Dab It Up: Are Dab Rigs Illegal?

 

With more people using cannabis, the industry just keeps becoming more advanced. These days, cultivators can isolate THC and other cannabinoids to make potent concentrates. The act of smoking these concentrates is called dabbing. Dabbing is becoming so popular to where 58% of cannabis users in a survey admitted to dabbing at least once.

In order to dab, you need a dab rig that will properly vaporize the concentrate. But you’re likely wondering if dab rigs are illegal and if you should even buy one in the first place. Well, the answer is more complex than you think. Here is more information behind dabbing legalization and common myths we hear.

What Are Dab Rigs?

First, what exactly is a dab rig? Dab rigs look similar to bongs, which are water pipes used for smoking cannabis flower. Like bongs, dab rigs are often made of glass. However, the setup of a dab rig is slightly different. They include a nail and a torch lighter (though an electric dab rig may have internal heating mechanisms).

In order to use the dab rig, you first torch the area holding the cannabis concentrate. This causes the concentrate to melt; but because of the construction of the rig and the water, the concentrate produces vapor as opposed to smoke.

Are Dab Rigs Legal?

Surprisingly, buying and owning a dab rig is technically legal. It’s the act of dabbing that may be illegal, but that depends on where you live. We will cover this more in the next section.

For now, let’s focus on the legalities of owning a dab rig. You can use a dab rig for many legal purposes, such as for medical marijuana and even legal concentrates such as CBD and delta-8 THC. So purchasing a dab rig is perfectly legal and there’s no way for law enforcement to assume you’ll break any crimes by buying a dab rig.

There are some guidelines to follow. For example, don’t purchase a dab rig unless you’re 18 years old.

What About Dab Pens?

You may want a dab pen instead (also known as a portable dab rig). These have the same heating components as a dab rig, but they’re easier to use. All you have to do is screw off the top, place some concentrate on the coils, turn on the pen, and inhale. Since they look like an e-cigarette because vape and dab pens are discreet.

So, are dab pens illegal? Again, the same laws apply.

Since you can use a dab pen to vape CBD and other legal cannabis concentrates, they’re not illegal. However, many use them illegally. For example, since they’re similar to e-cigarettes, many people use them to smoke cannabis in public. Even in states where recreational marijuana is legal, you likely can’t smoke cannabis in a public place.

This doesn’t include using your dab pen in public to vape CBD, though many places still restrict the use of dab pens.

Is Dabbing Legal?

Because dabs are extremely potent, there’s mixed legalization. That’s because the potency can cause more side effects than consuming cannabis flower, such as rapid heartbeat and psychosis. Some people even get so high to where they blackout.

Even in states where cannabis is legal, such as New York, dabs are illegal. But dabs are allowed in other states where recreational marijuana is legal, such as Colorado, California, and Washington. Why do these states allow dabbing? There could be a few reasons; for example, vaping is still easier on your lungs, even though concentrates are more potent.

In short, if you live in a state where dabbing marijuana concentrate is illegal, then you’ll be using your dab rig for an illegal purpose. But again, buying and owning a dab rig in itself is perfectly legal, it just depends on how you use it.

Before dabbing with marijuana concentrates, it’s best to know the stance of legalization in your state. Even if you live in a state that allows recreational marijuana, don’t assume that concentrates are legal. The only exception is if you use dab rigs to consume CBD, which is legal in all 50 states.

Common Myths About Dab Rig Legalization

Now that we know the basics of dab rig and dabbing legalization, there are many myths that are thrown around. Here are some of the most common ones.

You Shouldn’t Buy a Dab Rig Online

There are few differences between buying a dab rig online and in a store. As long as the online store operates legally, you won’t run into any legal issues. And if the store is operating illegally, the customers won’t experience the repercussions.

You may also hear that it’s more expensive to buy a dab rig online or you’ll be buying a low-quality dab rig. Oftentimes, it’s the opposite; it’s cheaper to buy a dab rig online. Online stores don’t have the overhead that comes with owning a brick-and-mortar store, so they pass savings onto the customers. So cheap dab rigs don’t always sacrifice quality.

In addition, online stores have the same partnerships with manufacturers all over the world. The quality of the dab rig you buy is likely just as good as one you would buy in a store.

But you should still exercise due diligence and only buy your dab rig from a store that’s reliable, regardless of whether or not they operate in a physical store.

Your Privacy Is at Risk

Since marijuana legalization is still murky, many have issues purchasing dab rigs and other smoking accessories. This is especially true when purchasing dab rigs online.

Again, as long as the store is reliable, they will protect your privacy. Most reputable companies use multiple layers of encryption to ensure your credit card information is safe. If you order your dab rig online, most companies use discreet shipping methods to ensure your mail carrier, neighbors, and others won’t know what you’re ordering.

Use Dab Rigs Legally

More people are enjoying using cannabis concentrates. In order to vape concentrate, you’ll need a dab rig. But many people don’t know about the legalization of dab rigs. As long as you purchase your dab rig legally and only use it according to state law, you’re not committing any crimes.

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