What are the Benefits of Vaporizers?

The vape revolution is upon us. What once seemed like a niche is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to enjoy your favorite cannabis or hemp product. What about vaporizers are making their star rise so fast? That’s what we’re going to talk about here. This article will help you to better understand what a vape is, what it does, and what advantages there are to choosing a vape over a different product, like flower, dabs, or edibles. We’ll also look at the question, “Is a vaporizer safer than smoking?”.  But we’ll start at the beginning. What exactly is a vaporizer, anyway?

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What is a Vaporizer? 

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, it is easier than ever to access a variety of cannabinoids in the form of a vaporizer. A vaporizer, at its most basic, is an electronic device that rapidly heats a compound to just below the temperature at which it combusts, allowing the user to inhale vapor rather than smoke. How does that work? It does it through a method known as convective heating or convection. 

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How Does a Vaporizer Work?

A vape pen superheats air and this air then passes through an oil, concentrate, flower, or e-liquid. This is done by applying electricity to a heating element like a ceramic or metal coil and then inhaling from a mouthpiece that draws air up into the chamber. Because the oil or flower is not directly exposed to the heating element, it can more efficiently convert the chemical compounds into a breathable form. This is called convection. Although they all get the job done using convection, there are several different types of vaporizers to choose from.

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Types of Vaporizers

Vaporizers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and functions. There are four main categories that we fit these different vapes into: disposable pens, pens with replaceable cartridges, dry herb vaporizers, and box mods.

• Disposable Pens – A disposable pen is a single unit that you can throw away when it runs out of oil or liquid. A disposable vape pen is already charged and filled when you purchase it. They are easy to use, often no more complicated than putting your lips to the mouthpiece and breathing in. This ease of use makes them a popular choice.

• Cartridge Pens – Another popular vape option is a pen with a reusable battery and a disposable cartridge. Containers of cannabinoid oil called cartridges are screwed on to a rechargeable battery. These batteries can be very simple, or allow for a range of customization, such as altering the voltage or temperature. When the cartridge has used up all the oil, it is screwed off and thrown away, and can then be replaced with a fresh cartridge. 

• Box Mod Vaporizer – The most advanced vaporizer set up, a box mod vape is a rig that includes a powerful battery, a refillable chamber for oil or e-liquid, and rebuildable wicks and coils. Although a box mod is far more customizable, they are also more expensive and require more hands-on attention than disposable pens or cartridges.

• Dry Herb Vaporizer – A dry herb vaporizer applies convective heat to flower or other plant matter, rather than an extract or concentrate. By heating the flower to just below the point of combustion, the essential oils and resinous glands are vaporized and easily inhaled. While less common than other types of vaporizers, users of dry herb vapes often cite the cleaner taste and smoother hit as reasons for making their selection.

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Benefits of Vaporizers

Maybe you already know what a vaporizer is, but not why you might choose it over other options like flower, dabs, or edibles. If you are trying to decide between all the different cannabis products available to you, it can be easy to get a bit of analysis paralysis. Vaporizers have a unique list of benefits that make them ideal for certain occasions. Let’s take a closer look.

• Efficiency – When you light up flower to smoke, the combustion process is going to burn away some cannabinoids before they have an opportunity to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Because vaporizers use convective heat and do not reach the point of combustion, the cannabinoids are more efficiently used, making sure none of their precious goodness is lost.
• Convenience – If you want to smoke on the go, vaporizers are a great option. No need for a lighter or a pipe, no worrying if a joint or blunt might get damaged in your pocket. Vaporizers fit conveniently in a pocket, and when they’re fully charged, they can run for hours.
• Ease of Use – Smoking flower can be a multistep process and setting up a dab rig involves very high heat, but vaping is as simple as can be. Often you just need to inhale, but rarely does it involve much more than just pushing a button first.
• Discretion – Vaping is a more private option than smoking. The odor it creates is less noticeable, doesn’t linger as long, and doesn’t permeate clothing or stick to your fingers. A vape hit will still create a visually noticeable cloud, but it will dissipate more quickly and doesn’t result in an ashy mess that needs to be disposed of.
• Potency – Because vaporizers use concentrated extracts, it is possible that a vape hit contains a much higher density of cannabinoids than smoking flower. It is not likely to be as strong as a hit from a dab rig, but because you can vary the length and frequency of your hits, vaporizers allow you to dial in the exact experience you’re hoping to achieve
• Clarity and Taste – Because the materials in a vape are not combusted, the hits are smoother and the taste is cleaner and more natural.

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Which Vaporizer to Choose

Even if you’ve made your mind up on choosing a vaporizer, there are still choices to make between the different types. Let’s look at the pros and cons of the different kinds of vaporizers, that way you can see which option best fits your needs. 

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Advantages of Disposable Pens

• Portable
• Discrete
• No set-up required
• Easy to use

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Disadvantages of Disposable Pens

• Cannot be refilled
• Can be more expensive than cartridges
• Creates plastic waste
• Cannot control voltage or temperature

Advantages of Cartridge Pens

• Rechargeable
• Affordable
• Cartridges are easily replaced
• Can control voltage and temperature

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Disadvantages of Cartridge Pens

• Initial investment for battery is higher
• Must keep connection points clean
• Cartridges may leak or malfunction

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Advantages of Box Mod Vaporizer

• Chamber can be refilled
• Fully customizable
• Greatest control over smoothness and density of hit

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Disadvantages of Box Mod Vaporizer

• Expensive
• Must be maintained for peak performance
• Parts often need replaced
• Larger and less convenient to carry than pens
• Cannabinoid e-liquid can be more difficult to find

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Advantages of Dry Herb Vaporizer

• Can vape a wide range of flower
• Easily refilled
• Smoother hit than smoking

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Disadvantages of Dry Herb Vaporizer

• Expensive
• Must be cleaned to maintain performance
• Less discrete than oil or liquid vapes

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Knowing the upside and downside of your vape options can help you pick the best option for you, but if you still have questions about vapes, our blog has a wealth of information that can help you figure out whatever you want to know. We can help with the difference between vapes and dabs, what vaping feels like, and which voltage is best for you. 

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Is Vaping Healthier than Smoking?

The final discussion when it comes to the benefits of vaping is, to some, the most important. Is vaping a safer and healthier alternative than smoking? This question is not easily answered, and the reason being is that we have simply not had enough time to conduct thorough research on the impacts of vaping compared to those of smoking. That does not mean we are without any studies that can help us get an idea.

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The premise behind the idea that vaping may be healthier than smoking is that because vaporizers do not achieve combustion, there are less harmful or carcinogenic materials introduced to the lungs. A study done in 2022 did find that vaping THC rather than smoking did lead to less harmful chemicals and carbon monoxide being inhaled. Furthermore, the study found that those who vaped instead of smoked had less chronic respiratory symptoms but achieved a similar psychoactive experience.

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However, a different study that focused purely on the impacts of vaping was published in 2020. It found that excessive use of vaporizers can result in a lung injury called EVALI. The study indicated that this type of lung injury may be precipitated by a compound sometimes found in vape products known as vitamin E acetate. 

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As things stand, we really cannot say for certain whether vaping is healthier than smoking, more research needs to be conducted before making such a claim.

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The Takeaway

Vaporizers are becoming more popular every day, and when you understand the benefits, it’s easy to understand why. Vaping is a more convenient and accessible alternative to smoking because they are easily portable and simple to use. The concentrated extracts used in most vape pens provide for consistent dosing that is controllable but has the potential to be even more powerful than your standard flower. Vaporizers are also discrete because the cloud and smell dissipate far quicker than that of smoke. If vaping seems like the right choice for you, all you must do is decide which kind is best for you. The Green Dragon has a variety of vape products that come in different strains, flavors, and cannabinoid contents. Feel free to browse our product page to see the options we have available. If you still need a little more guidance, we’d love to help! Representatives are waiting to answer any questions you may have, just send us a message through our contact page or reach out to us in the comment section below. Once you’ve made your choice, you’ll be on your way to vaping to your heart’s content. 

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