Vaping cannabis: a consumption method with a promising future
Numerous government pilot projects aimed at evaluating the benefits of cannabis use in a therapeutic usehave decided to use a vaporizer to conduct their clinical trials. This is by no means a coincidence, as this device appears to be the best option for administering cannabis to patients via inhalation. In fact, it is a healthier way to consume cannabis than smoking and offers many other benefits.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is harmful to public health, a fact that is widely recognized in today’s society. Quitting smoking is therefore a very good decision that everyone should make to preserve their health. This can save you from making that routine and costly trip to the neighborhood tobacco shop for a pack that has lost its luster over time. The appearance of the pack has changed significantly, as it is now adorned with graphic health warnings and images, alerting smokers to the harmful effects of cigarette smoke.
What’s more, when you consider that over 80% of the price of cigarettes is made up of taxes—with a single pack now costing more than €10—it’s safe to say that it really hits the wallet. We’ll also be spared the unpleasant smell of nicotine, as well as yellowing teeth and fingers—not to mention bad breath… Unfortunately, the vast majority of cannabis still add varying amounts of tobacco to their cannabis cigarettes to make them burn more easily and to achieve a more consistent draw. However, this practice is widely rejected by medical users and many purists, who characterize tobacco as a true hard drug—highly harmful and addictive.
Preserving Your Precious Health
At present, most cannabis users who use a vaporizer are either medical users or cautious occasional users who have serious concerns about the health risks associated with smoking products. However, things are changing, as it appears that the numerous prevention campaigns, broadcast across various media platforms, have fostered a new and positive perception among the general public.
Many of the arguments used by cannabis prohibitionists stem from ignorance or misinformation, but one thing must be acknowledged: excessive use, as with alcohol, can seriously harm one’s health. Any smoke produced by the combustion of a substance and subsequently inhaled by a living being is potentially harmful to the respiratory tract. Cannabis smoke contains, among other things, significant amounts of tar and carbon monoxide.
It’s also important to note that its temperature is higher than that of tobacco smoke, which is usually filtered. Another factor supporting this is that most “ dope ” inhale for longer and sometimes more intensely than smokers of traditional cigarettes. The major advantage of vaporization is that it offers a healthier technology, which protects the human body from all these long-term harmful effects. It is no coincidence that countries such as France and Israel have chosen this device for their clinical trials, as part of their respective national approval processes for the use of medical cannabis.
The beneficial effects of vaping extend beyond simply protecting the respiratory tract; they also encompass all vital functions and overall well-being. It’s worth noting, regarding cannabis, that the “heavy-headed” feeling experienced the day after smoking a joint stems directly from the method of administration (inhaling dense smoke produced by the plant material), not just from the quality of the flower used. Vaporization, on the other hand, has a much smaller impact in this regard, resulting in a milder sensation and a much faster recovery.
Discretion and a more relaxed atmosphere
The smell given off by cannabinoid-rich vapor is completely different from that produced by traditional combustion. It is a more complex, light, subtle, and aromatic scent that can only be detected by people in close proximity. Furthermore, it does not cling as easily as traditional smoke to fabrics, clothing, hair, and other materials containing fine fibers. Discretion is therefore a major benefit for vapers, as it is often the factor that allows a cannabis user to be quickly identified.
Purchasing a portable or tabletop vaporizer that delivers high-quality performance requires a fairly significant investment, often ranging from 300 to 500 €. We highly recommend the “ Mighty ” models for the portable version, and “ Volcano ” for stationary use. Both are manufactured by a German company called Storz & Bickel, which is clearly the industry leader. We recommend that you give this careful consideration when purchasing your vaporizer, as it’s important to choose a high-end model; otherwise, you run the risk of being quickly disappointed. There’s a huge difference in quality and performance between the various models available on the market, so it’s best to invest in a higher-end model, since this is a device you should be able to use for several years. Plus, it helps you save on cannabis, since it uses less herb per fill. All the organoleptic qualities are optimized with a vaporizer—that’s a fact.
Microdosing and moderate consumption
Vaporizers have been used for medical purposes since their inception, as they allow for microdosing and precise temperature control. This provides users with a wide and convenient range of applications. It is clear that, for therapeutic use, vaporization is also more precise than brewing or ingestion. Another major advantage is that the plant material is heated only during inhalation, which preserves all the qualities of the vapor and prevents any loss of potency between doses. Additionally, you conserve battery power and thus get longer battery life—a significant advantage for a portable vaporizer.
An experienced user told me that it took him nearly two weeks in total to fully get the hang of the device. That’s how long it takes to familiarize yourself with all of its features. However, he acknowledges that the experience is truly different—more profound, in his opinion—and that it has definitely changed the way he consumes cannabis, as he’s noticed that some of the discomforts mentioned earlier have disappeared. He strongly recommends using your best buds for this purpose—that is, those that are large, thick, compact, and have a high aromatic concentration. These are generally the buds located at the top of the plant, which have received an abundance of light. He also advises using lower-quality buds to make oil using various methods (RSO, olive oil, coconut oil, alcohol, etc.).
"You should follow a specialist's advice to ensure a positive experience if you choose a plant other than cannabis."
Aromatic quality
It’s true that this debate has been ongoing since the first vaporizers appeared, because many people at the time felt that the smell and taste of the vapor were quite similar. So much so that it was difficult to distinguish between the different varieties being consumed. Above all, the vast majority of consumers are accustomed to thicker, denser smoke—and, most importantly, smoke that is much richer in carbon monoxide. Vaping requires a change in consumption habits; you have to establish new reference points, which means a certain adjustment period. But once you get past that, you’ll realize that you can fully enjoy all the richness and aromatic depth of your cannabis, even noticing subtle nuances you hadn’t perceived before.
A Different Way to Consume
As we noted in the previous section, if you’re already a regular cannabis user, you’ll need to go through a short adjustment period, but it’s definitely worth it. Vaping stems directly from aromatherapy or herbal medicine. It is a form of alternative medicine that provides relief from certain physical and mental ailments in a simple and inexpensive way. A wide variety of medicinal plants can be vaporized. However, it is essential to follow the advice of a specialist in the field to ensure a beneficial experience and to avoid putting your health at risk if you choose a plant other than cannabis.
Conduction or Convection
As for vaporizers equipped with a conduction heating system, the cannabis comes into direct contact with the device’s heating surface, which has some drawbacks, such as the possibility of the plant material burning or beginning to burn, or increased difficulty in adjusting the temperature. However, this temperature range is a crucial factor to consider when purchasing a vaporizer. Specifically, the temperature range at which the various cannabinoids present in the plant vaporize is between 157° and 220° Celsius. It appears that lower temperatures promote a more “ heady ” effect, while higher temperatures offer more energizing sensations. It’s best to choose a convection-style model—which is admittedly more expensive—but whose long-term performance more than makes up for the financial investment. In practice, the cannabis is isolated from the heating element by a filter and is heated by a stream of extremely hot air. This is a key point to keep in mind when making a purchase.
