How does vaping work?

2 Comments

How To Order Online

Before getting into the benefits of vaporizing herbs, take a look at how vaporizing works with cannabis.

THC, CBD, and various terpenes are important compounds in cannabis plants. These compounds need to enter the bloodstream for them to take effect. People do this differently, but historically, smoking has been the most common consumption method.

Traditional smoking represents the fastest way of getting the active ingredients in cannabis into your system. Burning the plant matter activates THC and terpenes quickly, which you then inhale with the smoke.

Once in the lungs, these active compounds rapidly absorb into the bloodstream, with effects appearing almost instantaneously.

While not as harmful as tobacco, smoking marijuana still poses a risk to your health. One of the main benefits of vaping weed is that it’s much healthier for you.

Vaporizers work on the same principle as traditional smoking. The idea is to apply heat to cannabis to release its active ingredients. The main difference in vaping buds is the temperatures applied.

Burning cannabis in a bowl, bong, or joint produces temperatures of up to 2000°F while vaping temperatures range from 325–430°F.

With regular smoking, these high temperatures mean much of the cannabinoid and terpene content burns away before it gets to you.

Vaping applies just enough heat to the cannabis to release its active ingredients without reaching the point of combustion. The desired cannabinoids and terpenes are delivered through the vapor, leaving behind the unwanted plant matter.

While the main draw of vaping is health, vaping weed benefits you in several other ways. Read on and learn why more people are switching out their ashtrays and lighters for vaporizers.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

Steve Jobs

In a small study of infrequent cannabis users, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have shown that, compared with smoking cannabis, vaping it increased the rate of short-term anxiety, paranoia, memory loss and distraction when doses were the same.

The findings of the new study, described in the Nov. 30 edition of JAMA Network Open, highlight the importance of dose considerations with the perception that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cannabis, the researchers say. And they ask regulators of medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries to take note.

Vaping devices heat cannabis to a temperature in which the mind-altering compounds in the plant are released as a vapor that is inhaled. Vaping is thought to be safer for cannabis and tobacco use because it doesn’t produce many of the harmful components of burning material such as tar and other cancer-causing agents.

But, the researchers say, their study suggests that at least for first-timers or others who don’t use cannabis regularly, vaping delivers greater amounts of THC, the primary intoxicant in cannabis, which increases the likelihood of adverse reactions.

“In light of increased legalization of cannabis, we designed our study to be more representative of the general population’s exposure to cannabis, namely someone who has never smoked it and wants to try it for medical or recreational purposes, or someone who does not use it regularly enough to understand or predict its effects,” says Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “What our study suggests is that some people who use cannabis infrequently need to be careful about how much cannabis they use with a vaporizer, and they should not drive, even within several hours after use. It could be dangerous for themselves and others, and on top of that, they may experience negative effects such as anxiety, nausea, vomiting and even hallucinations,” he adds.

For their study, the researchers chose 17 volunteer participants (nine men and eight women, average age 27 years), who hadn’t used cannabis in the past 30 days, which was verified by a drug screen, and together on average hadn’t used in over a year.

In a controlled setting at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center’s behavioral pharmacology research unit, each participant either smoked or vaped cannabis containing 0, 10 or 25 milligrams of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component in cannabis that gives people the high, in single visits once a week over six weeks. The researchers say that 25 milligrams of THC is a relatively low dose, and much less than is typically found in pre-rolled cannabis “joints” sold in dispensaries where cannabis is legal. The participants either smoked preloaded pipes or inhaled vapor from a vaporizer. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew the doses of THC that were delivered in a given experimental test session.

During each of the six sessions, the research team observed and assessed drug effects in the test subjects, including for adverse reactions. They also measured vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure and collected blood samples just after smoking, every 30 minutes for two hours and then every hour for eight hours.

Each participant also completed the Drug Effect Questionnaire—rating self-reported drug effects out of a score of 100—shortly after smoking and each hour for up to eight hours later. The survey assessed  overall drug effect; feeling sick, anxious, hungry, sleepy and restless; and experiencing heart racing, dry mouth, dry eyes, memory impairment and coughing.

Results showed that a few minutes after smoking, those who vaped the 25-milligram THC dosage reported an average of 77.5 on the overall strength of the drug’s effect, meaning how high they felt compared with the average score of 66.4 reported by those who smoked the same dose. Participants who vaped 25 milligrams of THC reported about a 7 percent higher score on average for anxiety and paranoia, compared with people who smoked the same amount of the compound. Those who vaped any dose of THC also reported higher levels of dry mouth and dry eyes than those who smoked it. For example, when vaping 25 milligrams of THC, the participants rated dry mouth at 67.1 on average compared with 42.6 for those smoking it.

Researchers say the participants also completed three computerized tasks designed to measure attention span, memory, physical reaction time and motor movement. One task required the participant to replicate the shape of patterns, another required them to add up strings of single-digit numbers and the third required them to follow a dot across the screen with the cursor while also tracking a dot that pops up in the periphery.

The tests are meant to represent skills needed for proper workplace performance, operating a car or other daily activities. Reaction times on average were slower by more than 120 milliseconds with both active test doses of THC, using either smoking or vaping, when compared with reaction time after smoking or vaping cannabis without any THC.

Next, the researchers compared the effects of vaping compared with smoking on participants taking the computerized Divided Attention Task, which required participants to track a square on the computer screen while also monitoring numbers in each corner of the screen. The amount of time participants accurately tracked the square on the computer in the Divided Attention Task dropped by an average of 170 percent after smoking 25 milligrams of THC compared with the cannabis without THC.
The amount of time they accurately tracked fell an average of 350 percent when vaping 10 milligrams of THC and fell 500 percent when vaping 25 milligrams of THC, compared with those smoking either dose.

“Our participants had substantially higher impairment on the tasks when vaping versus smoking the same dose, which in the real world translates to more functional impairment when driving or performing everyday tasks,” says postdoctoral fellow Tory Spindle, Ph.D., a researcher in the behavioral pharmacology research unit at Johns Hopkins Bayview.

Other results showed that blood levels of THC were at their highest immediately after smoking or vaping cannabis. At 10 milligrams of THC, blood levels of THC reached an average of 7.5 nanograms per milliliter in vapers, compared with 3.8 nanograms per milliliter in smokers 10 minutes after they inhaled the drug. At 25 milligrams of THC, blood levels reached an average of 14.4 nanograms per milliliter when vaped compared with 10.2 nanograms per milliliter when smoked.

“There’s a definite differences in the amount of drug making it into the blood when using a vaporizer versus smoking the drug, so considerations need to be made when dosing to ensure people are using cannabis safely,” says Spindle.

The researchers note that they could only detect THC in the blood samples up to four hours after using, even though the participants reported the drug’s effects lasted five or six hours. The researchers say this suggests that blood testing isn’t an accurate way to tell if someone is high or perhaps driving under the influence.

Two participants vomited after vaping 25 milligrams of THC, and another experienced hallucinations. One person vomited after smoking 25 milligrams of THC.

Vandrey cautions that the study involved only a small number of younger adults and lasted only six weeks. “We still don’t have a full look at the long-term effects of vaping, such as whether there is a risk for chronic bronchitis, and more work needs to be done on that front,” he says. It is important to note that these effects were observed in individuals who don’t use cannabis very often, and may not extend to people who use cannabis routinely; they may have developed tolerance to these effects and also may be better able to regulate their dose.

In recent years, Canada and several U.S. states including Washington, California, Colorado and Massachusetts have legalized cannabis for recreational use. Thirty-two states have made cannabis available with a doctor’s prescription, including Maryland, where the research was performed.

Additional authors include Edward Cone, Nicolas Schlienz and George Bigelow of Johns Hopkins; John Mitchell of RTI International and Ronald Flegel and Eugene Hayes of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

This research was funded by SAMHSA.

COI: Vandrey has been a paid consultant for or received honoraria from Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Insys Therapeutics, Battelle Memorial Institute and Canopy Health Innovations Inc.

No comments yet

5 benefits of vaporizing herbs

No comments yet

Below are five of the top benefits of vaporizing herbs.

Health

Consuming cannabis without the risks associated with smoking is one of the most important benefits of vaporizing herbs.

In stark contrast to smoking, vaping produces a highly pure stream of vaporized cannabinoids and terpenes. Research shows that vapor contains less than 0.001% of the harmful substances found in combusted cannabis.

One of the benefits of vaporizing herbs is the disappearance of unpleasant side effects produced by smoking. Coughing and respiratory irritation are eliminated, making for a much more pleasurable experience.

If you want the purest vaping experience, stick to dry herb vaporizers. The benefit of a dry herb vaporizer is that it contains only cannabis buds. Vaping this way eliminates the need for additives, providing an unadulterated, non-harmful dose.

Effects

Some of of the best benefits of vaporizing herbs include improved effects and a cleaner, brighter high. Smoking destroys 63% of cannabinoids, as temperatures are far above the boiling point of 220°F for THCa, and 356°F for CBD.

Vaping weed benefits your buzz by delivering far more cannabinoids from the same amount of buds. Research shows that blood THC levels of vape users are almost twice as high as levels found in traditional smokers.

The benefit of vaporizing herb is a more powerful, longer-lasting high with the added bonus of secondary effects from terpenes.

Flavors

It’s not just potency that’s lost with regular smoking, but flavors. Cannabis contains a range of flavor-enhancing terpenes, most of which are destroyed when combusted.

If you’re a flavor connoisseur, one of the benefits of vaporizing your herbs is a better-tasting experience. Vaping your favorite strains and rediscovering the subtleties in their flavor profiles is one of the most enjoyable aspects of vaping.

The boiling point of terpenes differs, but they evaporate between 310–495°F. One of the benefits of vaping weed is that terpenes are released intact, delivering every flavor molecule possible.

Discretion & convenience

If you’d rather keep your cannabis consumption private, vaping weed benefits you by being more discreet.

Vaping produces a far less noticeable smell, and what it does create dissipates quickly and won’t cling to your hair or clothes. No smoke or ash leaves you smelling clean and fresh.

There’s also no need for pockets filled with lighters and other paraphernalia, giving you fewer things to worry about forgetting.

Oil-based vape pens are portable and easy to conceal. One of the best benefits of vaporizing your herbs is being able to take your bud on the move without worry.

Savings

One of the major advantages of vaping is its efficiency as a delivery method. Vaping only heats your herb when you want. Light a pipe or joint, and it burns away cannabinoids whether you inhale them or not.

On top of being more efficient, vaping weed benefits you in another way. Buds vaped at lower temperatures still contain significant amounts of cannabinoids.

This already vaped bud (AVB) is perfect for making homemade edibles. Use it to make cannabutter for use in future recipes, or consume it directly in a firecracker edible or similarly simple snack.

Once you start vaping weed, the benefits to your pocket quickly become clear. With less wasted cannabinoids in every puff, your stash goes that much further.

Make the change

Switching from smoking to vaping weed benefits you immensely in the long run. You’ll be healthier, wealthier, and enjoy more potent, better-tasting buds once you take the plunge.

If you’ve already made the switch, share this with your friends still on the fence about the benefits of vaping weed.

Benefits of using a dry herb vaporizer
http://temashdesign.com/

3 Comments

Dry herb vaporizers have become the new device for herb consumers. Something that was previously looked down upon but now is growing at a very fast pace, the consumption of herbs, especially cannabis and marijuana, has seen a massive increase in recent years. Statistics have shown that since Covid-19, 50% of the cannabis users have increased their cannabis consumption, 55% more females have become cannabis buyers, 25 Billion Dollars worth of weed was sold in 2021, and over 44% of Americans can easily get legalized cannabis, legalization of weed is supported by over 91% of the adults and the Global cannabis sales in 2021 reached 32 Billion Dollars (Flowhub, 2019). With the cannabis industry growing at such a fast pace, many people are choosing dry herb vaporizers for the consumption of cannabis due to the number of benefits they get over smoking it.

Advantages:

Not only are there certain health benefits of using dry herb vaporizers but one may also get some recreational advantages

·      It is convenient:

The convenience element is one of the most prevalent reasons for dry herb vaporizers’ popularity. Dry herb vaporizers provide a number of advantages, such as the feature that they are mobile and handy, allowing you to smoke them at any time and in any location. There is absolutely no installation needed in order, unlike when smoking a joint, which requires crushing and rolling the bud before you can begin smoking. The thermal element of a dry herb vaporizer will warm the herb for users to consume, and then the user just turns it off. With a vape pen, the process is similar: simply turn on the heat to warm up the e-liquid and let it evaporate, then turn it off to keep it cool. This means one may smoke their favorite herb on the road, and the smoking procedure is much faster than traditional cigarettes, so users save quite a lot of effort and time.

·      It is healthier:

Since users don’t combust any paper with a dry herb vaporizer or a vape pen, it’s far better than consuming from a cigarette or a blunt. They are not literally burning the marijuana when they use a dry herb vaporizer; instead, they are simply warming it up, unlike burning the plant when they use a joint or a blunt. A vaporizer with better control settings makes it even better since there is more control over how much heat is to be produced. Because a vaporizer does not utilize combustion to heat the herb, no dangerous pollutants are produced during the vaping process. At least 250 of the over 7,000 compounds included in cigarette smoke are known to be toxic, including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia. At least 69 of the 250 known toxic compounds in tobacco smoke can increase the risk of cancer. The following are some of the cancer-causing compounds:  Acetaldehyde, Aromatic amines, Arsenic, Benzene, Beryllium (a toxic metal), 1,3–Butadiene (a hazardous gas), Cadmium (a toxic metal), Chromium (a metallic element), Cumene, Ethylene oxide, Formaldehyde, Nickel (a metallic element), Polonium-210 (a radioactive chemical element), Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Tobacco-specific nitrosamines and Vinyl chloride ((cdccdc) et al., 2014; Darden, 2021). There is no such risk in using dry herb vaporizers and therefore, they are much healthier as compared to smoking herbs.

·      Better flavor:

When cannabis is burnt, the terpenes are not released, lowering the taste of the cannabis. Terpenes are the molecules that are fundamental for the way many plants taste and are abundantly available in cannabis and fruits. The citrus scent that wafts up to your nostrils when you cut into an orange, for example, is a result of the terpenes being emitted. Burning cannabis has a detrimental effect on taste because the toxic chemicals in the smoke block the release of terpenes. That’s why vaporizing dried herbs releases more terpenes and improves the flavor. Vaping necessitates the use of flavors. Because cannabis is physically put on fire in a joint, it has a charred flavor and smell when inhaled. When using a dry herb vaporizer, the herb is simply warmed enough just to activate the desired terpenes and cannabinoids and deliver the plant’s finest advantages.When the plant matter is burnt, the terpenes inside the herb have a far more pleasant fragrance. Especially opposed to smoking, many people find that vaporized terpenes provide a more pleasant and relaxing experience.

·      No smell:

Vaping allows you to manage the temperature, which influences the high, and hence the consequences, enabling you to have shorter puffs at a time as needed. Dry herb vaporizers are fantastic since they don’t produce foul breath because of the absence of smoke. Herb vaporizers are rather unnoticeable, especially at low vapor temperatures. However, since they really heat and disintegrate herbs, they do not totally disguise odors. Even though there is no real burning of the herb, the distinctive fragrance will remain mildly changed. Vapor can be almost odorless and evaporate in a matter of seconds, but at greater levels, you’ll get thicker vapors with a stronger fragrance that lasts longer.

·      Better potency:

When people smoke, they lose between 15-20% of the herb’s strength, however when they vape, the temperature created is considerably lower and far more precise, allowing the chemicals to be used and retained to their maximum potential, making the vapor more pristine and potent and, as a side benefit, consuming less herb. There are other vaporizers allowing people to consume THC extract, which is a far more condensed and powerful form of cannabis. Vaporizers could very well provide a purer and more powerful experience than burnt cannabis, with fewer contaminants in the vapor. Granted, this is only true if the THC product is free of any dangerous contaminants.

Bottom-line:

Dry herb vaporizers are a great choice for not only one’s health but also for their satisfaction. Having better control over the general functions provides users with a better variety of options. Many brands with good dry herb vaporizers, such as ones from VaporizerChief.com, provide even better control and experience to the users.