If you’re feeling bummed the fact that our beloved holiday, 4/20, has come and passed, it’s time to think again. Did you know that yet another marijuana-themed holiday is coming up in July? It has a different take on marijuana, designed to celebrate cannabis concentrates rather than the bud itself. Of course, the holiday we’re referring to is 710 (celebrated on July 10th). If you flip the numbers 710 upside-down, you get “OIL.” Obviously, this date was chosen well.
Dabbing is a big part of enjoying marijuana for a lot of people. Some people aren’t aware of what dabbing really means, so we’re here to clear things up for you. Basically, the term “dab” can refer both to the act of dabbing as well as the dab (noun) itself. The concentrate or oil is called the dab while dabbing means consuming the concentrate in some way. It doesn’t matter how much it is or how potent it is; if it’s an oil or a concentrate, it’s dabbing.
Dabbing has been around since at least the 1960s or 1970s at the latest. The methods for doing it has certainly changed, as have personal preferences and cultural trends. Nonetheless, the old way of doing it is still relevant. Back in the day, a “hot knives” technique was used. This involved putting the concentrate on a metal knife or two, holding it beneath a bottle (a 2-liter bottle was most common), and smoking it from there.
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From that point on, new forms of oils and concentrates became more and more common. Honey Oil was invented, as was Butane Hash Oil (BHO). Much more recently, smoking concentrates (instead of bud) has become a whole lot more mainstream, both legally and in the underground scene. Concentrates are sometimes allowed in medical marijuana states, making it relatively easy for companies to sell and people to access.
If you’re a weed lover but haven’t tried dabbing before, this might be the perfect time to see what those oils and concentrates are all about! Before we get into the details of the different marijuana oils and what you can expect, let’s take a closer look at the holiday itself.
The origin of 710
Answering the question of where 710 originally came from is a bit tricky since thus far no one seems to be stepping forward and taking responsibility. This may not seem particularly surprising, but in fact, compared to the 420 holiday, it is quite the shock. When the origins of 420 began being discussed, there were some very heated debates going on between people wanting to receive credit where credit is due. In other words, they claimed they had founded the holiday, and wanted people to acknowledge that.
You might expect the same thing to happen with 710, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. One thing is certain, however: it is a recent holiday. It wasn’t even mentioned on the internet until 2011, and even there it was barely and very briefly touched on — and that was it. Some of the big names in the marijuana world have since begun to spread information and awareness about the holiday, as well as explaining what exactly it is all about.
But again, no one seems to be taking credit for coming up with it. There is no mention or guesses about who invented it or why they did, making the mystery even more surprising. All that is known, now, is that it exists and that it has recently been gaining publicity.
But what about if we look at the communities of dabbers themselves? After all, while the internet is useful, it isn’t the only source of information out there — especially when it deals with folk tales and legends. Then again, to come up with the “code” date for oil, all someone had to do was turn it upside-down. Anybody could’ve done that! In fact, its first use may have had nothing to do with cannabis oil but was just about the word “oil” in general.
There is some buzz out there that Taskrok actually was the one to come up with 710. According to him, he and some other dabbers came up with it on TinyChat. They had pointed out to one another that dabbing didn’t quite jive with all the smoking festivities on 420, so they should have a separate holiday. Then, Taskrok made the mental connection that 710 spells oil when it’s turned upside-down, so July 10th would be the perfect date. He also confirms, however, that he wasn’t the first person in the world to come up with the 710 connections to the word oil, referencing car mechanics and auto oil.
Whether this is the real origin story or not, there is no doubt that Taskrok is a big part of the dabbing community and therefore has a positive impact on people who like to dab. Of course, the marijuana community was not universally excited about the idea. Some 420 fans called the 710 idea stupid, but nonetheless, it began taking off. It started making it into different parts of the internet (leaving the confines of the TinyChat rooms).
710 became a celebrated theme for all things dab-related, and it has reached a point of being more mainstream and highly marketed. Nonetheless, this helped add extra fame to the 710 movement, and people everywhere started getting excited about it. What we see today is more than just a couple people talking about it in TinyChat; we see a movement and a celebration of something truly epic.
The types of marijuana oils used on 710
There are a number of different types of cannabis oils that can be enjoyed on 710. Of course, you can do whatever you want, but the most commonly seen ones are hash, wax, and shatter. Dabs are produced in a specific, legitimate way that should not be tried without professional expertise. It involves using butane, carbon dioxide, alcohol, and nitrogen. If that sounds dangerous to you, that’s because it is (or, at least, it could be dangerous).
Cannabis oil is so popular because it is a highly concentrated form of weed. In the marijuana smoking world, potent buds are highly prized. In the dabbing world, everything is potent. To get a better idea of what we’re talking about, imagine this: regular bud (that you would smoke) has between 15 and 30% THC. Simply put (in case you somehow didn’t already know), THC is the stuff that makes you feel high. Once the bud goes through the process of concentration, the resulting oil, honeycomb, shatter, budder, or whatever form you prefer, has between 50 and 90% THC. That’s a pretty big improvement.
Hash
So what is this “hash” that everyone’s talking about, anyway? It has traditionally been more commonly found in countries outside of the United States, although it’s gaining traction in the US as well. Hash, or hashish, is made by getting rid of the plant part of the marijuana (i.e., the leaves and buds) and just holding on to the trichomes, which is the head of the female flower and is the most potent part of the plant in terms of THC levels.
Hash is either made by collecting powder jam-packed with resin and compressed with heat until that resin starts melting, and turning it into a block of resin that is ready to be consumed. I can also be created by taking the flower heads, or tops, and rubbing them until the resins begin to stick to each other. You then take the lumps of resin and roll it into bigger lumps, and eventually compress that to turn into the blocks to be consumed.
BHO
BHO stands for “butane hash oil” or “butane honey oil,” and it is produced in the way briefly described above: butane, or more specifically N-butane, goes through a tube containing marijuana and taking the THC from the plant and through the tube. The resulting butane combination goes into another container, leaving a concentrate behind that could be consumed but should first undergo some final touches, so it doesn’t contain any elements or residuals afterward.
Wax or Budder
Wax, or budder, is the most likely concentrate to be found on dispensary shelves. It is made with a whipped and kneading process, which helps get rid of any contaminants or other unwanted parts of the concentrate. This occurs after the concentrate has already been extracted.
Crumble
This is related to wax or budder, except that it is designed to be crumbly in texture rather than hard and solid. Its texture is lighter in general, which makes it so that it is possible to get all crumbly.
Shatter
Shatter is the oil you get straight from extraction. It is hard (thus its glass-related name) and is supposed to stay hard. It is kept this way by putting it in the freezer. People who consider themselves dabbers generally go for shatter.
Oil
Oil is the type of concentrate that is perhaps the least exciting to experienced dabbers, simply because it is not as appetizing as other concentrates. This is because it doesn’t come from the buds of the marijuana plant, but rather from the trim of the plant (general plant matter).
Honeycomb
This is such a fitting name that you might think twice about what it is you’re buying when you see it. The honeycomb is purged in a vacuum, similar to other forms of concentrates, but there is no whipping involved (unlike wax or budder). This results in a product that looks like a real honeycomb, what with its many holes and divots
Flake
This is another highly fitting name since this type of concentrate tends to be dry and flaky. In fact, that is a big reason why many people choose it — they prefer this texture, especially if they are using a portable hash vaporizer. Its texture is loose, dry, and flaky, allowing for easy use.
Full-melt
This is a type of hash that is designed to be free of any of those pesky solvents. It is made with a specific technique with so-called “bubble bags.”
CBD
CBD oil is the type often used for medical purposes. The draw to this one is that, first of all, it is legal in quite a few of the stricter medical marijuana states (while.other types of marijuana or concentrate might not be allowed). Additionally, it doesn’t get a person high because its active ingredient is CBD rather than THC, giving it some useful medicinal benefits without causing the person to be cognitively affected.
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How to celebrate 710 responsibly
If you are interested in trying out the world of dabbing this upcoming 710, you have come to the right place. It’s important to know a little bit about dabbing before you try. First of all, you have to decide on a method of dabbing. You can choose one of three options: the first method with a rig, the second method with a rig, and the portable vaporizer method.
If you’re using the first rig method, a nail made of ceramic nail, quartz, or titanium is used alongside a blowtorch for creme brulee or a regular (kitchen) blowtorch. You heat up the nail with the blowtorch, put the hash on the hot nail, and then the resulting smoke is what you inhale. The second rig technique involves an e-nail, which heats your rig up using electricity, but the method is basically the same.
The third method, the portable vaporizer method, simply involves purchasing a vaporizer that is powered by batteries (thus why it’s portable). You put the hash in the vaporizer and smoke it from there.
If you’re smoking 710 in a place where it is not looked upon kindly by the law, it’s important to keep in mind the fact that someone could notice your activities. If this is the case, take certain steps to cover your tracks. Be sure to keep your own safety in mind first and foremost, so whether it’s avoiding making your apartment smell like weed or going somewhere away from your private home to do it, be sure to play it smart.
