The big and beefier version of the standard blunt, the original cannabis cigar, also known as the Thai Stick has its roots as an ancient wonder among the local Thailanders. This ancient form of cannabis cigar rose to fame due to its unprecedented potency and euphoria-inducing effects.
In today’s modern market, where there seems to be no shortage of options, artisan cannabis cigars are slowly rising through the cracks, becoming an ever so prominent luxury item in cannabis culture.
That said, it only makes sense to pay homage to the original precursors, the Thai Sticks. These green giants were a highly coveted commodity, widely acclaimed by many surfers and war veterans alike. In this article, we’ll be showing you how to make your own Thai Sticks, as well as the origins of the original cannabis cigar.
Thai Stick Origins
As the name suggests, Thai Sticks have their roots in Thailand, where many cannabis innovations came into fruition, namely the bong. Thai Sticks have been popular with the locals for generations ever since cannabis was first introduced to the region. Unfortunately, the exact origins of Thai Sticks are currently unknown.
Thai sticks were first introduced to the United States around the 1960s and ’70s, shortly after the Vietnam War. During this time period, many surfers and Vietnam War veterans began taking trips to Thailand and the surrounding regions, smuggling back the first wave of Thai Sticks. In the 70s, the Thai strain also known as Thai Stick strain was also originally cultivated by hill tribes in the northeast regions of Thailand. Being some of the strongest known cannabis at the time, the strain gained much notoriety among travelers and smugglers alike.
To much of America’s surprise, the marijuana grown in Thailand around the 70s was much more potent than anything they had at the time. The advent of Thai Sticks was an experience to behold for many American cannabis connoisseurs. In fact, many Americans quickly fell in love with the superior high it produced, and a cult following ensued. To this day, many cannabis veterans can attest to the potency and rich cannabinoid profile that Thai Sticks were so easily able to provide. Although Thai Sticks did earn a reputation for their euphoric effects, many believe that the effects of the original Thai Sticks were attributed to the opium that they were believed to be doused in. However, no one really is certain whether this was true or not.
How to Make a Thai Stick
Recreating the classic Thai Sticks is a relatively simple endeavor, however, the methods are usually quite laborious and require a steady hand as well as a sharp eye.
What You Will Need
- Some bud of your choice (the fluffier the better)
- A bamboo stick or a chopstick (used as the Thai Stick mold)
- The hash oil of your choice
- Some fan leaves from a cannabis plant
- Parchment paper
- A fridge
- A stove
Step 1
You’ll want to coat your bamboo stick or chopstick in either hash oil or sugar water depending on how potent you want your Thai Sticks to be. This coating will help the bud properly mold around the stick. Once fully coated, press your bud around it or spear the stick through the bud, skewer style. You’ll want to opt for the fluffiest bud available as it will assist in improving the airflow for the end product. With the bud fully loaded on the stick, begin wrapping it all with some fan leaves and then securely tying both ends in hemp string to fasten all of the contents. Once completed, you’ll want to wrap the whole stick in parchment paper and fridge it for a few days or so.
Step 2
With your skewered bud now fully intact, remove the hemp string and leaves from your stick without removing any bud in the process. Once the hemp string is completely removed, you’ll want to coat your Thai Stick in the hash oil of your choice, and then finally wrap it all up in some fan leaves. Ensure that the fan leaves you use are washed and cleaned as you’ll be inhaling them. Depending on the strength you desire, you may coat and wrap the Thai Stick up to two or three times for a total of three layers of fan leaves and hash oil.
Tip: If you want to supersaturate your Thai Sticks in THC and make them even stronger, add a sprinkling of kief over the hash oil coatings.
Step 3
Once you’ve wrapped your Thai Sticks to your desired thickness, rewrap your sticks in some parchment paper and briefly warm them on low heat on a pan over a stove. Each stick should only be heated for a few seconds as the heat will lower the viscosity of the oil, allowing it to penetrate through each and every layer of your Thai Stick, ensuring that the oil is equally distributed throughout the cigar.
Step 4
When you’ve finished heating your Thai Sticks, remove the parchment paper and wrap them up in some hemp string once again. Once they are wrapped in the hemp string, you’ll want to store your Thai Sticks in an airtight plastic bag. A vacuum-sealed plastic bag will provide the best results. Finally, store all of your Thai Sticks in the fridge for about one week. Traditionally, Thai Sticks were buried underground and cured for about three weeks, however, due to physical constraints, using the fridge to age them is just about as effective. Once you have your Thai Stick ready for use, remove the bamboo stick from the center before usage.
How to Smoke a Thai Stick
While it does take some time to properly create and cure a Thai Stick, the good news is that these cigar-like treats burn smooth like velvet for almost as long as it takes to wrap them. Once your blunt is cured and ready for use, you’ll want to remove the hemp string and the stick at the center. As a result, you should have a long cannabis cigar with a tunnel through the center. If you’re concerned about the hole, it’s used to facilitate proper airflow, as inhalation would otherwise be impossible.
Traditional well crafted Thai Sticks were rumored to have burned for nearly six hours. When heated up, you will want to avoid inhaling while the flame is making contact with the tip as you’ll burn your throat. Instead, smoke them as you would a regular cigar by waiting until one end is sufficiently lit and glowing red before inhaling. These full bud next-level cannabis cigars can be a bit laborious to make, but their velvety smooth texture will send you to the upper echelons of euphoria as well as anyone else you decide to take for the ride.
Note: These joints can be lit using either a lighter or a hemp wick, however, due to their thickness and density, a torch will aid in achieving an equally lit smooth burn, making the experience a whole lot more enjoyable.
Modern Variants
Since it’s been almost 40 years since the 1980s, what makes the difference between a classic Thai Stick and a modern one? Not much, in fact, while visiting some dispensaries you may notice them selling artisan cannabis cigars which are actually quite similar in composition.
Final Thoughts
Although the Thai Stick supply chain dissolved in the 1980s, and the ancient cigar was once again considered a foreign treasure, the advent of legal cannabis in the United States has been paving the way for a swift and strong comeback for these beefy blunts. Hopefully this article was able to provide some knowledge on the rich history of these OG cigars, we hope you have fun making your own at home as well! Enjoy!
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