Issue 40 December 2022

STAY GLASSY, MY FRIENDS

By Heath E. Toker

An open letter to the shops and galleries out there in the world.

To you, the front line of the industry, counter person, almighty CLERK! Your continued use of the sacred herb is much appreciated. No matter how the matter is consumed, we thank you.

My first smoking experience was out of an air filler head for the compressor at a gas station. I didn't ask where my Dad got it or why he decided it would make a good pipe, but you could smoke out of it.

The following year my friend had a "bong" Pretty sure he made it in his mom's ceramic shop. It was possibly toxic as it seemed to grow mold in the pores of the ceramic.

When I started smoking my own herb, it was papers or the brass pipe I purchased at Crazy Gifts. They all tasted NASTY! Yes, all capitals type NASTY. Then by the grace of the grateful dead gods, I met Brian. He was a head fresh off tour from the west coast. When I produced my nasty resonated metal pipe with half the chrome worn off, he immediately said, NO, quite emphatically.

Photo by Grav on Unsplash

STAY GLASSY, MY FRIENDS

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

STAY GLASSY, MY FRIENDS

I have often heard the term "gassing off" in this conversation. What is the gassing off of metals and chromium? Do we get it hot enough to do it? I am no scientist, but a lighter isn't that hot.

I do not have the answer. I do know borosilicate glass does not produce gas off at those temperatures. I know from experience that they are better tasting and seemingly cleaner. For the longest time, it was considered the cleanest way to smoke.

It's 2022; we smoke out of metal and plastic vapes with ceramic, titanium, and many more materials that are within all the e-rigs and vape pens of today.

I have the same complaint I had about my old metal pipe. What am I really smoking, and what is that weird taste?

I won't go as far as stating any health benefits or detractions about other devices. The FDA does that enough. But,

from my educated and purely personal experiences, glass is the easiest, best-tasting, most consistent way to smoke. It also has one huge advantage: fire doesn't have a battery and most likely won't explode in your pocket.

This was really just a thought about the things we put in our lungs. No matter how we do it. Glass is and always will be available as an exemplary clean smoking apparatus.

Photo by Grav on Unsplash