For thousands of years, consumers have mainly consumed herbs in one of two ways: inhalation by burning the plant or some form of ingestion. These forms are popular for a reason and have stood the test of time. Each method has its pros; combustion is reliable and quick, and ingestion is potent and harmless to your respiratory system. And they have their cons; combustion is harsh on the lungs, and ingestion has an inconsistent onset timing. With that being said, what else are you consuming when you burn or ingest your herbs? As herbs are becoming more and more socially acceptable, it is time to start giving more thought to your method of consumption. As a mindful consumer of the herb, I would like to inform you about why I choose vaporizing herbs instead of burning them, and you should too.
First and foremost, the biggest reason I cook my herb is for its flavor. Every time I pack a freshly ground bowl, I love to take in the aroma of the flower to see if I can tell what it’s going to taste like. Sometimes they will smell like a pine tree with a hint of lavender, and other times it’ll smell like citrus with a hint of dirt. The first few hits from a vaporizer are the most accurate expression of the plant you can find, aside from smelling the raw flower.
Secondly, the onset of vaporization is almost immediate. Edibles can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours or more. The type of edible, whether it’s a gummy, confection, powder, or liquid, can all make a difference in onset time. The same can be said for what’s in your stomach and your endocannabinoid system. There may even be times you don’t feel much from the edible because of what you had to eat recently. In an instance where you need immediate relief, 15 minutes can feel like an eternity, and that’s a best-case scenario. Inhalation of raw herbs has very little onset time variation compared to edibles, as it happens almost immediately and consistently.
The most exciting reason to vaporize the herb is temperature control. Terpenes and cannabinoids have boiling points; each compound releases vapor at a specific temperature.
Therefore, you have the capability of catering your session to your specific needs or liking, within reason. For instance, if I wanted to utilize the terpene pinene in my Plum Propane cultivar, I would simply set my vaporizer at or slightly above 311 degrees Fahrenheit. This will give me the highest likelihood of getting the memory retention and alertness Pinene is known for. It is not an exact science yet. As we learn more and more about cannabinoids, our endocannabinoid system, and terpenes, maybe we will make it exact.
Last but not least, another excellent reason to vaporize your raw flower is that it’s efficient. After you have cooked your herb, you have the opportunity to reclaim the AVB (already vaped bud) and use it again for an additional high. Not to mention the minuscule amount of bud you cook in the vaporizer; my vaporizer only uses .3 grams and gets the job done. The buzz you feel off AVB can range from a slight body high to I need to lay down for a while and sort things out high. I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum, and I advise you to ease into it. AVB is the same as cooking your herb to make into an edible, but will most likely have less potency. This is because you’ve inhaled the majority of cannabinoids and terpenes already. The majority of the time I will save my AVB in a sealed container until I get enough to make it into an edible. I’ve made a batch of butter as well as a tincture. When I don’t have a container to store the AVB I will sometimes put the cooked bowl on a corner of a sandwich or something and eat it directly. It doesn’t taste great by itself, but I’ve also eaten it directly before and just washed it down with a swig of water.
All of the aforementioned information and suggestions are to be taken with a grain of salt. My passion for vaporizing raw cannabis comes from my interests in health, chemistry, mindfulness, and the potential cannabis provides us. For now, you will have to research on your own. I will cover the specifics of each reason in future posts. As of right now, numerous sources can provide data and information on things like the boiling points of cannabinoids and terpenes. The Leafly terpene wheel diagram is a resource I use to find the effects and boiling points. A good rule of thumb is the lower the temperature, the lower the intensity. I appreciate you taking the time to read my post and hope you’ll read many more to come.
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This blog is for informational purposes only and does not represent the views of Rite Innovations. The insights shared are anecdotal and not universally applicable. The FDA has not evaluated the statements about herbal products, and we recommend consulting with a physician before consuming them. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases. Support for claims made on this website is available upon request. This article is not intended as legal advice.
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