Before your first dab
Health Canada defines dabbing as inhaling an aerosol made by vaporizing a solid or semi-solid cannabis extract at high temperature. Dabbing delivers a lot at once: the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) points out that a dab is inhaled all at once, in a single breath, so a large amount of THC reaches the body quickly.
That is why the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) does not recommend dabbing for people new to cannabis, and suggests that anyone who tries it start with lower-THC extracts and do their first few dabs with a trusted, experienced friend. For the hardware itself, from banger materials to carb caps, see the complete guide to dab rigs; for what to put in it, see cannabis concentrates 101.
How to dab with a torch and rig
These steps are for a domeless quartz banger, with timing advice from Weedmaps' concentrates guide:
- Add water. Fill the pipe so the water bubbles when you draw but does not splash into your mouth.
- Portion the dab first. Pick up a small amount with your dab tool, no bigger than a lentil, so you are not fumbling once the banger is hot.
- Heat the banger. Hold the torch to the side of the banger for about 45 seconds. Never touch it; it gets dangerously hot.
- Let it cool. Turn off the torch and wait about a minute; Weedmaps suggests 30 to 90 seconds depending on the concentrate. Dabbing straight off the torch means a hotter surface, which Weedmaps says makes the hit harsher.
- Dab and draw. Touch the concentrate to the inside of the banger while drawing lightly on the mouthpiece; Weedmaps suggests gently twisting the tool while you inhale.
- Cap it. Put the carb cap on to trap the heat and vapour, and keep inhaling steadily (Weedmaps). If you use them, see how to use terp pearls.
- Clear and exhale. Lift the cap to clear the chamber, or stop early if your lungs feel tight; Weedmaps says you don't have to finish it. Exhale normally: the Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines advise against deep inhalation and breath-holding.
- Swab the banger. Once it has cooled, clean it with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol or a cleaning solution after each use.
Low-temperature dabbing
How hot the surface is changes both the taste and what you inhale. In a 2017 Portland State University study that recreated dabbing on a ceramic nail, the irritant methacrolein was not detected at about 322 °C but appeared at about 403 °C and rose as the nail got hotter; benzene, a potent carcinogen, showed up only in the hottest range tested. The researchers noted that dabbers more commonly heat the nail with a torch, which gives no real control over the temperature. CCSA also points to emerging evidence of health issues from new chemicals that can form when extracts are heated to high temperatures.
There is no official right temperature, and sources draw the lines differently. Leafly says most people consider a dab at 450 °F (232 °C) or below to be low-temp. Weedmaps calls 450 to 520 °F low, 550 to 650 °F medium and anything above 650 °F high, and says lower temperatures preserve terpenes and flavour while high heat degrades them and is harsher.
With a torch, the cool-down is your temperature control, so wait longer if dabs taste harsh. Leafly also describes the reverse, or cold-start, dab: put the concentrate in the cool banger first, heat it with the torch until it starts to melt or bubble, then cap it and inhale.
How to use an e-rig
An e-nail heats itself, so no torch is needed, and e-nails and e-rigs let you set a precise temperature. Devices differ, so read the manual, but the routine usually looks like this:
- Charge it, and if it has a glass water attachment, fill it as the maker directs.
- Choose a heat setting, starting at the low end.
- Load a small amount of concentrate into the chamber with your dab tool.
- Start the heat cycle and inhale slowly once the device is ready.
- Let it cool, then clean the chamber the way the manufacturer recommends; Health Canada also advises not over-charging the battery.
How to use a dab pen
Health Canada describes a dab pen as a battery, a chamber and a mouthpiece that together melt solid and semi-solid extracts; because of the high internal temperatures, they are often covered in steel. Using one comes down to five steps:
- Portion the concentrate: less than the size of a lentil for shatter, wax, rosin or live resin, or a dime-sized pinch for hash or kief.
- Load it into the chamber.
- Adjust the airflow and temperature, if the device allows.
- Turn it on.
- Take small inhalations from the mouthpiece. CCSA's rule of thumb for vaping is one puff, then a 5-minute wait before deciding on another. To see how these pens differ from oil cartridge pens, read what a dab pen is and how it works.
How much to use the first time
Smaller than you expect: keep it under the size of a lentil. CCSA suggests a dab the size of a grain of rice and waiting at least 10 minutes before doing more. Health Canada says inhaled cannabis is felt within seconds to minutes but can take up to 30 minutes to reach its full effect, so a second dab taken too soon adds to the first before you feel its full effect.
The reason is strength. CCSA says dried buds typically have 10% to 25% THC, while some extracts reach as high as 99%. Health Canada advises new or occasional users to avoid extracts and, for anyone who does use cannabis, to start with products at 10% THC or less.
Dabbing safely
A few rules cover most of the risk:
- Respect the heat. Never touch a heated banger or nail; it can get dangerously hot. Torch-handling tips are in the dab rig guide linked above.
- Don't drive. Wait at least 6 hours after using cannabis before driving, and don't combine it with alcohol (Lower-Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines).
- Don't share mouthpieces. Health Canada suggests a separate mouthpiece for each person to avoid spreading infections, and keeping the rig clean with regular water changes.
- Know the warning signs. CCSA lists severe anxiety, vomiting and paranoia among the signs of over-intoxication; if someone feels unwell, call a poison centre or get medical help. Health Canada also lists a drop in blood pressure that can cause fainting, and psychotic episodes, among the short-term effects of cannabis.
- Ask a professional. For medical questions, including how cannabis interacts with medications, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
Buying concentrates to dab
GasDank offers same-day delivery across Toronto and the GTA, usually within one to two hours, and mail order across Canada. Hours are 8 AM to 2 AM Sunday to Wednesday and 8 AM to 3 AM Thursday to Saturday. Toronto and Mississauga orders have a $40 minimum, with free delivery from $80 ($15 below that), and customers must be 19 or older (21 in Quebec), with ID checked at the door. Browse concentrates for dabbing; the menu carries lab-tested products.
