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, tobacco, or nicotine product. What about vaporizers are making their star rise so fast? What are the benefits of vaporizers, and are they really that significant? Below, we’ll answer these questions and more – but first, let’s start all the way at the beginning.

What is a Vaporizer?

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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.

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Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, it’s easier than ever to access a variety of cannabinoids in the form of a vaporizer. However, vaporizers (or “e-cigarettes”) are also popular among nicotine and tobacco users.

How do vaporizers work?

Different types of vaporizers work in slightly different ways. The general process, though, looks something like this:

1. The vape heats air.
2. The air passes through the plant material or product and converts chemicals inside into a form that’s inhalable.
3. The user inhales the air and vapor.

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Typically, vaporizers heat air by applying electricity to a heating element like a ceramic or metal coil. Next, the user inhales from a mouthpiece that draws air up into the chamber, where the plant material – oil, concentrate, flower, e-liquid, etc. – sits. 

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Because the oil, flower, etc., is not directly exposed to the heating element, it doesn’t burn. It can also more effectively convert its contents into a breathable form. This process, known as convection, is similar to putting something in your oven to bake and then breathing in the air that rushes out when you open the door. 

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Although they all get their job done using convection, different types of vapes differ slightly in the tech they use and the kind of product they’re compatible with.

What Are the Benefits of Vaporizers?

So, why choose a vaporizer or “vape” over traditional smoking? What are the benefits of vaporizers, specifically?

There are more perks to these little devices than you might think. Let’s take a closer look at some of the main advantages of any kind of vaporizer.

Efficiency

When you light up flower to smoke, you initiate the combustion process. Combustion burns away some cannabinoids before they have an opportunity to be absorbed into the bloodstream. 

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Because vaporizers use convective heat and do not reach the point of combustion, they don’t burn away precious cannabinoids. That means the cannabinoids – or other chemical compounds, like nicotine – within your product are used more efficiently, giving you stronger hits with less plant matter. 

Convenience

If you want to smoke on the go, vaporizers are a great option. No need for a lighter or a pipe, and 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, can run for hours.

Ease of Use

Smoking flower can be a multi-step process. Rolling a joint can be tricky and messy. Smoking a cigarette might force you to step outside or find a smoke-friendly location. Likewise, setting up a dab rig involves very high heat and requires special equipment.

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On the flip side, vaping is as simple as can be. Often, all you need to do to vape is inhale. Rarely does vaping involve much more than just pushing a button or loading flower into a chamber.

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’s possible that a vape hit contains a much higher density of cannabinoids than what you get from smoking flower. Plus, 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 aren’t exposed to a flame or combustion, they don’t lose their original taste. Hits from a vape are smoother, cleaner, and taste a whole lot better than a puff of smoke. 

Types of Vaporizers & Their Benefits

Vaporizers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and functions. There are four main categories that we fit these different vapes into: 

• Disposable pens

• Cartridge pens

• Box mod vaporizers

• Dry herb vaporizers

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Knowing the upsides and downsides of your vape options can help you pick the best option for you. Below, we take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each vaporizer to help you further understand which is right for your lifestyle.

Disposable Pens

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A disposable pen is a single unit that you can throw away when it runs out of oil or liquid. These vapes are usually already charged and filled when you purchase them. They’re also super easy to use, requiring little more than putting your lips to the mouthpiece and breathing in.

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While disposables are user-friendly, they’re also, well, disposable. That means they create a lot of waste and don’t have the same technological abilities as other vaporizers.

Cartridge Pens

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Another popular vape option is a pen with a reusable battery and a disposable cartridge. These vapes rely on containers of cannabinoid oil called cartridges, which can be screwed onto a rechargeable battery. 

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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 gets screwed off, thrown away, and replaced with a fresh cartridge. 

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While these vapes offer more customization, they’re also a bit pricier than your average disposable.

Box Mod Vaporizers

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The most advanced vaporizer setup is a box mod vape, which is a rig that includes a powerful battery, a refillable chamber for oil or e-liquid, and rebuildable wicks and coils. 

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Although a box mod is far more customizable than other options, they are also more expensive and require more hands-on attention than disposable pens or cartridges.

Dry Herb Vaporizers

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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 vape ensures that essential oils and resinous glands remain intact and are easily inhaled. 

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While less common than other types of vaporizers, dry herb vapes are still a classic. Users of these vaporizers often cite the cleaner taste and smoother hit as reasons for making their selection.

The Big Question: Is Vaping Healthier Than Smoking?

A big question lurking beneath the surface when it comes to the benefits of vaporizers is whether vaporizing, in general, is any healthier than smoking. Unfortunately, it’s a question that’s not easy to answer, largely because we simply have not had enough time to conduct thorough research on the impacts of vaping compared to those of smoking. 

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However, that doesn’t 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 fewer harmful or carcinogenic materials introduced to the lungs. 

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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.

Experience the Benefits of Vaporizers of All Kinds with Green Dragon

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. 

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If vaping seems like the right choice for you, all that’s left to do is decide which kind is best. The Green Dragon CBD has a variety of vape products that come in different strains, flavors, and cannabinoid contents. Check out our exciting collection of goodies today to start exploring different vaporizers and products that can help you achieve your goals.

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If you still need a little more guidance, we’d love to help! Send us a message through our contact page at any time for a free consultation or to get answers to your questions.