Three Ways to Inhale Cannabis
Article by Stefan Burns - Updated November 2021. Join the Wild Free Organic email newsletter!
Until the advent of vaporizers, there was only one way to inhale cannabis flower for recreational and/or therapeutic effects, through combustion. Inhaling smoke from burning plant matter can be dangerous (more on that below), though with smoking cannabis the risk of developing lung cancer appears to be the same as if you didn’t smoke. Once vaporizers were developed, there existed three methods for inhaling cannabinoids.
Vaporizers are a type of device which heat up a small chamber, just like an oven except much smaller, to a temperature of the users choice. Vaporizers are limited in their top temperature range, unable to reach the temperatures required for combustion of plant matter. In the context of cannabis, vaporizers heat plant material without igniting it. At different temperatures below combustion, terpenes and cannabinoids vaporize out of the flower and phase change into their gaseous state. Typically vaporization is used for cannabis, but other herbs such as chamomile, lavender, and even tobacco can be also be vaporized.
That process is true for what could be called a dry vaporizer. There are also oil vaporizers, which we will refer to as wet vaporizers.
There exist big differences in the health and psychoactive effects of cannabis that is inhaled from either a combusted, wet vaporized, or dry vaporized source.
Dry Vaporization
Dry vapes heat up materials like herbs or cannabis flower to the point where various compounds in those herbs sublimate out into an inhalable vapor. Examples of compounds that vaporize at various temperatures from cannabis material would include water (100°C, 212°F), terpenes like A-Pinene (155°C), and cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, 157°C) and CBD (cannabidiol, 170°C).
While the plant matter loaded into a vaporizer might change in color and texture, dry vaporizing does not combust any plant matter, as the minimum combustion temperature of 230°C (445°F) is never reached.
One of the big advantages of dry vaporization is almost all the cannabinoids and terpenes are preserved. When cannabis or other herbs are combusted, the high temperatures destroy most of the cannabinoids and terpenes, while also creating smoke, tar, benzene, carbon monoxide and other known toxic compounds (1)
When cannabis is dry vaporized, 95% of the total mass of the vapor consists of cannabinoids, with the other 5% consisting primarily of water vapor and terpenes.
As far as we currently know, the only risk to dry herb vaporization is the inhalation of hot air. Typical vaporizers, like the Fury Edge by Healthy Rips allow the user to adjust the temperature from 320°F - 430°F (160°C to 220°C). If you are concerned about the risk inhaling heated vapor, there are several ways to cool down cannabis vapor significantly by using glass accessories or water bubblers.
Note - Don’t use a dry herb vaporizer that doesn’t have a 100% food grade isolated stainless steel & glass only vapor path. Heating and inhaling plastic fumes is not good for your health.
Wet Vaporization
Wet vapes heat up oils to the point where the oil vaporizes, turning into a gas, ready for inhalation into the lungs. Wet vapes typically are sold in smaller pen form factors in which oil cartridges can be easily attached or swapped for use. Wet vapes can heat oils from 270°C to 420°C (520°F to 790°F), well within the combustion range.
For those concerned about the risk of severe lung disease, the risk appears to stem from improperly manufactured cannabis or tobacco oil cartridges which are cut with vitamin E acetate. It’s been found that some off-the-street cartridges cut costs by adding less cannabinoids, resulting in a recognizably less viscous oil, so then vitamin E acetate is added to increase the viscosity of the oil to make the end product appear higher quality.
Cannabis oils typically have two different solvents they use to suspend cannabinoids and terpenes in, propylene glycol and liquid carbon dioxide. Propylene glycol is a byproduct of both the petroleum and biofuel industries. If the propylene glycol is derived from biofuels, then it will be contaminated with herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. These chemicals, the most well known being glyphosate, pose a serious health threat when inhaled, and might be partially responsible for rapid lung disease we see with oil vaporizer use.
If you decide to purchase cannabis oil, either in larger quantities for a high-quality vaporizer or in a cartridge format, make sure to only purchase cannabis oils which use CO2 for the solvent and not propylene glycol, as propylene glycol carries a larger health risk. CO2 can still be derived from contaminated sources.
Keep in mind that intensive refining is needed to create cannabis oil from cannabis plant matter. Cannabis is known for the wide range of therapeutic compounds the plant creates, and a blend of distilled cannabis compounds cannot match the therapeutic potential of the cannabis plant itself. Wet vaping purposely and misguidedly skips out on what is known as the Entourage Effect (2) in order to cut cost and provide a cheaper product to the end user.
Wild Free Organic only recommends dry vaporization for all health and recreational uses of cannabis. Oil vaporization, either of cannabis or tobacco, presents a serious health risk.
Combustion
Combustion is when plant matter is ignited and burned in order to produce smoke. Smoke is a combination of compounds, from water vapor to organic pollutants and carbon monoxide. The combustion of cannabis versus vaporization has been researched by many, and while vaporization appears to be safe, combustion of cannabis creates and releases over 100+ different compounds, with only ~12% of the total mass of the smoke consisting of cannabinoids. Studies and anecdotal evidence show that dry herb vaporization eliminates the delivery of toxic byproducts associated with the use of smoked cannabis.
Vaporization also gets you more high, and we know Jimi here would have appreciated that! Since cannabinoids are not destroyed during vaporization unlike combustion, you can feel the entourage effect from the cannabinoids and terpenes from less cannabis material than you would need if smoked (3).
The high from combusted cannabis is different though, due to the fact that many of the toxic compounds found in smoke also can exert psychoactive effects such as drowsiness.
Choose Cannabis Vaporization instead of Combustion
There are reduced respiratory effects for cannabis users who choose vaporization over combustion (4), and this is very important to consider for your long term health and wellness. Dry herb vaporization is the healthiest way we know of other than oral consumption (which is different than inhalation mechanistically) to enjoy the therapeutic and/or recreational effects of cannabis.
Whether you’re new to cannabis or a regular user, a dry-herb vaporizer like the Fury Edge is a great cannabis and yes, even health investment. There is a common misconception that cannabis usage is unhealthy, but it is a merely a tool like any other that can be used for good or bad. I encourage the responsible usage of cannabis.
Cannabis usage for me, through the practice of cannabis yoga, enabled me to discover and connect to my body in ways I didn’t know were possible. Cannabis usage brought to me conscious awareness of the endocannabnoid and bioelectrical system which we all possess.
Dry vaporization is a 180-degree experience compared to traditional smoking. Here are twelve advantages of dry vaporization of cannabis over smoking:
No Coughing - Without the smoke, cannabis vapor is easily inhaled and at lower temperatures is highly unlikely to cause a fit of coughing. Only lung bursting hits might cause you to cough.
No Mess - Grind up some herb and load up the vaporizer chamber or dosing cap and that’s it. No worrying about ash or disgusting bong water. Overtime cannabinoid resin is created in the chamber or glass pathway, and this is easily cleaned with rubbing alcohol. Dosing caps like you can use with the Fury Edge make cleanup very easy.
No Munchies - Cannabis vaporization is much less likely to cause the infamous “munchies”. THC-V, a cannabinoid that vaporizes at high temperatures has an appetite suppressive effect. A strain that contains a lot of THC-V is Durban Poison.
Smoother High - Dry vaporization lifts you up and floats you back down, whereas smoking cannabis drops you into a mental valley that needs to be climbed back up. With dry vaporization you can enjoy the sensation but continue to function as normal.
No smell - Vaporization produces steam, not smoke. Any scent from the vaporizer is negligible so there is no worrying about anything smelling like cannabis, or you yourself smelling dank.
Zero Drowsiness - Vaporization of cannabis flower isn’t dulling and doesn’t cause drowsiness like smoking will. In fact your brain activity might accelerate, so be wary of vaping too late in the evening.
No waste - When vaporizing cannabis flower, nearly all the cannabinoids are extracted from the bud and none are destroyed by the heat of combustion. With vaping a lot goes a long way.
Inexpensive - There is an upfront cost to a quality dry-herb vaporizer like the Fury Edge, but since cannabis usage compared to smoking is 1/4 to 1/5 as much for the same effect, expect to save lots of money in the long run. Use less bud and get more out of it.
Normal Function - Vaporization provide a nice buzz, and connects you to your body more intuitively, but normal activities and though patterns are still the same as ever. Unless someone is very discerning, or you make it obvious, no one will suspect you might be high.
Reduced Paranoia - With smoking cannabis it is much more common to be left having feelings of paranoia, fear, or anxiety. With dry vaporization these negative feelings are typically replaced with the feeling of euphoria. Be aware that heavy long-term usage might still cause some symptoms of anxiety.
Better Relaxation - After vaping some flower, it’s easier to kick back, unwind, and let go of things. Cannabis vaporization is great way to relax and enter a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state.
Stop When you Want - With dry vaporization is is fairly easy to end a high when wanted. Drink more water, take a shower, or eating some food all do the trick. With smoking, the high ends when fat cells soak the THC up, which can take a while.
There are still limits to vaporization and what is safe. You should not do any activities which place you in a greater state of danger or operate heavy machinery. Use common sense and be sensible, safe, and sober when it is the responsible thing to do. For individuals under the age of 25, wait until your brain fully develops before any experimentation with cannabis, it’s not worth the risk of long-term brain alterations.
As a first time user, it’s normal to be scared of the potential psychoactive effects of cannabis. With vaporization, the process is smooth and not scary. Start with a small amount of 1:1 (THC/CBD) flower or 1:1 blend and only vaporize to the lower temperatures. Trust yourself and your body.
Cannabis Vaporization Guide
First Time: Start with a cannabis-infused tea! Cannabis teas, or a small 1:1 edible are a very gentle way to first experience the effects of cannabis while also maintaining a good connection to your sober mental state. I personally use Kikoko teas, which have great flavor and have various levels of cannabis infusion. Their Sympa-Tea is a great cannabis product for your very first time use containing 20 mg of CBD and 3 mg THC per serving, and their Positivi-Tea is a bit stronger and more uplifting at 10 mg THC and 5 mg CBD.
Second Time: To feel the effects of cannabis stronger and faster, I recommend dry vaporization next, starting with a 50/50 mix of CBD and THC cannabis. Start vaporizing at 345°F and halfway through your session (most vapes have a session timer) increase the temperature to 365°F to vaporize out more and different cannabinoids.
Third Time: After experiencing the effects of cannabis dry-herb vaporization at lower temperatures, I recommend trying a THC dominant strain and increasing the temperature of your vaporizer beyond 365°F. I find the temperatures of 380, 405, and 420°F all provide nice differences in feel and effect.
For Experienced Users: 1 hour before vaporization, apply CBD lotion on your forehead, nape of your neck, and navel. Ingest a 5-10 mg cannabis brownie. After an hour, vaporize a small amount of cannabis flower, do not rush into this. Since cannabinoids have been applied topically, ingested, and vaporized, the effect can be quite strong. It was when I used cannabis in this method that I experienced a transformative connection and understanding of the bodies bioelectrical system. I could feel the electricity!
About the Potential Side Effects
If at any point you experience paranoia or other unpleasant effects, ground yourself with a meditating posture and breath deeply to find calm. Eating a light meal, a luke-warm shower, or sleeping can also help.
The potential negative side effects of cannabis are much more common with combustion. Additionally the use of THC exclusive strains without CBD to balance can exacerbate negative symptoms such as paranoia and dizziness. Some people are also predisposed to not being able to handle higher amounts of cannabinoids. You can heavily reduce or eliminate the potential negative side effects of cannabis through dry vaporization over combustion (no toxic compounds, no carbon monoxide inhalation, etc) and also by mixing CBD dominant strains into your mix. CBD helps to balance out the endocannabinoid system and promotes calming relaxing effects. I personally use mix CBD with THC strains almost every time I use cannabis.
Disclaimer - If you’re under the age of 25 do not consume cannabis in any way. Since cannabis interacts with the brain and body so thoroughly, use of this herb can cause deviant psychological and physiological changes at young ages (5). Wait until roughly the age of 25 when your brain structure is probably fully developed before considering using cannabis. There have been studies showing long term usage of cannabis can change patterns of brain activity at all ages, be responsible with your usage. The science here is still unclear so an abundance of caution is recommended, and daily use is discouraged.
Updated September 2020
References
Loflin M, Earleywine M. No smoke, no fire: What the initial literature suggests regarding vapourized cannabis and respiratory risk. Can J Respir Ther. 2015;51(1):7-9.
Russo EB. The Case for the Entourage Effect and Conventional Breeding of Clinical Cannabis: No "Strain," No Gain. Front Plant Sci. 2018;9:1969.
Spindle TR, Cone EJ, Schlienz NJ, et al. Acute Effects of Smoked and Vaporized Cannabis in Healthy Adults Who Infrequently Use Cannabis: A Crossover Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(7):e184841.
Earleywine M, Barnwell SS. Decreased respiratory symptoms in cannabis users who vaporize. Harm Reduct J. 2007;4:11.
Wilson W, Mathew R, Turkington T, Hawk T, Coleman RE, Provenzale J. Brain morphological changes and early marijuana use: a magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography study. J Addict Dis. 2000;19(1):1-22.