With marijuana being legal in several states, more and more people are trying out the drug in its several forms. It is now common to find different products made with cannabis, CBD, or THC including marijuana edibles, CBD Oil, CBD wellness products, THC-infused desserts, chocolates, and many more. Even synthetic marijuana called K2 is becoming widespread. But one of the marijuana derivatives that is increasingly becoming popular is dab weed.
Dab weed, also known as dabs, honeycomb, CO2 wax, resin, pull ‘n’ sap, and shatter, is a form of marijuana that comes in concentrate form. Dab weed is commonly produced using the stems, leftover shake, and other leftover materials from the marijuana plant.
Dab weed is also gaining interest because of its high THC levels as well as its availability in dab pen devices. Using a dab pen is seen as a more convenient method of taking cannabis because using the electronic device, which is similar to a vape pen, allows users to take a single hit of dab concentrate. This is, of course, a lot easier and less conspicuous compared to using a traditional marijuana bong because a dab weed user can take a dose using a dab pen without much effort.
What many dabs users don’t realize, however, is that taking dabs is not totally safe. There are many associated side effects that could be dangerous. If you haven’t tried dabs before, it could backfire on you because the effects on your body could be unpredictable.
Here are some side effects that could happen to you when using dab weed.
1. Accidental explosions
When dab weed is made, the concentrate is extracted using butane, which is a very flammable chemical. This extraction process extracts cannabinoids, terpenes, and other elements to produce BHO or butane hash oil. Once the BHO is produced, the butane will be removed by evaporating it. The end result will be a sticky, resinous oil that is normally yellowish or golden in color.
While there are different types of extraction methods that can be utilized, there is an associated danger that comes with the process. As mentioned, butane is flammable which means it can cause accidental explosions, especially for inexperienced people who attempt to perform the process at home. These explosions could lead to fires or injuries.
2. Increased tolerance
There is a common misconception that all types of marijuana are the same. The reality is that different kinds of weed also have different concentrations of CBD or THC – the two main cannabinoids. While CBD is considered the “beneficial” cannabinoid known for therapeutic effects, THC is the mind-altering, hallucinogenic ingredient in the marijuana plant. Basically, THC is what makes you feel high because of its psychoactive effects.
Many dab users are generally aware that because dab weed is a concentrate, it is much more potent than the normal weed people smoke. However, many people do not realize the extent of its strength. Do you know that dabs can have up to 80% to 90% of THC, whereas the strongest varieties of weed typically contain only up to 25% of THC? This means that taking a small amount delivers substantial dab weed in your system.
The incredible strength of dabs can result in increasing your tolerance for marijuana very rapidly. If you have increased tolerance, it means that you would need a higher amount of weed to get the same high. This could even lead you to use more dangerous narcotics to get the same high feeling.
3. Hospitalization
For inexperienced users who are not used to smoking weed, using dabs can have unpredictable effects on their brains and bodies. Even regular weed users often underestimate the strength of dab weed so they tend to overuse it which could lead to very strong psychedelic effects. These extreme hallucinogenic effects can cause users to be hospitalized.
4. Paranoia
Another side effect associated with using dab weed is having paranoia. This is again brought about by the extreme hallucinogenic effects due to the high amount of THC. This happens because when you use dabs, this delivers a high amount of THC to your body even if you just take a single hit.
5. Anxiety
While many people think that weed is a relaxing drug, there have been reports that smoking high amounts of marijuana such as dabs can lead to anxiety. People who have existing mental disorders are more vulnerable because using marijuana can worsen the effects, making them more disruptive and frequent.
6. Violent behavior
The mind-altering effect caused by too much THC can have negative effects on the brain. When you’re having hallucinations or paranoia, some users tend to become violent. This is because they are not thinking rationally. Violent behavior can cause harm not only to yourself but also to others.
7. Exposure to hazardous chemicals
If you’re getting your dab weed from illicit sources or you buy drugs from social media, you actually don’t have any guarantee whether you’re getting pure dab weed. Many sellers tend to mix drugs with other hazardous chemicals to make more money. This is the reason why there are a lot of fake Xanax, fake Valium, and other fake drugs in the market.
Dab weed mixed with other chemicals is prevalent, especially in prefilled dab pens or cartridges. Accidentally buying such products could expose you to harmful chemicals. In fact, there have been THC vape warnings as these products may cause respiratory diseases.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, help is available.
Contact Morningside Recovery by Lighthouse today.
