There are few times when we’ll get adamant about the importance of “rules” in your cannabis journey – but this is one of those times – CLEAN your gear and keep it clean.
In addition to being an incredibly effective treatment for some patients with chronic conditions, consuming cannabis is often a tactile activity and the routine/ritual we go through to consume is usually pleasant as we gather our tools and gear and prepare to load up.
Residue Can Be Dangerous – When there is a constant build-up of residue, it sparks a combustion problem. A person could unwillingly burn his mouth or fingers. Less residue means a smoother hit and prolonged use can increase and harden resin.
A Clean Pipe Means Fewer Carcinogens – Besides from preventing infectious diseases, a clean pipe eliminates dangerous carcinogens. A cleaner bong is healthier. Removing the ash in the pipe also improves the taste of marijuana.
Our good friend DeDee Culley, RN is an advocate for clean and safe consumption and offers up these clinical observations:
All vaporizing tools must be kept extremely clean to avoid spreading harmful bacteria such as streptococcus, pseudomonas, E. coli, and proteus. Because these consumption tools are brought to the mouth and inhaled, the bacteria gain direct access to the lungs and bloodstream.
The water used in a bong contains bacteria. When allowed to sit in the container, exposed to temperatures, backwash, and spit, it can grow to dangerous proportions that are inhaled into the lungs. It’s not just tap water, bottled or distilled water can do the same thing.
Unwashed hands carry germs, and touching the plants, water, and mouthpiece adds to the mix of a disaster. The results can be skin irritation, stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and even sepsis.
Want to learn more from DeDee and 2 Leaf Nurses? Visit them below for more information!
Are you intimidated by the thought of cleaning your stuff? Not sure where to start? There are numerous commercial cleaners on the market and many of them are very effective, but if you’re trying to keep it simple, ordinary isopropyl alcohol available at the dollar store is just as effective!
We like THIS step-by-step guide to cleaning gear – it talks about how to clean EVERYTHING – including your grinders!
While it may seem like a lot of work to clean everything, establishing a routine of cleaning your equipment regularly will become a healthy habit and in an age of the pandemic – better safe than sorry!
You’re paying for cannabis medicine and you want to get the best results possible – you can do that best when you use clean tools and safe medicine.
