We’ve all been there – you’re in a queue at the dispensary and you’re suddenly asked not only what type of marijuana you’re interested in, but how you intend to consume it.
Should you eat marijuana edibles? Should you vape? Or, perhaps, a cannabis tincture on the tongue? Hmm, what about the classic spliff?
Decisions. Decisions.
For a wise decision, knowing the differences between each method, especially between vaping vs smoking weed, will do wonders.
And this article will do just that, by deep diving into the 7 most important differences between vaping vs smoking weed, with hopes that you’ll make a more healthier choice.
Ready?
Vaping vs Smoking Weed Differences
Q: Is Vaping Cannabis Different from Vaping Nicotine?
A: E-cigarettes are helping smokers quit to an extent that’s projected to save “3.5 million years of life” by 2070, but this doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.
Essentially, when vaping nicotine there’s said to be over 7,000 chemical substances entering the bloodstream at once – chemicals that are associated with the same diseases as traditional cigarette smoke (lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, etc.).
Simply, these risks are not part of the equation if you vape flower with a dry herb vaporizer. Concentrates on the other hand, might be a different story.
Q: Vaping vs Smoking Weed, How are They Different?
A: Vaping cannabis involves heating the herb, through either convection or conduction heating methods, whereas smoking uses the combustion method. If you’re not familiar, combustion creates nasty toxins such as tar, ammonia and many other carcinogens.
Q: How Does Cannabis Second-Hand Smoke Impact My Health?
A: Following the same rhetoric that banned cigarette use in most public spaces, second-hand smoke, whether cannabis or cigarettes, can be just as harmful as first-hand smoke.
Again, cannabis itself isn’t responsible for the risks, but chemicals released by the combustion or burning process are. In fact, scientists have discovered over 100 toxins in cannabis smoke.
Bottom-line? Burning any plant, be it tobacco, cannabis, or a pile of fall leaves, will result in the release of toxic chemicals such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and other volatile organic compounds.
Q: Is Vaping ‘Healthier’ than Smoking Marijuana?
A: Medically speaking, and while the jury is still likely to be undecided on this issue for years (perhaps decades) to come, with what we know now, it’s fair to say that vaping marijuana is a lot more beneficial than smoking it, especially for those who suffer from lung irritation issues.
One of the first studies comparing vaping vs smoking weed have made this conclusion, while another study showed that carbon monoxide was greatly reduced when vaping cannabis.
Other than health, the benefits of vaping also pertain to things not related to biology – such as lack of smoke smell, better taste and a more bang for your buck.
Q: Does Temperature Matter When Vaping Marijuana?
A: Yes! Temperature definitely matters and can make all the difference between vaping vs smoking weed, as vaporizers are designed to operate at certain temperatures to ensure you don’t inhale those yucky toxins.
For instance, cannabis turns into vapor at around 450-degrees F, which is just below where combustion takes place. Also, scientists have determined that THC and CBD, along with various terpenoids, are best activated at different temperatures – THC and CBD being around 392 degrees F, while CBC is about 451 degrees F.
Bottom-line? Temperature is key to getting the most out of your marijuana since lower temperatures results in far fewer active compounds from being burned. No one wants combustion!
Q: Does Vaping Temperature Create a Different Experience?
A: In general, there are three different temperature ranges for vaping, depending on the type of experience you want to have. Staying in the 310 to 330 degree Fahrenheit range results in a very mild experience.
A medium-range experience where you’re slightly sedated (given you are smoking THC) comes from the 330 to 370 degrees Fahrenheit range. Finally, a highly sedative experience will see you vape all the way up to 370 to 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q: Does Vaping Cannabis Have Side Effects?
A: It depends. Vaping marijuana can be perceived as a bad thing depending on your overall view of cannabis as a whole. Regardless, here’s what we know:
– Vaping means that the active compounds traverse, via the bloodstream, from heart to brain, not through the liver.
– Vaping might have long-term consequences, which have yet to be realized, given its recent introduction to the market in 2003.
– Vaping might increase the likelihood of cannabis-related disorders since it’s so easy to ‘grab-n-go’.
– Vaping might lead to overuse.
– Vaping might be good for your wallet on account of its potency.
– Vaping might help to avoid dosing incorrectly when compared to edibles and smoking
Differences of Vaping vs Smoking Weed Explained!
With all that said, we’d like you to be the judge about the vaping vs smoking weed differences.
In a nutshell – combustion, more precise temperatures and the avoidance of a whole host of carcinogens serve as the major differences between vaping vs smoking weed.
Still, given the cannabis industry’s infancy, a lot of research still needs to be done to fine-tune the details of its many complex interactions with our biology.
Whether what consumption method you choose, we hope for the best cannabis experience!
