Many marijuana advocacy sites claim that no one has died from lung cancer by smoking cannabis. Still, it’s common knowledge that inhaling any sort of smoke isn’t the healthiest decision. Fortunately, just like e-cigarettes, technology has provided cannabis connoisseurs the option of vaping, or consuming marijuana through a vaporizer.
But health aside, is there a difference between smoking the traditional method and vaping?
Smoking through a joint, pipe, or bong involves the combustion of marijuana. Despite not containing the noxious chemicals found in a cigarette, the chemical reaction produces tar and carcinogens, which you’ll inhale along with various cannabinoids. These can irritate your lungs and lead to chronic bronchitis. Vaping helps you avoid these problems by heating your cannabis at much lower temperatures. It removes up to 95 percent of the smoke found in combustion, and instead produces a vapor that contains all the beneficial cannabinoids you want to be inhaling. And the vapor itself will feel less harsh than smoke on your lungs, making the immediate experience all the more pleasant.
In addition to avoiding ingesting toxic byproducts, vaping weed also offers a different quality of “smoke.” Many say you can taste the terpene notes more significantly in vapor in comparison to smoke. Additionally, vape doesn’t pack the immediate “high” punch that you’ll get from a bong rip or a joint.
But vapes typically go through weed much more slowly than bongs or joints, and just like low ABV alcohol, you can continue to take hits off a vape and get to your comfortable point of highness.
All things considered, there’s also the simple, obvious reason many choose to vape: it’s discreet. The dank, “weed-y” smell that occurs when smoking cannabis is significantly minimized, and the iconic grey cloud of smoke exhaled is practically non-existent.
