At Your Discretion Pt 2: Turning Down The Loud
If the modern cannabis industry has done one thing, it’s innovated the methods in which we consume cannabis, and increased them tenfold. Through the melee of different candies, oils, lotions, sprays, and capsules available, it may be difficult for a newcomer to believe that inhalation continues to reign supreme for most cannabis connoisseurs. Whether smoking or vaping, inhalation is valued for its near-instantaneous effects, as well as the ability to better distinguish different strains and terpene profiles.
The fact is, though, that inhalation (yes, even vaping!) isn’t welcome in many public spaces, or even private ones for that matter. Not everyone is cool with dank smells or “air pollution,” and that’s perfectly fine. If you find yourself having to get loud on the low, whether its part of a strict lease or sensitive family members, keep reading for tips on puffing with as little trace as possible.
These tips aren’t intended for anyone to slink around puffing in public spaces with abandon - under no circumstances do we encourage smoking or vaping anywhere you shouldn’t be. In fact, we think it’s extremely bad form to do so. You’d think responsible adults such as yourselves wouldn’t need to be told these things, yet here we are with the following disclaimer: always follow local laws regarding smoking and vaping in public spaces, and respect your hosts’ wishes regarding smoking and vaping when visiting others’ homes. Don’t embarrass the rest of us!
The most obvious alternative to smoking cannabis is vaping. You can buy pocket-sized vaporizers that will precisely heat extract or flower to an expert temperature without combustion, leaving a lighter scent and quicker-dissipating clouds. Or, go even easier and more discreet with a cartridge-based vape system, where a rechargeable battery heats up a small “cart” pre-filled with cannabis extract. While many companies continue to try their hand at ill-conceived proprietary vape hardware, the 510 thread and Pax pod systems remain the gold standard for both universal adaptability and slim packaging for quick on-the-go rips.
Many folks believe vaping cannabis to be a trace-free method of consumption. While it’s true that its less fragrant, quick-disappearing clouds can allow us to puff less conspicuously in most public spaces, the particles left in the air afterward can linger and cause ill effects in those around us. Consider the way air in places like shopping malls or movie theaters is circulated: even a cheeky puff in the washroom could still trigger respiratory reactions in folks whose lungs may be more vulnerable, such as young children, seniors, or those with respiratory conditions.
But enough preaching; you came here to learn how to quell dankness, not be taught consideration and empathy for others - you should know that already! Here are our tried and true methods for getting loud with less cloud:
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If you’re smoking cannabis indoors and need to quell the ‘smoke’ part a bit, perhaps review how you’re actually smoking. A continuously-lit joint is going to fill a room with smoke much more than small, measured hits from a bong or pipe. If you can master the perfect one-hitter, and employ another one of our smoke-squashing methods, you’ll be puffing in peace in no time.
The age-old “bathroom vent trick” with a towel under the door may work in most detached buildings and homes, but in some apartment and office buildings, you’re likely to be blowing smoke straight into other rooms in the unit, the hallway, or even your neighbours’ units via a central ventilation system. The only way to 100% guarantee your puffs are going directly outside is if you’re perched in an open window blowing outward. Or, I suppose, if you yourself installed the HVAC of the building and know exactly where that air is moving.
An alternative to the bathroom, and our most trusted method is what we call the “wind tunnel.” It requires a box fan, a towel or blanket, and a secondary fan if you have one on hand (we use a tower fan.) Place the box fan in the windowsill with the air blowing out. Shove the towel or blanket under the bottom of the door, sealing as many gaps as possible. If you have a secondary fan, try to place it at an angle that will best encourage air blowing toward the window. Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to perfect, but as long as we’ve been using it, we’ve never once gotten a complaint from housemates or neighbours. Moving things to another ventilated space is also comfier than hovering between your bathtub and toilet!
Shannon McMullin
Proper ventilation is the best way to evacuate smoke odour, but another method to add to your sesh toolkit is also a popular beauty tip: layer your scents!
There are a variety of smoke odor eliminating candles and sprays available at your local dispensary, employing enzymes and essential oils to neutralize loud smells. We suggest lighting a candle 15-20 minutes before your indoor sesh, allowing the candle’s stank-fighting particles to fill the air. Before ending your sesh, a few spritzes of a similar room spray will help bring freshness back into your space.
If you’re in a spot to add even more smoke into the equation, incense has also been a popular choice with stoners for over half a century. Similar to the candle, beginning to burn your incense a few minutes before your sesh, and wrapping things up before the stick burns out will help envelop the danker of the two smokes filling your space. While this method is the most conspicuous and arguably the least effective, it’s the perfect fit for those looking to add rich aromas and an extra element of ritual to your sesh.
Whether it’s simply being a good neighbour, or part of an elaborate scheme to get your parents to respect you, there are plenty of excellent reasons not to be loudly and proudly blazing all the time. Through good ventilation, absorption, and scent coverage, however, there’s no shortage of great ways to keep the good good all to yourself - try one during your next sesh and enjoy breathing easier!
