Use of Cannabis and Opium in Hookahs

The primary reason why hookah is enjoyed so extensively around the world and has been so for so many years is because it is an exquisite and unique way to smoke tobacco. While many people do the same in cigarettes, pipes and cigars; hookah smoking uses tobacco that is juicy and flavored and is more of a hobby and a tradition than it is an addiction.

But the fact is that the tobacco in the bowl of the hookah can be replaced with other smoking materials as well, namely opium and other drugs that produce a dangerous and harmful alternative. While a lot of people are not aware of it but this substitution was done years ago but not as public or wide-spread as the use of tobacco in hookah smoking.

Opium is a drug obtained from opium poppy plants and which contains narcotic materials such as morphine and opiate alkaloid; these are also chemically processed to produce heroin, a popular drug. On the other hand, Cannabis which is more popularly known as marijuana is another drug usually used in the dried and herbal form. Both of these drugs can be used in the hookah instead of tobacco but these are strong drugs which leave the person disoriented and dazed. Most importantly, these drugs are illegal and addictive and their abuse can result in disastrous health effects.

Some decades ago, the hookah was viewed in the West as a means to introduce and popularize a new and unique method to use drugs such as cannabis and opium but that is not quite so today. College students and youngsters view hookah smoking just as a relaxing activity that can be shared with friends and family alike. People who smoked cigarettes have either quit and switched to occasional hookah smoking or have substituted part of cigarette smoking with hookah smoking. But most of these kids used tobacco and not drugs; they prefer to use flavored and juicy tobacco that is cheaper, safer and legal rather than use expensive drugs in the hookah.

However, the other side of the story is the fact that people also do use the hookah as a means to smoke opium, cannabis and other drugs, while they may do this in the privacy of their homes or someplace else, they use hookah as another means of doing drugs. And while a lot of people would criticize the introduction of hookahs into the West based solely on this reason, the fact is that hookah smoking in the West and what it has been through the years in the East have a lot of differences; even smoking hash and opium has had its differences between the two parts of the world.

In the past drugs were used only occasionally and only by some people in the Middle East where hookah use was prominent. But in the West, people who do use the hookah for doing drugs use it excessively and over-use them most of the time adding fuel to their addiction. On the other hand, the purpose of hookah throughout history has specifically been to enjoy the art of smoking flavored tobacco with the closest of friends.

Author Bio

Mario has been involved in Hookah Store and Hookah pipes business since early 2004 and currently works for The Hookah Monster and Hookah Tobacco, and whilst spending countless hours each month running his business still finds time for various hobbies and interests.