Shatter

darnold1975

Bless This Messy Rig: A Southern Oil Head’s 7/10 Revival Service

“On 7/10 we don’t just dab. We transcend. Reboot. And come back speaking in terpene.”

-This Puzzled Life

Light the charcoal. Today, we are not just sparking up. We are entering the high holy day of the Oil-Soaked, Dab-Dripped, Terp-Touched congregation known as  7/10. It’s the holiday where the concentrates come out. The rigs get blessed. And every Oil Head in the land rises like a phoenix covered in sticky resin.

Let me set the scene. It’s 7/10 morning. The sun is shining. Birds are chirping. Somewhere, a responsible adult is making breakfast. And then there’s you. You’re hunched over a torch like a medieval blacksmith forging destiny and whispering, “Just one little dab before I start my day.” Yet, knowing full well you’re about to time-travel into next Tuesday.

If 4/20 is the potluck.  7/10 is the communion. This is the day we honor the brave souls who looked at a perfectly good flower and said, “Cute. But what if we extracted its soul. Concentrated it. And inhaled it off a surface hotter than Satan’s griddle?”

Oil Heads are a special breed. We don’t cough. We ascend. We don’t get high. We interface with the divine. We don’t take a dab. We commit to the bit. And yes, 710 upside down spells OIL. This is the universe’s way of saying, “Y’all weren’t meant to be subtle.”

Every Oil Head has their own sacred traditions.

1. The Pre-Dab Pep Talk

You stand before your rig like a knight before battle. You whisper, “I’ve trained for this.” Even though you absolutely have not.

2. The Temperature Guessing Game

Is it too hot? Too cold? Will this dab taste like lemon zest and heaven? Or like licking a cast-iron skillet? Only the ancestors know.

3. The Post-Dab Existential Slide

You cough. You sweat. You briefly forget your own name. You see God. You apologize to God. You promise to do better. You immediately do not do better.

4. The Group Chat Roll Call

Everyone sends the same message in different fonts: “Bro I am so high.” “Ya’ll I’m so hiiii.” “I have transcended my body.” And finally, “Help.”

Concentrates are the overachievers of cannabis. They’re the honor-roll students. The valedictorians. The kids who did the extra credit even when the teacher said it was optional. Flower is the friend who shows up with a casserole. Oil is the friend who shows up with a flamethrower and a vision board. And it is the universe’s way of saying, “Congratulations, you’ve unlocked the advanced level of cannabis consumption. Please proceed with caution, hydration, and snacks.”

How to Celebrate 7/10 Like a True Oil Head

  • Bless your rig like it’s a family heirloom.
  • Take a dab the size of a lentil, not a lima bean (you’re not invincible).
  • Hydrate like you’re prepping for a desert marathon.
  • Have a chair nearby.
  • Have a second chair nearby in case the first chair becomes emotionally overwhelming.
  • Text your friends “Happy 7/10” even though none of you can currently operate a phone correctly.

So, let me leave you with this, “Oil Heads.” On this sacred 7/10, may your bangers stay seasoned. Your torches stay loyal. And your lungs stay just brave enough to pretend they didn’t see what you were about to do. May every dab you take today taste like citrus, victory, and the exact moment you realize you should’ve sat down first. May your snacks be abundant. Your water be cold. And your group chat be full of people who understand that “I’m fine” is Oil Head code for “I have briefly exited my body and am watching myself from the ceiling fan.” May your rig hit smooth. Your concentrates glisten like forbidden honey. And your soul ascend just high enough to remember why you love this ridiculous, resin-soaked community of chaos gremlins and terp scholars.

And if anyone dares judge you for celebrating 7/10 like it’s the Dab Olympics. Just smile. Flip that 710 upside down. And remind them that we don’t do this because it’s easy. We do this because flower could never. Happy 7/10 to the brave. The bold. The sweaty. The coughing. And the spiritually airborne. Happy 7/10 to the Oil Heads who dab like they’re trying to unlock a cheat code. Happy 7/10 to the ones who know that “just a little one” is the biggest lie in cannabis history.

May your day be high. Your spirit be higher. And your tolerance be absolutely nowhere to be found. May your rigs stay clean. Your temps stay low. And your soul stay high. Happy 7/10, Oil Heads! May your lungs forgive you and your snacks never run out. Mic dropped. Torch still roaring. Snacks already open. Thanks for reading! Keep dabbin.’

Affirmation: I honor my inner Oil Head. I take my dabs with courage. My snacks with gratitude. And my ascension with pride. My lungs are strong. My spirit is stronger. And today I rise like a dab taken at the perfect temp.

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#ThisPuzzledLife

darnold1975

Happy 710!!!!

“If the whole world dabbed at the same time, there would be peace for at least two hours, followed by a global food shortage.”

-Dana Landrum-Arnold

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Today, I want to tell you why so many people use cannabis concentrates. Concentrates are not made equally. There are subtle differences that go into making these beautiful products. And a day where cannabis enthusiasts take pride in celebrating them is on 7/10 and at 7:10 p.m. every year. But you can also use it at 7:10 p.m. every evening.

Ok, first let me start by telling you about how 7/10originated. This day also known as “Oil Day.” And those of us who love and use these very potent products on the regular, we are called “Oil Heads.” That is a banner which I wear very proudly. It’s also a day for more experienced users. But there are those who will overuse and have horrible experiences. 

If you invert the number 710 it will spell out “OIL.” You might ask why 420 doesn’t cover it all. And technically concentrates do fall under the 420 umbrella because it’s also cannabis. However, concentrates are a specific form of cannabis. This type of consumption is becoming more mainstream. Most people don’t know how to use these products appropriately to reach maximum benefit. If it’s a new experience and someone dabs you for sport, you might lose interest very quickly. I have been over dabbed also due to inexperience and all you can do is recline your chair, get a cold rag and wait until your high wears off a bit. Yes, you can become nauseous and throw up. If done correctly, though, the experience can be more beautiful than you can imagine.

Concentrates are about your tolerance, not anyone else’s. I’m constantly alternating my concentrates so that I don’t develop a tolerance to a certain strain too quickly. How is this beneficial? You make more and better use out of your product. And at anywhere from about $40 to over $100 per gram.

Why so expensive you ask? To make cannabis concentrates, it requires a lot of cannabis flower just to make one batch. The machinery used is expensive. And so are the solvents used to make it them. And then there are the state taxes and testing costs that are required. With most states capping the THC percentage at around 60% the concentrates are still held back in regard to the stronger possibilities.

The argument is that they are too strong. Where they become a danger is usually due to people who speak out of ignorance. No one can control impulsive idiots who overdue and become sick. Medically, concentrates help much quicker. And for chronic pain and PTSD, sometimes I need the relief immediately. Dabbing budder, badder, shatter, wax, hash, live resin, butane hash oil or distillate is a much quicker and more potent high than you get from flower. And the relief can last up to a few hours. Dabbing concentrates is like smoking about three joints all at once. Vape pens provide the same type of relief, usually with less smell than flower. Buying this at a “head shop” or gas station in the form of THC-A wax is not regulated and is DANGEROUS. When possible, ALWAYS buy from a dispensary where products are tested and results displayed on the product packaging.

Edibles are also considered concentrates as most use either butane hash oil or cannabis infused butter. Edibles just take a little longer to work. And the medication works much longer because they go through the digestive system rather than the lungs. Whatever you buy DO NOT EAT THE ENTIRE EDIBLE AT ONE TIME! 

Concentrates are about a stronger relief in moderation, not seeing how “trashed” you can get. Talk to budtenders at dispensaries about what products and strains that fit your medical needs. And ask them for recommendations for using if inexperienced. You will thank yourself later. As always thanks for reading. Be safe. Keep smiling. Keep dabbing. And Happy 710 fellow concentrate enthusiasts!

“One Plant, Countless Possibilities”

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

#Thispuzzledlife

darnold1975

Cannabis Products (Concentrates)

“It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics, dope, and all of that stuff. It is a thousand times better than whiskey. It is an assistant and a friend.”

-Louis Armstrong, Musician

Light the charcoal. Sprinkle the sage. Negative energy go away. Okie dokie! Today, staying in line with cannabis culture, I want to discuss another form of cannabis that has developed its own subculture in the last decade. It’s the use of concentrates commonly known as “dabbing.” It has become one of the favored ways of using marijuana. And one of my favorites as well.

Concentrates are just concentrated forms of marijuana that can get you very high, very quickly. And if not done correctly, can be a horribly unpleasant experience. When I began using concentrates, it didn’t take long for me to grasp the concept of moderation. I have overdabbed accidently a few times. And oh how I couldn’t wait for my high to come down to a more pleasant level. Concentrates are made in many ways such as:  wax, oil, shatter, or budder. They can be consumed by dabbing, vaping, or adding to joints, blunts or bowls.

The extraction methods that gather all of the cannabinoids and terpenes of the plant can be done  by:

  • Solvent based– butane, propane, ethanol or CO2.
  • Solventless: Pressure, heat, or ice water.

Forms include:

  • Wax: A waxy, pliable consistency.
  • Oil: A liquid form commonly used for vape cartridges or edibles.
  • Shatter: A glass like consistency.
  • Budder: A whipped or creamy consistency.
  • Other: hash oil and resin.

Consumption methods:

  • Dabbing: used with a device called a “dab rig” which vaporizes the concentrate for inhalation.
  • Vaping: Using a concentrate pen or cartridge sometimes with pre-filled concentrated substances.
  • Adding to bowls/joints/blunts: Adding a small amount to a bowl of flower or rolling into a joint or a blunt. I personally wouldn’t use these forms on a bowl. It will clog your pipe or bong and you will lose product.

Concentrates  have THC percentages that range from 60%-90%. Do you see what I mean?  Concentrates are like smoking three joints at one time. And the effects are almost immediate. You can become intoxicated very quickly. And if you do too much, it can leave you very sick. The results are nothing worse than getting too drunk. Complete with nausea, vomiting, sweating and/or bad paranoia. However, if you need a quick delivery versus waiting on the flower to work, this is a highly effective route. 

Dabbing is typically used with equipment known as a “dab rig” that requires that you heat a metal or a glass nail and then drop a small amount of the concentrate on the heated surface. It is then vaportized and flows into the maze of the glass until it reaches your mouth for inhalation. I have a silicone dab kit because I have children and cats who do not care about beautiful pieces. And if it gets knocked off there’s no breakage. Dab rigs are typically around $60 to thousands of dollars. They now have dab rigs that have electric nails, called e-rigs, which are in the range from about $100 to several hundreds of dollars. They are safer than using a blow torch to heat up a nail. I’m perfectly happy with my silicone with metal nail and using a blow torch. 

Concentrate Vape Pens are also something that I really enjoy using as it’s a more portable way of using in public. It consists of a coil that’s heated by pressing a button after depositing some of your concentrate into the reservoir. This is what I call my “adult binky.” Since I suffer from PTSD, panic attacks and social anxiety, I can take this with me while I run errands.  And I put it to good use. It’s also very convenient when going out of town. Before you do that, consider checking into state laws since it’s still not legal nationally. If you are found in possession of concentrates, you can be charged with a felony. To me, personally, it’s worth the risk. Because my quality of life depends on it. I also have a medical cannabis card for the state of Mississippi but is not considered legal in other states without reciprocity. As long as I have my medical card, in this state, and I am not considered impaired, then it is completely legal. For people who live in states where you can buy cannabis recreationally, you cannot be charged with a possession or paraphernalia related to cannabis.

With fentanyl being a major issue, do not take the risk of buying any product from someone on the street, even if they tell you that it was bought at a dispensary. They do not always tell the truth. Even if your friend tells you that they have a friend who bought it at a dispensary. Again, that is probably what was told to them. It doesn’t mean that they verified that information.

When I lived in Texas, I would buy my weed from a guy that I got to know at a doctor’s office. But even then, I didn’t know for sure. I was just so desperate for some type of relief that I didn’t care. And I was willing to gamble with my life despite knowing the dangers.

Do not allow someone to dab you without knowing that they have the respect for you as a beginner. I have been overdabbed and it is not fun. Some people find it quite funny. I do not. Everyone has the right to enjoy the plant, as much as, anyone else. Start slowly and move at your own pace. That one bad experience can take the beauty out of an experience that is supposed to be heavenly. Thanks for reading! And keep dabbing!

“A little dab will do ya!”

-Dana Landrum-Arnold

***Don’t forget to watch the video!***

I was not allowed to upload the video for this post. So, I’ve provided a link instead.

https://youtu.be/5MdC24TKVDI?si=wvXkZPwg62B1EyxJ

#Thispuzzledlife