No matter what your favorite cannabis consumption method is, you’ve probably tried smoking cannabis through a pipe, bong, or another glass piece at some point. Although consuming cannabis through combustion isn’t the healthiest delivery method, it’s one of the most popular methods, especially among recreational cannabis consumers. Due to the progress U.S. states have made toward cannabis legalization, many different cannabis careers have sprouted up, especially cannabis glassblowers. Overall, the demand for glass pieces has significantly grown, which has led to the surge of cannabis glassblowers.
Read on to find out what it takes to be a glassblower within the cannabis space and the daily tasks glassblowers complete.
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Daily Glassblower Tasks
There are many different cannabis careers to choose from, and certain ones have taken precedence in recent years as cannabis legalization has spread throughout the U.S. and Canada. In particular, glassblowers hold significant value within the cannabis industry. A handful of daily tasks that glassblowers complete consists of cutting, heating, pulling, and prepping glass tubes and rods. In addition, glassblowers should have proper cleaning and organization skills as well as physical strength for occasional manual labor tasks.
Furthermore, if you want to be a successful glassblower within the cannabis space, you must have the following qualities: punctuality, eye for detail, and excellent self-management and time-management skills. Also, glassblowers should be comfortable performing tedious and repetitive tasks because the job mostly consists of doing the same thing every day; however, certain tasks may vary. Individuals who are creative and imaginative can certainly excel in this field, but they should already have most of the qualities and skills listed above.
Common Glass Pieces
Whether you’re new to cannabis or an experienced user, you’ve most likely seen and/or used a glass bong or glass pipe. Specifically, many medical cannabis consumers and recreational consumers have tried smoking cannabis through some sort of glass piece, which is the creation of an experienced glassblower. Out of all cannabis careers, glassblowers demonstrate a great deal of creativity, precision, and patience. Glassblowing is an art, and there are various galleries and festivals that showcase glass pieces.
For example, in September of 2016, there was a New York City gallery called “Grey Space Art,” which was an exhibit in which a huge sample of some of the most famous and intricate bongs were on display. Although many glass pieces are intended for cannabis and/or tobacco usage, there are some extremely intricate pieces that are intended for display purposes instead.
Regardless, the most common glass pieces that are created by glassblowers include pipes, bongs, chillums, and other unique creations. Overall, the cannabis industry has experienced an increase in sales of glass paraphernalia pieces, which has been directly linked to changes in cannabis policies. In general, the appearance of various glass pieces has taken precedence over their functionality in recent years, and this will most likely increase in the future. Although the functionality of these pieces is essential, lots of people are drawn to the aesthetic pleasure of them as well.
History of Glassblowing
Glassblowing and cannabis have a longstanding history, and as more U.S. states legalize cannabis to some degree, more users and creators are noticing the art of glassblowing. It’s known that Italy is the hub of glassblowing, and the Venetian style of glass pieces has been carried out over the years. According to a Sensi Seed article, Venetian glassblowers date back to the 13th century, and eventually they traveled to the Pacific Northwest to learn new techniques. Throughout history, though, America has had an insatiable appetite for all kinds of pipes, and this continues to exist today.
Over the past twenty years, glassblowing has significantly grown as compared to many other cannabis careers. This type of art has been practiced by not only beginners and newcomers, but also veterans and retired individuals, as mentioned in a High Times article. Therefore, regardless of your age or level of cannabis experience, glassblowing is a cannabis career that you can easily learn about and give it a go.
How to Become a Glassblower
Out of all cannabis careers, becoming a glassblower requires an extra sprinkle of creativity and a unique imagination. Many glassblowers are so experienced that they complete their artwork onsite at festivals, trade shows, and other competitions. However, it took these individuals a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience to get to where they are now. If you’d like to get involved in glassblowing, you can begin watching how-to videos and classes on YouTube. This is one specific resource that has provided many individuals with essential information and tips before getting started.
At the end of the day, as many cannabis glassblowers say, hours equal powers. If you’re interested in diving into glassblowing rather than other cannabis careers, keep in mind that you’ll have to purchase a rig first, and the low-end ones start at $1,000. After purchasing a beginner’s rig, keep in mind that the torches glassblowers handle to heat the glass equate to more than 1,000 degrees. Therefore, experienced glassblowers recommend beginners to practice in a garage for many hours before trying to attend and participate in a live show like Chalice Festival in California, as mentioned in a Cannifornian article.
Overall, as cannabis legalization expands, more and more people, including millennials, are becoming interested in cannabis glassblowing out of all the other available cannabis careers. The glassblowing culture has definitely become more mainstream in recent years, and if you’d like to get involved, check out some YouTube videos about this form of art and how you can get started.
