We made this guide for anyone thinking about making the switch to vaping who are unsure of the real benefits.
Vaping has exploded in popularity over the last ten years thanks mostly to e-cigarettes. Marijuana vaporizers have actually been around for longer, but only recently have they become a massive industry of their own. Many smokers have made the switch from smoking to vaping due to the understanding that it’s much safer. Vaporizers are devices that heats material until the active ingredients are released in a vapor. The major difference between vaping and smoking is that vaping doesn’t burn the organic material, but still gives you the desired effect. When vaping marijuana, the THC and CBD are both extracted along with the Terpenes that carry the distinct flavor.
Most vaporizers have the same basic components, such as a battery, chamber, and mouthpiece. When dry herb or concentrates are placed into a compatible chamber and then fired, the battery heats the material before being inhaled by the user. Different devices have different features and functionality, including temperature controls and variable wattage, but almost every device will have the same basic structure.
That being said, there’s a wide variety of different devices, from pens to desktop models, each with their own pros and cons. As you would expect, larger and more expensive devices generally produce a higher quality experience, but it’s more important to understand what you personally need. If you’re unsure of where to start looking for a vaporizer, check out the best portable & desktop marijuana vaporizers, a 2018 review guide.
Smoking Vs. Vaping
While marijuana has never been shown to harm human health in any way, smoke of any kind is not good for the body. There isn’t much evidence proving a connection between smoking weed and some of the worst effects of smoking cigarettes, but that could be mostly due to the relative lack of research on the topic. Regardless, any doctor will tell you that smoke has adverse effects on respiratory health and other internal systems. For example, smoking weed has been connected with bronchitis, a severe type of inflammation of the lung. It’s also been shown that smoking marijuana makes the immune system of the lungs weaker.
That’s where vaping comes in. While smoking is much more straightforward, simply light your material on fire, vaping does take a little extra knowledge. For example, understanding proper temperature is key to having the best experience possible. Too low heat and a lot of the THC and CBD won’t be released, too high and you’ll run the risk of burning your material and exposing yourself to many of the harmful chemicals found in smoke. Studies on the topic have concluded that between 310 and 420 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for getting the most out of your marijuana. According to the researchers, 365 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for getting the most potent effect from the THC and CBD, while avoiding any added harmful substances.
Benefits Of Vaping
There is a growing body of evidence that indicates vaping marijuana is much safer than smoking it. Back in 2004 a study compared the composition of marijuana vapor and smoke and found that the vapor was much purer and free of potentially harmful substances. Then in 2007 researchers took blood tests from marijuana vapers and smokers and found that while both had similar levels of THC in their system, the vapers had significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide. It’s also been shown that those who switch from smoking to vaping marijuana have fewer problems with their breathing.
But for many the best reasons to switch don’t have anything to do with the health benefits. Researchers have also shown that vaping is at the very least as efficient as smoking, but some of their findings indicate that it may be more potent. Users agree with this, as many will attest to needing less material to get the desired effect. But for many, the best reason to switch is how stealthy it is compared with smoking. When you light up, everyone in the area knows exactly what’s going on, but with vaping the smell is much milder and dissipates extremely fast.
At the end of the day, getting used to the switch is merely a matter of trial and error. At first, you may find yourself making some mistakes, but soon you’ll wonder why it ever took so long to make the switch. Vape On!
