thai-stick

Thai stick

A Thai stick is a form of cannabis from Thailand that was popular during the late ’60s and early ’70s. It consisted of premium buds of seedless marijuana which were skewered on stems. Several rows of string found in the stalk of the marijuana plant were then used to tie the marijuana to the stem and therefore, 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 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. With the advent of more potent marijuana in the late ’70s, Thai-stick declined in popularity, and eventually disappeared.

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.

There are still some surviving recipes from Thai monks, and from Cambodia where high quality marijuana and hash oil are used.

Cinematic references

Thai stick was mentioned in the film The Big Lebowski, when The Dude (Jeff Bridges) recalled his college years mostly as "smoking Thai stick, occupying various administration buildings, breaking into the ROTC, and bowling."

In the movie Eating Raoul, Raoul uses Thai stick to seduce a married accomplice.

In Cheech and Chong's Next Movie, Cheech bribes Chong to answer the phone so he can avoid speaking to his boss by promising him his last Thai Stick, also in Up In Smoke Cheech brags to Chong about how much of a hardcore smoker he is by mentioning Thai sticks. Cheech mispronounces it as "tied stick," and when asked to explain says "you know, that stuff that's tied to a stick."

In the Quentin Tarantino film Reservoir Dogs, "Mr. Pink" (Steve Buscemi) ruminates about his current and past misfortunes stemming from his not following his instincts, including getting fake Thai stick.