Cannabis Vaporizer 101: What Is It And How To Use One?

Cannabis vaporizers can be utilized for both medical and recreational use since cannabis extract has many positive effects on one’s health. These positive effects range from promoting relaxation, alleviating nausea or chronic pain, improving appetite, and addressing various wellness-related issues. In the past years, the popularity of weed vaporizers has skyrocketed, and users are exploring therapeutic alternatives to cannabis smoking. 

Since cannabis vapes allow you to inhale cannabis vapour, they are different from conventional smoking devices like bongs and pipes, letting you inhale cannabis smoke produced through combustion. The effects of vaping can begin quickly (within 15 minutes) and continue anywhere from forty minutes to two hours.

Vaping cannabis is a convenient and healthier alternative to traditional smoking methods. So many different devices can be used to vaporize flowers and concentrates. Thus, deciding what you want to vape and how to do it might be problematic if it is your first time using a cannabis vaporizer. 

In this article, you will learn about what cannabis vaporizers are and all the necessary details connected to them. These include the different cannabis vaporizers, choosing the model that best suits your needs, shopping for safe and legal vapes, and many more.

What Is a Weed Vaporizer?

THC or Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the cannabinoid found in marijuana and is responsible for the psychoactive effect, sometimes known as the “high.” Smoking and vaporizing extract the THC and other cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids and other components of the smoke are taken in through the lungs, and any unused parts are expelled into the air.

Compared to smoking, vaping can activate a more significant number of cannabidiol or cannabis components like delta-9 THC and CBD. Smoking cannabis can destroy a substantial number of the terpenes and minor cannabinoids that are found in flowers. A device with precise temperature settings, like vapes, will let you select a temperature optimal for the cannabis or terpene you have chosen.

When using a vaporizer for cannabis, heat is used to evaporate the THC without actually burning the substance. Vaping marijuana includes heating cannabis flowers or concentrates to a temperature that turns the psychoactive cannabinoids and terpenes into vapour. 

Most vape devices are designed to heat cannabis to a temperature slightly lower than the point at which it can combust. This temperature is between 180 and 190°C or 356 to 374°F. Since the temperatures involved in vaporizing are lower, the experience is smoother. Also, there is less waste created from the weed.

Types Of Vaporizers

You can inhale the vapour from cannabis using a variety of different methods. Tabletop vaporizers, portable vaporizers, and vape pens, often known as “hash oil” pens, are the three most common varieties.

Tabletop Vaporizers

Tabletop vaporizers have precise temperature control systems for cannabis consumption. They require a solid surface you can sit on to function properly. Tabletop vaporizers come in a wide variety of styles, but they always share the same four primary features:

1. A dial for adjusting or controlling the temperature
2. A heating element to heat concentrates or flowers
3. A chamber in which the bud or concentrates are placed
4. An attachment for the mouthpiece

Some tabletop vaporizers have a bag that collects the vapour. This bag must be removed before the user may inhale the steam. You can also use a long tube linked to the heating chamber; this enables the vapour to travel straight from the heating chamber to you. 

The vast majority of these vaporizers are designed to be used for vaping cannabis flowers. You can use other types of vaporizers once you have mastered the art of vaping marijuana with a tabletop one. But be sure never to vape marijuana from a tobacco vaporizer or vice versa; this is dangerous.

Portable Vaporizers

Tabletop and portable vaporizers both function in a similar manner. The main difference is that the former is stationary while the latter is mobile. A chamber, a heating element, and a battery are the three components that make up a portable vaporizer. 

The chamber is used to store the cannabis flower or concentrate. Most portable vaporizers are equipped with temperature control mechanisms that may be adjusted with the simple press of a button or the rotation of a dial; this activates the battery, vaporizing the flower or concentrates within the chamber. The vapour is then sent into the mouthpiece, where it may be inhaled. 

Since cannabis vapour produces a less overpowering odour, portable vaporizers allow you to use the drug quickly and discreetly. In most cases, learning how to vape marijuana is less complicated than learning how to smoke it.

Portable vaporizers may also be used for various concentrates, depending on the device’s capabilities. Some examples of these concentrates include shatter, wax, and budder. Before you go out and buy a portable vaporizer, it is crucial to consider how you want to use it and search for one specifically intended to handle cannabis use. 

Vape Pens

A vaporizer pen or a hash oil pen is a specific pen-shaped vaporizer meant to vape cannabis distillates and oils on the go. They are referred to as pens since the small design of the vaping device is quite similar to the design of a traditional pen.

A battery and a cartridge are the two components that make up a reusable vape. You can use the same battery with other cartridges with reusable vape pens. However, it would be best if you disposed of the empty cartridge once you have vaporized all of the oil.

Most disposable vape pens have cartridges consisting of a mouthpiece, a chamber, and a heating element turned on by a battery. The chamber is filled with oil or distillate, both containing cannabinoids and terpenes at high levels. Batteries for vaporizers are available in a wide variety of designs. They vary in the buttons, shapes, and battery life.

How To Use Vaporizers

There is a diverse selection of cannabis-based vaporizers available in dispensaries. We will go through the basics of how they operate. However, it is also vital to read the instructions with any device you buy, especially for marijuana use. Check out the steps below on how to use a typical vape:

1. Vapes typically require a minute or two to warm up after being turned on for the first time. When you power the device, this process will often start immediately afterward. Most models are equipped with an indicator light that turns on once the predetermined temperature has been attained.
2. The dry herb or flower you will use must be powdered before loading into a vaporizer to ensure optimal performance; this makes it possible for heat to permeate the substance and effectively activate the cannabinoids. You can purchase a grinder since it is not ideal for grinding cannabis by hand. This is because the cannabinoid-rich essence of the flowers might potentially adhere to your fingertips and lessen the potency of the finished product. You can also try using a dry herb vaporizer.
3. After you have loaded the chamber, you need to make sure that it is adequately sealed.
4. While some vapes are pre-programmed at a temperature optimal for vaporization, others will allow you to choose the temperature yourself. You can personalize your experience since they provide low, medium, and high settings. 
5. Once the vape has been turned on and heated up, you can begin inhaling through the mouthpiece. When you exhale, you should be able to see and taste the vapour. Keep in mind that you need to pace yourself to acquire the result that you want.
6. When you vape cannabis, the number of cannabinoids you take in will drop from one inhalation to the next because the vaporizer removes the oils in the flower. 
7. It is vital to remember that the flower will not combust and turn to ash as smoked cannabis does. If the vapour starts to get thin and loses flavour, the flowers you have loaded have released most of their cannabinoid content. In this case, the vaporizer must be replenished with fresh high-potency or non-psychoactive cannabis. The unusable cannabis that is produced after vaping can be thrown away.

Potential Benefits Of Using a Vaporizer

More and more people are becoming aware of the benefits that smoke-free vaporizers provide. Thus, the popularity of vaping as a method of using weed is expected to continue to rise. Vaporizers for marijuana come in a wide range of forms. They can be used for various uses, including medicinal, recreational, and even spiritual purposes.

Those who use cannabis for medical reasons may find that vapes are beneficial since these devices can efficiently deliver the medication to them. Seeing how vaporizers heat cannabis quicker, they extract a greater quantity of THC from the plant. As a result, the THC does not have enough time to dissolve into the plant material, and those who vape it do not receive nearly as much of the psychoactive compound; this is one of the critical factors that contribute to the widespread preference for cannabis vaporizers as an alternative to smoking.

In addition, the vapour created by a cannabis vaporizer does not include many of the same harmful chemicals in smoking. Fewer pollutants are taken into your body when inhaling vapour rather than smoke; this makes it a safer and healthier form of smoking marijuana. However, take note that not all pot vaporizers are created equal. Some are more effective than others in removing all THC from marijuana.

Patients can also quickly medicate whenever the need for symptom alleviation arises due to the portability and convenience of vapes. They can medicate without bothering others since the odour is less intense and disappears quicker than the scent produced by smoked cannabis.

Since vapes are made for flowers, users can try a wide variety of items, each of which has a distinctive impact. Consumption methods that do not include smoking, such as edibles and capsules, may not provide users with the same variety of possibilities.

Research On Cannabis Vaporizers

It is highly possible that vaping is more preferable to smoking cannabis. This is because lower temperatures are involved in the vaporization process. In smoking, the flower is heated to the point of combustion. The combustion process can create hazardous tar and carcinogens even without tobacco use. Check out some clinical studies on the efficacy of medical use and potential side effects of using dry herb vape pens or vapes.

Possible Benefits of Vaping Cannabis

There is a need for further study regarding the long-term effects of vaporizing cannabis. However, some studies back up the relative health advantages that are thought to come from this method. Research conducted in 2007 and published in the Harm Reduction Journal reported participants having respiratory symptoms when using cigarettes and cannabis. 

The researchers observed that chronic cannabis users who smoked had fewer respiratory problems when using vaporizers. This is even though using vaporizers increased the quantity of cannabis ingested. They concluded that the temperature required for vaping was low enough to prevent the production of smoke and the pollutants customarily associated with combustion.

The Health Risks of Vaping Cannabis

However, there is a significant catch to these possible benefits to one’s health. In 2019, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed a link between the significant rise in the number of lung injuries and the use of unauthorized vapes.

The research on vaping is still ongoing, but preliminary findings suggest that vitamin E acetate, flavourings, and other additives may be to blame for lung problems. It is a highly unregulated industry, akin to the wild west, so be discerning with your vendor. Thus, you should only purchase cannabis products from brands and merchants who have been granted licenses to sell them. You can also look at the certificate of analysis (COA) that a third-party lab issued for any product you consider buying.

Effects of Inhaling Cutting Agents From E-juice

Some types of THC vape juice contain cutting agents similar to those found in e-cigarettes. These cutting agents increase the cartridge’s mouthfeel and the vaporizer’s cloud creation. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that all these different cutting agents are safe for human consumption, there are still some questions regarding what occurs when these compounds are heated and inhaled, especially long term.

According to the findings of research completed in 2010 and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, inhaling cutting agents may potentially make asthma and allergies worse. Additional study reveals that when vaporized at high temperatures, some cutting agents break down into formaldehyde and acetaldehyde carcinogens. 

Although further study is vital to have a complete understanding of the consequences of inhaling these cutting agents, in your best interest, steer clear of them and opt for raw vape cartridges.

Weed Vaporizer FAQs

What Is a Dab Pen?

A pen-style vape is compatible with cartridges loaded with oil or distillate. You can learn more about vape pens and where to buy them by reading more articles here. A dab pen is specifically for the consumption of dabs, which has an undetermined amount of concentrate. 

Most dab pens, also known as wax pens, have precisely the same components as a vape pen. However, instead of loading liquid concentrate into the cartridge of a traditional vape pen, concentrates are put directly into the heating chamber of dab pens. Dab pens allow you to use a wide variety of concentrates, including wax concentrates, shatter, budder, and dabber.

How Much Does a Weed Vape Cost?

The answer to this depends on the quality of the vape pen and its accessories. You may discover disposable vape pens that arrive pre-filled and ready to use or a complete kit that contains the battery and a device charger.

Since markets in different states or provinces might be pretty different from one another, the price of disposable vape pens will also depend on where they are being sold. At The Herb Centre, you can search through a large inventory of available cannabis-induced products across Canada.

What Is Inside a Vape Cartridge?

When selecting a vape cartridge, it is vital to have a good insight into the type of oil, including the flavour, cutting agents, and more; all of these aspects contribute to the overall sensation of vaping.

Each vape cartridge is pre-loaded with cannabis oil that has been optimized for use with a portable battery. The flavour and aromatic compounds of raw cannabis oil may be removed during the distillation process. After that, combine it with terpenes to reintroduce flavours. It may also be infused with a form of glycols, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), propylene glycol (PG), or vegetable glycerin (VG), to provide the vapour with the additional mouthfeel.

Although all legal vape cartridges tested in laboratories include cannabis, only specific cartridges contain terpenes. Terpenes are chemical molecules responsible for imparting tastes and aromas to plants. Raw cartridges only have pure cannabis oil and do not include other additives, such as a cutting agent or terpenes.

What Is a Distillate Cartridge?

As a result of the distillation, an odourless, flavourless, and viscous liquid is produced; this is the usual practice for distillate cartridges to reintroduce terpenes. Some extractors have perfected a method that enables them to remove the terpenes from the plant during the distillation process and reintroduce them before filling the vape cartridges. 

It is also standard practice for cartridges to be stuffed with natural terpenes. These terpenes produce unusual fragrances that smell and taste like candies or fruits. After extraction, the reintroduction of terpenes into the product generates an almost infinite number of cannabinoid and terpene combinations. These terpenes have the potential to alter the colour and density of the distillate contained within the cartridge.

Conclusion

Many cannabis users and healthcare practitioners constantly search for more effective methods to use cannabis-derived products. Thus, innovations have been developed to make the use of cannabis safer, more convenient, and more pleasurable through vapour production.

If you are new to vaporizing or cannabis-related activities, our staff at The Herb Centre can always assist you. Vaporizing cannabis has been shown to have many health advantages by many users, and we hope that you will also find that this choice is beneficial to you.

How To Buy Marijuana Vaporizers Online

Are you looking for somewhere to buy an ultra-high-performance cannabis vaporizer? Check out our vaping products here at The Herb Centre! Learn how to purchase marijuana online and receive your items through our mail-order marijuana service.