Bowl (smoking)

Some bowls are so beautiful that they are sometimes given names so as not to confuse them with other bowls or pieces.

A Bowl, when referred to in drug culture, can mean three things that differ according to region and personal taste. Many exclusively refer to "bowl" as meaning the indented or 'bowl-shaped' part of a smoking instrument. It is also used to signify a pipe used for smoking non-tobacco products. More informally, it is used to refer to the quantity of material required to fill a smoking device. Many handcrafted glass pieces are viewed as status symbols. They are unique works of art and can vary greatly in complexity and intricacy. Glass pieces, or "bowls," are unique to the owner.

Bowl (Pipe)

Originally used exclusively for the recepticle of a pipe, the term has come into use to differentiate between pipes used for smoking tobacco and pipes used for smoking marijuana.

Bowls of this kind vary greatly (visually) from one to another. A few reasons being the different 'varieties', materials they're made from, and the fact that most are hand made. The common thread between them are components. All of the pipes have a receptacle of some sort, a "stem" between this and the final part, a "mouthpiece". The smoking material is placed in the receptacle and affected with a heat source while air is drawn through the bowl and stem to the user.

Some bowls have a "carburetor" or "carb" (also referred to as a "shotgun", "choke", or a "rushhole" by users), a small hole usually located near the recepticle to allow fresh air in. Two reasons for this are to clear the pipe of smoke, and to conserve smoking material when enough smoke has been created.

Some examples of bowls. Glass and aluminum bong bowls, glass pipe and metal bowl from a pipe that disassembles. These are examples of bowls for marijuana use.

Metal bowls are generally made from pieces used in lamps or (sometimes) plumbing. They are often able to be disassembled for cleaning, to remove resin for smoking or for easy storage. They often have a 'sleeve' over the stem area to keep heat from burning the user or just for decoration. The sleeves can be made of wood, heat-resistant plastic, clay, decorated metal or made by the user commonly out of electrical tape. In some places these pipes can be 'custom built' as the buyer chooses the pieces for their own unique piece. For more about metal bowls see Smoking pipe (non-tobacco)

Homemade bowls

Bowls can be improvised by using objects such as plastic pop bottles or cans. This is achieved by making a hole (the size of the hole can vary greatly) in the top of the bottle or can, and another hole can be made for the carboretor if the user desires. The cannabis is inhaled through the hole that already exists in the can or bottle. A filter may be used on the bowl depending on the amount of cannabis and the users perferences.

A variant of homemade bowls are known colloquially as 'lungs', and are very similar to regular bowls made from pop bottles, except the bottom of the bottle is cut off and a plastic bag is taped onto the bottle in its place. This method of smoking can be very effective because the user may experience a rush of smoke into their lungs. This is known as a lung because of the plastic bag 'breathing' when the cannabis is inhaled.

Bowl (As a measurement indicator)

Bowl, in this instance refers to the general amount of marijuana used to fill a smoking receptacle . It is used in a similar manner as the words "pinch", "dash" or "teaspoon". In this respect it's not a good term for general measurement and is used only when referring to familiar amount.