Thai stick
Encyclopedia
A Thai stick is a form of cannabis
from Thailand
that was popular during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It consisted of premium buds of seedless marijuana which were skewered on stems
. Several rows of fiber found in the stalk
of the marijuana plant were then used to tie the marijuana to the stem to keep it in place. Thai stick bud may also be tied around bamboo
sticks with a piece of string known as a “rasta hair.”
The Thai stick formulation exhibited considerably higher potency in comparison with other cannabis available in the United States
at the time. It was rumored that this added potency was due to the Thai sticks being dipped in opium
. One reason given for its decline was the advent of more potent marijuana in the late 1970s displaced the use of Thai, however, the end of the Vietnam War
in 1975 and the reduction of military troop transports (as was the primary means of export) between Thailand, particularly Bangkok
, and the United States, was likely the most influential reason for its eventual disappearance.
In modern terminology, Thai stick often refers to marijuana tied to stem as documented above and then dipped into a hashish
oil, a potent cannabis derivative which saturates the buds and lends to a stronger smoke
. Some California
cannabis clubs sell this product. Originally, this was a frequent practice of the 1970s with the actual Thai stick. There are still some surviving recipes from Cambodia
where high quality marijuana and hash oil are used.
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
from Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
that was popular during the late 1960s and early 1970s. It consisted of premium buds of seedless marijuana which were skewered on stems
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
. Several rows of fiber found in the stalk
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
of the marijuana plant were then used to tie the marijuana to the stem to keep it in place. Thai stick bud may also be tied around bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
sticks with a piece of string known as a “rasta hair.”
The Thai stick formulation exhibited considerably higher potency in comparison with other cannabis available in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the time. It was rumored that this added potency was due to the Thai sticks being dipped in opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
. One reason given for its decline was the advent of more potent marijuana in the late 1970s displaced the use of Thai, however, the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in 1975 and the reduction of military troop transports (as was the primary means of export) between Thailand, particularly Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, and the United States, was likely the most influential reason for its eventual disappearance.
In modern terminology, Thai stick often refers to marijuana tied to stem as documented above and then dipped into a hashish
Hashish
Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves...
oil, a potent cannabis derivative which saturates the buds and lends to a stronger smoke
Smoke
Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest...
. Some California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
cannabis clubs sell this product. Originally, this was a frequent practice of the 1970s with the actual Thai stick. There are still some surviving recipes from Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
where high quality marijuana and hash oil are used.