7 Tips To Enhance Your Cannabis Vape Experience
The usage of cannabis for recreational and alleged medicinal purposes can be dated back to around 2800 BCE. However, it’s been illegal in most places since the dawn of modern society. Recently, people have become more open with their cannabis usage as more countries legalize it. Finding the best consumption method is a common conversation topic among cannabis users. (1)
Vaping cannabis is one of the more modern consumption methods, quickly growing into one of the most popular ways to enjoy the herb. It allows people to consume the herb quickly and efficiently while minimizing many of the negative effects associated with smoking.
While vaping cannabis is relatively straightforward, several considerations can make the experience even better. Keep reading for seven tips that will enhance your vaping experience.
Why vaping?
You might be wondering why you would choose to vape cannabis when there are several other consumption methods around. For example, smoking and incorporating into food are two of the easiest and most prominent ways to get the cannabinoids into your body.
If you do a little reading on the benefits of vaping, it’ll become clear that vaping is healthier and offers several advantages over smoking. Perhaps the most prominent benefit is that it avoids combustion while still heating the flower enough to activate the cannabinoids and produce vapor, leading to a less harsh but still satisfying experience.
You might be surprised to learn that some of the first dry herb vaporizers were actually designed for cannabis. According to Investopedia, vape cartridges are the second most popular consumption method. If inhalation is your preferred medium, then vaping is definitely something to consider. (2)
Here are the tips to get the most out of your cannabis vaping:
- Choose the right type of device
Understand that there are different types of vaporizers. Dry herb vaporizers are most popular with cannabis users. That said, it’s possible to use a regular vape device with cannabis-infused e-liquid—usually found in vape shops.
Each device comes with unique features. For example, higher-end devices often have better temperature control capabilities than lower-end devices. You can also get desktop vaporizers which generally have more power and produce more vapor or smaller devices that are more portable.
The device you choose will influence your experience. Do your research and choose a vaping device that can do what you want it to.
- Use properly cured herb
The better your cannabis bud, the better your vaping experience. The process relies on the moisture in the bud to produce vapor. If it’s too dry, it can combust. But if it’s too moist, it can ruin the experience. You should always try to use a high-quality bud that’s been properly dried and cured.
Buying cannabis from a reliable source should always give you a bud that’s ready to be vaped. If you grow your own cannabis, you should ensure you use well-tested curing methods for the best results.
As a general rule, the flower shouldn’t be moist to the touch but shouldn’t be so dry that it’s easy to crumble with your fingers.
- Grind it finely
The way you grind the herb will influence how well it vapes. Keep in mind that the more you grind it, the greater its surface area becomes. This makes more room for heat to enter and vapor to exit.
Grind it evenly and finely. However, be careful not to grind it so finely that it falls through the chamber or blocks airflow. This might take some experimentation and depend on your device. An herb grinder can make it easier to get consistent results.
- Preheat your device
Vaporizers don’t instantly reach the desired temperature as soon as they’re turned on. Give the vape a moment to heat up before you insert your cannabis or try to inhale. Doing this will help you get a better drag.
It’s important to note that different devices will need different amounts of time to heat up. It’s best to read the instructions to find the best way to preheat your vaporizer.
- Learn how to pack the chamber
Technically, you only need to pack the herb into the chamber for it to work. But you can instantly improve your experience if you pay attention to how you pack the chamber. You want to pack the chamber tightly, but not so that you hinder airflow. You don’t want to fill the chamber too much or too little, for the same airflow-related reason.
Experiment with trial and error. After a few tries, you should be able to find the optimal way to pack your device.
- Pay attention to your inhalation technique
Inhalation should be slow, smooth, and gentle. Inhaling too hard can draw the cannabis into the mouthpiece, which will clog the airflow. Another downside to hard inhales is that it can introduce too much cold air into the chamber, negatively affecting vapor production. Start with light drags and gradually increase the intensity until you find a balance that you enjoy.
- Never try to vape cannabis oil
Cannabis oils are different from cannabis-infused e-liquids. Cannabis oils don’t refer to cannabis concentrate that’s been pressed from a bud with a rosin press. This refers to oils that have been infused with cannabinoids.
New cannabis vapers often think it’s fine to put cannabis oil into an e-liquid vaporizer. This essentially vaporizes oil that then gets inhaled. Healthline writes that inhaling tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil can be harmful to your lungs and is especially concerning when it includes Vitamin E acetate. Vaping THC oil is potentially dangerous, so it’s best to avoid it. (3)
Conclusion
Vaping cannabis is undoubtedly a healthier alternative to smoking. Thanks to its many benefits, it’s easily one of the most popular cannabis consumption methods today. Each vape is different and offers a unique set of functions. By following the tips listed here, you can enhance your vaping experience and get the most out of your cannabis flower.
Reference List
- “History of cannabis – Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics (sydney.edu.au)”, Source: https://www.sydney.edu.au/lambert/medicinal-cannabis/history-of-cannabis.html
- “5 Most Popular Ways to Consume Cannabis (investopedia.com)”, Source: https://www.investopedia.com/news/5-most-popular-ways-consume-cannabis/
- “Vaping vs. Smoking Weed: Is One Safer? (healthline.com)”, Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/vaping-vs-smoking-weed#lung-injury
