A few years ago someone told me that when using a lighter your inhaling butane.
Whether this is true or not isn’t exactly clear and there’s much debate around this topic within the cannabis community but I’m a bong kind of girl, which means I use my lighter upside. So this had me wondering if this could be true and if there was an alternative.
A little research on google and I quickly discovered hemp wick. It solved all my problems, plus problems I didn’t even know I had?
Hemp wick could easily be mistaken for brown string, except the texture of hemp wick is like rubber.
The fibres found in the stalks of hemp plants are tightly bound together to create hemp string, which is then dipped into beeswax.
Beeswax is used to give’s hemp wick its rubbery like texture. It’s also used to create a slower burn, similar to that of a wax wick in a candle.
Unfortunately hemp wick isn’t vegan. I am yet to find a business selling vegan friendly hemp wick, but when I do, I will definitely share them with you all.
Although not vegan, hemp wick is still a much healthier and eco-friendly alternative to using butane lighters, and what could be better than lighting your cannabis with well… cannabis?
How do I use hemp wick?
Hemp wick has a floppy like texture, just like string. Which means it can be hard to control and dangerous once lit. This is a contributing factor to why hemp wick is unpopular within the cannabis community.
Although uncommon, using hemp wick has become more popular with recent years. Well known brand, RAW have their own version of hemp wick. This is super popular due to the way they have been designed, they are much safer and easier to control.
In order to use hemp wick you will need a source of fire. This is to light your hemp wick. This is commonly achieved with either a match or a butane lighter.
My favourite way to use hemp wick is with a candle.
I use one match to light my candle, and this candle will then burn during the period of time that I’m smoking for. It provides a constant source of fire and also has some cool added benefits such as smelling nice (which can also help mask weed smells) and creates a peaceful vibe.
To use hemp wick, light the end of your hemp wick and simply use it the same as you would a lighter.
Once you’ve lit your bowl using the hemp wick, you face the problem extinguishing the flame. There are two ways to do this; waving the hemp wick and pressing out the ember between two fingers or dipping the end of the hemp wick in a bowl of water.
You will need to be relatively quick whilst the hemp wick is lit. As it burns it will begin to drop hot ash and this could cause damage to the area beneath you. I’ve had many burns in my carpets due to this and it also another reason why hemp wick isn’t a popular method.
Should I use hemp wick?
Using hemp wick does involve a few more steps than the traditional method but it does offer a lot more advantages.
Here are my 5 reasons why using hemp wick is a better and healthier alternative for us;
It makes Cannabis taste better
There are no solvent’s involved
Made from natural ingredients
It’s Cheap & Affordable (less than 99p per m)
It’s made from renewable source’s
I have found that there is a significant difference between my bowls when I use hemp wick compared to when I use butane lighters. One of the most noticeable differences to me is the improved taste of the terpenes in my cannabis.
One of the first things I discovered on my journey to a healthier relationship with cannabis was discovering and using hemp wick. It can also be an extremely useful thing to have lying around the house.
If your looking to purchase hemp wick, I’ve popped a few links down below;
Stay Blazy,
Em x
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