The practice of smoking marijuana in an enclosed space (e.g. a car or a small room) in order to maximize the narcotic effect.
Hotboxing refers to the act of smoking in a small, unventilated or minimally ventilated space. This could be a car, as previously mentioned, or it could be a bathroom, a shed, or any small enclosed space. The smoke becomes trapped as it is exhaled and fills the air, often creating big clouds of smoke that billow out of the space when exited.
If you’ve ever found yourself compelled to light a joint or spark a bowl in a place where the smoke can’t escape, then you’ve participated in the time-honored tradition of hotboxing.
The temptation to hotbox is almost instinctual. We observe a space — be it a car, a bedroom, or, for some misguided souls, a porta potty — and feel compelled to find out how cloudy we can make it. In the days before legalized medical (and later, recreational) cannabis use, hotboxing was about as big a risk as you could take in terms of throwing discretion to the wind. We’ve all seen an episode of Cops where a driver gets pulled over, rolls down his window, and a billowing mass of smoke pours out.
Hotboxing is thus best reserved as an option only in places where “getting caught” — whatever that term may mean for the situation — is a minimal or non-existent risk. Provided you’re aware of that aspect, there’s only one other caveat to address: safety.
Make no mistake about it: hotboxing by its nature will change the ratio of smoke to oxygen in the air. That means you should always be aware of any potential C0₂ risks posed by sealing off a room or vehicle. With those warnings in mind, here’s everything else you need to know when it comes to hotboxing.
The Basics to Hotboxing
Here’s the bottom line: nothing matters more than the venue.
As noted above, hotboxing is, by definition, what one might call an “obvious” activity in that there’s no denying the evidence if you get busted. For these reasons, it’s always best to hotbox somewhere where a lingering pot aroma won’t be a big deal. If it’s Thanksgiving, avoid the guest room where Aunt Betsy is sleeping. You get the drill.
In terms of securing a proper seal on your approved location, think of it in terms of air conditioning. Treat the space as though it’s miserably hot outside and you’re ready to turn the AC on. Whatever you’d do to keep the AC in and the heat out will also work perfectly for your purposes here. For safety’s sake, it’s always better not to hotbox alone. Also be sure you never do anything to seal a room that can’t be instantly undone in an emergency. Hotboxing is cool. Not having to call the fire department is even cooler.
If you’ve ever found yourself compelled to light a joint or spark a bowl in a place where the smoke can’t escape, then you’ve participated in the time-honored tradition of hotboxing.
The temptation to hotbox is almost instinctual. We observe a space — be it a car, a bedroom, or, for some misguided souls, a porta potty — and feel compelled to find out how cloudy we can make it. In the days before legalized medical (and later, recreational) cannabis use, hotboxing was about as big a risk as you could take in terms of throwing discretion to the wind. We’ve all seen an episode of Cops where a driver gets pulled over, rolls down his window, and a billowing mass of smoke pours out.
Hotboxing is thus best reserved as an option only in places where “getting caught” — whatever that term may mean for the situation — is a minimal or non-existent risk. Provided you’re aware of that aspect, there’s only one other caveat to address: safety.
Make no mistake about it: hotboxing by its nature will change the ratio of smoke to oxygen in the air. That means you should always be aware of any potential C0₂ risks posed by sealing off a room or vehicle. With those warnings in mind, here’s everything else you need to know when it comes to hotboxing.
Why do people hotbox?
The answer to this varies. For some, it may simply be a matter of convenience. It could be that the only appropriate place to smoke at the time is in a certain room, and people are trying to keep the smoke contained so it doesn’t smell up the rest of an area.
Other times, it can just be for fun, or the novelty of seeing how much smoke builds up by the time a joint is finished.
Most commonly, however, people hotbox to try and get more high. After all, it seems to make some sort of sense, doesn’t it? Surely sitting in a cloud of cannabis smoke is a good way to inhale and absorb more smoke and additional cannabinoids right? Let’s look at some research to answer this question.
The Basics to Hotboxing
Here’s the bottom line: nothing matters more than the venue.
As noted above, hotboxing is, by definition, what one might call an “obvious” activity in that there’s no denying the evidence if you get busted. For these reasons, it’s always best to hotbox somewhere where a lingering pot aroma won’t be a big deal. If it’s Thanksgiving, avoid the guest room where Aunt Betsy is sleeping. You get the drill.
In terms of securing a proper seal on your approved location, think of it in terms of air conditioning. Treat the space as though it’s miserably hot outside and you’re ready to turn the AC on. Whatever you’d do to keep the AC in and the heat out will also work perfectly for your purposes here. For safety’s sake, it’s always better not to hotbox alone. Also be sure you never do anything to seal a room that can’t be instantly undone in an emergency. Hotboxing is cool. Not having to call the fire department is even cooler.
When (and when not) to hotbox
So maybe hotboxing doesn’t necessarily get you higher, as research thus far seems to suggest, but that doesn’t mean smokers won’t still enjoy doing it. Just remember to be mindful of your surroundings—hotboxing a stationary car (that you don’t intend to drive after) is all well and good, but not if it puts you at risk of legal trouble.
And of course, be respectful. We all know cannabis has a rather potent smell, and hotboxing has a way of making that scent stick around for a while. As such, it’s probably best not to hotbox in rooms or spaces that belong to people who wouldn’t appreciate the activity.
Finally, keep in mind that oxygen is your friend—keep it at reasonable levels to avoid feeling lightheaded or woozy. If it starts to become too much, crack a window or step outside to take a breath of fresh air.
How to Get Creative with a Hotbox
Hawaiian Hotbox: Want to add a tropical flare to your next hotbox? Take the party to the nearest (indoor) bathroom and let the shower get things nice and steamy while you burn one. The added atmosphere of the steam can really take the experience to another level. For bonus conservation points, plug the tub and let someone take a bath when you’re done.
Laser Pointers: There’s a reason rock bands like Pink Floyd often utilized lasers in their live performances. Fog machines plus lasers are awesome. That is an objective fact. While playing Dark Side of the Moon is optional, definitely try using some laser pointers during a hotbox with the lights off. Honestly though, some added Dark Side probably won’t hurt.
Hotboxing a car is a beautiful thing man. There’s something special that comes from watching a car slowly fill with smoke around you, getting you higher and higher, even when you’re not taking a hit. Sure, the smell get’s in the seats, but i love that shit. Your car’s cleanliness is a source of pride for you, my car’s dankness is source of pride for me.