The Awesome Evolution of Online Head Shops

Many cannabis users have experienced a visit to a head shop to purchase a grinder, rolling papers or new glass. The original brick and mortar operations sprouted out of the hippie counter-culture and have been popular for decades. The earliest locations were in cities with a large presence of young adults like San Francisco and New York, because the moment was more welcomed there.

Some parts of the country are still without pure glass shops, and instead are served by head shops that have been integrated with tattoo parlors and adult novelty stores. In fact, the majority of head shops carry negative connotations thanks to less than desirable locations, sketchy interiors, and more.

This has not had a positive image for cannabis, since many people regard it as medicine and not just a recreational way to stay high. For some, walking into a shop with their head down can be embarrassing if their cannabis use is kept private.

Thankfully, times are changing. In the current age of the internet, online storefronts have reformed the way people stock up on their cannabis-related paraphernalia and have allowed consumers to be a bit more discreet when purchasing.

In some way or another, most people have benefitted from the act of shopping online. Not having to leave the house to order a new book or cell phone is an underrated luxury. When it comes to local head shops that only offer marked up imported pieces of glass, it’s great to have access to high end pieces across the world through the internet. Regarding the consumer, this is a game changer for anyone that has trouble getting to and from a headshop -- or is too embarrassed to enter one in the first place. When it comes to the web, there are many different places to shop discreetly, so naturally the selection becomes much wider. The best deals are always found online since there’s more criteria to compare and examine.

The problem with having so many options online is figuring out how to narrow them down to find the right products for you. Most brick and mortar shops have an online presence, like Aqua Lab Technologies out of Corona, California. Whether you’re browsing in person or with a computer mouse, Aqua Lab provides their customers with top of the line art and accessories, including PeliNails, Highly Educated, and Preston Hanna glass. Other companies have sprouted up in the digital age and maintain a large virtual presence, like Smoke Cartel, who feature work from bigger names like Grav Labs and Snoop’s glass. Billowby.com provides a knowledgeable consistent shopping experience for the average cannabis user that seeks out quality product at an affordable price.

Besides the abundance of traditional and online shops, people are finding other ways to add to their arsenal and exchange their collections between one another. The popular picture and video based social media app, Instagram, hosts companies, artists, stores, and personal collectors who are always bringing and selling new glass and accessories. Certain retailers have exclusive products that are sure to sell out immediately, so being able to see when things are available gives Instagram users a major advantage. Collectors who want change up their collections of glass will trade and sell their glass to appreciate new pieces and artists.  Even Facebook has dedicated groups to selling and trading glass including some that are revolve around one brand or artist’s work.

While it’s great to be able to see things in person, it's even more convenient to view the selection of different places without leaving the house. Sites like Smoke Cartel and Aqua Lab are reputable businesses with large selections to allow people to get a feel for what’s available. Branded shops like Billowby have shown the professional and widely marketable side of the cannabis accessory market that will take off along with cannabis legalization across the country.  

Both social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, have allowed collectors and shops to form personalized business relationships and transactions between others in the community based on trust and common trade protocol. If shopping locally is of large importance, many brick and mortar stores are getting online with the intent of extending their current reach, meaning that you don’t have to leave your house in order to order a new piece of glass.

No matter what part of the country you find yourself in, it’s assuring to know that a quality selection is only a click away.

Photo Credit: Glasshous