While pen-style disposable vaporizers and a vast selection of cartridges are a common sight on dispensary menus, there’s a similar—but distinct—way to consume cannabis that you may not have tried or even heard of. Gaining in popularity as technology advances the cannabis space, dry herb vaping has quickly become the go-to vaping method for many modern consumers.
If you’re curious about this unique way to enjoy the plant’s many benefits, we break it all down for you. Learn how dry herb vaporizers work, what makes them different from concentrate vaporizers, how to use already vaped buds, and much more. By the end, you’ll be ready to shop premium strains from Green Goods and load them directly to your device.
What Is Dry Herb Vaping?
If you’ve visited a cannabis dispensary before, you’re probably familiar with the handheld pen-style vaporizers that regularly line the shelves. These sleek devices emit a cannabinoid-rich mist (vapor) as opposed to the harsh smoke that’s made by burning and consuming cannabis outright. A dry herb vaporizer isn’t hugely different, though there’s one major distinction: Instead of using a cannabis concentrate or distillate to vaporize, they work with finely ground cannabis flower.
Why vape flower rather than smoke it? All vaporizers—whether they use concentrate or flower—are generally considered to be easier on our lungs and airways since vaporizers don’t actually burn cannabis. Regardless of the substance, burning produces harmful smoke, which contains more toxins and can even run the risk of accidentally inhaling burnt flower particles, especially when using a pre-roll or pipe. Instead, many vaporizers allow you to heat buds to just the right temperature in which the volatile compounds, such as THC and CBD, are released as mist that can be inhaled in a manner that’s more gentle on your body and the environment.
Vaping Concentrates vs Flower
Is there a difference between vaping concentrates and vaping flower? Though either method allows you to access THC’s potential anti-inflammatory properties or CBD’s potential stress-relieving effects, many consumers who desire the purest of cannabis experiences insist that working with a dry flower vape is the most direct way to access the benefits of cannabis, including its many terpenes—the aromatic compounds that give each strain its characteristic aromatic profile—and other unique cannabinoids. It’s also considered the most appealing on a sensory level since vaping flower can unlock a fresher and earthier taste.
While concentrates have a lot going for them, such as astonishing potency, a long shelf life, and—in the case of “live” products—some truly unbelievable flavors and aromas, they are, by nature, a processed product.
By comparison, flower is just that—flower. Harvested at its peak ripeness and then dry-cured for optimum flavor and potency, many connoisseurs believe that if you want to experience the truest expression of cannabis—without the distraction of smoke or other bells and whistles—it should be vaped.
What Is a Dry Herb Vaporizer?
A dry herb vaporizer is a device that heats ground flower to the precise point at which the volatile compounds are released as a mist. Most devices require you to load up a chamber with roughly ground bud to be consumed over one or a few sessions. While both vaping and combustion—meaning the burning of flower—are relatively efficient ways to access cannabinoids and terpenes, some major differences stand out.
When we burn flower—or any other plant material—it not only releases its active compounds, but also produces a high proportion of by-products. These include carbon dioxide, ammonia, and nitrosamines, organic compounds linked to cancer. Though smoking cannabis is generally considered to be less harmful than smoking tobacco, the fact remains that smoking anything—even cannabis—carries certain health risks.
By comparison, many people find that vaping is a safer bet overall since you’re not actually inhaling any combusted or burnt plant matter. Additionally, for those attuned to the sensory pleasure of inhaling cannabis flower, vaping can showcase those delicate flavors and aromas more purely and in a way that is still close to the plant’s natural form after harvest.
How Does a Dry Herb Vaporizer Work?
Regardless of the style, all vaporizers, including dry herb vaporizers, utilize a battery-powered heating coil that rises to a specific temperature, either preset by the manufacturer or controllable on the unit itself. Cannabinoids and terpenes volatilize at different temperatures, so by fine-tuning the temperature control, you can also “fine-tune” the vaping experience to highlight or accentuate specific flavors or effects.
After loading them up, some devices require you to power them on and send haptic feedback when they reach a low, medium, or high temperature. If you want a more flavorful experience, it’s recommended that you heat your device to “low” since terpenes shine at lower temperatures. If you’re looking for a more potent experience, it’s recommended that you heat your device to “medium” or “high.”
While some dry herb vaporizers are designed to work solely with ground cannabis, others can accept either flower or concentrates in their heating chambers. Since some cannabis concentrates are liquid or semi-liquid, they can clog dry herb vaporizers if used without the proper accessories to protect them—these often take the form of semi-porous pads that fit into the chamber to protect the delicate heating coil.
Whichever device you use, make sure it accepts the type of cannabis concentrate you’d like to use it with, and always use ground flower. Why? The greater surface area means you’ll get far better results in terms of potency and flavor.
Convection vs Conduction
If you’re familiar with the workings of a standard oven, you already understand the principle of convection heating. With this method, a heating unit raises the temperature of the surrounding air, which is then drawn through the dried flower in the heating chamber. Though less efficient than conduction, it can generate a more useable amount of cannabinoids and terpenes per hit, resulting in a more intense experience.
By comparison, conduction devices heat the chamber directly, which then volatilizes the ground flower through direct contact. With these devices, the strategy is typically to take smaller, more measured hits, similar to sipping from a cup of hot tea rather than gulping it down.
Can dry herb vaporizers emit that telltale “weed smell?” Whether they use convection or conduction in their design, the answer is yes. So, plan accordingly, especially if you’ll be out in public spaces or near those who might not enjoy the smell of fresh cannabis.
Already Vaped Bud: What Is It and How to Use It
Already vaped bud (aka AVB) is the used-up flower from a dry herb vaporizer, and even though it’s been vaped through, it still has its uses. Since the vaped bud has already been decarboxylated—or “activated” through heat—but not burnt, it can be used to make potent cannabutter or oil for homemade edibles and topicals.
While it won’t be as potent as fresh flower, you should still be able to extract a healthy amount of THC and other cannabinoids from already vaped bud, so don’t clear your chamber right into the garbage when you’re done. Instead, save it for when you’re ready to use it again.
Load Up Your Dry Herb Vape With Premium Flower
As one of Maryland and Minnesota’s go-to dispensaries, we’re all about introducing our customers to new and exciting ways to enjoy cannabis, and dry herb vaporizing is at the top of the list. A uniquely pleasurable way to enjoy cannabis, these devices should be loaded with only the best flower, and we stock the freshest locally grown cannabis products we can find—in every possible strain, style, and potency.
Shop at any of our locations in Minnesota and Maryland, say hello to our friendly and knowledgeable staff, or order online for extra convenience. At Green Goods, you can explore a wide range of the state’s best products and brands.
Have more questions about dry herb vaping or any other cannabis-related topics? Check out our blog and discover something new, or drop us a line—we’re always here to help!
