If you’re exploring ways to get high without smoking, vaping might be at the top of your list—and it should be. Vaping weed indeed produces a similar high to smoking, but it eliminates many of the risks of smoking itself, particularly to lung health. Even so, that doesn’t mean that vaping is risk-free. Luckily, so long as you’re aware of what to avoid when vaping cannabis, most of those risks can be neatly sidestepped.
Here’s what you need to know to vape weed safely, along with some other odds and ends we thought you might find useful to know.
What Does Vaping Cannabis Do to You?
The most obvious answer here is that it gets you high (assuming you’re using a THC vape pen). It’s the euphoric, relaxed feeling that you get from cannabis that makes it amazing for everything from recreational use to pain relief and easing anxiety. While that, of course, is the intended endgame, vaping weed can have other effects on your body as well, as does all forms of cannabis, in one way or another.
One of the main benefits of vaping cannabis is that the vapour being inhaled contains far fewer (if any) carcinogens than both tobacco and weed smoke, although it can still contain toxins and other dangerous substances. “Can” is the keyword there, as not all weed vapour contains these not-so-great additions.
The biggest things to avoid when vaping cannabis hinge on the products you’re vaping and what equipment you’re using to vape them.
The popularity of vaping has led to a tsunami of marijuana vaping products and options, but they are not created equal. So let’s take a look at the different ways you can vape cannabis, the do’s and don’t’s, first-time vaping tips, and more.
Is Vaping Cannabis Safe?
The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists found that when looking at the effects of vaporizing cannabis flower, “the majority of studies suggest that vaporizers adequately reduce risk of pulmonary symptoms”, although you should always make sure to get your cannabis from trusted sources. It would be best if you avoided low quality ‘street weed’ as it’s been found to produce upwards of 85% more ammonia than samples from a regulated source (6 ppm vs. 70 ppm). These levels are sufficient to cause airway irritation in the short-term and lung damage in the long-term, potentially leading to chronic bronchitis or asthma.
When it comes to vaping cannabis oils, you need to be careful of what’s in them, too. You should also avoid vape products containing popular thinning agents such as propylene glycol. A study done by the Medical Marijuana Research Institute in 2017 found that polyethylene glycol (PG) can produce elevated levels of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. Exposure to these chemicals can lead to airway narrowing and while dramatically increasing your cancer risk.
Other cutting agents can also prove dangerous, such as vitamin E acetate, which caused a string of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome cases in January 2020.
And it’s not just what you’re vaping, either. It’s essential to be aware of how you’re vaping it, too, as some vape coils are made from metals, such as cadmium, nickel, manganese, lead, or chromium. A 2018 study on e-cigarettes published in Environmental Health Perspectives Magazine found that heavy metal contamination from these coils can find its way into vape oil or the vapour itself, which can lead to a list of health complications.
That’s why cannabis vape pens have been shifting away from using metal coils in favour of quartz and ceramic. That’s why many of the vape cartridges on our menu use ceramic heating elements, like Daily, BC Trees, and Haaze brands.
Weed vaping tips:
- Avoid low-quality weed from unknown sources
- Avoid cannabis oils that contain propylene glycol
- Avoid vitamin E acetate
- Be aware of what coils you’re using
How Much Is Too Much Vaping?
Another common concern is the possibility of overdoing it. That leads many to wonder, how much is too much?
The answer to that question depends on you. It’s important to listen to your body and quit before things go from a good time to a bad experience. We also recommend starting slow until you get a feel for how it will affect you.
If you’re using a cannabis vape pen, keep a lookout for these warning signs to know when it’s time to put the vape down:
Dehydration
In cannabis vape oil thinned with propylene glycol, overuse can lead to dehydration. PG absorbs moisture from its surroundings. In this case, the water from your body and mouth, leaving you feeling dehydrated. Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Dry mouth
- Excessive thirst
- Sore or scratchy throat
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Concentrated urine and constipation
Avoid dry mouth by always having water on hand during a session.
Allergic Reactions
Some of the chemicals and particulates in some cannabis vape products could cause an allergic reaction if consumed excessively. These allergic reactions depend on the person vaping. For example, some people are allergic to vegetable glycerine (VG).
Vaper’s Tongue
‘Vaper’s tongue’ is a term used to describe the loss of taste bud sensitivity due to too much vaping. It is signified by your taste buds feeling numb, finding your favourite flavours unpleasant, or being unable to taste them all together. It pairs quite poorly with cottonmouth. Fortunately, this condition is not permanent and will go away once you cut back on your vaping.
First Time Vaping Tips
Our biggest tip for first-time weed vapers is to make sure you understand the different types of vape devices necessary to vape various forms of cannabis. For instance, you can’t use the same device for cannabis oil as dry flower, in most cases, and using the wrong rig with certain products can be dangerous.
Cannabis vaporizers create vapour via one of two methods:
- Conductive heating – With conductive devices, a coil or hot plate directly heats the cannabis to the proper temperature to produce vapour.
- Convective heating – Convective heating devices use hot air to produce vapour.
Cannabis Vape Pens
Vape pens for cannabis rely on a coil (conductive heat) and battery to create vapour, but they are specifically designed for use with cannabis products. You can’t use a standard e-cigarette as they get too hot and can’t handle the consistency of most oils. Weed vape pens are available for concentrates like oils, distillate, and wax. While there are also vape pens designed for dry flower, pre-filled cartridges, such as High Voltage Extracts cartridges, containing an oil or distillate are the most common option.
Portable Cannabis Vaporizers
Portable cannabis vaporizers are slightly larger than vape pens but still hand-held. They are a popular option for dry herb vaporizing and are available in options with either conductive or convective heat.
This walkie-talkie looking thing is the ‘Mighty’ vaporizer for flower.
Tabletop Cannabis Vaporizers
Tabletop vapes are almost always convective and are essentially a larger version of a portable vaporizer that offers far more control over temperature- think of the classic Volcano vaporizer.
No matter what option you go with, make absolutely sure that the device you choose is compatible with the cannabis products you intend to vape. We don’t recommend attempting to rig up a device to do something it’s not intended to do—even if you can find a guide online showing you how.
Dab Rigs
Technically, dabbing and vaping both produce vapour, but a dab rig is exclusively used for concentrates, such as wax, shatter, and live resin, which are ‘dabbed’ on a nail that is manually heated using a torch. The downside of dabbing is that it’s harder to control the temperature. Speaking of temperature…
Mind the Temperature
On top of making sure you have the right device, be careful to keep your vape temperature within a safe range.
Many vapes offer temperature adjustment options. Cannabis products shouldn’t be vaped at temperatures over 365 degrees Celsius as doing so can release benzene, a known carcinogen. Vaping at high temperatures can also destroy beneficial compounds.
Adjusting temperature can change the flavour and quality of your high as different terpenes and cannabinoids vaporize at differing temperatures.
Low temp vaping (160–185°C) will give you vapour packed with flavour with a light, clear-headed high. Medium temp (185–200°C) is more likely to produce a stronger high with moderate flavour that can improve mood.
High temperatures over 200°C are going to produce the strongest high with a thick vapour that could make you cough and less flavour. If you’re doing those high temps, make sure to avoid hitting that 365°C point, and keep in mind that cannabis can start burning between 220-260 degrees Celsius.
For more in-depth info on vaping and temperature, check out our article “What’s the Best Temperature to Vape Weed?”.
What if My Vape Gets Too Hot?
While you shouldn’t be heating cannabis products over 365°C, if your vape starts feeling hot during use, it’s best to take a break to allow it to cool down because it could malfunction if it gets too hot for too long.
The first step to resolving the issue is finding out which part is too hot and by how much. Usually, the problem is either with the battery or the vape tank, but since heat tends to conduct from one spot to another, it can be tricky figuring out the problematic area.
Don’t Overheat the Coil
If the heat is more concentrated at your device’s base, then the problem could be the coil. If this is the case, it is often caused by excessive vaping, which doesn’t give the coil enough time to cool and leads to higher temperatures with each vape session. Try taking longer breaks between your vaping sessions to cool your device.
Other times, the problem might be due to coil gunk. If your device is overheating and not producing a lot of vapour, try cleaning the coil to remove the gunk. You could also consider getting new coils. Proper vape care is a must to ensure the performance of your device.
Overheating Batteries
Sometimes the battery could be the problem, and if it is, you should take immediate precautions. Disconnect the battery and place the device away from flammable items. Apart from replacement, there is, unfortunately, no other solution to a malfunctioning battery.
Vape Maintenance: Things to do
Maintenance is the best way to ensure that your vape device continuously gives you the high you desire. Your vape will last longer with proper care as well, and seeing how costly some of them are, you don’t want to buy one every few months unless you have to. Here are a few vape maintenance tips:
Store Your Device Properly
Ensure that you store your vape the right way by keeping it away from liquids and extreme temperatures. Also, remember to store it in an upright position.
As for your cartridges, concentrates, or other vaping goodies, store them in a cool, dark place and far from the reach of children and pets. Keeping your cartridges, in particular, away from direct sunlight further maximizes their shelf life, helping retain their flavour, potency, and quality.
Take Good Care of Your Batteries
If you have a pen or portable vape, its battery condition impacts its functionality. Ensure that you take good care of it by storing it correctly and keeping it away from hot temperatures.
A dirty battery terminal can prevent your device from having a clean cartridge connection, so it’s essential to wipe the terminal with a clean, dry cloth. Also, always try to keep a small amount of charge to help lengthen your battery’s life span.
Don’t Overtighten Your Device’s Parts
Overtightening your vape components could cause permanent damage to your device, stripping the threading and making it impossible to remove. Only tighten the device’s components just until they are secure.
Clean It Often
While your device’s exact components will vary by the type of cannabis vape you have, screens, heating chambers, coils, mouthpieces, and O-rings can be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. Some soaking may be necessary. Follow the directions provided with your device for specific care instructions.
9 Things to Avoid When Vaping Cannabis
To summarize all the info above, here are nine things to avoid when vaping cannabis:
- Using a device not intended for the cannabis product you’re trying to vape.
- Buying cannabis vape products off the street or from unreputable sellers—look for third-party testing!
- Buying a low-quality vaping device.
- Using products that contain polyethylene glycol or vitamin E acetate.
- Vaping at temperatures over 365°C.
- Not properly maintaining your vape.
- Storing your vape or cannabis products improperly.
- Ignoring warning signs that there may be something wrong with your vape (overheating).
- Failing to start slow and find the right dosing for you.
With all these tips, you are now more than ready to have the quality vaping experience that everyone else is rightly raving about. The last piece of advice we’d give you is to make it your own. Now that you know what to avoid when vaping, try finding out what works for you, and stick to it.
Not to worry, at Budmail, we’ll always be here to offer you great advice and a ton of products to go along with it, ensuring you vape only the best bud and do so the safe way.
