Vaping has become insanely popular in recent years, especially when it comes to cannabis, but the technology dates to ancient times. Ancient Egyptians used to place herbs, oils, and seeds on hot stones then inhale the vapors that were produced. Thankfully, today we have the technology so that we don’t have to keep hot stones nearby. In fact, today’s vaporizers are creating a new market for the cannabis industry and consumers are buying.
In 2018, a report by BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research estimated that up to 60% of all concentrate sales will be for pre-filled vape pen cartridges. That number is expected to be higher in Colorado, as much as 86%, and as much as 71% in California. More and more, consumers are turning towards cannabis oil cartridges.
Cannabis and Vaping Industry
This explosive growth means one thing: The industry is investing a lot of money into improving their vaporizers. Like with computers, it seems that the vaping industry is evolving its technology every 18 to 24 months, trying to deliver to consumers the tech they want and the performance that they need.
Not only that, but the oil is evolving as well as science catches up with the plant. Producers are working on creating oils with varying levels of both CBD and THC as well as gincorporating flavors into the mix.
While you can utilize a regular vape mod or pen with cannabis oil cartridges, THC and CBD oils have a different viscosity than nicotine and regular vaping oils. Using a nicotine vape pen for a thicker oil can burn out coils quicker as well as gunk up the system. This means that the industry is turning to portable vaporizers especially produced to handle cannabis oils where the more THC, the thicker the oil.
Since vaporizing the dry herb releases those cannabinoids without burning it and producing carcinogens, dry herb vaporizers have also become a popular method of consuming cannabis. Popular and more discreet, since vaporization produces less of that familiar cannabis smell.
Vaping Devices for Cannabis Oil
When it comes to vaporizing cannabis flower or cannabis oil, a consumer has a few choices. Many companies have made devices geared towards either cannabis oil, cannabis concentrates, or dry flower. Some manufacturers, such as Pax, have come out with all-in-one devices that can handle flower, oil, and wax with a simple change of atomizer or cartridge.
Many vape pens come with pre-filled, disposable cartridges. Some do offer refillable cartridges as well. Trying the many different kinds of oils and flavors available can help you to determine the kind that’s right for you as well as determining what type of vaporizer that you’ll need.
Also, remember that vaporizing cannabis flower or oil can provide a vastly different experience than smoking dry flower in the traditional way. For some, it provides a more potent experience using less material. It also takes effect faster. The exact effects will also depend on whether your cannabis strain or oil has more THC vs. more CBD.
If you do decide to go with a traditional mod, make sure that it has temperature control available. THC and CBD is best when vaporized at very specific temperatures. If you also use that mod for vape juice, make sure you have a separate atomizer or tank for your cannabis oil. This will prevent mixing of flavors and chemicals from the different oils.
In the end, vaporizing cannabis is a growing trend among cannabis consumers. Technology is being driven to keep up with consumer demands, so look out in the future for more technology to hit the vaping industry that is specific to cannabis consumers needs.