What Is Dabbing: The Only Guide You Need to Read

More than just a popular dance move, dabbing is one of the newest crazes in the marijuana world.

With more places legalizing marijuana, it’s no surprise that people are discovering new ways to ingest marijuana. Not only are people looking for ways to experience more intense highs, but they also want to make sure they get the effects they desire.

Though most everyone, whether it is legal in their country or not, knows what a marijuana edible is and has heard of a pot brownie, dabbing is a term some people may not recognize. What makes it even more confusing, dabbing can mean a few different things.

Below, we break down what dabbing is, how to do it, the benefits dabbing offers, and whether or not it’s a good option for beginner marijuana users.

What Is Dabbing?

In the world of marijuana, dabbing has two definitions.

First, when the word dab is used as a noun, it refers to a form of concentrate. This is also referred to as budder, crumble, sauce, shatter, or wax. So, when someone says they are going to buy some dab, they are referring to the product they are planning to use while dabbing.

The second definition refers to when the word is being used as a verb. The act, or action, of dabbing refers to inhaling cannabis concentrates (such as dabs like wax or budder) through a temperature-specific heating method using a dab rig.

In essence, dabs are portions of marijuana concentrates that you vaporize using a dab rig through a process known as dabbing.

How Are Dabs and Marijuana Concentrates Made?

Marijuana concentrates are made by pouring a chemical solvent, often butane hash oil or BHO, over cannabis plants. This process strips essential oils out of the plant while maintaining the plant’s cannabinoid profile.

The resulting product is various types of cannabis oils. Depending on the consistency they end up being, they will either become:

• Shatter, a brittle substance that is easy to break apart.
• Budder, a soft substance that has a consistency similar to a stick of butter. Budder and wax are often two terms used to refer to the same product.
• Crumble, a malleable product that tends to fall apart as it is handled.

Dabs are known for containing high concentrations of THC. Marijuana plants that are smoked typically contain between 15 percent and 20 percent THC, with 20 being on the high end.

What Is THC? 

So, what is THC, and why do dabs containing high THC amounts appealing to some marijuana users? Let’s take a look.

Marijuana flowers are made up of over 100 compounds, called cannabinoids. Though plants contain so many of them, science really only knows about two of them: CBD and THC.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is a psychoactive compound, meaning it is responsible for the high people experience when smoking or using marijuana products.

Because dabs contain THC amounts much higher than marijuana flowers, many users, particularly beginners, may be taken aback the first time they try dabbing. That’s why it is vital to know the contents of any marijuana product before you try it.

How Do You Dab?

Though the popular dance move is quite easy to do, dabbing marijuana is a bit more complicated. It also requires users to invest in various pieces of equipment. Before dabbing, users will need to get:

• A dab rig, which is the device used to dab.
• A nail (sometimes called a banger), which is what you will heat the dab in.
• A dabber, a special tool used to remove dab (or concentrates) from their container and place them inside the nail.
• A carb cap, a heat-resistant cap with a small hole that covers the top of the nail. The cap lowers the pressure in the nail, helping users better manage the heat of their dabs.
• A torch, which is used to heat the nail. A butane hand torch is recommended, as propane torches can damage the nail.

Some users may also choose to use a quartz insert. This insert is an optional piece of equipment that works to add surface area inside your nail.

Once you have all your dabbing equipment, it’s time to get started.

1. Heat the nail using your butane hand torch. For your first use with a nail, you should heat it until it burns bright red to ensure there are no particles on the nail.
2. Now, you’ll need to wait for the nail to cool down. This prevents your dab from getting scorched. Ideally, you should let the nail cool down until it is around 149 to 232 degrees Celsius.

Tip: It generally takes about 30 seconds to a minute for the nail to cool appropriately. However, if you need to figure out how long to wait, consider getting an infrared thermometer and using a stopwatch to time the cooldown.

1. Use your dabber to remove the concentrate from the container and place it on the surface of the nail.
2. As you place the dab on the nail, slowly start to inhale the vapour. Dabs require a long, slow inhale, unlike bong hits. This allows the marijuana concentrate time to vaporize correctly.
3. If you are using a carb cap, place it on the nail to better vaporize the dab while inhaling. This cap will act as an oven of sorts, trapping the heat and maximizing your dabbing experience.
4. After inhaling the vapour, exhale it immediately. Unlike other smoking methods, you should not hold the vapour in your mouth for an extended period of time.
5. When you are done dabbing, clean your nail.

How to Clean Your Dab Nail

Just like marijuana users keeping their vapes and bongs clean, it is just as important to clean your nail after each use. Properly cleaning it will prevent residue from previous dabs from impacting the flavour of your next one.

First, you must ensure that the nail has sufficiently cooled down so you don’t burn yourself while cleaning it. Once it is merely warm, use a cotton swab to clean out the inside.

If you’ve neglected cleaning your nail for a while and need to do a little bit of a deeper clean, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol before rubbing it along the inside of the warm nail.

The Benefits of Dabbing

Though dabbing can be quite a process, it offers many benefits that make it appealing to many marijuana users. The benefits of dabbing include:

• Dabbing offers near-immediate onset of effects. Users will start to feel the effects of the concentrates almost immediately. In contrast, other methods of cannabis consumption may require users to wait 30 minutes or longer for the effects to kick in.
• Dabbing provides powerful effects and a potent high. Because dabs contain such high levels of THC, dab users can anticipate a potent high. Though this is a benefit to many, be sure you are prepared for such an intense high before dabbing.
• Dabbing gives a cleaner product. When made correctly, dabs are cleaner and better for your lungs when inhaled. Though they are cleaner, the long-term effects of dabbing on the lungs are not yet known.

For many users, the benefits of dabbing outweigh the work required to do it.

How to Store Your Dab

You likely won’t use all your dab products in one session. That means you’ll need a place to store it until you are ready to light up again.

Most concentrates can be stored by spreading them between parchment paper, then placing this in an airtight container. The container should also be kept in a cool, dark, and dry place.

If you are unsure of the best method for storing your product, ask for advice when you purchase it.

Can Marijuana Beginners Dab?

Dabbing is a bit of a process. For those who are new to marijuana, dabbing may not be the best place to start. In addition to requiring a substantial number of dabbing items, the high amount of THC can also be overwhelming for those who are not used to it.

If you are looking for an easier way to try out marijuana, consider these options instead:

• Marijuana edibles, which are pre-dosed and provide users with valuable information to help them determine how the product will affect them.
• Cannabis capsules, also pre-dosed, are products with 10 or fewer milligrams. These are an excellent choice for beginners to start with.
• Disposable THC vapes, which come pre-loaded and are used once before being thrown away, providing a simple way for users to try vaping.

There are over 1,000 marijuana strains available on the market today. Each offers unique flavours and effects. If you plan to smoke for your first marijuana experience, look for strains that are noted as ideal for marijuana newbies. Your local budtender and the team at your online dispensary should be able to recommend some strains that are perfect for those new to marijuana.

Can You Make Your Own Dabs?

Some users may be tempted to create their own dabs and concentrates. After all, it sounds easy, right? Pour some solvent over a flower, and voila.

Though it may sound easy, making concentrates at home can actually be dangerous. Using butane and other solvents outside of a safe setting (like a laboratory) can be risky. That’s why the creation of dabs is best left to the professionals.

Plus, when you purchase dab from a professional and reputable source, you can trust you are getting a quality product.

How to Come Down From a Bad High

You’ve taken too much dab. Or, you were not prepared for the amount of THC you were about to ingest. Now, you are experiencing a bad high and looking for a way to come down. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help yourself come down, including:

• Remain calm. Panicking can make your experience worse. Know that the effects will eventually pass, and you’ll start to feel normal again soon.
• Hydrate, preferably with water. Sometimes, the simple and familiar act of drinking water can help calm nerves and flush out your system.
• Eat something. Put some food in your stomach. This can help ground you while you wait for the effects to subside.
• Munch on some black peppercorns. Many cannabis users swear by this trick, though why it works is uncertain. You bite into a black peppercorn to try to temper the THC’s effects.
• Try some CBD products. CBD helps people relax without the high feeling THC produces. It is also often used to temper the effects of THC, so taking some pure CBD products can help ground you.

Users may also find it helpful to lay down in a calming place and rest until the worst of the effects pass. Before trying dabbing, it is also important to know your limits and how much THC you can safely handle.

Conclusion

Dabbing refers to two different things and can be used as a noun and a verb, which many new to the scene may find confusing. Dabs, the noun, refers to the products users are planning to vaporize. They are also called concentrates, which include shatter, budder, wax, and more. 

As a verb, dabbing is the process of inhaling vaporized dab and is done using a dab rig and other pieces of equipment. 

Marijuana users may turn to dabbing if they are searching for a stronger high. And with dabbing, they will get it, thanks to their high THC content. Dabs often come in around 90 percent compared to the 15 percent to 20 percent for cannabis flowers. However, users who are unprepared for this increase in THC may find themselves taken aback by the effects of their dab.

Because dabbing requires many pieces of equipment to do, and because they contain such high THC content, dabbing may not be the best option for beginners. Instead, try products with more CBD or lower THC contents.