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==Operation== |
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==Operation== |
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bong-used to smoke weed!!! |
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To use a bong, the base of the bong pipe is filled with ]. The substance to be smoked is packed into the cone piece (also known as the "bowl" or "bowl-piece") and ignited with a lighter or match. The user places his/her lips inside the mouthpiece, forming a seal, and inhales, causing the flame to be drawn toward the substance. An inhalation is known as a "hit", "pull", "rip" or "toke." As the user ], the flame is drawn towards the substance, igniting it, and the smoke which is produced travels through a hollow pipe that is attached to the bottom of the bowl. The pipe enters via an airtight stem into a vessel containing water (or whatever other liquid is used). The smoke rises through the water, which cools and filters particulates from the smoke, and then the smoke is trapped in the air chamber above the water. |
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At the side or back of the bong, above the water level, there is usually a small air hole called a "carburetor", "carb", "choke", "shotgun", "shottie" or "rush hole". The user of the bong covers the carb with a finger until the material in the bowl has burnt away, then uncovers and pulls all the smoke from the bong into their lungs (called "clearing" the bong). Not all bongs use a carb, however. Many higher end models have a removable bowl piece also known as a "slide" which works the same as a carb. These are usually known as "pull-stem" or "slide" bongs. With this type of bong the user hits the bong until the material has burnt away, and then pulls the slide out of the bong while clearing it. |
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===Comparison with other smoking methods=== |
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{{Cleanup-section|date=September 2008}} |
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The rationale behind the use of a bong is the claim that the cooling effect of the water helps to reduce the chance of burning the mouth, airways, and lungs. The water can trap some heavier particles and water-soluble molecules, preventing them from entering the smoker's airways.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/mj013.htm|title=Marijuana Consumption: Smoking, Eating, And Drinking Marijuana}}</ref> Thus the mechanics or a bong function similarly to those of a laboratory ] bottle. This "filtration" can lead to the belief that bongs are less damaging than other smoking methods. |
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However, a ] ]-] study found that "water pipes filter out more psychoactive THC than they do other tars, thereby requiring users to smoke more to reach their desired effect".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maps.org/mmj/vaporizer.html|title=MAPS/CaNORML vaporizer and waterpipe studies}}</ref> In the study, smoke from cannabis supplied by the ] was drawn through a number of smoking devices and analyzed. An inhalation machine, adjusted to mimic the puff length of cannabis smokers, drew smoke through a standard bong, a small portable bong with a folding stem, a bong with a motorized paddle that thoroughly mixes the smoke with the water, and two different types of ]s. Comparisons to traditional non-filtered smoking methods were not included in these experiment. |
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MAPS<ref>Nicholas V. Cozzi, Ph.D. </ref> also reviewed a study that examined the effects and composition of water-filtered and non-filtered ] and ]. It found that when ] ]s were exposed to unfiltered smoke, their ability to fight bacteria was reduced, unlike exposure to water-filtered smoke. It also found substantial epidemiological evidence of a lower incidence of ] among tobacco smokers who used water-pipes, as opposed to ], ], and regular ]. "It appears that water filtration can be effective in removing components from cannabis smoke that are known toxicants... The effectiveness of toxicant removal is related to the smoke's water contact area. |
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Specially designed water pipes, incorporating particulate filters and gas-dispersion ], would likely be most effective in this regard; the gas-dispersion frit serves to break up the smoke into very fine bubbles, thereby increasing its water-contact area."<ref>Nicholas V. Cozzi, Ph.D. </ref> This study suggests that a bong's smoke is less harmful than unfiltered smoke. |
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==Legality== |
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==Legality== |
In countries where marijuana and hashish is illegal, some retailers specify that bongs are intended for use with tobacco in an attempt to circumvent laws against selling drug paraphernalia. While technically 'bong' does not mean a device used for smoking marijuana, drug-related connotations have been formed with the word itself. Due to these connotations, some head shops will not serve customers who use the word "bong".
