Many patients prefer to smoke cannabis flowers. It’s cheaper, easy, and requires few to no additional devices. However, all smoke is unhealthy for your lungs. Even short-term exposure to smokey air from forest fires can cause damage. The healthy solution is to vape flower instead of smoking it.
Vaping Flower is Better for Your Lungs
When considering vaping vs. smoking, you should know the statement, “smoking marijuana is safer than tobacco” is misleading. Research shows it’s not as dangerous as tobacco products because it doesn’t have the same chemicals. But smoke isn’t good for your lungs.
The studies are also for casual cannabis users. Medical patients smoke multiple times per day.
Dr. Mark Pletcher, an associate professor in the Division of Clinical Epidemiology at UCSF and the lead author of the study, explains:
“On the other hand, our findings do suggest an accelerated decline in pulmonary function with heavier use – either very frequent use or frequent use over many years – and a resulting need for caution and moderation when marijuana use is considered.”
Vape Flower for Greater Discretion
When you vape flower, it does emit a smell. But the odor isn’t as pungent or thick as it is when you smoke it. Although it’s perfectly legal for you to use marijuana for your condition, you may not want everyone to know. This advantage allows you to inhale your medicine without attracting too much undue attention. If smoking cannabis makes you nervous because of the stigma, vaping can improve your health and reduce anxiety.
Vaping vs. Smoking Cannabis Flower: What’s the Difference?
There are a few differences between vaping and smoking buds. While the vital answer is there is no smoke involved, there’s more. Vape pens have temperature control that can prevent you from losing terpenes and cannabinoids by overheating the flowers.
The 545 compounds burn at slightly different temperatures. To get the best balance of THC and terpenes, keep the temp between 250℉ and 350℉. To reach the full-spectrum cannabis compounds, you need the temp to hit 428℉. Following these temperatures also reduces cannabis waste. Too much heat to your flowers burns up the beneficial phytochemicals.
Vaping doesn’t change how you experience the flowers or how long it lasts. The cultivar still determines that.
Save Money With a Multiuse Vape Tool
Some patients are concerned with the price of a vape device. Additionally, if they already use vape oils and dabs for pain relief, they might not want the extra expense for a dry herb pen. Another option is a vape device with different attachments for flowers, dabs, and oils. For the best results, choose a pen that has a temperature option. Although these are an extra cost, it’s worth the savings in the long-term.
The bottom line is it’s healthier to vape flower. For some consumers with advanced conditions, vaping vs. smoking is a no-brainer. Their health requires the safer option. If you have a choice, consider giving your lungs a break and vape flower instead of smoking it.
