Vaping FAQs

is smoking cannabis oil the same as vaping

by Roslyn Beer MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
image

The smoke tends to be a bit harsher than a hit from a cannabis oil cartridge vape pen. There are a lot of reasons for that. The first and most obvious reason is that when you smoking cannabis flowers, you are actually combusting and burning the herb. The vaping process is much different than that.

Full Answer

Is vaping cannabis oil better than smoking?

Many people have turned to vaping over smoking for health benefits and because it is easier, more discreet, and more portable. At the same time, however, for many people vaping cannabis oil produces a unique and “less profound” experience as smoking cannabis (marijuana) flower (bud).

What is vaping marijuana?

Vaping marijuana involves inhaling heated oil through a vaporizing device, often referred to as an e-cigarette. Vaping marijuana can also refer to using a vaporizer, such as a Volcano , to produce vapor from dried plant material. Some people believe vaping is safer than smoking because it doesn’t involve inhaling smoke.

Does vaping cannabis oil feel like smoking flower (bud)?

At the same time, however, for many people vaping cannabis oil produces a unique and “less profound” experience as smoking cannabis (marijuana) flower (bud). We hear things like “I don’t feel as high when I use a vape pen” or “vaping cannabis doesn’t do as much for me medically as smoking flower.” Why do people feel this way?

What is the difference between cannabis oil and cannabis flower?

Most cannabis oils (extracts) have a very different chemical profile from cannabis flower. It’s no wonder the consumer feels different when they smoke Grape Ape as compared to vaping it – the chemical profile is, in most cases, drastically different.

image

How does smoking cannabis work?

To begin, smoking burns the entire plant. This turns the different cannabinoid, terpenes and other chemical compounds into an inhalable vapor. “All of them acting together produce what’s called the entourage effect, which means that the combination of all of them working together is more effective than if you were to consume each of them in isolation,” chief medical officer Dr. Perry Solomon of HelloMD, a digital healthcare platform for the cannabis industry, tells Bustle. Vaporization involves heating the flower material to a temperature that boils off the essential oils and cannabinoids for inhalation without creating combustion, says Dr. Solomon.

What happens when you smoke weed?

When someone smokes weed, they are inhaling the full range of secondary compounds in the cannabis flower , so that may lead to greater symptom relief and psychoactive experience, says Chasen. “When using a vape pen [a person is] inhaling an oil that contains mostly cannabinoids, so the effect may feel thinner or more one directional,” she says.

What temperature does a vape pens burn?

“Combustion occurs between 600 – 900 degrees Celsius whereas vape pens typically operate between 160 and 230 degrees Celsius, ” cannabis educator Emma Chasen tells Bustle. “Combustion produces toxic byproducts that lead to respiratory symptoms such as bronchitis. Vaporizing does not produce such toxic byproducts and therefore leads to less respiratory symptoms.”

Is vaping a smoke?

Although the “smoke” from a vape isn’t technically smoke (it’s vapor), there are noticeable differences in what you’re inhaling. “Vaping tends to impart a lighter flavor and reduced odor as compared to that of smoking,” says Solomon. “Vapor also tends to diffuse more quickly than the smoke from a joint does.” Because vaping doesn’t involve combustion, this can be easier on the lungs.

Is vaping the same as smoking flower?

With smoking flower, there is much more variation from batch to batch and grower to grower. With vaping, there is much more consistency in the product. “The plant material is an agricultural product and will have significant variance from farm to farm and year to year, much like wine,” David Erickson, chief science officer at Sublime Canna, a cannabis manufacturing company, tells Bustle. “Vape products can be produced in a way that accounts for these variations with the goal of producing the same product with the same experience from batch to batch.”

Is it safe to vaporize cannabis?

Vaporization can be a safer alternative, but not all vaporization is the same: Ground flower seems to be much safer than vaporizing oils. “With a good flower vaporizer, set properly to 350°F, cannabinoids can be inhaled with little to no products of combustion,” cannabis therapeutics specialist Jordan Tishler, MD, of InhaleMD, a medical cannabis clinic, tells Bustle. “However, oil cartridge vaporization can be harmful. There are additives, whether polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or more recently cannabis terpenes, which convert to carcinogens at relatively low temperatures.”

Does smoking cannabis flowers hurt your respiratory system?

Because of this combustion, smoking the regular way can do more damage to the respiratory system than vaping. “In the research that is available, it seems clear that smoked cannabis flowers are certainly more irritating to the respiratory system than vaporizing ,” says Dr. Crockett. “With prolonged smoking in this form, many consumers have reported respiratory issues, such as coughing, wheezing, and other bronchitis-like symptoms.”

What is the difference between smoking and vaping?

To lay it out as succinctly as possible, the main difference between smoking and vaping cannabis is combustion versus vaporization. Combustion is the act of burning something, which is a tried and true way of using cannabis. Vaporization of cannabis oil requires lower heat levels so that the plant produces a vapor instead of smoke; it’s essentially a phase transition that happens between liquid and vapor.

How does a cannabis vaporizer work?

Cannabis vaporizers typically work by two methods, conduction or convection. Convection vaporizers work by heating cannabis flower or concentrates indirectly through a stream of hot air until vapor is created. Conduction vaporizers work by using direct heat on the flower or extract. A heated surface actually touches the cannabis in order to produce vapor. Most convection vapes are the desktop models.

What temperature does cannabis burn?

Combustion takes place at 600 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, which can burn off a large percentage of cannabinoids (naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis, such as THC and CBD) and terpenes (compounds in cannabis that gives it taste and aroma.) In addition to burning off some of the best stuff cannabis has to offer, combustion can also yield some pretty undesirable carcinogens.

What does vaping do?

Vaping gives you the power to customize your smoking experience and your high. With the ability to adjust airflow and temperatures, you can be in control.

What is a conduction vape?

A conduction vape is typically smaller and portable and works using rechargeable batteries. Many of the more high-tech conduction vapes allow for multiple settings so you can control the temperature or power output.

Does smoking cannabis make it vapor?

Burning cannabis to smoke causes many of the crucial cannabis compounds to vanish into thin air. The low temperature of vaping keeps these compounds intact for a more potent inhale. This study by MAPS and California NORML found that vaping converted 46% of THC into vapor, while smoking via combustion, like with a joint, could convert just 25% of THC.

Is vaping a good way to smoke?

Combustion is required to smoke cannabis, and along with that combustion comes potentially harmful toxins like tar and carbon monoxide. Studies show that vaping cannabis produces significantly less of these harmful materials than smoking. Keep in mind that it’s important to source your vape liquid from a reputable and licensed dispensary to ensure that you’re not consuming other harmful additives that have been found in black market vape oil.

What was the name of the chemical in cannabis that caused the feeling of being high?

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) became the poster-child for what made a “quality” product. It was known that THC was the chemical in cannabis that caused the feeling of being “high” and it was valued as if it was the only the thing that mattered.

Why was cannabis illegal in the 1970s?

The illegality of cannabis led to a narrowing of selection and marketplace freedom, meaning consumers had little-to-no choice on what they could buy from black market dealers. This meant the market had very little room to compare products, evaluate experiences, and place value on quality. The market was poorly educated about the qualities of what was being purchased, or what each product might contain from a chemical (analytical) perspective.

What is the best cannabinoid content for cannabis?

Good cannabis oil looks like this: · The overall cannabinoid content should be between 50-70%. Over 75% and you likely have a distillate – something that's been purified to the point that it no longer resembles cannabis flower. Heylo Cannabis' topicals feature organic terpenes from True Terpenes.

What is the chemical in cannabis that makes you feel high?

It was known that THC was the chemical in cannabis that caused the feeling of being “high” and it was valued as if it was the only the thing that mattered. When recreational markets launched in Washington and Colorado in 2014, other chemical compounds in cannabis, like CBD, began making their way to the public consciousness.

What did the illegality of cannabis mean?

The illegality of cannabis led to a narrowing of selection and marketplace freedom, meaning consumers had little-to-no choice on what they could buy from black market dealers. This meant the market had very little room to compare products, evaluate experiences, and place value on quality.

Is trim material a cannabinoid?

Trim material, however, is very cheap and can make for a very high THC potency extract if it is first refined and then distilled down to a cannabinoid fraction (distillate). Distillate is nearly-pure cannabinoids, and it is very far from the chemical makeup of the plant. This is a popular method for cannabis processors, ...

Is vaping cannabis oil better than smoking?

Many people have turned to vaping over smoking for health benefits and because it is easier, more discreet, and more portable. At the same time, however, for many people vaping cannabis oil produces a unique and “less profound” experience as smoking cannabis (marijuana) flower (bud). We hear things like “I don’t feel as high when I use ...

How does smoking cannabis work?

Smoking cannabis will deliver its benefits through the respiratory system. Inhaling the smoke carries the smoke deep into the lungs where it passes through the lung tissue to the blood system. The blood carries it to the brain and throughout the body’s glands, tissues, and other systems.

What class is cannabis?

Cannabis has many plant cousins. Botanists connect it with everything from blueberries to rosemary. As an herb, it belongs to classes that include thyme and parsley. It flowers, grows like a shrub and exud ...

What are the components of cannabis?

THC and CBD are the most widely recognized components of cannabis, with distinct properties that separate them from one another. But one thing they share in common is their promising ab ...

How many states have legalized medical cannabis?

Most fears arise from a lack of understanding. That goes for the fears about using cannabis as medicine. The spread of legalized medical cannabis to 29 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam is one sign that ...

Can you smoke cannabis if you have respiratory problems?

People with existing respiratory problems should avoid smoking or vaping cannabis. People with a family history of respiratory weakness or prone to respiratory issues should not smoke or vape anything when there are many other ways to consume cannabis. Having said that, here’s the skinny on smoking cannabis!

Does smoking marijuana cause a bad reaction?

Smoking cannabis does produce some negative side effects. Cannabis smokers will experience some red eye, dry cough, and increased appetite. The more potent the cannabis strains will produce harsher side effects. However, cannabis smokers routinely build up a tolerance for these side effects.

Is vaping a lifestyle choice?

Beyond that, shoppers and users may adopt moderate vaping as a lifestyle choice. Vaping remains a convenient, more affordable, and slightly more discrete way of consuming cannabis. So, you can adopt use as a safer alternative to smoking.

How long does vaping last?

These effects peaked within the first hour of smoking but were shown to last for up to eight hours or longer. The most profound discovery from this study was that the effects of vaping proved to be much more intense and potent at every dose.

When did vaping start?

However, the long answer is, more evidence still needs to be examined as vaping is still so new to the population. The modern vape devices didn’t start showing up on the market until 2003, but they became extremely popular in the mid-2010s.

How much does a THC cartridge cost?

One gram of a THC concentrate cartridge ranges from $40-$70. And if you use it wisely and medicinally, it should last well over a week. However, if you always have the vape pen nearby and hit it constantly, you will blast through the concentrate.

Does vaporizing cannabis affect THC levels?

According to this research, as published in the JAMA Network Open, “vaporized cannabis produced significantly greater subjective drug effects, cognitive, psychomotor impairment, and higher blood THC concentrations than the same doses of smoked cannabis”.

Is vaping the same as smoking?

The economics of smoking vs vaping are pretty similar. The ultimate differences will depend on a number of variables, perhaps most notably, the way in which you tend to partake.

Is vaping a good alternative to smoking dry flowers?

Even though there a number of extremely high-THC strains and flower options available on the market in modern times, vaping has been notorious for providing a bigger punch than smoking dry flower.

Does vaping affect your lung?

But with vape pens and cartridges, this cannot happen.

What is vape oil?

Cannabis vape oil is a cannabis concentrate that has been formulated to be used in a vaporizer or with a vape pen. Cannabis vape oil is made from cannabis extracts but can include additional ingredients to make the product physically functional to vaporize with a vaporizer battery. This mixture is packaged in what is known as a vape cartridge.

What Does It Mean to Vape?

There are many different application methods for using and consuming cannabis ranging from sublingual absorption, topical absorption, digestion of edibles, and various inhalation methods .

What is a Vape Pen or Battery?

Vape oil will come in a small cartridge, but you cannot do anything with the cart ridge without a battery, also known as a vape pen, to turn the oil into inhale-able vapor.

What is a broad spectrum vape cartridge?

For those who can not have THC, a broad-spectrum CBD vape cartridge contains an array of cannabinoids and terpenes found within cannabis – with 100% of the THC removed. This extract is paired with only one other ingredient – naturally occurring cannabis terpenes.

What is the inhalation method of cannabis?

The inhalation method we are focusing on today is known as vaping cannabis oil. Vaping cannabis oil is a smokeless, low-temperature method of inhaling cannabis vapor. However, it's important to note that this method is different than dry herb vaping.

Why is a higher end vape pen better?

A higher-end vape pen with temperature and voltage control is ideal because all cannabinoids activate at different temperatures. THC and CBD can be activated at lower temperatures, while CBG & CBN requires higher temperatures. There is also a noticeable quality difference.

How hot can a vape pen get?

Cheap vape pens tend to have fixed temperatures that are high enough to hit over 350+degrees without combusting, while higher-end and more expensive vape pens allow for temperature or voltage control.

How long does it take for vaping to work?

If you are new to vaping, it is generally recommended to start low and go slow. If you aren't feeling the desired effect after 15 minutes, you can take a little more.

What do vaporizers use?

Unlike traditional cigarettes that burn leaves to make smoke, vaporizers use batteries and small metal coils to heat a substance until it evaporates and is then inhaled. For this reason, they're often referred to as vapes, vape pens, and vaporizers. But not all devices vaporize the same way.

How much does a dry herb vape cost?

Cannabis enthusiasts say dry herb vaping has a better flavor and milder smell than smoking. A good quality dry herb vape starts at about $200, but the expense could be worth it for people who smoke cannabis regularly.

How long does a single oil pen last?

A single oil cartridge can last several weeks.

Can you smoke cannabis with a vape cart?

Dry herb vapes have a stronger odor that can linger in a room for about 30 minutes, but is easier to mask than smoking. And unlike smoking, vaping does not typically cling to clothing and skin.

Is vaping marijuana harmful?

Vaping marijuana might expose you to fewer toxic ingredients than smoking it, but it's far from harmless. A lot more research is needed to fully understand the health risks associated with vaping in general and vaping products that contain THC.

Is vaping bad for you?

Keep in mind that the use of e-cigarettes and vaping in general puts you at a greater risk of lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. 12 And though you are not smoking nicotine, that doesn't mean you aren't ingesting other harmful toxins.

What Is THC?

Both CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most common cannabino ids found in cannabis products. And even though they are both found in marijuana and hemp, THC is more prevalent in the marijuana plant than it is in the cannabis plant.

What is the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis?

Both CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis products. And even though they are both found in marijuana and hemp, THC is more prevalent in the marijuana plant than it is in the cannabis plant.

Is vaping safe?

But the issue is that vaping hasn't been around long enough and there isn't enough research to really determine whether or not it's safer. Recent research suggests that vaping THC oil, especially oil that contains vitamin E acetate, can be particularly harmful to your lungs. 3  Vitamin E acetate, which is regularly added to THC ...

Is it safe to vape THC oil?

Some people believe that vaping THC oil is safer than smoking because it doesn't involve inhaling smoke. But the issue is that vaping hasn't been around long enough and there isn't enough research to really determine whether ...

Is marijuana on the rise?

Still, people are experimenting with the drug more and more frequently by either smoking it, eating it, or vaping it. Marijuana use, and more specifically vaping THC oil, is on the rise according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In fact, in 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults had used marijuana in the last year.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

Meanwhile, another study published in Addiction found that while vaping nicotine may be safer than smoking cigarettes, the same may not hold true when it comes to marijuana. 7  In fact, additives, like vitamin E acetate may make that delivery method even more dangerous than simply smoking a joint, putting the vaper's lungs at a greater risk for injury. Yet, a Gallup Poll indicates that most Americans believe that vaping is less harmful than smoking. In fact, 40% of the respondents felt that marijuana was "not too" harmful. 8 

Can you vape with THC?

Consequently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that people avoid using e-cigarettes and vaping products, particularly those that contain THC oil. Even just vaping the oil once can significantly impact your lungs. 5 

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9