Category: Ask Mama

When you were a weird little sticky-fingered, cabbage-scented kid, Tough Mama taught you all kinds of essential etiquette, like always say “please,” be as punctual as you can, tip your servers 20% and don’t fart at the dinner table (except on Christmas). 

But now that you’re all grown up and those fingers are sticky with Tangie trichomes instead of lemon Starbursts, it’s time Mama taught you the social rules that really matter in life: weed etiquette to live by, whether you’re on the streets or in ~high~ society.  Here are 15 rules to know.      

Thou Shalt Not Bogart

Sharing is caring, and when someone shares their big-ass cone blunt with you, that means they care. Show your appreciation by making sure there’s plenty of smoke to go around for everyone. On the flip side, expect to share and offer freely if you’re in a group setting and packing plentiful heat. 

It Always Goes Left (Till It Doesn’t)

Mama has no idea where this one comes from, but it’s one of the most basic stoner rules out there and it’s been around since even before there were gorillas. When you’re passing a joint (or vape or hot dog-shaped novelty pipe or whatever you freaks do), it always goes to the left. It just does. 

HOWEVER, allow Mama to drop some advanced weed etiquette on you. Once you go through the first round – like the joint or bowl is cashed – you start a new rotation if there’s a second round, so it now goes to the right. And thus the universe is in balance.  

Buyer Goes First

If you’re in a group smoking situation, proper weed etiquette dictates that the person who purchased the weed goes first, whether that’s the first toke of a joint, hit of the bong, dab off the rig, bite of the “special” brownie, or sip of Yolo Shotz.  

Be the Windbreaker 

A stoner rule for truly seasoned stoners: be your bud’s windbreaker. If they’re trying to light up in a breeze, you smoothly step in and provide a barrier. Bonus: do it all nonchalant and Daniel Craig-like and you’ll also look extremely cool.  

Ask Permission…

Mama always says consent is key, and that’s true in the world of weed etiquette, too. Ask permission before you light up in someone’s house, car, dorm, pool, man cave, she shed, what the f**k ever, you get the idea. Not your house? Ask.

…and Don’t Assume!

This one’s a two-part stoner rule. Wherever you are, whoever you’re with, don’t just assume someone’s a stoner or not a stoner. Yeah, weed’s really popular now. So is Dungeons and Dragons, but you don’t assume everyone you meet is a wizard. Just ask politely if they partake and don’t make a big deal out of it.

Always Appreciate  

Remember how Mama just said “sharing is caring?” Look, not everyone has the guidance of a matronly monkey, so not everyone is savvy enough to pack aromatic Chemistry Cookies indica vape carts every time. Sometimes, your friends share what they have, and what they have is a touch skunky. 

Times are tough. It’s the thought that counts, so don’t complain, and don’t be a dick.   

High-drate Freely 

If you’re sharing your stash or partaking in someone else’s generosity, offer some nice, hydrating bevvies whenever you get the chance. Hydration is always important, but it’s extra important – and extra appreciated – when cottonmouth is a thing. 

Puff, Puff, Pass (Usually)

OK, last one of the group smoking stoner rules, but this shit’s important. If you’re hitting a joint, “puff, puff, pass” is the golden rule, meaning it’s OK to take one or two hits. That rule changes if you’re sharing a bong, vape, or pipe, in which case you’re looking at a one-hit situation. Remember: don’t bogart, or it gets the hose again!  

Cash It Out

When whatever you’re hitting is cashed, it’s OK to take just one hit to make sure that it is indeed cashed. Once you know it’s dunzo, it’s your civic duty to let the supplier know that it’s done cashed – don’t pass a cashed bowl on to the next person. 

Educate the Masses

This is newer weed etiquette for an old head like Mama, but the reality is that as ganja becomes more mainstream, stoners are getting more educated, more conscious of what goes into their bodies and way savvier in general. People are more likely to know the difference between an indica and sativa nowadays, so let the group know what they’re smoking when you share.

Corner the Bowl

Finally, it’s time to stop pretending you know what this means and let Mama tell you what it actually means. When you’re smoking a bowl, cornering is the practice of lighting the flower from the side so as to conserve it for a longer smoker. This goes for relighting the bud, too. (And um, if you’re unsure about what the hell we’ve been talking about in general, you may need to consult our Stoner Dictionary.)

Don’t Hit Sick 

C’mon now, you lived through 2020, right? If you’re feeling under the weather, know you’re under the weather, or even suspect it at all, it’s time to politely pass on sharing smoke with others. Keep that shit to yourself, no one wants your germs. Mama taught you better than that. 

Karma Rules

If your gracious stoner buds smoke you out, karmic stoner rules say that you should smoke them out down the line, too. Mama also says you should, because it’s the right thing to do and that kind of “I got you, bro” mentality is what makes the cannabis community such a great place to be. 

And when it’s your turn to provide some bountiful, hard-hitting green, Tough Mama knows just where you can find it.

For legal reasons, Mama can’t use the word “cure” too loosely, but one thing Mama does absolutely cure is her weed. Today Mama is here to give you a little introduction to curing weed, including what it is, why you should care, and how you can even do it yourself.

So, get ready to turn your freshly picked cannabis into the frosty nugs we all love…or just learn about how we do it for you.

What Does Curing Weed Mean?

If you love sandwiches and pizza…and bacon, good news, you love things that are cured. A lot of the meats we love (pepperoni, bacon, mortadella, some hams, etc.) are all cured, and when it comes to weed, it’s basically no different.

Before you start hitting the “who cares” button, just know that without the curing process, your weed is gonna suck. Straight up. Curing weed is an essential part of preserving it, and involves the careful drying and aging of the buds to remove excess moisture. Not only that, but it also allows the flavors and aromas to fully develop.

Why Curing Matters

Besides just making for a longer-lasting shelf product, Mama wants to make sure her friends are smoking weed with the best possible flavor, aroma, and smoke quality, for the longest amount of time. And that’s exactly what curing weed does.

Preserve the Terpenes!

Science time for my sweet cannabis nerds out there. Terpenes (the stuff that gives weed its unique flavor and smell), are actually pretty sensitive and can start to break down in temperatures as low as 50°F. All that to say your weed will get all fucked up if you don’t cure it right.

By carefully curing your weed, those terpenes won’t degrade and evaporate as quickly, meaning it’ll be enjoyed in all of its flavorful glory when the time comes to smoke that beautiful zaza.

Flavor Flav

Yeah, terpenes affect flavor, and yes, curing weed helps preserve terpenes. But, that’s not the only benefit it has when it comes to flavor. It turns out that if you don’t do a good job curing weed, the taste profile will be more like eating fresh lawn clippings than smoking delicious chronic. Grass is a cool slang term for weed, but hard pass if the weed tastes like actual grass.

Back to the lab coat for the curious overachievers out there. Why does weed taste like grASS if not cured properly? Well, it has to do with chlorophyll (the compound that makes plants green). Curing weed also helps break down chlorophyll, which reduces the grassy flavor, and results in a smoother, more pleasant smoking experience. Science, bitches. 

Potency of the Pot

Much like terpenes (which control flavor and aroma), THC and CBD can degrade more quickly if weed isn’t cured properly. No one wants weak-ass weed, which means curing it is even that much more important. By curing your pot, it’ll hold its potency for a much longer period of time.

Shelf Life Matters

Unless you want your weed to be moldy, taste awful, or have the potency of oregano (in highness, not taste), then you best cure it. While Mama doesn’t let her weed get that old (it’s not doing you any good sitting in a cabinet for ages), the principle of the matter is that your weed shouldn’t go bad in a couple of weeks. In fact, when properly cured and stored, weed can maintain its flavor and potency for up to two years (which is like six gorilla years just FYI). 

We’re guessing you’d only need weed to last that long ‘cuz you buried it like secret treasure and then forgot about it, but whatever the reason, you have two years.  

How to Cure Weed 

If you’re looking to cure your own weed, or just want a sneak peek of Mama’s green thumb, here’s the basic procedure for drying and curing weed.

Quick side note, drying and curing weed aren’t the same thing, but they are both necessary steps. More on that coming right up.

Step 1: Harvest 

Before you dry or cure, you’ll obviously have to harvest the buds. This is done when most of the trichomes are visibly cloudy, indicating that you’ve arrived at peak potency.

Step 2: Trim

Like many things in life, a good trim goes a long way. After harvesting your buds, trim away any excess leaves and stems. This will help the buds dry evenly and keep mold away during the process. 

(Doing it in this order is called a wet trim, but you can technically do a dry trim by drying and then trimming.)

Step 3: Dry

The drying stage can take anywhere from 2 to 10 days, but tends to be on the shorter side when opting to go with wet trimming since there’s less material that needs to dry. You can hang your buds or use a drying rack, but either way you’ll want to do so in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated space. Aim for 60-70°F and humidity levels of 55-65%.

After 2 days, check on the buds by bending the stems. If they snap, they’re dry. If they bend, check again the next day.

Step 4: Cure

Finally, the part we’re all here for. It’s curing time, which is mostly a waiting game, but does require a few different steps in and of itself. For the curing stage, the first thing you’ll need to do is put all your bud in airtight jars away from light. Your jars should be about three-quarters of the way full (no one likes being crowded — weed included), and then put them in a cool, dark place.

When it comes to curing temperature, it’s pretty similar to drying conditions. Aim for roughly 70°F and humidity between 55-65%.

Burping isn’t just for babies, it’s for curing weed too. For the first week of curing, open the jars once or twice a day for a few minutes to release any moisture and replenish the oxygen inside the container. In case you didn’t pick up on it, this process is known as burping (but better than the baby version since there’s no chance of baby vomit and the reward is weed).

Based on the strain you choose, curing time can differ a bit, but the general timeline is about 3 weeks (some like to go up to six months, but that’s up to you and how patient you’re feeling).

And just like that, you’ve cured weed. Hooray!

Mama’s Final Thoughts 

Bottom line, whether you’re growing your own or buying it from Mama, you always want your weed to be cured. And because Mama loves you, she’ll let you in on a little secret, double check any infused pre-rolls you buy from places that aren’t Mama, ‘cuz some of those guys out there are running cheap tricks by hiding the uncured taste with infused flavors. Don’t trust the lames.Mama cares about taste, smell, and potency, so you’ll never catch her playing games when it comes to the quality of weed she offers. Whether it’s her products or her very own flower, Tough Mama provides only the best.

Some things are just better fresh. Fresh peaches, fresh McDonald’s fries, fresh Jordans, fresh air, Bankroll Fresh, fresh-cut grass, the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. OK, now stop thinking about how weird the word “fresh” sounds when you say it over and over (Mama’s gonna keep saying it, that’s the whole article), and start thinking about minty fresh, sticky fresh, extra fresh weed. 

Everybody loves fresh dagga like Mama loves her favorite canna-babies (that’s you). You want your weed to keep? Cannabis storage is your ticket to Goldilocks zaza— the stuff that’s not too dry, not too damp, but juuuuuuuust right. 

Why Weed Is Best Served Fresh

So why the heck does fresh weed — and the cannabis storage that keeps it that way — even matter? Ain’t that shit already dried and cured when you buy it? Hush child, no one likes a smartass. 

Terpenes and flavonoids, the science magic that imbues all sorts of different strains with their signature flavors and aromas, are sensitive, just like you were when you were 13. When your flower is exposed to an excess of UV rays (i.e. the sun) or gets too dry, those elements degrade, and that means less aromatic, less flavorful weed. That sad, dry-assed cheeba also makes for a much harsher smoke.    

On the flip side, if weed gets too moist, it can be a pain in the ass to grind and to light up. Even worse, wet weed (ewwww, bro) attracts nasty bacteria, mold, and pathogens. Mama does not need to tell you how bad that is. Inhaling toxins is not good, kids.

You know what else degrades without good n’ proper cannabis storage? Cannabinoids like T-H-m-f’n-C, which can lose their potency when exposed to light and oxygen over time. That’s right: you practice bad cannabis storage habits, you get less high. Mama knows you’d never want to lose a single bit of her Big Block indica blunt’s 37.42 percent THC content, right?  

Best Cannabis Storage Methods

If you don’t want to be known as Dry Weed McDipshit, you gotta keep cannabis storage in mind. Here’s how to store weed so it stays stupid fresh, extra sticky, and space-out potent. And that makes Mama proud.

That Good Good Glass

Glass containers are one of the best storage options for your grass, cuz they’re au naturale, affordable, good looking, readily available in a wide range of styles, and won’t transfer any weirdo flavors to your bud. Oh, and they keep your shit fresh, too. Obvs.   

But they do come with some small-ish caveats. If you want to make sure your glass container keeps light exposure down to a minimum, you need to go for the UV-protected stuff. So no clear glass, unless it’s specifically labeled as UV-blocking. And it’s gotta be airtight, so look for lids that screw on, seal, or clasp. That shouldn’t be hard. 

The Pro-Level Humidor

Look out, it’s time to get real f**kin’ fancy in here. A cannabis humidor — you gotta get one especially for cannabis, as weed has different humidity needs than tobacco — is a swanky-looking, airtight box that automatically regulates moisture, typically by way of an internal sponge that keeps humidity levels around 58% to 62%. 

If you’ve got many leather-bound books and your apartment smells of rich mahogany, a weed humidor might just be for you. These are pricey, usually about $100 to $400, but they’re usually S-tier cannabis storage methods.

Bougie and Boutique

Kind of a broad category, but here in the weed renaissance we’re living in, lots of ganja brands offer handy containers made especially for cannabis storage. For the most part, these’ll be airtight, UV-blocking kits free of any nasty chemicals that might leech into your weed or affect its flavor profile (I mean don’t take it for granted, do your research and don’t trust, like, a Wish.com thing). 

Boutique storage options are typically cheaper than humidors, and while they don’t regulate humidity, they might include neat features like modularity, color-coded storage, joint cases, easy-clean surfaces, and handy magnetic clasps.  Also, lots of ‘em look pretty sick. 

Pretty, Pretty Good

An old-school wooden stash box isn’t the worst option, either, as long as the wood isn’t so aromatic that it influences the flavor of said stash. That means no cedar for you, keep that stuff in your body wash. Maple, cherry, mahogany, and oak should be fine, though. Wood looks classy, keeps the light and a good deal of heat out, and is easy to come by, but doesn’t do much for humidity or air exposure.

In the “okay in a pinch” category, we’ve got the cheapest, least cool of them all: a paper bag. Don’t rely on this for long-term storage, but keeping your flower in a brown bag (or even parchment paper if you’re some kinda pastry chef) for a bit is still better than keeping it in a plastic baggie, in terms of light exposure, lack of chemicals and flavor leeching. It ain’t impressive, but at least it’s recyclable.   

How to Store Weed (Like a Dumbass)  

Turns out the grass ain’t always greener on the other side. Sometimes the grass is drier, harsher, weaker, and shittier. That’s because some cannabis storage habits are a lot more wheezy than steezy. You know Mama doesn’t like to get too negative or judgy, but just keep these don’ts in mind, yeah?

• Don’t stick your bud in the fridge or freezer, unless damp, moldy weed is your thing.
• Steer clear of plastic and silicone containers, which can leech trichomes out of your chronic, make your blunts taste like styrofoam, and even ~infuse~ your bud with trace toxins.
• Metal containers aren’t quite as bad, but they can leave your hash tasting like old pennies. And, no, that’s not a strain.

How to Store Weed (Like a Canna-sseur)  

We ain’t done yet. Alongside smart cannabis storage containers, there are a few more things you can do to make sure your weed is garden-fresh. You don’t need to do all of them at once — legit studies show that cannabis stored in the dark at room temp only shows a THC degradation of about 13% over 100 days — but these next-level pro tips will make you the Pharaoh of Fresh.  

• Make it mild. Optimal jolly green storage temps range between 50 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but the ideal to shoot for is 70 degrees.
• Embrace the darkness. Like Mama said, UV rays are no bueno for weed if you want to keep your cannabinoids intact.
• Keep it tight. Same goes for oxygen exposure. If you want those terpenes and cannabinoids poppin’ off, then you want airtight cannabis storage.
• Only grind what you need, when you need it. Otherwise, you’re breaking off trichomes and speeding up dryness and degradation. 
• Similar thing: buy what you need to smoke when you wanna smoke — it takes a while, but time is ultimately the enemy of freshness (duh).
• Toss in a humidity pack. Made especially for cannabis, these keep humidity optimal to stave off degradation. You don’t need one if you have a fancy humidor, obviously.
• For vape carts and concentrates, stick to the cool and dry rules of thumb. For edibles, follow the rules of the food — they need to be stored just like the food products they are, and will usually have specific storage instructions on the label.

One way to stay fresher than 1993 season four-era Will Smith? Start with Tough Mama’s own flower. Guaranteed fresh, guaranteed punchy, guaranteed to get you high AF.

Although it seems like a crazy idea to Mama, some people consider doing a marijuana detox every once in a while. That means no weed for at least 30 days. The horror. 

Some might want to do it just to get themselves feeling reset, but Mama knows the real reason is that they probably need to pass a drug test. Whether you’ve decided your body should be a THC-free temple, or you need to get your pee clean, Mama has you covered.

(Oh, and a cool sidenote, California is banning employment discrimination for marijuana use, meaning you’ll only have to do a weed detox in California if you want to, not because someone wants your pee…what a weird thing when you think about it.)

What is a Weed Detox? 

A weed detox is a reset of sorts. It’s about clearing out all the THC in your system so you can feel brand new again…okay not really brand new, but you’ll pass a drug test if you need to. How do you typically accomplish this? Unfortunately, you have to stop using weed for a certain period of time (we’ll get to that in more detail in a bit). The goal is by taking a break, you detox your body, leaving no traces of THC you — we’re talking clean pee, blood, saliva, the works. 

This isn’t to be confused with a T break, which tends to be a bit shorter and just aims to reset your THC tolerance, so you aren’t progressively smoking your wallet dry.  

How Long Does it Take?

The generally agreed-upon timeline is usually 30 days (or more if you can will yourself through). While 30 days is the standard, that can be slightly different based on a few things like your body type, your consumption habits (how often and how much you smoke/consume), and even some random genetic factors. 

Detox Methods

If you’re going for a true, natural detox, there are a couple of things you can do to make the process as effective as possible. And while they all take time, they all work to benefit your body in different ways. The name of the game is getting your metabolism up so you can speed up the detox process. 

(The alternative is something like an oil change, and if you don’t know what that is, trust Mama when she says you’re better off getting yourself detoxed the natural way. Spoilers, you basically catheter clean urine up your pee hole. An absolute hard pass on that one.)

No Weed for 30 Days

Mama already talked about this one, but unless you’re desperate and willing to try some pretty messed up stuff to maybe get your pee clean, the only way to truly detox is to go no weed for 30 days. It doesn’t sound ideal, but there are worse things in life. Plus, it’s only temporary.

Physical Activity 

We’ve all heard of “sweating out the toxins,” and it’s a real thing. While simply sweating won’t substantially cut down on the detox time, exercising can possibly help the process be more efficient. Some cardio or weightlifting will help you burn fat, which happens to be where THC traces hang out in your body.  

By exercising, and thus burning fat, the rate at which your body can metabolize (process) THC will increase. We’re only talking a couple of days at most, but worst case you’ll be able to validate hitting the munchies extra hard when you get back to getting high. Best case you can rip a bong AND be ripped. Nice.

Change Your Diet 

Again, speed up your metabolism, and you speed up your detox efficiency. Certain foods and food groups help get your metabolism kicking, which in turn helps your body get any remaining THC out quicker. This means changing your diet to include things like

• High protein foods such as fish, lean meat, nuts, and even dairy (if your stomach is cool with it).
• Chili peppers, or more specifically a chemical called capsaicin, which can be found in a variety of spicy foods.
• Beans and legumes, which are things like peas, black beans, peanuts, etc. Not only are these high in protein, but they also contain dietary fiber, which everyone can use honestly. 

Drink More Water

Everyone should stay hydrated, detox or not. But you aren’t here to join the ways of the hydrohomies, you’re here for the best ways to do a weed detox. Well, not only does water hydrate you and help clean out your system, but it can also help boost your metabolism, which, again, is the key to a proper detox.

Don’t overdo it though, chugging water until you could power a fire hose won’t substantially speed up the detox process, and can actually even be dangerous.

Drink Tea or Coffee

While it’s not a guarantee for every person, some studies suggest that drinking tea or coffee can actually boost the effectiveness of increasing your metabolism when used alongside an exercise plan. Could be science, or it could just be that being wired at the gym gets some people grooving.

Detox Myths

As Mama already established, the only way to do a real detox involves time away from weed. Despite what google and random chat forums say, a lot of quick detox info is based on myths and wishful thinking. 

Some things to be careful of on your detox journey include stuff like

•  Detox kits – These will pop up if you start googling hard enough, but the truth is there isn’t much evidence to support they work, and even worse, they have the potential to do more harm than good.
• Cranberry juice – You’ve probably heard someone talk about chugging cranberry juice to pass a drug test. No guarantee this will work, but even if it does, it’s not for the reasons you might think. Cranberry juice doesn’t actually detox or get rid of the THC in your body, it just has the potential to cover it up in a urine test. 
• Other liquids (like vinegar or green tea) – Again, do enough googling and you’ll find all kinds of claims. Things like drinking vinegar or green tea are similar to drinking cranberry juice, in that there’s a slight potential it can dupe a drug test, but you aren’t actually getting the THC out of your body. 

Whether you want to do a weed detox to reset your body or to pass a drug test, time away from weed is one true method. Tough Mama understands we could all use a refresh every now and then, and the good news is that she isn’t going anywhere, so her warm, hairy arms will always be here to welcome you back to all the magical things weed has to offer.

Look, Mama’s been around the block and she knows some shit — we’ve all been there, when you have the zaza hookup but nothing to smoke it with. Could be a crisis, but you can turn that crisis into a chill sesh if you’d just listen to your ol’ Mama FOR ONCE, cuz it’s time to channel your inner McGuyver and make a bong (or two or three) out of easy-to-find household stuff. Even better, you can make that bong hit real good without sacrificing safety. Trust Mama — you got this.

What Makes a Good DIY Bong?

You know what Mama always says: to make a good homemade bong, you must first know what makes a good bong. Have you ever thought about what goes into a bong? I mean, really thought about it? Don’t worry, you don’t have to do any thinking — that’s what Mama’s here for, honeybaby. Call it a bubbler, binger or billy (who calls it that?), bongs have been around for centuries longer than even Mama has. 

Back in the day, a “baung” was just the Thai word for a bamboo tube used to schmoke weed. Fast forward to now, and a bong is still an often tubular device used for the same purpose. Today’s bongs are usually water pipes, with a water-filled base, an angled downstem sticking out of the base to accommodate a bowl, topped off with a tall vertical chamber and mouthpiece — the idea is that when you light bowl, smoke is channeled through the water and up through the neck for a smooth inhale. For most bongs, you’ll need these crucial parts:

• Base: where the water sits or the smoke collects
• Downstem: the tube jutting out from the base, where you’ll stick your bowl
• Bowl: the, uh, little bowl that holds the weed. It rests on top of the downstem — you’re gonna light this when you take a hit
• Neck: a.k.a. the uptake, this is where the smoke travels on its way to the mouthpiece. Oftentimes, there’s a carb hole here for a little aeration
• Mouthpiece: stick your mouth here, usually on top of the neck but sometimes not, and inhale. This is a very important part of getting high

Bongs, like people, come in all shapes and sizes nowadays, though. Not all bongs are water pipes, including some Mama’s gonna teach you to make, but lots of ‘em share many of the same essential parts, which you’re gonna rig up.

Mama’s Fave Homemade Bongs 

The world is your ocean, and the bong is your boat. OK, that metaphor doesn’t really work, but the point is, you’ve got options when it comes to homemade bongs. Here are some of Mama’s faves, from classics to newcomers that’ll get you straight-up skronked.

The Fruit Bong

This waterless bong might just be Mama’s fave — it’s cheap, easy, eco-friendly, compostable, and whatever fruit you use infuses your smoke with a delicious, summery flavor. To get going, remove the fruit’s stem or make a little indented hole at its top for your bowl. Depending on the size of the produce, use a strong tube-shaped object (like a pen or metal straw) to push a long hole about ¾ of the way down the fruit. Mark the bottom of this long tunnel, then use the same object to push another hole near the fruit’s bottom, connecting this horizontal tunnel to the vertical one. Load the top, light it, and put your lips on that bottom hole (get yer mind out of the gutter).   

SHIT YOU NEED:

• A round fruit, like an apple, watermelon, cantaloupe, or even a pumpkin (PSL SEASON BABY)
• Strong tube (like a pen or metal straw), knife, kitchen coring gadget — whatever works to make those tunnel-like holes

BONUS: The Banana Bong

Yeah, I know, we just had the Fruit Bong, but you gotta let a gorilla be a gorilla. Tough Mama couldn’t not do this one.

Slice off the non-stem side of a banana and hollow the cut-off part out, then use a (clean!) pen or metal straw to push a horizontal, tunnel-like hole extending from the newly flat end of the naner to about midway through it, lengthwise. Poke another hole a little more than midway through the banana, a vertical one that connects to your horizontal tunnel. Use your knife to widen that hole so that the banana bowl you made fits into it nice n’ snug, then use your straw or pen to poke a hole in the bottom of the bowl, connecting through to your vertical tunnel. Pack that banana bowl and smoke up through the delicious mouthpiece.

SHIT YOU NEED:

• A banana, obvs
• Pen or metal straw
• Knife

The Beer Can Bong

A good ol’ beer can bong is easier than drinking a couple High Lifes. Pop the can open and empty it, then rest it on its side. In the middle of the can, use a safety pin or similar to poke a whole bunch of tiny holes, about 3 x 3 inches worth, then smush that hole pattern into an indentation to make your makeshift bowl. If you’ve got a knife or pen or whatnot, you can also poke a carb hole near the base of the can, but it’s not a requirement. Load that “bowl” and hit it from the can’s built-in mouthpiece.  

SHIT YOU NEED:

• Safety pin or other type of pin
• Can o’ beer or soda or sparkling water or whatever, man

The Water Bottle Bong

To make this college staple, fill up a plastic beverage bottle, like a two-liter, about a quarter of the way with water, then stick a small hole near the bottle’s neck and one just above the waterline (a ball-point pen does the trick). Stick a tube in the hole, such as the disassembled body of that pen you just used. Shape a little bowl out of foil and poke a few holes in it with a safety pin or similar thang for aeration, then wrap that bowl onto the end of your tube for a complete downstem. Pack bowl and smoke up.

SHIT YOU NEED 

• Plastic bottle with cap
• Knife
• An empty tube
• Foil
• Safety pin

The Gravity Bong

Also known as a waterfall or a geeb, this newer DIY bong gizmo is a little more complicated than the others, but it’ll get you f**ked up nice and bueno.

Empty a large plastic bevvie bottle, remove the cap, then cut a hole in the cap (heat up a knife if you’re struggling). Cut the bottle in half, then fashion a bowl shape out of foil and poke some pinholes in it; the foil bowl should cover the cap, but you need to make sure there’s a hole in the bowl’s center that aligns with the hole in the cap. Fill a pitcher or larger bottle with water — just enough water that it doesn’t overflow when you stick your bottle half in it, which you’re gonna do, with the cap on but not screwed tight. 

Pack that bowl, light it, and watch the smoke fill the empty bottle. In one motion, lift the smoke-filled bottle, remove the cap and inhale that big-assed hit of smoothness.     

PRO TIP: A 10mm wrench socket can also work as a bowl for this (Tough Mama staff knows), but don’t blame us when your dad comes to you cuz he can’t find his tools. 

SHIT YOU NEED

• Plastic bottle
• Tube
• Foil
• Pin
• Water pitcher (blender pitchers work) or bigger bottle
• Scissors 
• Drill

Mama Says: Smoke Smart, Kidz

Sothanks to Mama, you know how to make some sick bongs. But you ain’t out of the woods yet.

First off, whatever items you use to whip up your homemade bong, keep that shit clean, give it a nice wash beforehand. Don’t be gross. And be aware that plastic drinking bottles may contain polyethylene terephthalate, which can emit low levels of toxins when heated (it’s still not clear what their long-term effects may be). Choose BPA-free plastics when you can, as BPAs are thought to disrupt hormone levels. 

Don’t lean on plastic-heavy DIY bongs as your permanent pipe — they’re fine in an occasional pinch or as a novelty, but choose a forever bong made out of safer glass or silicone for the long haul. And one last thing, neversmoke out of polyvinyl chloride (like plumbing pipes), styrofoam or polystyrene. 

Straight from the monkey’s mouth, here’s some shit you should NEVER, EVER smoke out of. Mama really wishes she didn’t have to say this shit out loud, but here we are:

• Plastic bag from the 99 Cents Only Store
• Literally any tube-shaped fireworks
• Vintage styrofoam Whopper holder
• Ancient lamps containing evil djinn spirits
• Air pumps of any sort
• Tire tube from your roommate’s gross-ass fixie
• Plastic bong from Wish.com
• Actually, any bong at all from Wish.com 

Now that we’ve got the “should nots” covered, what should you do? You should pat yourself on the back for finding a way to nirvana, and enjoy that sweet homemade smoke, Tough Mama style. You’ve earned it.

If the dreaded weed anxiety has you seeing ghosts (hopefully not literally), you’re not alone. Marijuana is a magical thing, we all know that. While it helps a lot of people reduce their anxiety, for some it can trigger anxiety and paranoia. That’s a major bummer. 

So, today, Mama wants to go over what weed anxiety is, why it happens, and offer some ways to help resolve those feeling when you smoke. Fear not, Mama is here to help.

What is Weed Anxiety/Paranoia?

Most people like weed because it calms them down. Some people (sadly) have the opposite reaction. For a small group of people, cannabis use can occasionally trigger anxiety or paranoia responses, or more simply put, freak them the fuck out. It typically isn’t to a serious degree, but nobody likes to feel on edge, especially when the beauty of weed is that it usually has an amazingly relaxing effect.

What Causes Weed Anxiety?

If you find yourself feeling all freaked out when you get high, science just might have the explanation (big ups to the homie Bill Nye). Mama’s going to go with a “science for dummies” approach on this one. 

Basically, your body produces something called endocannabinoids, which are similar to cannabinoids (but produced by your body…just to make sure we’re all on the same page in Mama’s Weed Anxiety 101). Scientists believe that when you use cannabis (which, woah, contains cannabinoids), THC binds to endocannabinoid receptors in your brain. This includes binding to receptors in the amygdala, which is the part of your brain that helps regulate things like fear, anxiety, stress, and paranoia. This sudden increase in cannabinoids can then trigger brain responses that result in heightened feelings of anxiety or paranoia.  

In normal people talk, that all basically means THC can overstimulate part of the brain, which causes anxiety and paranoia. Not cool, brain, not cool.

Why It Might Happen to You

Alright, you got the science down, A+ for all of Mama’s students. The next question is, why does weed anxiety happen to you but not to your always-stoned pals? Tbh, it’s hard to say, but there are a few theories.

Your Brain is Sensitive

One potential reason is that the back of your brain is more sensitive to THC. That’s right, some people have different THC sensitivities in different parts of their brains. And while it appears most are more sensitive in the front part of the brain, which results in the classic chilled-out feeling, some people are more sensitive in the back region, resulting in anxious or paranoid feelings.

THC Content

If you find yourself only occasionally getting anxious or paranoid, take a quick look at the THC content of your next joint, vape, shot, or whatever. Turns out, marijuana with higher THC content can be responsible for those ~spooky~ feelings you might occasionally get when high. Frankly, Mama likes it strong, but Mama is also a giant gorilla who ain’t scared of nothin’, so if you notice yourself getting paranoid when consuming high-THC weed, either cut down on the dosage, or step down to a lower THC product.

How to Get Past It 

If lowering the THC isn’t cutting it, or you just happen to have a weird one-off anxious high, there are some things you can do to get your high back on track.

Find Your Happy Place

This honestly applies to any time you’re feeling a bit anxious, but try and take a step back and get yourself into a happy place. Try some of these and see how it works:

• Do a quick little meditation moment 
• Throw on some tunes
• Do some painting/coloring
• Go on a chill walk
• Take a nice warm shower or bath

These things might not be fool-proof, but they’re proven to relax. Also, even if you aren’t feeling anxious those are all rad things to do when high. Really can’t go wrong. 

Use the Magic of Terpenes

This might sound kinda bananas, but it just so happens that the solution to your weed anxiety woes might just be pepper. That’s right, chewing peppercorns or even taking a nice deep whiff of ground pepper can potentially help with your marijuana-induced anxiety. It turns out, peppercorns have terpenes called pinene and caryophyllene, which both happen to turn down the effects of THC. So if you’re feeling a bit weird the next time you’re high, head to the kitchen and get to chewing or sniffing. 

*Disclaimer: Mama isn’t responsible for any sneeze attacks that result from you accidentally inhaling a bunch of ground pepper…but maybe record it and upload it to the internet if it does happen; seems like it might be a little funny.*

Plan Ahead

If you know you sometimes get anxious or paranoid when you get high, take a second to plan how you can avoid having a shitty high.

Ways to achieve this are things like:

• Use less at a time. For example, chugging an entire bottle of Mama’s Yolo Shotz at once is a guaranteed weird time (not necessarily in a bad way, but definitely not for the faint of heart). Instead, start with smaller doses, like a cap full or even just half a cap full. (Seriously, that stuff is strong, you’ll be good to go with just a little!)
• Find CBD-dominant strains. Some weed strains are THC-dominant (sativas), some are CBD-dominant (indicas), and some are a balance of both (hybrids). Now that you know high THC can be a trigger, try and find some more CBD-dominant products that hopefully won’t trigger a bad response. Mama has no shortage of options in both the Mini Mofoz and the Live Resin Infused Blunts.

And that wraps up Mama’s Weed Anxiety 101. 100% scores for everyone that made it all the way through. And, hopefully, now you can get out there and avoid any more anxiety or paranoia-filled highs!

When Mama rubs her crystal ball (no it is NOT just a coconut head from the Venice Beach boardwalk), she can see into the future. And Mama knows 2023 is the year of solventless vape carts. It’s also the year of the rabbit and the year of the grunge fashion comeback, but Mama’s here to talk about weed. And also to make sure you’re eating right, you look thin. 

Before weed hits your beautiful brain, cannabis goes on a big adventure from plant to vape. To get there, the parts that make you feel good and lend the bud its primo flavor are separated from the other, less necessary, bits of the plant.  Just like when you left mama and went to college, but before you dropped out. That whole journey is called extraction, and it can happen in a whole lotta different ways. A super clean extraction process is what makes solventless carts a little different, and it’s also what makes the trend worth a good look. Trust Mama on this — it’s a better trend than eating dry cinnamon on TikTok or whatever.

What TF Are Solventless Carts? 

Get ready for a little The More You Know sesh. 🌈

Before it hits dispensary shelves or online stores, a lot of weed concentrates — the potent, THC-heavy extracted weed that goes into carts, oils, tinctures, edibles, and so on — are separated from the plant by chemical solvents. These solvents are chemicals that dissolve or dilute the unwanted parts of the plant, like leaves, seeds, and stems. Alcohol and ethanol make the list of common solvents, but our very own United States FDA recognizes about 60 different varieties of ‘em, ranging from R134a tetraflouroethane (Mama didn’t just make that up) to propane and butane. Welcome to the BBQ, cowboy.

You probably figured this out by now because you’re smart and Mama’s proud of you. Solventless extraction is a method of extracting all those THC and CBD-rich oils that make your weed so heady and tasty, without using petrochemical (i.e. literal gas) solvents. 

How It’s Made

So now you know what solventless means (you’re welcome), but where does solventless extract come from? Hint: it is not the weed stork, and it doesn’t come from a weed man loving a weed woman. 

Usually, instead of using gassy petrochemicals⛽ to break down the unneeded parts of the cannabis plant, solventless extraction uses heat, pressure, cold, or even just plain ol’ water to extract cannabinoids from everyone’s favorite plant. A quick refresher in case you need it, cannabinoids are the naturally occurring active chemical compounds in cannabis, including psychoactive THC and flavor-packin’ terps.

For a solventless extraction, farm-fresh or flash-frozen cannabis is typically dunked in an ice water bath (ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE 2014 THROWBACK), then a fine mesh is used to sift out the flower’s trichomes, like a cartoon miner siftin’ for gold. And they are gold; trichomes are the sticky part of the plant where valuable stuff like terps, THC, and CBD live. Finally, heat melts and pressure squeezes a THC-heavy goop from the plant, which we call rosin.

That extract is what goes into your vape cart to get you feeling high, creative, energetic, relaxed and all those good weedy things we love to feel. Alongside a heating element to help deliver the smoke, vape carts might contain highly refined cannabinoid oil and just about nothing else, or they might contain oils, thinning agents, and additives to help the delivery process along. That part really depends on the brand (you know Mama’s live resin carts are packin’ up to 85.27% THC).

Resin or Rosin?

OK, Mama admits this part is a little confusing at first, but it’s pretty basic once you lay it out. Here’s the deal with the resin vs. rosin thing, cuz you’re gonna see those words all over the place as soon as you start paying attention to cannabis extraction, solventless or otherwise: 

• Live resin is the sticky, yellow-brown, amber-like cannabis concentrate that’s extracted from flash-frozen weed. Most of the time, butane is the solvent used to strip away the unneeded parts of the plant and get down to that resin. 
• Live rosin is also an amber-colored sticky extract, but it usually comes from plants that are fresh from the farm or plants that have, like, just been flash-frozen. The big difference here is that live rosin is produced by way of solventless extraction, using that heat and pressure to separate it from the plant rather than chemical solvents.  

Solventless vs. “Solvent Free”

Speaking of shit that’s confusing, Mama would like a word with the marketing people who started slapping “Solvent Free” on weed products when we were already knee-deep in the whole solventless thing. But like resin vs. rosin, it ain’t too bad when you break it down.

If you’ve been paying attention, you already know exactly what solventless extract is. Solvent-free extract — bear with Mama on this — is extract that is actually made using chemical solvents, like any of those Mama listed waaaaay up there. The thing is, though, that solvent-free extracts are purified to remove any traces of those chemical extracts (often by evaporating them) before your weed products hit the shelves. But this process can burn off sweet, sensitive terpenes, and it ain’t usually perfect, so some residual solvent might be left behind even if it’s under the detection level. Sneaky.   

They Go Low, Tough Mama Goes Hi-Phi

Some of Mama’s own vape carts feature solventless extract, specifically solventless extract made by way of a super sciency process called Hi-Phi extraction, cooked up by a shitload of Mama’s scientists over many years, TBH. 

This petrochem-free process combines the magic of CO2, high pressure, and slow, low heat to extract all that good good from cannabis plants in the form of Solventless Cured Resin. The low heat helps keep all those flavorful, aromatic terps totally intact, whereas other processes burn the terps right off. 

It takes more time and calls for more precision, but the result is an oil that retains the same delicate, natural balance of THC, terps, and all the other compounds that give flower its distinct character. That nature-made balance is a beautiful thing, and we call it The Golden Ratio.  

Why You Should Care

Tough Mama herself stands behind solventless extract, which is why you’ll find it in her adorable Mini Mofoz and party-startin’ Yolo Shotz. Mama’s not gonna tell you that solventless extraction is the be-all end-all of weedoom — it ain’t. We’re living in a zaza renaissance, with new ways to extract, smoke, and get high popping up every day. It’s all good, baby.

That being said, if you’re a hardcore cannabis fan — and Mama knows all of her babies are — solventless extraction is worth a try. While weed products made with solvents will still get you high, and they might even still offer a flavorful smoke, solventless extraction like Hi-Phi is extra special for its ability to keep the natural ratio of terpenes present in the plant just the way Mother Nature made it. 

Solvents can sometimes hit like a blunt sledgehammer to knock the extract out of the plant, So, sometimes weed-makers add artificial flavors, carriers, and who-knows-what sorta additives to the final product in an attempt to reclaim or replicate some of the terps and other cannabinoids that were lost in the process. And that can affect the smoke, sometimes leading to a harsh or artificial-tasting experience. When you keep that fragile ratio intact, you retain the full flavor, potency, and overall character of the weed, which can make for a richer, tastier, smoother smoke with a high that hits to its full potential. 

That means the flavor and aroma are just as they should be, and the nature of the high — whether it’s euphoric, body-slamming, or art-inspiring — remains just as it should be, because all those cannabinoids are working together just as they would in nature.

And if it’s good enough for Mother Nature, it’s good enough for Tough Mama, too. Mamas respect Mamas.

OK, kids, time for a T Break, so let’s get that Earl Grey, nosh those crumpets, and stick your lil’ pinkies way up in the air — I know you’re high, but have some class now! Hold up. Mama’s being told that that’s tea time, a T break is the weed tolerance thing. Reset, start over, Mama got confused. It happens.😖😅  

Aaaaannnywaaaaay, a T break is a tolerance break. It’s a thing you can do where you take a break from getting high to basically reset your weed tolerance so that you can have better, stronger, more enjoyable highs, like you did when you first fell in love with Mama’s favorite leaf as a sweet summer child. Will it work, and how do you do it? As always, Mama’s here to help you get it right.

Lemme just put these tea bags up real quick.

What Is a T Break?

Just like people evolved from monkeys like Mama into smooth humans like you (a debatable upgrade), people adapt, and as they adapt their bodies sometimes change. 

To get sciency for a sec, cannabis interacts with our body’s built-in CB1 receptors, which send signals to your brain to generate all those wonderful effects, like chillness, inspiration, and, uh, highness. But long-term regular smoking can actually reduce the effectiveness and intensity of your CB1 response (don’t take Mama’s word for it; neuropharmacology researchers confirmed this 🧠). 

That’s the big-brain way to say it, but the street smarts are pretty much right on. When you use a thing a bunch, your body just gets used to it. And that means it becomes less effective with repeated use. 

If you’re already into the mega-powerful stuff Tough Mama’s got in stock — like indica cone blunts with 37.42% THC — you might be exactly the type of hardcore stoner whose body has gotten so used to cannabis that it just doesn’t hit the way it used to. That’s where the T break comes in.  

Why You Might Wanna Consider It 🤔

A T break, as that big ol’ ‘T’ implies, is all about weed tolerance. Not like emotional tolerance for weed, Mama knows we all more than tolerate weed around here, we love the zaza for life. We’re talking about physical weed tolerance. 😶‍🌫️

That thing about CB1 receptors? It doesn’t have to be permanent. When you use more weed, your body makes more CB1 regulators; the more regulators you have, the more potent and bountiful you need your weed to be to feel the same sorts of effects you used to. So you want to return the density of those regulators back to a normal, pre-mega-stoner level. To do that, various studies and medical sources have figured out that a multi-week T break might just be your best bet (but it’s not your only option).

When you bring that weed tolerance back down with a T break, you can elevate your high on the other side of it. With a little reset, you’ll get a more powerful high by smoking less weed. And that’s good for your brain as well as your wallet. 

How To Do It Right

How long should a tolerance break be from weed? As a casual stoner, your CB1 receptors and regulators can return to what’s called a “cannabis-naive” (awwwwww, that sounds so cute💕) state after only two days of abstaining from weed. If you’re a daily or daily-ish user, a cold turkey tolerance break of two to four weeks will likely have the most impact. 

This has become such a common format for taking a T break that smarty pants sources ranging from the University of Vermont to Goucher College have adopted and shared a popular 21-day format as a general guide for resetting your weed tolerance and getting you through the hard parts. And don’t let that last part slide — opting for the 21-day T break will be tough if you’re a lifestyle stoner. That’s why these plans emphasize specific focuses on emotional and physical health alike. Don’t sleep on that. 

The 21-Day T Break 

• 🤝The Prep: Pick a date and stick to it. Don’t procrastinate, set the date for soon-ish, and don’t start binging right before. Stash your goods and all of your accessories before you start. If you can organize a group T break with your besties, all the better.
• 💪🏋️‍♀️Week 1 — Focus on the Physical: This one’s gonna be the toughest (tougher than Mama, maybe) so you wanna emphasize concrete, physical activities that you have the most control over. Get more sleep, keep yourself real busy, exercise like mad, eat healthy, sustaining food, and embrace routines as much as possible. 
• 🤗Week 2 — Let’s Get Emotional: Now that you’ve got a good physical routine in your (weedless) body, it’s time to put the focus inward. Start week two with a celebration of your choice (not weed, c’mon), because you’ve earned it. From that healthy place, take time to recognize and process how you’re feeling each day — it might be irritable, it might be anxious, or lonely, or just tired. Journal it, talk about it with your partner or therapist, turn it over and consider it in detail instead of stuffing it down. On the final day of the week, choose another celebration and treat yourself like a champ.  
• 🧘Week 3 — It’s a Spiritual Experience, Man: As a regular toker, you know weed can be straight-up spiritual, and your T break’s gonna affect that. In this final stretch, focus on spiritual connection — connect inward with meditation, connect upward by rediscovering or emphasizing the philosophical, spiritual, or religious systems you live by, and connect downward by connecting with the people who keep you the most grounded. Take a day this week to escape into a place that feeds your soul, like a beautiful hike. 
• 🦍 Day 21: Celebrate like a motherf**ker.     

You Got This

While the 21-day T break chart is such a common method that Google’s gonna autocomplete your “T break” search with “chart” at the end, trust Mama when she says it’s not the only way. Cold turkey is def effective, but you can also boost your tolerance to varying degrees with less intense methods like these. You do you. 

• Reduced usage: Bring twice a day down to once a day. Once a day down to three times a week, and so on. Easy peasy. 
• Microdosing: Try edible doses of about 2 to 5 mg to maintain a micro-high rather than hitting a monster blunt.
• Try CBD, or substitute CBD for THC just sometimes. Get the body high without the head high, you might just like it.
• Switch it up: You a smoker? Switch to edibles or sips of a weed beverage. You get the idea — there’s a ton of ways to get high nowadays, so why not take advantage of the variety?   

Oh, and when you’re ready to get back in the saddle, do that the right way with Mama’s punchy, live resin-infused, terpene-packed pre-rolls, and other stoner-approved products – you know Mama’s got her babies covered when it’s time to take your high even higher. ✨🍃✨