There is a lot of debate surrounding the difference between a vape high and a flower high. Some people say that there is no difference, while others swear that a smoke high is just better. So, which is it? Is there really a difference between the two, or are people just arguing about semantics? In this blog post, we will explore the differences between vaping and smoking cannabis, and try to answer the question once and for all!
Smoking Flower: A Classic that Will Never go Out of Style
We all love to consume marijuana. And classic method of consuming it will always be smoking it in a joint, bong, pipe, or blunt. It’s the tried-and-true method that has been around for centuries. When you smoke flower, the cannabinoids are burned and inhaled through the lungs where they are then absorbed into the bloodstream. The euphoric or sedative feeling we experience when we get high is caused by this process.
In terms of the initial investment of equipment necessary to smoke, it’s a more cost-effective method of consumption than vape pens. Smoking is just . . . easy.
The drawback of our precious flower is the process through which it is activated or burned: Combustion.
The combustion process produces harmful consequences for our health, making it something we should try to avoid.
The Rise of Vaping Cannabis
Vaping has come about primarily due to the legalization of recreational cannabis. Once people were free to consume cannabis without fear of legal repercussions, they began looking for new and innovative ways to do so.
Vaping is a process in which the cannabinoids are heated to a temperature below combustion, releasing their active ingredients in the form of vapor. This vapor is then inhaled, delivering the THC directly to the lungs where it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Vaping has exploded in popularity because it is believed to be healthier than smoking, and it is more convenient and less conspicuous.
The Difference Between Vaping and Smoking Cannabis
Vaping, however, produces a less profound experience than smoking flower for many individuals. We’ve all heard people say, “I don’t feel as high when I use a vape pen,” or “vaping marijuana doesn’t provide me with the same medical benefits as smoking marijuana.”
People are correct to feel this way – they aren’t crazy. The effects of a vape high are contingent on the chemical composition of what is being vaporized. The chemical properties in cannabis concentrates are often very different from those found in the plant itself. Not surprisingly, consumers feel Key Lime Mintz differently when they smoke it rather than vape it – the chemical composition is usually quite different.
There’s More to it Than a Little THC
Other cannabis chemicals, like CBD, began entering the public eye in 2014 when recreational markets opened in Washington and Colorado. However, THC still makes the headlines, and the push to produce higher THC levels continues to persist in every recreational market in the United States.
Users are starting to understand, however, that higher-THC flower does not always result in a better high. The concept of the “Entourage Effect” has recently entered the general public consciousness. This term describes the phenomenon in which the various chemicals found in cannabis work together to produce a more profound effect than any one of them could on their own.
In other words, the chemical make-up of a bud of cannabis flower contains “entourage” chemicals, such as flavonoids, terpenes, and many additional cannabinoids such as CBD. All of these working together with THC is what produces the flower high that we all know and love.
The Last Toke: Are there Vapes that Deliver a Flower-like High?
The good news is that, yes, there are! The bad news is that there is no simple method to identify such products at the moment. Always be aware of your processor and how they go about extracting their product. You want to look for cannabis oil that contains a variety of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
Tips for buying full-spectrum cannabis products:
- If a strain contains 0% CBD, its profile is quite limited. Look for strains with at least some percentage of CBD.
- Look for “native terpenes,” “cannabis terpenes,” or “processed with bud” on the label.
- Look for a terpene content of 5-20 percent.
- CBG, CBC, CBN, and THCV are relatively rare cannabinoids. If a product contains these, it’s probably good.
- Look at the color. If it’s clear, it means that it is not close to a plant-like product. Any full-spectrum cannabis concentrate will be closer to amber or golden-colored.
- The average cannabinoid concentration should be between 50 and 70 percent. If it’s 75 percent or higher, you’re probably dealing with a distillate. A distillate is anything that has been highly purified to the point that it no longer resembles cannabis flower.
At Frost Exotic Cannabis Denver Dispensary, we carry many vape cartridges and vape products that we believe deliver a flower-like high. Come in and ask our knowledgeable staff for more information on these products! We would be happy to help you find the perfect one for you.
