Is it healthy to share a pipe?

You may have wondered whether it was really sensible to go after your bong-wetting buddy, and whether you were likely to catch something. And then the call of the bong became too strong.

«I've never heard of anyone in particular catching anything after sharing a pipe,» says Jordan Tishler, cananbis medical expert at InhaleMD. But that doesn't mean it's not possible. «Sharing a pipe is as hygienic as kissing the person next to you. If you find it unpleasant, you probably shouldn't.»

It all comes from saliva, which is an excellent substance for carrying certain germs. «You share your saliva with someone you don't necessarily know. You could catch a cold, herpes, all those kinds of things,» explains Dr. Tishler. That also includes mononucleosis and the flu.

So what can you do about it? The simplest answer would be to wipe the bong's spout with your T-shirt before shooting. It won't completely eliminate the bacteria, but it's better than nothing. «If you want something more effective, you can use alcohol disinfectant wipes.» Some wipes are actually specialized for this purpose.

With a seal, things are more complicated. A wipe will be totally useless, and will do more harm than good. You can, for example, heat the cardboard a little with your lighter, says Dr. Tishler. And you can also use glass filters like Phuncky Feel Tips, which are reusable and washable.