To Vape or Not to Vape?

Determining Which Method of Extract Consumption is Right for You

 

By: Jamie Solis

For anyone with an established tolerance to flower or a medical need for high potency cannabis compounds, look no further than concentrates. These cannabis extracts are popular for containing extremely high doses of the plant’s valuable cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Oil, shatter, budder, hash, wax—no matter what you call it, these products bear similar qualities, making “concentrate” an all-encompassing term.

Whether someone is curious about the most effective way to consume extracts while battling epilepsy or cancer, or they are just looking to ingest concentrates recreationally, there’s something for everyone. We will weigh the benefits of both vaporizing and orally ingesting cannabis extracts, and we will share which types of concentrates are best for each need.

Vape It

There are countless benefits of vaporizing. First, inhaling the healing vapors of cannabinoids provides fast relief for various ailments. Vaporizers are also chosen by patients, because it is less harsh on the lungs than smoking flower, especially when you choose a clean wax that is free from plant matter and other undesirable materials. Out of the many types of vaporizers currently available, the most prominent on the market are vape pens and dab rigs.

Discretion and Convenience

A vape pen is a small handheld device that vaporizes cannabis for the operator at the push of a button. These pens have become one of the trendiest and most convienent ways to consume concentrates. Not only are they easy to use on the go, but pens are also discreet, allowing you to medicate almost anywhere. Vape pens are such a growing phenomenon that ordinances have passed to ban their use in many cities. However, partake somewhere well-ventilated (typically outside), and you should be able to enjoy your medication without being hassled.

The growing trend of the vape pen is responsible for the virtually unlimited selection of pens available. This means there is a device compatible with almost every type of concentrate, from CO2 oils in its raw form to waxes, shatters and more. There are even some pens available for purchase at local collectives that are pre-filled with rich cannabinoid extracts. What’s more convenient than that?

Dab On

There are several dabbing techniques, but taking a dab usually resembles using a metal wand to drop a portion of concentrate onto a heated nail, where it is then sucked through a glass chamber filled with water and exits into the lungs of the operator. While it does sound like an exciting endeavor, dabs are serious medicine, and aren’t recommended for anyone intimidated by their prompt and intense effects. Dabbers are not afraid to travel far outside of their bodies to reach an effect never previously attained. Instead, that is often the goal with dabbing. The swift and strong onset of a dab is especially useful for patients hoping to alleviate chronic pain or nausea, among many other ailments.

Those with the confidence that it takes to give dabbing a shot will benefit from starting with a concentrate that is easy to manipulate on the wand. For this purpose, waxes, budders and shatters are easiest to maneuver and much more manageable to work with when compared to oils. Also, trendy dabbing techniques like dunking (where you drop a ball of concentrate onto the hot nail—slam dunk!) are near impossible to execute with oil because of its sticky consistency. So, if you plan on showing off, a clean wax will serve you right.

Oral Ingestion for Ailments

Adults and children with a multitude of diseases tend to favor the benefits of consuming cannabis orally. Typically, extracts are swallowed after they are encapsulated into pill forms, or the proper dosage is squeezed out of a syringe or dropper. Consuming hash this way has gained in popularity, especially to patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Bedtime is a popular time to orally ingest concentrates, because it allows a patient to take heavy and accurately consistent dosages, all the while the patient is fast asleep before the effects set in.

This technique is also less harsh on patients’ lungs than the alternatives that involve inhaling vapor. Unlike with edibles, swallowing a concentrate is free from extra calories and high amounts of sugar. This is ideal for patients with diabetes who require the long lasting effects of edibles but can’t handle the other aspects of medible treats. Typically, the encapsulated concentrates highlighted in the news are oils like Rick Simpson Oil, Charlotte’s Web Hemp Oil and others. However, different types of concentrates like waxes and shatters are also taken orally by patients everywhere.

There is a plethora of options when it comes to consuming concentrates. The choice a patient makes really comes down to their personal preference. Needs and wants will differ from person to person, so be sure to make the decision that will improve your overall quality of life.

 

Originally published by Culture Magazine on July 3, 2014: http://ireadculture.com/article-3978-to-vape-or-not-to-vape.html