you convince yourself that all your friends don’t really respect you because you eat sandwiches like a weirdo…or is that just me?
Anyway, the edible trend is initiating all sorts of mumbles and whispers about creating a gateway for big name brands to make the move to cannabis.
The beer giant, Anheuser-Busch, was an early adopter to this market. Two years ago they teamed up with the belle of Canadian cannabis, Tilray, to start research and development on a cannabis drink line. Because – and I’m sure we are all in agreement on this -what the world really needs right now is a cannabis version of Bud Lite.
There is also the option of one vape or joint per person. And while I am not here to knock on anyone’s approach to safely enjoying cannabis with their friends, this trend seems to be somewhat excessive, or even extravagant to me. You could just use your hand as a chamber/extra barrier to pull a toke off a shared joint without having to put your lips on it… But that’s coming from ol wimpy, the-5mg-edible-eating-sandwich-destroyer over here. Who am I to blow against the wind?
Regardless of how you choose to enjoy cannabis with a group, if you trust science, you probably already understand the importance of being current with your vaccinations, keeping that mask up, and limiting your exposure to situations where large groups of people that don’t trust science or vaccines gather.
Whatever you do, just make sure you and your quaranTEAM (see what I did there?) make calculated risks and that you all are tested often. Be safe, and remember…after the plague comes the renaissance.