Over the past 35 years, marijuana legalization has made significant headway in the United States, and a new variant of marijuana is flowing in from Colorado, Washington, and California, and it has now made it’s way to the pastures of State College, Pennsylvania.
Throw away the marijuana buds, because the future of marijuana has arrived in a new waxy form, known as honey oil, or dabs.
This new variant of marijuana has extracted THC (the chemical responsible for the psychological effects of smoking) out of the cannabis plant, and has infused the THC into a small waxy ball using chemicals like butane and propane. This chemical is then torched and smoked using a metallic piece attached to a glass paraphernalia known as a rig. One inhale of the drug will send your brain into a surging high. However this high is unlike anything you have ever experienced.
While normal marijuana plants only contain approximately 10% THC, this honey oil concoction can contain anywhere from 30% THC to 95% THC, more than quintuple the original potency. That’s extreme, especially considering that 10% potency was quite effective already.
For fans of modern culture, we have seen how Walt Whitman of Breaking Bad was able to sell his pure product with amazing success. Consider dabs in that same respect; it’s purity is the equivalent of Walt’s Blue Meth, and it’s likely that dabs will take the marijuana field by storm over the next few years.
However, do we know what we are getting into?
There are no tests, no regulation over the exchange and consumption of this drug. In legalized states, the substance is completely legal, despite numerous circumstances where dabs have shown to have explosive side effects.
For one, there are over 40 reports in Colorado and Washington over the past two years of house explosions resulting from amateurs attempting to brew wax in their own houses, with no avail. Due to the highly flammable nature of the the butane and propane, and the mixture of necessary heat to extract the THC, this drug replicates the fears community members’ had when crack-cocaine was being brewed in houses.
Then there is the fear of new users unknowingly using the product, while having no understanding about the drug. Marijuana has been cemented in younger minds as a safe drug, one that will not kill you. While no one has died on dabs, the drug’s intensity can cause hallucinations, anxiety, and a number of other serious side effects, as the THC levels can give a high as strong as dozens of joints, and users not familiar with a marijuana high could have a mental breakdown.
One student, who wished not to identified due to legal concerns, says that they have seen the drug in action for over a year now, and that few individuals who have entered the dab culture have gotten their lives together.
“Many of the friends who have introduced me to the drug long ago are now in jail, in rehab, and out of school. They work menial jobs to make ends meet, while spending their money on the drug, which is much more expensive than regular weed. This is weed on steroids, there isn’t much safe about it.”
That brings us to an important precipice. Why do people use the drug if there is little knowledge on health effects, and if these apparent dangers exist?
Our friend had an answer.
“The high is extreme — ecstasy like. It’s unlike anything I have ever felt smoking the cannabis plant. The high lasts all day, and your body is in complete euphoria. It’s not hard to imagine seeing people get drawn in because they think it’s only marijuana. But it’s not, but they don’t realize it before it’s too late.”
This drug will continue to surge through our culture, and will run rampant until it can be thoroughly studied. Unfortunately, due to marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drug, no tests can be performed, and as long as the federal government ceases its war against marijuana, dabs, wax, and honey oil, this variant will remain in the shadows. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t suck too many of us into the sludgy darkness of drug culture.