How to Vape Weed: Getting the Most Out of Your Vaporizer

To vape weed, you load your buds (or extract) into a vaporizer, which heats the cannabis just enough to release the cannabinoids as vapor — no combustion involved. The cannabis vaporizer, vape pen or vape pod is increasingly popular among cannabis lovers and grow shop customers because it delivers the full effects, produces no smoke (making it far more discreet than other ways of smoking) and lets you use practically all the cannabinoids instead of wasting them through combustion — which can also ruin the flavor of your weed and, on top of that, is bad for your lung health.

How does a cannabis vaporizer work?

A cannabis vaporizer works with heat: it warms the marijuana to the point where the psychoactive compounds in the buds begin to vaporize. There are two ways to vape cannabis: first through a conduction system, and second through a convection system. Both methods are effective, but one delivers better results than the other.

The conduction method:

With this type of cannabis vaping, the heating element is in direct contact with the herb, so if the device doesn't heat the chamber evenly, vapor quality won't be at its best.

In this kind of vaporizer, the vapor rises through a duct and cools along the way, which improves its quality.

The convection method:

With this portable cannabis vaporizer, the heating element never touches the herb. Instead, a rising stream of air passes through the marijuana without heating it directly. That's why the vapor produced by these devices is the best quality you can get.

Advantages of vaping cannabis

It's more discreet:

A cannabis vaporizer produces no smoke, so using one is far more discreet and less obvious than smoking a joint or a glass pipe. It also fits in any pocket and goes wherever you do. Some of its advantages:

It's less harmful:

Cannabis vapor is less damaging to your health than combustion smoke, since you're not inhaling the toxic chemicals released when herb burns.

It's easy to use:

A cannabis vaporizer is easy to load and operate — or comes ready to use straight out of the box — which makes it a great, convenient option for anyone who wants to consume cannabis without rolling a joint or packing a pipe.

Types of cannabis vaporizers

• Disposable cannabis vape pens: as the name suggests, this is a vaporizer you use once and toss. We always recommend them for anyone who wants to try vaping weed without dropping money on an expensive device, or who doesn't plan to vape regularly.
• Rechargeable cannabis vapes: unlike disposables, these can be recharged and reused as many times as you like. They do cost more than disposables, but they work out cheaper once you factor in the long-term cost of using them.
• Cannabis vapes with nicotine: some weed vape pens also contain nicotine. These devices were designed for people looking to quit smoking cigarettes who take up vaping as a healthier alternative.
• Nicotine-free cannabis vaporizers: the opposite of the above — these contain no nicotine at all. They're generally used by people who simply want to enjoy the flavor and effects of marijuana without mixing them with nicotine.
• Cannabis vapes with THC: these vapes are designed to give the user a different experience: they contain THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, so you get its signature effects. They're not legal in every country.
• THC-free cannabis oil vape pens: once again, the opposite of the previous type: these contain no THC at all, so they produce no psychoactive effect in the user. They're ideal for people who want all the medicinal benefits cannabis offers without feeling "high".
• CBD cannabis vapes: this type of vaporizer contains CBD — the non-psychoactive compound in marijuana known for carrying the plant's medicinal properties. These vapes are ideal and highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
• Cannabis vape pens with other cannabinoids: these only exist in certain countries like the United States and Canada, where you can find vaporizers containing other minor cannabinoids.
• Flavored vape pens: Looking for vapor packed with intense flavor? These are ideal for people who swapped famously addictive tobacco for these modern devices — they contain no nicotine and no cannabinoids.

Can you put cannabis oil in a vaporizer?

That depends on the type of vaporizer you have: some were built specifically for cannabis extracts (like marijuana oil), others are strictly for dry herb, and others only accept the cartridges made for that specific model.

Disposable cannabis vaporizers can't be refilled with marijuana oil or anything else. As the name says, you use them and throw them away. If you want to refill, you'd need to buy a non-disposable one instead.

These days the market offers a huge range of vaporizers with different features and price points. Sometimes, if you're a heavy cannabis consumer, it even pays to invest in a good vaporizer that lasts. In the long run you'll thank yourself, because you'll end up spending less than you would burning through disposables, for example.

As with every cannabis-related product, the more it costs, the better the product tends to be.