How Does Vaping Work, Exactly?
What is Vaping? - A Beginner's Guide to Vaping from CannabisNet on Vimeo.
Vaping is becoming an increasingly popular and convenient way to consume cannabis these days.
Simply put, vaping entails heating cannabis products into a fine vapor and inhaling it. Because it doesn’t involve combustion unlike smoking pot from a joint or pipe, vaping is viewed as a healthier way to consume your medicine compared to traditional methods. It doesn’t burn any plant matter and it’s much smoother on the throat.
Vaping is a whole new ballgame in the world of cannabis, and there’s a lot to know before you start.
Here’s a helpful guide for beginners who want to start vaping.
Benefits Of Vaping
There are many reasons people may opt to vape instead of smoke. The most common reason is its health benefits. When you smoke pot, the smoke inhaled may contain compounds produced by the combustion which may be harmful if you already have a weak immune or respiratory system. This isn’t advisable for patients of any kind.
Additionally, you get very little THC and cannabinoids after smoking. But with vaping, heat turns the cannabis into vapor, which preserves more beneficial cannabinoids but it never reaches the same temperatures that combusts it, which is what smoking does.
Vaping also delivers effects much more quickly. Once you inhale the smoke, it goes to the bloodstream immediately. The clean vapor instead of smoke produced by the devices protects you from inhaling particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and harmful toxins.
Discretion is another reason why many people choose vaping. It doesn’t reek of cannabis the way bud does, and doesn’t normally stick to your clothes or interiors. It can be done on the go without other people knowing. The devices used for vaping come in a vast array, and many of them are designed for discretion, especially in sleek pens that resemble styluses which can fit into your pocket.
Vaping also means the end of lighter thieves. Since you no longer need a lighter to vape, say goodbye to the days of constantly losing or replacing lighters.
Vaporizers come in many sizes and styles that cater to varying needs, budgets, and lifestyles.
Here are some things to consider when shopping for a vaporizer:
- Portability: Most vapes are sleek and small; these are commonly known as vape pens. They are convenient and discreet, allowing you to keep your habit under wraps. Desktop or table top vaporizers are suitable for individuals who want to enjoy the benefits of vaping in their own home, and the benefits of choosing a non-portable desktop vaporizer is that it oftentimes produces better vape quality while offering more intake methods.
- Draw duration: Draw duration refers to how long it takes for the user to retrieve vapor from the device. Ideally, you should be looking for devices that have a quick draw duration, otherwise it usually means that it isn’t of good quality.
- Temperature control: Most vaporizers are created to offer some kind of temperature control. Some of the modern designs automatically manage temperatures, but others have manual settings. The ideal temperature for vaping will depend on your preferences, but for beginners it’s ideal to start out with a vaporizer that gives you some kind of digital temperature control so that you can adjust your vaping experience and learn more about how you like consuming your cannabis through trial and error.
- Durability: Ideally, your first vape device should be durable for the long-term. Glass vapes are fragile, and are made cheaply. You want a durable device that is safe to prevent cracking or breaking down during use.
- Refillable vs. disposable: If you aren’t sure if you want to make the commitment to vaping just yet, you may want to consider a disposable vape. These devices are pre-filled with a certain strain, usually in the form of oil or wax and will give you anywhere from 100 up to 300 puffs. But if you’ve cemented your decision to vape, then you should invest in a reusable device. They can cost anywhere from $15 upwards, even as much as $300 in some cases.
Finding a vaporizer that ticks all of the boxes may be difficult, so you’ll probably have to compromise when it comes to one of these, just make sure you don’t go for the cheapest option.
You’ll also have to choose if you want to try vaping dry cannabis herb or concentrates. There are benefits to using both, but unless you’re willing to shell out more money on a device that can accommodate dry herb and concentrate in one, you’ll have to choose.
Vaping dry herb will give you a similar buzz to smoking a joint or a bowl because of the full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes offered by this experience. However, the THC levels in dry herb are much lower compared to vaping concentrates. On the other hand, concentrates such as oils and waxes are a much more popular option because these are way more potent compared to dry herb. Concentrates contain anywhere from 60-80% THC while dry herb gives you around 15-25% THC.
If you prefer a fast-acting dose or need quick relief, go for concentrates. Otherwise, you can settle for vaping dry herb. Additionally, if you’re a recreational user with significant experience with cannabis, you might also need more than the usual amount to get you high due to your tolerance. In this case, a little concentrate will go a long way.
However, vaping dry bud won’t be as discreet as vaping oil. This is another factor to take into consideration.
Once you’ve settled on a vaping device, it’s also important to ensure you give it the proper care that it needs so that it works well and lasts you a long time. If you fail to do so, this may give you a bad vaping experience especially if you’ve shelled out a lot of money for pricey equipment.
If your vape pen comes with an instruction manual or pamphlet, make sure to read it. Keep your vape clean by cleaning and caring for it. This will result in a better experience and overall consumption. It also helps to understand the correct type of charging mechanism or method that your device requires and use it correctly.
If you’ve opted for an oil vape, now it’s time to choose the right kind of oil to use for your device. There are three main types of oils in the market: cannabis and CBD oils.
Cannabis oils generally have a high THC content, and can be used both by recreational users as well as patients. Cannabis oils with THC are excellent medications for depression, chronic pain, PTSD, fibromyalgia, insomnia, appetite loss, and much more. Due to its THC content, even just one puff will get you sky-high.
CBD oils are known for their anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and antispasmodic benefits. They don’t deliver a high, but can be relaxing for use after work or before sleep. Vaping CBD oils is also helpful in stabilizing your overall endocannabinoid system by supplementing your body with therapeutic cannabinoids to keep you healthy. For many people, the primary benefit of vaping or consuming CBD oils is the absence of any high whatsoever.
Aside from these common oils, others you may encounter at a dispensary include hash oils, vape juices, and waxes.
No matter what material you choose, remember to only use your device with the material that it supports. If you have a vape for dry herb, don’t try to use it with concentrates or vice versa. This is a sure-fire way to destroy your device before you even get to enjoy it.
Tips For Oil Vaping
As you start to experiment with your oil vape, practice makes perfect, just like with everything else. Here are four tips to make your oil vaping experience more enjoyable:
- Consume moderately: Start by consuming a conservative, moderate amount. Oils are very potent because they’re concentrated forms of cannabis, and one toke can get you much higher than you thought. Always start small until you have a good grasp of just how strong it is. If you find it weak, you can always gradually add until you reach the desired effects.
- Invest in good oil: Ideally, you should be consuming oil that has been tested in a lab. Otherwise, it negates the health benefits in the first place. Do your research when it comes to oils.
- Small puffs: To make the most of your vaping experience, take small, controlled puffs. Inhaling too strong may result in some oil getting in your mouth (a waste of product), and it can also cause the oil to heat up quicker which risks combustion.
- Watch out for temperature: If your oil burns too quickly, you’re losing as much as 30% of the valuable cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s best to buy a temperature controlled device so that you have control over the temperature.
Have you already made the switch to vaping? What do you enjoy about it the most?
What is Vaping? - A Beginner's Guide to Vaping from CannabisNet on Vimeo.
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