So what is a vaporizer? A vaporizer is exactly what it sounds like, it is a device that heats and changes a substance into one that can be inhaled. You might have seen them used in public spaces, or you or your friends might be part of the group that uses them for an alternative to smoking cigarettes. After all, “vaping” is pretty much mainstream, and you are likely to find vapes or vape users everywhere.
When it comes to marijuana, it’s important to throw away any preconceived vape notions you might have out the window. We won’t be discussing the merits of smoking nicotine via vaporizers; rather, we’re solely focused on using a vape to smoke the “devil’s lettuce.”
Vaping is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional weed-smoking. Regardless of whether you’re used to smoking via paper, glass, or water pipe, you’re still sending smoke into your lungs. This means that vaping is not a healthier option, and you will still have some of that smell associated with traditional marijuana use; however, these things will be lessened with by vaping.
What is Vaping?
If edibles aren’t you’re thing and you’re wary of inhaling smoke out of a bong, joint, or bowl, then vaping marijuana is a good option.
In simplest terms, vaping doesn’t involve any burning (as it does in smoking). Instead, “vaporizing” is the act of heating the cannabis at a very low temperature. Instead of smoke, the device will dispense “vapor,” providing users with a milder (albeit just as effective), smoking experience.
Benefits of Vaping
Think about all of the downsides of smoking. Even seasoned smokers can find themselves in a coughing fit after taking a hit off a bong or joint.
As we previously mentioned, vaping doesn’t involve any combustion. Therefore, the common smoking-related respiratory issues haven’t yet been associated with vaping. Furthermore, the accompanying allergies that often go hand-in-hand with smoking aren’t as prevalent with vaping. Of course, research is still few and far between, so don’t take our word for it. If you’re looking for some in-depth advice regarding the health effects of vaping, we’d suggest talking with a doctor, especially if you are concerned about asthma or allergies.
Furthermore, traditional smoking methods leave an odor on you, your clothing, and your belongings. Whether you’re looking to be discreet or simply don’t want to reek of pot, vaping will eliminate many of these smells. This factor also plays a role on where and when you can hit your vape; smoking cannabis inside usually isn’t a great idea if you are worried about lingering odor. Individuals will be a bit more receptive when you’re vaping indoors as the smell does not typically linger. Of course, if you are worried about the immediate smell, opening windows or vaping outside can easily squash any concerns.
Downsides of Vaping
The only way you’ll really recognize the “downsides” of vaping are if you’ve previously smoked weed via some kind of paper (blunt, joint, etc.). Furthermore, many of these “downsides” are subjective, and they’re mostly used to illustrate the differences between vaping and smoking.
For instance, some people are fond of the flavor of marijuana, while other users prefer a thicker, denser drag. You probably shouldn’t expect either from a vape.
Some concentrates are flavored (including “cannabis”), so you may still be able to get some of that weed taste during your hits, but it’s more likely that you taste nothing. Furthermore, the drags are generally less dense than their smoking counterparts. Of course, this isn’t a bad thing the vape will still get you *plenty* high.
There are some expensive vapes that do their best to simulate the sensation of traditional smoking. If you’re looking to replace that blunt with an easier to use option, then you should definitely consider these vapes.
What Do You Need?
Well, naturally you’ll need some marijuana. Depending on what type of vaporizer you opt for, you might not necessarily want to purchase flower. Instead, you might be better off pursuing waxes, oils, or any other type of concentrated cannabis.
Vaporizers widely vary in sizes and types. The majority of vapes are handheld, with some being smaller than a pencil and few being the size of your hand. If you purchase a vaporizer through a dispensary or store, there’s a good chance that the vape will be disposable (meaning it can’t be refilled under any circumstances). The non-disposable vaporizers are predictably more expensive, but you’ll be saving money in the long run; purchasing your vape’s applicable cartridges will be less expensive than constantly purchasing disposable vapes.
Types of Vapes
Purchasing a vape for marijuana is easier said than done. Even if you’re opting for a vape from a generic dispensary, there’s a good chance that you’ll have a variety of options at your disposal. In other words, it’s best to know what you’re looking for before you make a purchase.
Flower/Dry Herb Vapes
This is the closest you’ll get to an authentic weed-smoking experience. The flower vapes need to be packed with cannabis flower, and they can then be enjoyed at any time or anywhere (assuming you opted for a small, portable device).
There are some natural benefits and negatives to this particular option. Since you’ll be packing the weed yourself, you can control which strains you’ll be inhaling. As you’ll learn later on, those oils and wax packs are often mixes of many different types of strains. Naturally, you’ll have more options if you’re pursuing flower.
The downside specifically pertains to the heating. Often times, these vaporizers require more heat to vaporize the actual plant, making the entire device a bit more hot (thus making it tough to conceal or carry around). While some flower vapes will allow you to manipulate the heat settings, few will let you actually manipulate the temperature, meaning you’re ultimately limited by your specific device. In other words, this could lead to thinner, less-effective drags.
When searching for a dry herb vaporizer, make sure the device relies on convection. This means that both hot air and the chamber will vaporizer the dry flower, which is essentially what you’re seeking. Conduction will heat the dry herb directly, which leads to smoke.
Concentrates
As you’ll learn the moment you check out a dispensary’s menu, the term “concentrate” is pretty general. There are a variety of different concentrates that you can opt for as you’re looking to vape.
Concentrates take all of the goodies from the marijuana plant (primarily the THC) and provide it to users in compact, alternative smoking methods. As their name implies, these concentrates are more “concentrated” than their plant alternative, providing users with a more effective high.
Oils tend to be one of the most popular options, as they’re usually included in those previously-mentioned disposable vapes. Oils are often common choices for generic permanent vapes, and customers can purchase this concentrate via “cartridges.” Wax is another popular choice for those seeking concentrates, although this will require a specialized vaporizer.
These concentrates tend to be a bit more expensive than their traditional flower counterpart. Furthermore, thanks to the number of vapes that have flooded the market, not every cartridge will be compatible with your specific vape. It’s important to figure all of this out before you head into a dispensary. Whichever method you choose, it all comes down to personal choice and desired experience. Be prepared for some trial and error while you are exploring different delivery and smoking methods.