What is a One-Hitter & How Do You Use It?
Are you interested in a small, single-smoke session that gets the job done without using a lot of marijuana? You’re going to want to pick up a one-hitter. In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about these one-hit wonders, including:
- What is a One-Hitter?
- How Do You Use a One-Hitter?
- How Do You Clean a One-Hitter?
- FAQs About One-Hitters
What is a One-Hitter?
A one-hitter is a type of cannabis pipe designed to hold a small amount of flower, suitable for one or two puffs. These consumption tools have been around for thousands of years, traditionally used in specific events to smoke hash.1 The one-hitter was held vertically between the middle and ring fingers, allowing an opening with the index finger for smoking. The vertical hold helped to prevent cannabis from falling out of the small bowl.2
If you read enough articles, you’ll see that this device is sometimes called a chillum. Some say chillums are a type of one-hitter, and the other says that chillums and one-hitters are the same thing.2 We tend to agree with the latter. While there are different types of one-hitters, if you hear someone say one-hitter or chillum, they’re likely referring to the exact same thing.
Today, one-hitters come in all different varieties and can be smoked horizontally as well as vertically. While you can smoke hash with your one-hitter, they can also handle a single session of ground flower, too. You’ll find that one-hitters are a favorite among cannabis enthusiasts because of their portability, ease of use, and discrete nature.
How Do You Use a One-Hitter?
There are two things to know about using a one-hitter: don’t grind your marijuana flower too fine or you’ll end up burning it too fast or inhaling ash, and keep your one-hitter angled when you smoke it to ensure your precious flower doesn’t fall out.
Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to use a one-hitter:3
Step 1: Grind the Flower
Grab your grinder and grind your flower to ensure an even burn–just be careful not to grind it too fine. This will make it burn faster, or worse, drag ash into your mouth when you inhale.
Step 2: Place in Bowl
Take your ground cannabis and drop it onto your rolling tray. There you can grab a pinch or two and pack it into the bowl of your one-hitter. While you can fit more than you might think, be careful not to overpack.
Step 3: Light & Inhale
Once you have your bowl packed just the way you like it, you can light it. Some cannabis enthusiasts choose to use a hemp wick but most grab their trusty lighter to get the job done. Be sure to hold your one-hitter so that the flower doesn’t fall out. After that, simply inhale and enjoy.
How Do You Clean a One-Hitter?
Cleaning your tools is probably the least exciting thing about consuming cannabis. There’s one way to make it easier: do it frequently, especially when it comes to small tools like one-hitters. That said, it’s pretty easy to get done.
Grab a sealable plastic bag and add some isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt inside it. Place your chillum in the bag and swish it around to ensure the liquid gets into all the nooks and crannies of your one-hitters. Then, if it’s especially dirty, let it sit for a little bit. This will allow any built-up residue to soften.
Once you’ve finished soaking, grab a pipe cleaner and push it through the stem of the one-hitters. This will get anything left out of your marijuana pipe. Soak it again in the bag as many times as you need to to get the debris out, rinse it with water, and then let it dry.
FAQs About One-Hitters
Once you’ve got the basics of a one-hitter down, there are just a few things you need to know.
What’s the difference between a chillum and a one-hitter?
Most people use the words chillum and one-hitter interchangeably. While chillum once referred to a clay pipe used by Hindu monks, today they’re made of all different materials and enjoyed by cannabis enthusiasts around the world.4
How much flower does a one-hitter hold?
They're called “one-hitters” for a reason: they're generally used for "one hit" of cannabis flower. These pipes are only big enough for a small, single-use amount which lasts for one or two inhales. Of course, everyone’s different, so what would be the perfect one-hit for one person may not be the same for another.4
Are one-hitter pipes reusable?
Absolutely! These portable smoking tools can be used again and again–even longer if they are maintained (i.e. cleaned) properly.
What’s the difference between a chillum and a hand pipe?
Hand pipes are a category of cannabis tool that encompasses everything from one-hitters to spoon pipes. One-hitters (or chillums) are a type of hand pipe.
Purchasing One-Hitters
If you’re interested in something that allows you to enjoy a small amount of marijuana flower at a time, a one-hitter could be the perfect solution. Most dispensaries sell a variety of pipes, so you should have no problem finding something that fits your needs.
Sources:
1. “Chillum: all you need to know about this historical pipe,” CannaConnection, June 18,, 2020, https://www.cannaconnection.com/blog/9941-chillum-all-you-need-know-historical-pipe
2. “What is a one-hitter cannabis pipe?,” Leafly, August 23, 2022, https://www.leafly.com/learn/consume/smoke/one-hitter-pipes
3. “Chillums explained: How to use a chillum,” Weedmaps, https://weedmaps.com/learn/products-and-how-to-consume/what-is-a-chillum
4. “What Exactly Is A One-Hitter Pipe?,” High Times, December 9, 2019, https://hightimes.com/guides/what-exactly-one-hitter-pipe/
Recreational cannabis is not available in all states. Cannabis is for medical use only and may only be used by certified patients in Pennsylvania. State laws impact what dispensaries can and can’t sell to recreational customers and certified patients. Not every type of product, consumption method, dosage form, or potency mentioned on this blog will be permitted in all locations.