Today, smoking and vaping are among the most common methods of consuming cannabis. Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis consumer or brand new to the world of weed, it’s important to understand the differences between smoking a joint and puffing on a vape pen, as they can distinctly influence both your high and your health.
Electronic vaporization of cannabis was supposed to be the safer alternative to smoking. After all, users continue to receive the full range of cannabinoids and terpene advantages without breathing in combusted substances like carbon monoxide, plant matter particles, or the more than 100 toxins generated when flower is burned.
This illusion of safety, however, was called into question a few years ago by a lung disease outbreak, the majority of which were linked to the inhalation of illegal THC-containing oils. Although it was identified as the offending ingredient and swiftly removed from companies, vitamin E acetate may still be present in illegal oils and vape pens.
Even though the frequency of these electronic vaporization-related lung ailments (EVALIs) have been sharply declining since their peak in September 2019, peer-reviewed scientific publications and mainstream media outlets continue to express safety concerns about cannabis vaporization. Although there has been much written on the advantages and disadvantages of vaping versus smoking cannabis, it is crucial to revisit the subject in the post-vitamin E acetate era in order to make comparisons.
What is smoking?
Puff, puff, pass! For as long as human beings have been enjoying cannabis, smoking has been among the most (if not the most) common methods of consumption. When cannabis flower is smoked, you inhale the smoke into your lungs from the burning flower, and the cannabinoids in the smoke swiftly enter your bloodstream. Depending on the cannabinoid and terpene content of the strain, smoking cannabis immediately starts a variety of physical and mental consequences. Typically, effects continue for two to three hours.
While marijuana smoking clearly produces an inebriated state, or “high,” combustion actually renders the cannabinoid substance of the strain largely inert. This implies that priceless terpenes and cannabinoids are unavoidably wasted.Because it is pleasurable, practical, sharing, portable, and adds to the whole sensory experience of cannabis, smoking continues to be quite popular. In a 2019 study that was published in JAMA, 77% of medical marijuana users cited smoking as their preferred method of cannabis ingestion.
What is vaping?
Vaporizing, or vaping, has become a very popular alternative to smoking cannabis. A vape refers to a vaporizer or similar device that heats cannabis flower or a cannabis concentrate, transforming it into a vapor that can be inhaled.Cannabis is heated via vaping without being burned, resulting in vapor that is rich in terpenes and cannabinoids as opposed to smoke. You may vape cannabis flower and concentrates both.
It is intended for vaporization to take place just below the temperature of combustion. Even though additional study is required, vaping lab-tested, validated cannabis is frequently seen as a better and more potent alternative to smoking. Another benefit of vaping is that it retains the tastes of the cannabis strain and activates priceless cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that would otherwise be lost during combustion.
Studies and anecdotal data suggest that vaping can result in a bigger high due to the entourage effect, which happens when you consume a larger variety of cannabinoids, as well as the increased concentration of active cannabinoids. According to a Johns Hopkins study that was just published in JAMA Network Open, vaping cannabis had a quicker and more potent euphoric effect on infrequent users than smoking it does.
And while every person experiences cannabis in a unique way, anecdotal data suggests that vaping does provide a slightly different psychoactive experience than smoking. Compared to smoking, cannabis vaping may allow for a more controlled way of inhalation, which may assist produce a more pleasant high. The possible therapeutic effects may vary depending on the temperature at which the flower or concentrate is breathed by the consumer. Customers may taste the subtle flavor of the strain they are inhaling because important chemicals don’t burn away like they do with combustion, which may enhance the experience.
Is vaping weed healthier than smoking?
Anything smoked, including marijuana, releases tar and other dangerous byproducts. You can vape with bongs and the like, but it still relies on combustion whether you use a bubbler, joint, pipe, or ten-foot bong.
While there haven’t been many research on the effects of vaping cannabis specifically, leading UK experts generally agree that vaping nicotine is at least 95% safer than smoking cigarettes. Making this premise in relation to marijuana is not a tremendous leap. Because of this, vaporization is the most advised method of using cannabis for medical purposes.
Regarding numerous products on the market, there are still some very worrying issues. No matter where a device was made, we strongly advise you to only choose reliable models from respected manufacturers.
The better vaporizers are constructed without any plastics, rubber, glue, or soldering in close proximity to the heating elements, allowing the vapor to only pass through materials like ceramic, stainless steel, and quartz.
Final Thoughts on Smoking Pot vs Vaping
Finally, marijuana vaping differs from marijuana smoking. Some people prefer vaping because they think the difference is superior. But there are just as many people who still choose smoking their marijuana in a pipe, a bong, a joint, or another traditional method. Want to vape or inhale high-quality cannabis or cannabis-related products? At TEESX, be sure to look at our menu.
