Have you been smoking joints for as long as you can remember, but are you now ready to make the switch to vaping cannabis? You’re not alone. A huge number of people in the Netherlands have fallen under the spell of their vape pens or vaporizers. And that’s not surprising: there are actually quite a few advantages to vaping weed instead of smoking it. Today, we’ll lay out the pros and cons for you.
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Vaping cannabis
When it comes to vaporizers for dry herbs (or herbal vaporizers), there are two different heating methods, but both use the chamber to vaporize the marijuana for inhalation. Conduction heating uses heated plates inside the chamber. These heated plates warm the marijuana to the temperature needed to vaporize the compounds.
Convection heating is very similar to that of a convection oven and uses heated air that circulates through the chamber and the herb. This is a much more effective method and heats the product more evenly. Convection-based vaporizers are often a bit more expensive, but they do produce a smoother vapor.
The benefits of cannabis vaping
According to many reports, vaping is much healthier than smoking. To what extent this is actually true remains to be scientifically investigated. Nevertheless, it is a fact that smoking cannabis releases as many as 4,000 different chemicals—substances that are not exactly good for the lungs. Still, there are more benefits to mention.
Heating instead of burning
Instead, the vaporizer heats the herb without burning it to release the vapor. This vapor contains only 200 chemicals or fewer. Vaping is also likely safer for the lungs because there is no combustion and fewer irritants are released into the air.
A better taste
But no matter which type of vaporizer you use, vapor always delivers purer cannabis than smoking weed. When you smoke a joint, the cannabis is burned. This prevents many cannabinoids from being activated, meaning you get a less pure cannabis high than when you vaporize it. You also experience less of the flavor that marijuana produces when smoking, because the terpenes are burned as well.
Temperature control
Most cannabis vaporizers have adjustable heat settings that give you control over the temperature during your session. It takes some trial and error to find the best temperature for vaporizing cannabis, but it can produce a range of effects, from mild and uplifting to a more intense euphoric experience. More control is a luxury, but a very nice one.
Vaping is more discreet than smoking
One of the most appealing aspects of vaporizing marijuana is that it doesn’t produce much odor, especially at lower temperatures. Plus, vapor smells much less than smoke, so it’s a smart option if you want to enjoy your cannabis vaporizer discreetly or without being noticed.
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The downsides of cannabis vaping
As a cannabis connoisseur, you probably know better than anyone how to roll a joint. If you’re thinking of buying a vaporizer now, you’ll have to figure out how such a device works. You’ll also need to keep the device clean and charge it. In short: with the benefits come some drawbacks, if you look at it that way.
Cannabis must first go through the grinder
Most vaporizers don’t work very well if the cannabis isn’t properly ground. The solution: a good grinder, especially if you’re using a portable vaporizer that uses conduction heating (which the vast majority do). Grinding cannabis increases the surface area and ensures that all cannabinoids and terpenes can be extracted from the plant more efficiently.
The vaporizer needs to be charged
While you don’t need a lighter, your vaporizer does need to be charged. If there’s no outlet nearby and your vaporizer is out of juice, you might be in for a challenge. The good news is that when fully charged, most portable vapes can last for quite a few sessions before needing to be recharged.
Vaporizers can be pricey
Although we offer vaporizers in all price ranges here at Dutch-Smart, a vaporizer is always more expensive than a pack of rolling papers. If you really opt for a high-end vaporizer, you could easily spend several hundred euros on it. You’ll get a top-of-the-line device in return—but it’s not for everyone.
