From laser bongs to trick joints, the world of cannabis consumption is ever-growing. While the universe of dabs and bowls continues evolving, everyone must remember to pay homage to the classics. One of these vintage premium products is Thai stick, cannabis cigars that were popular in the 1970s.
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Thai stick is a method for rolling weed up, but it is also a variety. The Thai Stick strain is a pure sativa landrace strain from Northern Thailand that is uplifting and energetic. It is sometimes referred to as Thai or Thai weed and is a parent to many beloved kinds of pot. It may have played a part in creating the legendary Haze. With a legendary history and recent comeback, Thai sticks are far from forgotten.
The term Thai stick refers to a weed preparation method. These rolled cigars are easy to transport and provide for thick, cloudy hits once lit. It is believed that the Thai hill tribes who originally cultivated the landrace strain used this curious method to store and distribute the flower. It rose to popularity in the U.S. during the 1955 to 1975 American occupation of Vietnam.
Thai stick does America
During the Vietnam War, American soldiers became hip to Thai Sticks. This led to a flux of smugglers bringing the commodity into the United States. Thai Sticks were popular in America from the 1960s to the late 1980s before demand and supply petered off. These products were beloved for the intense smoking experience, which may be what led to a modern resurgence in popularity in the early 2010s.
A content creator known as Afgoo Head started posting about the history of Thai Stick in 2013, sharing where they came from and how they smoked. For two years, the creator posted hundreds of Thai Stick creations. He pulled off a cross joint, and even one shaped like a Sherlock pipe made him a legend, but it has been nine years since his last share.
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Thai stick vs. cannagars: what’s the difference?
Despite the lack of activity from Afgoo Head, people are still lighting Thai sticks and learning the lore. Most Thai stick-like rolls are now called cannagars, a play on combining the words “cannabis” and “cigar.”
Those having trouble finding the difference between a Thai stick and a cannagar may be on to something because it seems that they are mostly the same. Some believe Thai sticks can be rolled with any leaf, but a cannagar only uses fan leaves. Essentially, all cannagars are Thai sticks, but not all Thai sticks are cannagars.
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Cannabis-loving Americans have long regarded Thai sticks (or cannagars) as works of art, and rightfully so. However, until that 2013 rise in popularity, the Thai stick was somewhat forgotten. Now, it is held in reverence as a hard-to-perfect cannabis cigar that is bound to get a person stoned–provided it has the proper airflow.
Rolling a Thai stick can be difficult. It requires knowledge of how joints work and skills to pull it off.
How to roll a Thai stick
After curing the buds, Thai cultivators dipped bamboo sticks or hemp stalks into oil. Some believe this oil was originally opium. The opium theory is often contested but is plausible since the substance was legal in Thailand until 1958. Others believe that hash oil and kief were used to adhere buds to the sticks rather than the addictive narcotic.
Once the sticks were dipped, the cannabis flower was pressed against the hemp or bamboo. Then, cannabis fan leaves are rolled around the outside of the hopefully dank flower. The leaves are traditionally cured in a humid environment for up to three days to make them pliable. Now, many coat the leaves in oil to skip this lengthy step.
Last, the whole cigar is tied with a hemp string to help the leaves set. The string and stick are carefully removed before lighting and puffing on the Thai stick. Even with directions, it can be challenging to pull this roll off on the first try. These tips can help beginners catch up to the curve.
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Tips for the best cannagar smoking experience
Sharing a Thai Stick with friends is priceless–provided it smokes alright. The basics of rolling and smoking one of these fanciful creations have been covered. Now, here are tips to make it absolutely perfect.
First, beginners may have trouble pressing fan leaves to the flower and getting them to stay while rolling up the hemp twine. A few techniques can help. Add a thin layer of hash oil or another extract to make sticking leaves easier.
Others recommend putting parchment around the freshly rolled Thai stick and popping it into the refrigerator. This can help it all stick the piece together. It is a clutch move for complicated rolls, like Afgoo Head was pulling off.
The type of cannabis someone uses to roll up is vital to the smoking experience. Airflow is crucial with joints and blunts, which is why fluffier weed is preferred. This density will stick together but not so densely that air can’t flow through when it is time to light up.
Rolling a Thai stick is more than a good party trick, it is a nod to stoner cultures’ past. Following these tips can help set a newbie up for success while learning how to do it. Learning about the history helps a cannabis consumer understand where it all came from.
Never forget this classic rolling method
Thai stick and Thai Stick are legendary pieces of cannabis culture that are far from forgotten. Still, it is imperative that the histories, which were passed down through stories, be recorded and remembered for years to come. Lucky for Thai sticks, anyone who has lit and puffed on one will hold, and share, that memory.
