How to Inhale Weed for the First Time

⚡Here is the best way to inhale weed your first time:

Place your lips on the mouthpiece or unlit end, then pull the smoke slowly into your mouth. Once enough smoke gathers in your mouth, expand your ribcage and inhale to draw it into your lungs. The more you stretch your lungs the more surface area THC can absorb. Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale deeply and fully.

Hemper cheat sheet for inhaling smoke/vapor:

• Bong: Deep inhale to lungs, expand ribs, hold briefly, exhale.
• Pipe: Draw smoke to mouth, expand ribs to fill lungs, hold, exhale.
• Joint: Purse lips, draw smoke to mouth, inhale to lungs, exhale.
• Vape: Inhale directly to the throat, slow and steady, hold briefly, and exhale.

1. Form an air-tight seal on mouthpiece

Start by placing your lips on the mouthpiece. With your lips, form a tight seal around the mouth end to create a closed path for the smoke to travel through. By creating a proper seal, you’re making sure all the cannabis compounds go straight into your lungs, not the atmosphere.

💡Different smoking devices need different seals: a pipe, joint, and vape require cupping your lips over a small hole or mouthpiece, while a bong needs a wider mouth seal over the large mouthpiece.

2. Slowly draw smoke into mouth

Gently inhale through the mouthpiece, pursing your lips to create a smaller opening to control the volume of smoke that enters your mouth. Draw the smoke slowly into your mouth, letting it fill gradually. This controlled approach reduces the risk of coughing or taking too big of a hit. For beginners, draw smoke for about 2-3 seconds.

💡Dr. Nicolas Cozzi found that inhaling smoke brings inash, resin, tar, and toxins into the lungs. A water bong with a carbon filter cuts down on these, giving you a much cleaner inhale.

3. Open mouth, expand ribs, inhale deeply

Once enough smoke is drawn into your mouth, release the seal and open your mouth slightly to pull fresh oxygen in to begin moving the smoke into your lungs. While inhaling, expand your ribcage to lower the diaphragm, increasing lung space and surface area for THC absorption. This expansion of the ribs allows more THC to reach your bloodstream

4. Hold smoke in lungs for 1-2 seconds

After inhaling, hold your breath and the smoke in your lungs for 1-2 seconds. This brief hold allows THC to absorb into lung tissue without straining your lungs. Holding any longer doesn’t boost THC intake and can irritate lung tissue and cause lightheadedness. Keep your chest relaxed and ribs expanded for optimal absorption.

5. Exhale deeply, contract the stomach

Exhale the smoke deeply by contracting your diaphragm. You do this by tightening and pulling in your stomach muscles forcing all the smoke out of your lungs. This clears irritants like ash, tar, and resin that can stay trapped in your lungs leading to coughing, wheezing, and irritation. 

Rule of thumb: Exhale as many seconds as you inhaled, plus some.

💡Secondhand cannabis smoke carries harmful particulate matter (tiny airborne particles that can damage the lungs). To protect yourself and others, always exhale cannabis smoke into a HEPA carbon filter, which traps these particles and keeps your air cleaner.

3 most common inhaling mistakes

These three common mistakes are costing you money and hurting your lungs. Learn how to inhale properly to get better effects while using less product:

1. You’re burning your lungs

Coughing is triggered when hot smoke hits sensitive lung tissue, especially with larger hits like bongs that bring in more heat. Bigger hits mean more irritation for your lungs. To prevent coughing, purse your lips to limit smoke intake, take smaller hits, and use a water pipe to cool the smoke before inhaling.

2. Stop taking such big hits

As a beginner, start with 1-2 small puffs and wait 10-15 minutes to gauge the effects. Gradually increase if needed. Small puffs mean you are drawing far less smoke into your mouth and lungs. A normal draw time would be about 4-5 seconds, keep your puffs at about 2 seconds to test the waters.

3. Stop holding your hits

Holding smoke longer in the lungs doesn’t increase THC absorption. Most THC is absorbed within seconds of inhalation. Holding any longer than 1-2 seconds increases your lungs to irritants. Focus instead on slow, steady inhalation rather than longer holds. Light-headed feelings are associated more with oxygen depreciation, not increased THC effects.

Inhaling by devices:

Inhaling weed really depends on the device or method you’re using. Each device requires slight adjustments to the above steps. Below is how to inhale smoke or vapor using specific devices:

 

1. How to inhale with a joint

To inhale smoke with a joint, start by taking a slow, gentle draw into your mouth without inhaling directly into your lungs. Hold the smoke briefly, then open your mouth slightly and take a deep breath to pull the smoke into your lungs. Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale slowly. Start with small puffs and pace yourself to avoid coughing or discomfort.

1. Create a seal: Place your lips around the mouth end of the joint softly. Too much saliva or pressing too hard can close the opening of the joint.
2. Draw smoke: Once the cherry is lit, draw the smoke gently into your mouth, keep your throat relaxed and don’t inhale into your lungs yet.
3. Inhale deeply: Open your mouth slightly and take a deep breath of fresh air, which pulls the smoke into your lungs.
4. Hold and exhale: Hold for 1-2 seconds and exhale deeply and fully.

Pro-tip: You can’t inhale a joint correctly without creating an air-tight seal. This is done by learning how to roll a joint correctly.

2. How to inhale a bong rip

To inhale a bong rip, create a tight and wide seal on the mouthpiece, light thebowl, and draw smoke into the bong’s water chamber. Once the bong is filled, remove the bowl and inhale deeply to pull the smoke out of the bong and into your lungs. Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale deeply.

1. Create a Seal: Bongs have wider mouthpiece, create a seal with your lips to prevent smoke loss.
2. Draw Smoke: Light the bowl and inhale to pull the hot smoke through thepercolator in the water chamber to begin producing bubbles for filtration.
3. Inhale Deeply: Remove the bowl, and inhale deeply to pull the smoke from the water chamber into your lungs.
4. Hold and Exhale: Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale deeply to clear the lungs.

Learn: How to smoke a bong

3. How to inhale with a pipe

To inhale from a weed pipe with a carb, create a seal on the mouthpiece with your lips, cover the carb hole with your thumb, and draw smoke into the pipe. Once smoke fills the head of the pipe, release the carb hole and inhale deeply to pull the smoke into your lungs. Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale slowly.

1. Create a Seal: Place lips around the tiny hole (the mouthpiece) at the opposite end of the bowl.
2. Draw Smoke: Cover the carb hole, light the bowl, and inhale gently to fill the pipe with smoke.
3. Inhale Deeply: Release the carb, opening airflow, and inhale to pull smoke into your lungs.
4. Hold and Exhale: Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale deeply for a full release.

Tip: Inhaling successfully with pipes is all about how you pack the bowl. Pack too tight you starve the flame, packing too loose and your cannabis burns unevenly.

4. How to inhale with a dry herb vaporizer

To inhale from a dry herb vaporizer take a steady and controlled draw directly into your lungs by aiming the vapor at the back of your open throat. Pull for 4-5 seconds and hold the vapor in your lungs for 1-2 seconds, then exhale slowly. Always “sip” don’t ever “rip” with vaporizers.

1. Create a Seal: Place your lips around the vaporizer’s mouthpiece for an airtight seal to prevent vapor loss.
2. Draw Vapor: Inhale directly, taking a steady draw to pull the vaporized compounds into your lungs by aiming at the back of your throat.
3. Hold and Inhale: Hold the vapor for 1-2 seconds in lungs to absorb compounds fully.
4. Exhale Slowly: Exhale deeply, releasing the vapor fully.

Did you know? A dry herb vape is completely different than smoking. You can do cool things like set low temps to only inhale terpenes. Check out our guide for advanced tips and tricks with dry herb vapes. 

Learn: Benefits of a dry herb vaporizer

5. How to inhale dab rig vapor

To inhale from a dab rig, start by heating the nail or banger. Place the dab on the hot surface, and create an air-tight seal on the mouthpiece with your lips. Pull the vapor into your lungs by expanding your rib cage, hold for 1-2 seconds for absorption, and exhale deeply.

1. Create a Seal: Position your lips around the rig’s mouthpiece to form an airtight seal, so no vapor escapes in the air.
2. Draw Vapor: Once the dab starts vaporizing, inhale slowly, pulling the vapor into your lungs with a steady, controlled breath.
3. Hold and Inhale: Hold the vapor for 1-2 seconds to absorb cannabinoids.
4. Exhale Slowly: Exhale deeply and fully to release all vapor from your lungs.

Tip: Finding the right dab temperature is key. Lower temperatures preserve terpenes, while higher temperatures produce stronger effects. 

Learn: Benefits of a dab rig

6. How to inhale with a bubbler

To inhale from a bubbler, start by creating a tight seal on the mouthpiece with your lips and gently draw smoke into the water chamber. Let the smoke bubble in the water chamber for 2-3 seconds and then release the bowl and inhale deeply to pull the smoke into your lungs. Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale slowly.

1. Create a Seal: Place your lips around the bubbler’s mouthpiece, forming an airtight seal to keep smoke flow steady.
2. Draw Smoke: Light the bowl, and inhale slowly, letting the smoke filter through the water chamber via the percolator.
3. Inhale Deeply: Pull the bowl from the joint to open airflow, pulling the filtered smoke into your lungs with a deep inhale.
4. Hold and Exhale: Hold the smoke for 1-2 seconds, then exhale deeply to clear your lungs.

Learn: Bubblers vs bongs (which is better).

7. How to inhale with a vape cart

To inhale from a vape cart, place your lips on the mouthpiece of the cartridge, take a slow, steady draw directly into your lungs (aim for the back of the throat). Expand your ribs slightly to pull vapor into the lungs and hold for 1-2 seconds. Exhale deeply and slowly.

• Create a Seal: Place your lips securely around the vape cart’s mouthpiece for an airtight seal.
• Draw Vapor: Inhale directly into your lungs with a slow, steady pull, allowing the vapor to flow smoothly.
• Hold and Inhale: Hold the vapor in your lungs for 1-2 seconds to absorb active compounds.
• Exhale Slowly: Exhale gently to release the vapor and avoid throat irritation.

Tip: If you want consistent vapors to inhale, we recommend using a 510 pipe battery. With 900mah capacity, it gives you deeper pulls for a richer inhale.

8. How to inhale with a nectar collector

To inhale with a nectar collector, heat the tip until it’s hot, then gently touch it to your concentrate while inhaling through the mouthpiece. Take slow, controlled draws directly into your lung by aiming the vapor at the back of your throat. Hold for 1-2 seconds, and exhale slowly.

• Heat the Tip: Use a torch to heat the metal or quartz tip until it’s hot, then let it cool slightly.
• Create a Seal: Place your lips on the mouthpiece, forming an airtight seal for smooth vapor flow.
• Draw Vapor: Touch the hot tip to your concentrate and inhale slowly, pulling vapor through the tip, up the device, and directly into your lungs.
• Hold and Exhale: Hold the vapor for 1-2 seconds, then exhale deeply for a complete release.

Learn: What is a nectar collector

9. How to inhale with an electric dab rig

To inhale from an electric dab rig create an air tight seal with your lips around the mouthpiece. Inhale the vapor slowly and firmly through the water chamber and directly into your lungs (by aiming the vapor at the back of your throat). Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale slowly.

• Set Temperature: Choose the best dab temperature on your E-rig.
• Create a Seal: Position your lips around the mouthpiece for a tight seal to keep vapor from escaping.
• Draw Vapor: Place the dab onto the heated surface and inhale slowly, pulling vapor through the water chamber and into your lungs directly.
• Hold and Exhale: Hold for 1-2 seconds, then exhale fully to release the vapor.

Learn: What is an electric dab rig

Final Thoughts

The key to properly inhaling cannabis comes down to four simple steps that work for any device or setup:

1. Start by creating an airtight seal with your lips on the mouthpiece. 
2. Then, draw the smoke or vapor slowly into your mouth - the speed and amount vary by device, but the principle remains the same. 
3. Next, expand your rib cage and take a deep breath to draw the smoke into your lungs, which increases the surface area for THC absorption. 
4. Finally, hold briefly for 1-2 seconds (any longer doesn't increase absorption) and exhale fully.

Different devices require slight adjustments to this technique. Bongs need a wider mouth seal and deeper inhale, while vapes and pipes work better with smaller, controlled draws. The goal is always the same: to get the active compounds into your lungs while minimizing irritation and coughing by controlling your intake speed and volume.