Overview of Glass Blowing
The world of high-end glass blowing, especially when discussing the making of bongs and pipes, has undergone a significant rather drastic transformation over the past few decades.
Once viewed as an explicitly criminal enterprise, today’s glass blowers and artists are celebrated nationwide for their impressive craftsmanship and individualistic artistic expressions.
Today, we are looking to explore not only the journey of heady glass blowers through the dark days of 2003’s Operation Pipe Dreams, but also how they emerged from that period and have blossomed into their current status as respected and highly skilled artists, with some glass collection fetching price tags in the thousands.
The Dark Days: Operation Pipe Dreams (2003)
While most modern glass artists likely picked up the trade in the last decade, some were unfortunate enough to be glass artists at the turn of the century,
In 2003, the United States federal government launched Operation Pipe Dreams, a country-wide crackdown on the production, sale, and distribution of any and all drug paraphernalia, regardless of its potential use for 100% legal substances.
Over 2,000 law enforcement agents were rallied up and assigned to this operation spanning over the period of several months, resulting in the arrest of over 50 individuals, including notable and highly reputable glass artists and related entrepreneurs in the space.
This initiative was part of a much wider effort to stomp out the drug culture associated with cannabis use and smoking across the country.
A great example of someone who was targeted that is often mentioned when discussing the 2003 situation was Jason Harris, a member of JBD (Jerome Baker Designs), whose career was significantly altered.
Along with Jason was Tommy Chong, who ended up facing a nine-month sentence in federal prison for his simple involvement in the sale of glass pipes.
This Operation Pipe Dream, which ended up levying a cost to the taxpayers of several millions of dollars, aimed to send a clear and visible message that the production and sale of smoking devices, primarily bongs, and pipes, most of which were produced by hard-working glass blowers, were tp be seen as equally as criminal as the sale and distribution of drugs themselves.
The Resilience of Art
Despite these harsh crackdowns that led to the jailing of several figureheads of the industry, the glass-blowing industry and community demonstrated quite remarkable resilience.
Many blowing artists continued their craft in secret and under the cover of similar professions, while some other artists found ways to adapt and evolve their craft.
The arrest and prosecution of so many prominent figures did bring attention to the artistic and cultural value of glass blowing, sparking a renewed interest in the craft and in some ways almost backfiring on the mission and goals of Operation Pipe Dream.
The Legalization Wave
Almost 2 decades after the 2003 case, the legalization of medical and now even recreational cannabis has swept across various states and has played a absolutely essential role in the shifting public perception of not only cannabis but heady glass as well.
California’s Proposition 215 in 1996 and subsequent legalization measures across the country opened new opportunities for hand-blown glass artists. With these artists no longer being confined to the shadows of their glass-blowing studios, they are free to showcase their work in legal markets, leading to a massive boom in the industry and popularity around the space.
Heady Glass as Fine Art
In today’s world, heady glass blowers are highly celebrated for their intricate, beautiful, and innovative designs, tying in the extremely difficult practices of glass blowing into functioning works of art.
What was once considered illegal drug paraphernalia is now viewed as functional art and even a smart investment.
Whereas paintings are valued based on their artists and what collectors are willing to pay, the same goes for heady glass. A high-end, hand blown bong can now fetch upwards of several thousands of dollars, with some collectors willing to pay six-figure sums for unique creations.
Celebrities like Action Bronson and Snoop Dogg have brought some specific artists to light, boosting the values of the pieces, such as Mothership, famous for their “Fab Eggs”, and Scoz, well known for his Dragon dab rigs.
The shift in perception is also clearly evident in the media, with production companies riding the wave of popularity behind cannabis and heady glass.
As mentioned before, Action Bronson has several series involving him smoking for several thousand dollar heady glass and doing fun stuff like watching ancient aliens or trying fine cuisine.
Documentaries like “Degenerate Art: The Art and Culture of Glass Pipes” also highlight the craftsmanship and creativity that goes into glass blowing, further cementing the trade’s status as a legitimate art form.
The Close Things Out
The journey from felonies to fine art for heady glass blowers has been quite tumultuous, but ultimately rewarding.
The resilience and creativity of the glass-blowing community and the artists within have completely transformed the industry, permitting artists to reclaim their craft and gain the recognition they have always deserved.
As cannabis laws continue to evolve state by state, like Texas, Connecticut, and so many others, so too will the opportunities for these talented artisans to showcase their work and contribute to the cultural landscape of cannabis.
