In 2014 'vape' was Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year and today, the word is synonymous with what is known as a marijuana vaporizer, at least for cannabis users.
There are a variety of vaporizers available in an ever-growing market that includes everything from desktop vaporizers to portable vape pens that will fit in your pocket. Of course, laws pertaining to cannabis vary greatly around the world, and from state to state in the US, so devices designed specifically for marijuana use may be illegal depending on where you live.
Let's take a closer look at what a marijuana vaporizer is, types of vapes, and reasons why you should consider vaping your next toke.
What Does a Marijuana Vaporizer Do?
A marijuana vaporizer, simply put, heats your marijuana flower or concentrate, without burning it. The vaporizer reaches temperatures that allow the active ingredients from marijuana, such as THC and CBD, to be vaporized and inhaled. A well-designed marijuana vaporizer will highlight the flowers' natural aroma and flavors while leaving your bud untouched by flame. Vaporizers essentially come in two forms—desktop or portable.
What is a Desktop Vaporizer?
Designed for those who will be vaping at home, desktop vaporizers get their energy source from a wall outlet. Desktop units typically produce the most vapor, when compared to portable and battery-operated devices. Some desktop units use internal fans to move vapor into a 'balloon,' or vapor bag, which the user can then inhale from, while others use a hose-like 'whip,' which consists of a mouthpiece that the user can manually draw from.
There are also units that are dual functioning, allowing the user to switch between drawing methods. Most desktop vaporizers also allow for precise temperature settings, ensuring you are getting the most out of every draw.
What is a Portable Vaporizer?
Perfect for the cannabis enthusiast on the move, portable vaporizers are convenient and discrete. Some portable vaporizers are designed for either concentrates or dry herb/flower, while others can adapt to either form of marijuana.
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Portable vapes come in a variety of designs and sizes as well, but the primary components of portable vapes are a battery, tank, sensor, atomizer, and the mouthpiece. One of the most popular types of portable vaporizers today has been dubbed as a 'vape pen.' Vape pens also vary in design and function, so let's take a look at three common types of vape pens.
What are the Different Types of Marijuana Vape Pens?
Three common types of vape pens are cartridge pens, concentrate pens, and herb vaporizers. Each one has unique features offering a different experience depending on your needs and preferences.
What are Prefilled Cartridges?
Advancements in technology have made vaping your cannabis as convenient as purchasing a universal prefilled cartridge.
Vape Pens that use prefilled cartridges are quite affordable and offer convenient variety. From cannabinoid-specific cartridges to those with a THC to CBD ratio of 20:1, there is a cartridge for everyone. These vape pens are usually low maintenance, and each cartridge will simply screw onto the battery, resembling a pen. They also come in a variety of flavors and are usually made of glass, metal, or plastic, making them disposable.
What are Refillable Concentrates?
Cartridge pens are very similar to pens that use a tank or chamber that you can refill with concentrates as needed. These pens have more removable parts than cartridge pens, and it is not uncommon for the atomizer coils to become clogged or break down quickly. Some concentrates are too thick when purchased, but there are products available to help lower the viscosity of your oils. Finding the right balance comes with time.
What are Dry Herb Vapes?
Some vaporizers are designed for dry herb rather than oil concentrates. Due to their size, some people do not consider these devices to be vape pens, however as technology continues to advance, new models are becoming more sleek and innovative designs are improving these kinds of vaporizers' performance.
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Many users have found that dry herb vapes are easier to clean than oil vapes, with minimal cleaning time allowing you to vape nearly 24/7. If you enjoy the natural aroma and flavors of flower, the extra cost for a dry herb vape is certainly worth the results.
How do You Use a Marijuana Vape?
Marijuana vapes are very easy to use and simple to maintain. Because portable vapes rely on lithium-ion batteries, you will need to charge them regularly. Refillable tanks will also need to be cleaned frequently as the oil tends to build up like tar over time.
As long as your battery is charged, and you have oil or flower to put inside, simply push a button to heat, and then take a draw from the mouthpiece. Some vape pens allow you to adjust the temperature between a few settings or even the exact temp, but most are still limited to a preset temperature, which may or may not be conducive with the oil or flower you are consuming.
What are the Benefits and Risks of Vaping Marijuana?
There is a multitude of benefits derived from vaping marijuana, from convenient dosing to discretion, but some research also shows that vaping marijuana may also be a better option than smoking your cannabis. This is due to the fact that smoke releases carcinogenic chemicals and although there is minimal research available on marijuana's effects over the long term, most health professionals agree that smoking any substance is not beneficial to your respiratory system. Some long-term effects can even be debilitating.
Essentially, vaping your marijuana rids any extra chemicals from making their way into your lungs. Another thing that is also clear is that as marijuana becomes more popular, it appears the variety of ways to consume it will also continue to become more diverse.
Cannabis users and advocates alike are hoping that laws will change to allow more research on the long-term effects of using marijuana. Until that research is available, we really are left to only trust the farmers and producers who are making the products available to us. The marijuana industry is highly unregulated due to legalities, but it does appear that legislation has the consumer’s best interest in mind, at least so far.
Featured Image: Depositphotos/© jeremyn
