Are tar deposits in your bong harmful?

When you smoke a bong, you will notice that dark, sticky tar residue remains in your device.

This substance is called resin or residue. But is dabbing safe and can it still get you high? Would a chemical dissolve it? How do I wash it?

In this article, we'll look at everything you need to know about cannabis resin or residue and whether it's actually worth your time.

What is resin in a bong?

Resin is essentially the collected and recondensed remains of your bong or other smoking products such as pipes.

It is a combination of tar, ash and carbon – all byproducts of the combustion process.

If it is not cleaned immediately after each hit, buildup may occur inside.

Typically the resin covers the walls of the base, but can also be in other areas such as the head or down tube.

The tar that discolors your bong is actually caused by residue from incompletely burned plant parts.

When you smoke a bong, some of the material does not burn completely and organic residue is formed.

When hot smoke flows through glass vessels, it evaporates and, in a sense, condenses back into the wall. This is what you see as tar deposits.

Are tar deposits in your bong harmful?

The leftover resin from the bong contains the harmful carbon byproducts of smoking, such as ash and tar.

There's very little THC and it's full of shit you shouldn't smoke.

When leftover resin is smoked, it can cause potentially harmful side effects, including headaches, sore throats, and difficulty breathing.

These side effects are primarily due to the fact that these byproducts, like tar, can irritate the lining of the throat and lungs.

In addition, these residues are a rich breeding ground for bacterial growth, which over time leads to a strong, unpleasant odor.

Resin deposits can make your pipe look dirty and affect the taste of new cannabis.

It should be cleaned out and thrown away. It contains almost no active ingredients of any kind that one could wish for.

Can smoking resin or tar residue cause a high?

Resin contains a little decarboxylated plant material (activated THC), very little THC that has not been completely burned or has fallen into the pipe and become caught in it and collected in the residue.

However, since resin contains more tar than beneficial compounds, the high may not be pleasant and you are unlikely to get a sufficient amount of cannabinoids and terpenes. In addition, the strong smell is also a problem.

We advise against smoking recovered cannabis resin as the risks and dangers outweigh the benefits of the high.

How do I clean the bong to remove tar deposits?

Cleaning your bong regularly will help reduce tar buildup.

Isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt work well because the salt acts as an abrasive and the isopropyl alcohol dissolves and disinfects.

Add some 90% rubbing alcohol (available at drug stores) and some coarse salt and shake vigorously while sealing the openings.

Epsom salt or rock salt work well. Rinse and repeat, it only takes about 5 minutes.

Diploma

Bong resin contains very, very little THC, but contains many harmful byproducts.

In general, dabbing or smoking resin is possible, but it irritates the lungs and throat and tastes like crap.

If you were smart enough, don't smoke any of it.

Don't do it to yourself. Either buy real resin or don't use it at all.