Jungle Fever: Smoking Paraphernalia & Legal Highs

Cleaning bongs, vaporizers and pipes is essential to keeping your equipment in first class condition and ensuring a good smoking experience.

Most people want an effective, but simple, cleaning technique that is not going to take too much time and also does not present them with the risk of damaging their bong; whether it be a simple acrylic version, highly sophisticated glass bong or a multi-pipe bong, when they come to use it the day after a heavy party.

There are a number of options when choosing cleaning products for you bongs and pipes. The company promotes the Dr Green Bong Cleaner, which is suitable for use on acrylic, metal, glass and ceramics.

For the lazier cleaner there is also the option of the twist-a-pipe, which is as simple to use as it is to clean and means you can choose what length pipe you use each time by pulling out and twisting the pipe to the desired length. The pipes are made from anodised aluminium, making them unlikely to break, however much twisting, pulling and cleaning you do.

Other methods for cleaning bongs that have been tried by users include using acetone and pipe cleaners. Alcohol and salt are also sometimes used as a cheap and effective method. Roor produce their own range of cleaning accessories for Roor pipes and bongs and there are a number of products out there to ensure your bong does not become dirty and full of smoke you do not want hanging around for your next session.

The 1960s introduced free love, outdoor festivals and mass consumption of herbal highs.  There used to be a myth that smoked banana skins would make you high, actually this really was a myth as the banana skins smelled disgusting and only gave you a headache so thankfully, this practice was abandoned.

This era did promote a general interest in herbal highs and today most ‘head shops’ will be able to sell you a whole range of legal highs that should promote a pleasant experience and be safe.  As in all things, moderation is a key watchword.  Bongs were also introduced in the 1960s and their use has continued to the present day.  These devices have become a lot more sophisticated and you can now invest in an up-market percolator bong, which like a coffee percolator eliminates impurities and intensifies the aromas and sensations of the herbs that are being smoked.

Another practice that has been in existence since the 1960s is the use of Rizla papers, anyone who hand rolls cigarettes will have used rizla papers as will anyone who is rolling an herbal cigarette.  Rolling machines for rizlas are an efficient way of automatically rolling your cigarettes for you so that those who are not so proficient at this art can let the machine perform the function for you.  The user places the paper in between two rollers in the machine, the herbs and tobacco are then inserted into the paper, the roller is operated and a perfectly formed hand-rolled cigarette will be created.

A percolator bong is usually made from glass and is a tool that is used to smoke cannabis or a range of herbal highs.  The bong is sometimes known as a diffuser.  Another popular pipes is known by the name of the product’s manufacturer and is called a ROOR pipe.

The mechanics behind a percolator pipe involve the addition of an extra compartment in the pipe that cools down the product that is being smoked, similar to a water-cooled engine on a motor vehicle.  Dome and tree percolators are the most common products but there are others on the market.  The additional chamber filters the smoke so that it doesn’t hit the back of the lungs with a stream of hot smoke when the user is inhaling from the bong.

A percolator bong that has a diffuser will also act as a filtering mechanism and protect the smoker still further.  These glass products come in many designs, colours and sizes, from the standard bong to one that  imitates a traditional Middle Eastern hookah and can be highly decorated and ornate.  The main idea behind the product is to increase the intensity of the smoke and enhance the whole experience.

Roor pipes are different in that they lack the water-cooling mechanism and can be portable.  Essentially a Roor pipe resembles a glass tube, open at both ends with a pipe bowl fixed to the middle.  The user inhales the smoke from one end of the tube and uses their finger to control the amount of smoke they inhale. The gauze in the pipe bowl filters out impurities and rubbish that sometimes come with natural ‘high’ mixtures.

ROOR pipes are produced by renowned glass moulding company Roor, which is also well known for its range of bongs.

Roor do a variety of steam roller pipes, which are all hand blown and made from silicate glass, using generous quantities to make their Roor Pipes more durable.

The design of Roor pipes is renowned by both new and more established users across the world. In 2009, the company scooped first prize in the glass category at the 22nd ‘High Times Cup’ in Amsterdam. The company showcased the Roor Excalibur, which stands at over six feet tall.

Roor are known for their unique twist on the market, adding fun and originality to their designs, particularly in the form of the 33-piece Cypress Hill collector’s editions.

The company also has an enviable reputation as one of the best bong suppliers internationally, due to their ease of use and the quality of glass, which makes them more durable and easier to clean.

The range of bongs available caters for every need, from small indoor pipes to the larger Icemaster models, which is where they start to become more expensive. 

Roor are produced in Germany, but have a strong reputation and following in Holland. The company seems to have thought of everything to make their product stand out, not only in the precision and durability of the design, but also in the quality of the replacement parts available. Hand blown glass bowls are available in plain designs for functionality and also in unique and detailed designs for people who want to give their bong an added twist of interest.

The company also produces bong bags, rolling papers and stash jars and with the quality of material and reputation they have gained, it is easy to see why they are one of the biggest providers in the market today.

Natural legal highs have been in existence for hundreds of years and it is only recent developments in technology that have boosted the market with synthetic versions.

Traditionally Salvia leaves were chewed in Mexico during spiritual and healing sessions. Salvia, which is part of the sage family, is chewed or smoked and generally the effects only last a few minutes. Peasants chewed Kratom, a medicinal leaf that originates from South East Asia, while they carried out menial tasks and was also used for its medicinal properties.

Since 2005, legal highs have become more popular and in recent years the rise of synthetic legal highs has reached new levels. This has led to Headshops, such as Shiva Head Shop, springing up, which sell herbs that mimic the effects of drugs, but are legal.

Herbal highs are strictly defined as plants that occur naturally and produce these effects, for example, Salvia. They are often smoked or chewed or sometimes made into a form of tea. Modern twists on these include Noz Kandy, which are a range of inhalers packed with naturally occurring herbs and natural oils, as well as Blotter Caps.

Synthetic legal highs do not occur naturally, but have been manufactured by chemical companies. Examples of synthetic legal highs include Snow Blow and Jungle High Energy Pills, which are available from Shiva Head Shop.

Legal highs, if used responsibly, are believed to have similar effects as some illegal drugs, but with fewer side effects. Another form of legal highs, also sold by Shiva, are Ethnobotanicals. These include Blue Lotus and Hawaiian Baby Woodrose and come under the category of naturally occurring legal highs. Egyptians typically used blue Lotus, soaked in wine, as a medicine. The flower was also sometimes smoked for a sedative effect.

While some legal high users prefer the slightly healthier method of using bongs, many still prefer smoking herbs.

There are many accessories for herbal smokers, particularly in the form of ashtrays. Spinning ashtrays are a good accessory for legal high smokers, because they enable you to get rid of both the ash and odour quickly, simply and with little mess compared to normal open ashtrays, which can cause the odour to linger and presents a fire risk if they are knocked over.

Shiva Head Shop sells a number of these ashtrays, including a magic eight ball spinning ashtray, which is one of the most popular spinning versions. Also available are glass ashtrays in iconic or budget designs, novelty ashtrays and a ceramic line. 

Following the advent of the smoking ban, many smokers are also finding it useful to be portable with their habit. The latest portable ashtrays allow for just that, providing a quick and simple way to effectively dispose of ash.

Cannabis seeds are available online, from a number of stockists, legally for collection or scientific research purposes only.

Legal highs supplier, Shiva Head Shop, sells a wide variety of the seeds, which have been cultivated across the world and are often supplied from internationally recognised companies.

Some of the recommended types of seeds include Dinafem Seeds, produced in Spain and DNA Genetics, a brand launched in Hollywood before production moved to Amsterdam.

The online store also sells seeds from well-known retailers that include the Dutch Green House Seed Company and KC Brains Cannabis Seeds.

The demand for auto flowering cannabis seeds has increased in the last few years and there is a great deal of competition to produce hardier and superior specimens by developing their genetic makeup. A cannabis cup is held every year in Amsterdam, where cannabis seed producers meet to share ideas on how to develop strains to make them stronger, more productive and different.

People have been smoking herbs to achieve physical and psychological results for millennia. Helping individuals achieve relaxation, healing the body, and encouraging a positive sense of one’s place in the world were some of the duties of ancient shamans and medicine men. Nowadays, the paraphernalia of herb smoking such as the finely crafted Roor pipes and accessories contribute to the modern cultural pursuit of obtaining herbal highs.

Herbs have been used in many forms including a paste for use in food, as a tea, or dried for smoking. Many herbs can be smoked without prosecution in most countries, but alteration of consciousness by any means can have adverse effects on our lives. Numerous prescription medicines come with warnings not to drive or operate heavy machinery under their influence, and the same warnings apply to the smoking of herbs and essential oils.

Herbs such as wild dagga or Scotch Broom Topps that have become popular for smoking in bongs and other devices, have been discovered to have harmful effects if taken frequently. Because the use of most of these kinds of herbs is unregulated, it is important that we take responsibility for our well-being by researching the effects that smoking blends can have on the body.

On the positive side, the use of smokeless tobacco products such as snuff bullets is approved by medical science as a substitute for smoking tobacco. Making an impact in the world of the snuff bullet, Blizzard bullets are easy to fill, can be used with a minimum of fuss, and are presented in attractive colours. Not all legal highs are potentially deadly.

The Plenty Vaporizer is made by Storz & Bickel, manufacturers of the popular Volcano vaporizer. The Plenty is described by the manufacturers as a “hand held” vaporizer, which suggests it could give portable, lightweight vaporizers a run for their money.

Storz & Bickel have always looked for ways to give their customers a pure herbal high. This philosophy is behind the success of the Volcano model. The Storz & Bickel Plenty vaporizer has a coil made of stainless steel which is joined to the mouthpiece and helps to cool the vapour as the user draws on it. The Plenty has a regulator which guards against overheating, and if you forget to turn it off when you are finished inhaling, then it will shut itself down.

The varied characteristics of herbs mean that not all mixtures need the same intensity of heat. With the Plenty, the temperature is controlled by the user within the range of 130 to 202 degrees Celsius with the help of an analogue thermometer.

The Plenty is lightweight but it is not portable. It plugs into an electricity outlet, so it may not be winning over customers from the battery and butane powered vaporizers.

As an alternative to the regular street drugs that are notorious in popular and casual culture, legal highs are gaining popularity with both seasoned drug users looking for new experiences, or with first time users who are looking to legal highs as a way to avoid trouble with the law. However, the legal status of legal highs is a grey area compared to the status of the regular narcotics; generally, legal highs are available because the Department of Health have yet to classify them. There are many legal highs which are simply herb based drugs that have been known to traditional medicine for a very long time – however there are also new drugs which are specifically engineered to avoid penalisation by existing laws.

For users of legal highs, it probably won’t be much of a surprise that the UK government is taking steps to legislate the new more popular drugs. This seems to be mostly aimed at the more powerful designer drugs; these are drugs that are made with the aim of imitating the effects of other drugs, but with a different chemical compound that contradicts the law. Luckily for people who frequently enjoy legal highs, there are a huge number of such compounds, and the legal ambiguity seems unlikely to affect every single possible legal high in current use. In the meantime, people can continue to invest in equipment to enjoy their legal highs, such as Lolite vaporisers or snuff bullet blizzard.