Vaporizers: what they are and how they work

In this guide we will help you discover tricks, secrets and useful information on vaporization, a new frontier for better enjoying the individual compounds of cannabis.

Vaporization is a way to stop smoking cigarettes and at the same time enjoy the beneficial power of light marijuana. Specifically we will tell you about:

1. What are vaporizers?
2. How do they work?
3. What are the benefits of vaporization?
4. Cigarettes Vs Vaporizers
5. Temperatures at which individual cannabinoids evaporate
6. How to choose the right vaporizer for me?

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The guide to using the vaporizer

Let's find out together how they work, what the advantages of vaporization are and how to get the most out of our Cannabis inflorescences .

What are vaporizers?

The vaporizer is nothing more than a device used to vaporize or nebulize the active ingredients of a solid or liquid material.

Vaporizers contain various types of extraction chambers and are generally constructed of glass or metal, the vapor generated can be collected in a special collector, or inhaled directly through some sort of mouthpiece.

When used correctly, thanks to the lower temperatures caused by the lack of combustion to burn organic compounds, it produces significantly more efficient and refined extraction of individual molecules .

How do they work?

Generally, vaporizers are divided into three categories

Conduction: the inflorescences inserted inside the heating chamber are burned by a boiler powered by a battery.

Convection: The inflorescences are heated thanks to the use of hot air circulating through the material.

Hybrids: a mix between the two previous methods: The inflorescences are heated through convection but it is also helped by the passage of hot air inside the combustion chamber.

The main difference lies in the different way in which these accessories heat the herb or extracts that are placed inside them

Convection vaporizers heat cannabis indirectly through a flow of hot air , until the vapor is released. Conduction ones, on the other hand, use direct heat to vaporize the plant material.

A hot surface (not a flame) comes into contact with the herb or extract to create steam. Most convection vaporizers are tabletop models , equipped with two main systems of use: with balloon or tube.

In the balloon vaporizer, you have to turn on the fan to push the hot air through the tank where the substance is contained. The vapor created will fill the balloon, which must be disconnected as soon as it fills to be able to aspirate the vapor.

Conduction vaporizers, on the other hand, must be used with ground herb , which must be pressed into the heating tank.

In these models the material comes into direct contact with the heating coil, which reaches the desired temperature in a few seconds, allowing the steam to be drawn in immediately.

This is a much simpler and quicker process than convection vaporization and the cost of these models is also much lower than that of convection vaporizers.

Some have few temperature settings, while the more technological models offer more precise controls and allow you to choose the right temperature to extract terpenes and cannabinoids.

Unfortunately, however, most conduction vaporizers do not heat dried herb evenly.

The plant material closest to the coil heats up first, immediately releasing the active molecules, while the grass furthest from the heat remains almost intact.

To avoid waste, it is important to open the tank several times during the session and to mix the herb inside .

The conduction vaporizer is usually small and portable. Some models must be connected to an electrical outlet, but almost all are powered by rechargeable batteries.

What are the benefits of vaporization?

Vaporization is certainly the best way to take marijuana , both to protect your health and to be sure to exploit the greatest quantity of active ingredient possible.

With vaporization, in fact, it is possible to control the temperature to which light cannabis is subjected, with the result of saving a large part of the cannabinoids and terpenes contained in it. Eliminating all damage caused by combustion.

Cigarettes Vs Vaporizers

The combustion of cannabis is identical - in terms of methods - to that of tobacco, with which the substance is often mixed precisely so that it can burn better.

The recommended temperature for optimal cannabis intake is around 170° , but combustion reaches much higher peaks. This, in addition to generating carcinogenic substances that are absorbed by the body, literally sends much of the THC contained in the herb up in smoke.

THC does not like temperatures above 157°, and in fact the quantity of active ingredient absorbed through combustion is never greater than 25%.

When burned, cannabis molecules break down and give rise to so-called free radicals, which generate toxins that are very harmful to the body. Targeted analyzes have shown that the smoke released from joints contains only 10% cannabinoids .

While the remaining part is made up of combustible products, including the so-called PAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Vaporization is certainly the best way, both to protect our health and to make sure we take in the greatest quantity of active ingredient possible .

With vaporization it is possible to control the temperature to which cannabis is subjected, with the result of saving a large part of cannabinoids and terpenes.

THC boils at around 157°, with the result that you can take in around 46% of the substance contained in vaporized weed .

Unlike the smoke released by the joint, the vapor contains approximately 90% cannabinoids and only 10% other substances, which are however less harmful than those generated by combustion at very high temperatures.

Temperatures at which individual cannabinoids evaporate

THC – 157°C

THC is the most famous cannabinoid and mainly responsible for the psychoactive effect of cannabis. It produces both euphoric and analgesic effects and induces a great feeling of relaxation.

CBD – 160/180°C

CBD is the cannabinoid most suitable for therapeutic use, thanks to its numerous beneficial properties. It partially counteracts the effects of THC and is effective in treating disorders such as anxiety and paranoia.

Delta-8-THC – 175/178 °C

This cannabinoid is the little brother of THC, but it is more stable and less psychoactive and has exceptional antiemetic properties.

CBN – 185°C

CBN is usually present in cannabis in small quantities, but its effects are felt. It counteracts THC and has a sedative effect.

How to choose the right vaporizer for me?

There are many variables at play to take into consideration: how much money do I want to spend? Do I want a home or portable item? If portable with what type of battery? Owned or by agreement? Which brand to choose as most reliable?

The world of vaporizers is a world apart, with its highlights and models known to all. It's a fascinating world, but also quite expensive.

Without a doubt more expensive than any lighter + paper kit. However, it must be said that taking cannabis in these ways allows you to save on the quantity of substance used .

Since with vaporization it is possible to take in 20% more active ingredient compared to that released with combustion . With significant savings (and probably equal to the cost of a vaporizer) in the long run.

The first thing to do is understand your needs: what will I use the vaporizer for? Not all vaporizers are suitable for the use of all substances, each one has its own specifications and accessories.

After having clarified this fundamental step, it is necessary to pay a visit to the various online sites that produce or sell these devices, to understand the technical characteristics, price and convenience. And that's it.