We live in a world where the “bigger is better” mentality is thriving.
Remember the opposite trend a couple of decades ago when things were a bit different? When each new generation of cellphone was more compact than the last. When the popular new vehicles included words like “Mini” or “Smart” in their names. When your girlfriend’s handbag couldn’t double as an overnight duffle?
At some point in the past 20 years, society has shifted this mentality and, in most cases, for the worst. Sure, there are a few things that used to follow the “bigger is better” mindset that we’re happy to have seen drift into history… oversized suits, hairstyles, your girlfriend’s ex who gave her that stupid overnight ‘duffle bag'.
As trends tend to do, this one has seeped into many other things in our day to day lives, cannabis being no exception.
Now, we will be the first to admit that, when it comes to cannabis, most things actually are better when they’re bigger. Who doesn’t like a bigger nug? A bigger blunt? A bigger bowl?
But along with those gargantuan rigs with their endless recyclers, complex carbs and intricate ash catchers, it is no surprise that the way we prefer lighting our cannabis has also grown in size.
Gone are the days where a book of matches is a one-way ticket to lighting up. Even ignition sources like disposable lighters are quickly being left between couch cushions in lieu of massive butane torches. It is as though society decided to use their industrial dab rig torches for everything.
We’re here to tell you though, no matter how many times you’ve heard “size doesn’t matter”, when it comes to your cannabis experience, size absolutely matters and treating that delicate bud with a massive flame is going to leave you as tasteless as that handbag your girlfriend is still toting around… you know… because its “convenient”.
So why the hate for these types of lighters? Let’s take a look.
Sure, we understand that disposable butane lighters are portable and convenient but what’s the point of convenience if your ignition source is ruining your bud? This is likely the point where you clap back with, “Nah, bruh… my shit always gets me high and I’ve been using this lighter that I accidentally stole from my brother forever!” To which we would respond, “Sure… you still get some of the effects, ‘bruh’ but you’re likely not getting the total package!”
We know that folks are defensive when it comes to their 79 cent lighters but hear us out. There IS a better option! You see, that lost and found butane lighter that you’ve been using can reach around 2500° Fahrenheit at the non-luminous veil portion of the flame (that’s the tip of the flame in case you were wondering).
As we mentioned earlier, bigger is not always better. That’s because this blazing 2500 degrees is nearly SIX times the temperature at which the last of your cannabinoids reaches a boiling point (CBC has a boiling point of 428° Fahrenheit).
What happens after that? Well, in extreme cases like butane lighters, they are decimated by the heat and can even begin producing harmful byproducts, some of which have even been linked to cancer!
This doesn’t even take into consideration that you’re inhaling all of the noxious fumes that the lighter emits. You wouldn’t suck on your car’s exhaust pipe would you? So why would inhaling fumes from a lighter be a solid idea?
Even more eye-opening is that CBC isn’t even the psychoactive cannabinoid you’re probably seeking in the first place! THC has a significantly lower boiling point of 315° Fahrenheit which means it is boiling off even faster when you hit it with that butane lighter. That translates to less THC making it into your body which means, you guessed it, your intention of sparking up and having the green out party of the year is going to end up more like your girlfriend’s family reunion, in the middle of the summer heat, with no air conditioning, and DJ’d by the ex responsible for that cool bag we mentioned earlier. Bro.
What else does incinerating your cannabis mean? After you finish coughing from your last hit and wonder why it tasted like charcoal, we will be standing by to inform you that it is once again, from that steel beam melting flame.
If you’ve low-key always thought that all weed taste the same, we’re still here, blaming that flame. That’s because cannabis also houses terpenes and flavonoids which are responsible for the scent and taste of your flower. Just like cannabinoids, terps and flavs also have boiling points in the 100-400 degree Fahrenheit range and just like cannabinoids, those too get toasted by excessive flames. If you’re interested in learning more about different boiling points in your cannabis, we recommend Googling “cannabinoid boiling points” which will render a multitude of nerdy charts for your viewing pleasure.
So, if you’ve made it this far and you’re trying to determine if you can rub two sticks together to make a smaller flame, let us do some babysitting… hemp wick. Hemp wick is the choice approach for purists. You see, a hemp wick (which we’re known for! Shameless plug.) produces a significantly lower temperature flame than the aforementioned ignition sources. If you think we’re full of shit, we implore you to at least try it before you knock it.
Using hemp wick with your cannabis will not only preserve those delicious flavors but it won’t destroy your THC as quickly as butane lighters (which means you’re getting more THC into systemic circulation). Furthermore, our hemp wick is organic so you say goodbye to nasty byproducts that you’re likely going to be exposed to with more “traditional” ignition sources. And lastly, for less than $20, you’re going to look cool AF in your group of friends when you introduce them to something that completely changes their relationship with weed.
So instead of digging through your girlfriend’s duffle bag for that acetylene torch to spark up your bowl, take a minute now to go ahead and order some of Twisted Bee’s organic hemp wick.
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