Tucked within the 86-page text of Ohio's medical marijuana bill is a rule that strictly prohibits the smoking or combustion of medical marijuana. However, patients can still enjoy their favorite cannabis flower, in addition to waxes and oils, by using a vaporizer. More importantly, vaporizers allow patients to consume cannabis without the health risks of smoking. In this article, we will take a look at some helpful tips to ensure you have a great vape experience.
Use Fresh Cannabis Flower
One of the most important factors to consider before indulging in your vape is using high quality cannabis flower. Vaping involves heating cannabis to the point where its compounds such as cannabinoids and terpenes reach a boiling point and form a vapor. Therefore, you want to use flower that is fresh and has a higher moisture content. You can check this by using a simple touch test. Your cannabis shouldn’t be wet to the touch, but it shouldn’t be so dry that you can crush it into fine flakes.
Grind and Pack Flower Properly
Before you start adding cannabis to the chamber of your vape, you want to make sure it is properly prepped. Grinding the flower beforehand and then packing it tight (but not too tight) into the chamber will allow the heat to better penetrate the cannabis and produce a nice, clean vapor.
Preheat and Check The Temperature
Just like an oven, vaporizers need time to preheat to reach the correct temperature. Fortunately, many modern vaporizers can preheat in a matter of seconds so you can begin medicating in no time.
So how exactly do you know what temperature to set your vaporizer to? Different cannabinoids and terpenes each vaporize at different temperatures. Cannabis users also find that the effects differ based on the temperature. Lower temperatures tend to produce a more functional and controlled high, while higher temperatures tend to leave users with a strong sense of relaxation and euphoria. The following is a list of recommended boiling points for cannabinoids and terpenes to help you find the best temperature:
Cannabinoids:
THC: 157˚C/315˚F
CBD: 180˚C/356˚F
CBN: 185˚C/365˚F
CBC: 220˚C/428˚F
CBG: 52˚C/126˚F
Terpenes:
Pinene: 155˚C/311˚F
Limonene: 176˚C/349˚F
Myrcene: 168˚C/334˚F
Caryophyllene: 160˚C/320˚F
Linalool: 198˚C/388˚F
Inhale Properly
When using a vape, it is best to follow the cannabis mantra: start low and go slow. Especially if you are a beginner to using marijuana. Inhale slowly from the mouthpiece for a few seconds until vapor fills your mouth and then exhale. Taking long, hard hits can potentially cause your cannabis to be sucked up from the chamber, through the mouthpiece and into your mouth. It can also cause cold air to get into the chamber of your vaporizer which will reduce the temperature inside. This will result in the vaporizer working harder to bring the heat back up and can affect the quality of your experience.
Clean and Maintain Your Vape Regularly
Just like any other piece of machinery, your vaporizer will need to be cleaned and maintained to ensure that it continues to function accordingly. Once you purchase a vape, carefully read the instructions provided and use the proper tools to clean it regularly.
To learn more about which products you can use for vaporization, check out our Ohio dispensary locations page to view a menu at a facility near you!