Pack a bowl by grinding 0.1 to 0.3 grams of flower, filling the pipe bowl loose to the rim, and tamping it once with light pressure. Light the edge, not the center. Draw at a slow pace. A packed bowl should pull air with little resistance.
What you need
- A pipe with a clean bowl
- Dried flower, ground
- Grinder or clean fingers
- Lighter
- Tamping tool or a clean finger
Steps
- Break the flower into small pieces. Remove stems and seeds.
- Grind to a coarse texture, about the size of a grain of rice.
- Hold the pipe level. Fill the bowl to the rim. Do not press.
- Tamp once with light pressure. Leave a small gap at the top.
- Light the edge. Pull the flame across the flower for one second.
- Inhale for 2 to 3 seconds. Stop when the bowl glows.
How much to pack
Use 0.1 grams for a first bowl. A full bowl holds 0.2 to 0.3 grams for most pipes. Start low. Wait 10 minutes before a second draw. THC effects peak within 30 minutes after smoking.
Common mistakes
- Packing tight. Air cannot pass. The bowl burns hot and harsh.
- Grinding to powder. Fine material pulls into your mouth.
- Lighting the center. The flower burns uneven.
- Inhaling hard. Smoke hits the throat.
CBD and hemp flower
Hemp flower has less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight under US law. CBD flower may still contain trace THC. Check the lab label for cannabinoid content and pesticides. You must be 21 or older in most US states to buy or use cannabis products. Federal law does not legalize cannabis. State rules differ.