People are looking for fresh and unique ways to consume weed, and the cannabis industry is responding by constantly coming up with innovative ways to do so. In recent years, vaping has become an increasingly popular method of consuming cannabis.
While it still requires inhaling, there are some notable differences that add to its popularity. If you’re looking to test the waters in the vaping world, we broke down all the basics you need to know in this how-to guide.
How Does Vaporizing Work?
Vaping works similarly to the conventional method of smoking cannabis; inhaling and exhaling. The cannabis being consumed is made from a liquid or dry substance heated by an electronic device called an e-cigarette or vaporizer.
different temperatures to heat your dry herb, dab wax or oil. The active ingredients turn into vapour without burning the substance. When you inhale, you are consuming a vapor containing cannabinoids. This is what gives you that sweet buzz.
There are over 100 cannabinoids, terpenes, and dozens of flavonoids in cannabis. Cannabinoids and terpenes combust at different temperatures; THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol) at 248°F and CBD (cannabidiol) at 356°F. The added high temperatures mean cannabis found within vapes combust a lot quicker, which may lead to a heightened high.
What Are the Benefits of Vaping Marijuana Over Smoking?
Vaporizing has been shown to have advantages over smoking. Vaporizing has grown in popularity over recent years for good reason, it has a host of benefits. It may even convince you to make the switch (or at least give vaping a try).
Here are just a few benefits of vaporizing:
- There are less harsh toxins directly ingested
- The ease of dose and temperature control
- Vaporizing can be smoother on the lungs and throat than the conventional spliff
- It’s handy for travelling on the go (handheld vaporizers)
Choosing the Best Vaporizer for Your Needs
Vaping devices come in lots of shapes and sizes, with some resembling USB flash drives, pens, etc, and some resembling volcanoes that are best for stationary use.
Leaf Lab has got you covered if you’re new to the vaping scene, and we’ll guide you through the selection process, from start to finish. There are two main types of vaporizers, namely, portable and tabletop vaporizers. Both can heat dry herbs or oil in their vessel.
Tabletop or Desktop Vaporizers
As the name suggests, desktop vaporizers are stationary and are best to use for large groups.
With these vaporizers, cannabis is ground and packed into a small container. This is where the bag pulls from. Once packed, you can select the temperature and fill the bag up. When you pull the air in, the vapour is drawn and inhaled through the bag.
The process is similar to smoking the conventional joint, however in this case air is drawn in through a bag.
Benefits of Stationary Vaporizers
Although not as popular as handheld vaporizers, stationary vaporizers still have a few features that make them the right choice for some. Here are just a few:
- How long you can vape for. These vaporizers run off of electricity (not batteries) and can be used as long as an outlet is accessible.
- Temperature control display. Stationary vaporizers are available with two different interfaces. One with a digital display, and the other with a temperature gauge knob. With each device, the user has complete control over the temperature their bud is being heated at.
- Use for groups. These devices are perfect for large groups and a bag or two can easily be shared with a group of friends. It’s important to remember to clean the mouthpiece after each use.
Portable Concentrate Vaporizers (Vape Pens or Dab Pens)
Vape pens are small, portable devices that feature a battery, atomizer (heating element) and mouthpiece. There are specialized vapes that are designed for each type of concentrate as well as vapes that allow multiple types of concentrate to be used.
The biggest difference between stationary vapes and handheld vapes is the ease of portability. Vape pens are small enough to fit into a pocket or backpack. If you’re new to vaping, we recommend portable vapes because they are so easy to use and are very convenient.
How Do I Use Concentrates for Vape Pens?
Marijuana concentrates are potent extracts that contain high levels of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD. They come in many forms, including, waxes, shatters, and oils, to name a few. Concentrates are what is used in these handheld devices.
Dry Herb Vaporizers
These vaporizers resemble a pen and can easily be used on the go (where permitted). They’re similar to concentrate vaporizers, but have one key difference: the atomizer. The atomizer heats and transforms dry herbs or waxes into vapor. Using dry herb vaporizers guarantees a robust and flavourful toke each time.
Types of Concentrates for Vaporizers
With these three types of devices, you can choose your preferred method of vaporizing, as well as what kind of product you want to put in. You can use:
- Dry flower
- Oil
- Wax concentrates
There are lots of vaporizers on the market that claim to be able to vaporize all three, however these vapes usually cannot deliver consistent results across different materials; this is due to the fact that dry herbs require specific conditions from oil and wax concentrates. This is why pen-style vapes sometimes can’t fully vape dry products but can with oils if they have the proper design features built-in.
Oil-Based and Wax Vaporizers
An oil-based vaporizer is a simple two-part electronic device used to turn your cannabis oils and wax concentrates into vapor. These vape pens are often shaped like writing pens, hence the name!
They’re also referred to as cartridge batteries because they house a small battery that heats an atomizer. It contains a coil for your oils or waxes to be broken down enough to release their properties without burning combustion. But they are great at producing beautiful odourless smoke when vaped at low temperatures.
If you’re new to vaping, we recommend portable vapes because they are so easy to use and are very convenient.
Vape On
Stepping into the vaping world can seem daunting at first, but selecting the right vaporizer for your lifestyle is the first step.
Leaf lab has a wide range of vaporizers to choose from. Our staff will guide you through the best options for you to ensure you buy a vaporizer that fits your lifestyle.
If you are looking to pick up your order from Leaf Lab Dispensary, we are located at 1961 Avenue Road, ON, M5M 4A3. If you have any questions regarding vaporizers, please contact us on 416-488-8239 or email us at info@leaflabcannabis.com.
