jason-crawford

Medically Reviewed by
Jason Crawford

Article Last Updated on January 17, 2023

Oftentimes, weed users find themselves with a lot of weed and nothing to smoke it with. A saddening situation indeed, but the weed community has always been creative, so there are many ways you can light it up, though some may be a little weird.

Whichever cannabis strain you prefer, sometimes you’ll just have to smoke it in an unconventional way and try something new. In this article, we’ll talk about how you can use a soda can to smoke some weed, plus some more DIY and conventional methods to give you some smoking ideas, as you never know when you might need them.

How to Smoke Marijuana With a Soda Can

Any seasoned weed user knows that sooner or later, you’ll find yourself in need of trying a DIY method of smoking weed. After all, you will often find yourself in situations where it’s all you can get when you have a baggie and want to use it.

The soda can method (ahem, beer cans can also be used!) is one of the easiest ways to convert a common item into a pipe. Any soda can will do, bigger or smaller, but you need to rinse it first and allow it to dry. Also, you’ll need a needle or a pin, and a screwdriver.

  1. To begin with, using your thumbs, make a shallow indentation to the side of the can. This is where you’ll later place the weed, so make sure it’s indented enough to hold it. 
  2. Then, take the needle or the pin and poke a lot of tiny holes in the middle of the indentation. It should have a grate-like appearance.
  3. Next, take the screwdriver and poke a small hole to the side of the can. This is the carb hole, so make sure you’ll be able to reach it with your thumb, as you’ll need to cover and uncover it as you smoke.
  4. Then, take the lighter and “condition” the indented area as well as where you poked the carb hole. The idea behind this is to vaporize the chemicals used to coat the can so that you don’t inhale them. However, there is no scientific proof for this and it’s only used as a precaution in the weed community. If you want, you can use sandpaper to remove the coating in these areas.
  5. Finally, to smoke the weed, place it over the indentation where the tiny holes are and light it up, and start inhaling through the mouthpiece of the soda can.

Please take note that even though this method is practical when it’s all you can use, it isn’t the healthiest way of smoking weed. Heating and inhaling aluminum itself is thought to pose many health risks, and an additional risk is the BPA present in the outer paint.

Other DIY Methods for Smoking Cannabis for When You Have to Get Creative

If you don’t feel like making a pipe out of an aluminum can, you still have other options. Check out these other DIY smoking devices.

Gravity Bong

Gravity bongs may be DIY, but they pack a big punch, that’s for sure. They’re also incredibly easy to make and great for when you have some friends over because they can hold a lot of smoke.

To make a gravity bong, you’ll need two plastic bottles (a large one and a smaller one to fit into it), aluminum foil, a sharp knife, and something to poke holes with. First, with the knife, cut off the top part of the larger bottle and cut off the bottom part of the smaller bottle.

Next, fill the larger bottle with water to about 2/3 and submerge the smaller bottle in it. Don’t put too much water as the smaller bottle should have some air space at the top. Next, make a small bowl out of the aluminum paper and poke tiny holes in it. Place the aluminum foil bowl on the mouthpiece of the smaller bottle and put some weed in it.

Then, light up the weed. As soon as you notice the top part of the smaller bottle is filling with smoke, start lifting the bottle up to allow it to fill up more. When it’s full enough, remove the aluminum bowl, put your lips on the mouthpiece, and start pushing the bottle back down, inhaling at the same time. The pressure will force the smoke into your body and you’ll start feeling blazed in no time.

Apple Pipe

Apple pipes are a classic, plus everyone has apples at home most of the time. Making an apple pipe is easy – you need a pen barrel, aluminum foil, and something sharp like a pin. 

First, remove the stem of the apple and poke a hole from the top of the apple downwards towards the middle. Then, poke another hole from one side of the apple again, towards the middle, and make sure it intersects with the first hole so there is proper airflow.

Next, make a small bowl from the aluminum foil and put it at the opening of the first hole where the stem of the apple was. Using the pin, poke several holes through the foil. Place the ground weed in the aluminum bowl you just made, light it, and start inhaling through the second hole. Tastes fruity, doesn’t it?

Hot Knives

Smoking weed with hot knives is a bizarre old-school way of smoking weed, but it works like a charm. Basically, you need to heat two knives and put finely ground weed between them. A smoke trail should start coming out almost instantly, so what remains is to just inhale it. It’s best to use wide butter knives for this technique and heat them on your stovetop. A note of caution: use protective gloves as you’ll be dealing with heat.

Alternatively, Try Some Ready-Made Smoking Devices as a More Permanent Option

If you’re the type who prefers smoking weed with a joint but often find yourself in moments where you’re out of rolling paper, investing in a ready-made smoking device may be just what you need. This way, you’ll only need your weed and grinder, without having to worry about smoking paper.

One-Hitter Pipe, for Practicality

One-hitter pipes are great, especially if you’re used to microdosing throughout the day. They are essentially narrow glass pipes where the bowl end is just as narrow as the mouthpiece and they hold just enough weed for a single inhalation. One-hitters are practical and portable, you can pack them with weed easily and puff discreetly anywhere. To find out how to use one, check out our guide on how to use a one-hitter pipe.

Bubbler as a 2 in 1 Option

Bubblers are nifty little things, as they are 2 in 1 – portable like a hand pipe and potent like a bong. They are a type of water pipe with a designated little chamber where you put water for filtration, just like a bong. But that’s not all – if you don’t add water, it can also function as a regular pipe, so it’s a win-win for you.

Vaporizer, if Want to Simplify It

Vaporizing weed has become a very popular method of consumption. Each year, new models of vaporizers roll in with upgraded settings. Vaporizers don’t combust the flowers, but they heat them up just enough for the cannabinoids CBD and THC to be released. Therefore, the smoke is a little lighter on the throat and can be more flavorful. Vaporizers are portable and discreet, and you can load one up for the day and you’ll be covered.

Vape Pen, the Sleek Version

Vape pens are subtypes of vaporizers, only they are a sleeker version and most of the time refer to devices that are used for vaping weed concentrates. If you’re into trying new things and want to change it up a little, you can try vaping a concentrate. They’re more powerful than dry flowers and easier to dose than when you smoke a joint.

Dab Rig, if You’re Into Experimenting a Little

Dabbing is another way of consuming weed extracts and concentrates, the most common being butane hash oils. It’s one of the most potent ways of cannabis consumption because weed extracts and concentrates are much more potent than your usual dank weed.

Sometimes, the THC content can be over 80%, so a tiny little dab can get you soaring high, especially if you’re a beginner. But, if you want to experiment, it can be a great experience, plus, the vapor is very smooth.

The Takeaway – A Can Pipe Can Entertain You When You’re Out of Rolling Paper

There is one common rule for all weed smokers, and that is to always have some tricks up your sleeve when you want to light up some weed but don’t have a proper tool. Smoking out of a soda can isn’t perfect, but it’s more than adequate when you’re camping and you run out of rolling paper. But if you don’t have a soda can either, check out our post on other things you can use to smoke without rolling paper.

A passionate advocate for the benefits of cannabis. Fraser Horton, who has a background in botany and a strong love of nature, has spent years researching how cannabis affects the body and mind. He established Leaf Nation in 2020, where he has devoted himself to educating people about the legalisation of marijuana and its safe and responsible use. Fraser is committed to highlighting cannabis’ potential for improving wellness and working to dispel the stigma associated with its use.

Disclaimer

The information presented on this page is provided as a public service to aid in education and is derived from sources believed to be reliable. Readers are responsible for making their own assessment of the topics discussed here. In no event shall Leaf Nation be held reliable for any injury, loss or damage that could happen if using or abusing drugs.