Vaping: Is It Safe for You?
Ever since the legalization movement began, marijuana consumers have been clamoring for other means to consume cannabis; rather than smoking. One popular option that has emerged recently is vaping cannabis. Vaporizing is an alternative to smoking that requires the user to inhale vapor through an electronic apparatus. Preliminary data suggests that it is less harmful to the physical health of consumers than smoking. Vaping does not involve lighting marijuana on fire and breathing in carcinogens.
The legal marijuana market, in North America alone, is expected to produce an astounding $70 billion annually by 2021. A significant portion of this revenue will be generated through the purchase of alternate devices such as vaporizers.
The Vape.Guide
If you are interested in more information about vaping or want to review a variety of products currently in the marketplace, there is no better source than The Vape.Guide. TheVape.Guide can not only provide you with all the answers to your questions about vaping, but they can also provide you with a review of those products based on a rating scale designed to discern users overall opinions about each product. Their goal is simple; to provide readers with the best vaporizer reviews possible.
According to a spokesperson for the blog, the mission is to serve as a one stop shop for reviews and information about vaping. Although TheVape.Guide does not sell any products; consumers will be able to make more informed decisions about vaping based on the in-depth reviews provided by the organization.
“Vaping is definitely the direction things are moving,” according to a rep for The Vape Guide. “Many are starting to realize that smoking is not an ideal habit.”
Those reviews are divided into a number of categories such as dry herb vaporizers, concentrate vaporizers, e-liquids, and e-cigarettes, for example.
Here is how products are rated:
- Brand and manufacturer: information about the brand and its manufacturing specificities.
- Packaging and accessories: quality and type of included accessories.
- Portability: size and shape of the vaporizer and how it fits into the hand.
- Design: the overall aesthetic aspect of the vaporizer.
- Feature list: attributes, characteristics, features, etc. that make the vaporizer stand out from the crowd.
- Oven type and capacity: the amount of herb the oven holds + build material.
- Interface simplicity: ease of use and simplicity or complexity of the vaporizer.
- Vapor quality and draw resistance: refers to the purity and flavor of the vapor produced by the unit.
- Warranty information: length of the manufacturer’s warranty.
The competition in the vaporizer market has become intense as the variety of devices continues to grow. Today, there are vaporizers that cater to the user’s specific needs. For example, there are vaporizers for those who want to vape on the go, styles for the novice, and models for the more technically inclined consumer. There’s a vaporizer for those who prefer to use concentrates, or for those who are looking for a more economical deal, and for those who’d rather simply vape at home.
“There are new models coming out virtually every day. TheVape.Guide has reviewed hundreds of them; may thousands,” Timko said. “TheVape Guide has been involved in the industry since its very early days. We have collectively tested and used vaporizers of all types, shapes, and sizes.”
Models range from the very inexpensive bodega models that contain glass, plastic or metal cartridges that use hash oil; to the more expensive styles that be activated through an app on your smartphone. New models are constantly designed; partly to meet high demand and partly to offer more stylistic choice.
There are no new skills required. Taking a hit from a vape pen is no different from taking a hit from a joint, blunt, bong or pipe.
Many users indicate that they choose to vape because it is a more hip and cool way to consume weed. They also say that vaping is cleaner, healthier, tastes better, is far simpler to use and never requires a lighter or matches.
Is Vaping Safer?
There are many ways to vape. Most of the available products in the marketplace use regular cannabis that is heated to a level that allows for the release of the active ingredient in weed; either THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) or CBD (Cannabidiol). The big distinction is whether you want to vape with flower or concentrate- this is helpful in preventing combustion. Others utilize various concentrates like hash oil.
Some would tell you that vaping cannabis you have used before is a great deal safer than vaping an unfamiliar oil. For instance, in a collaborative study between The Guardian and an Australian media firm in 2011, it was found that among the 37,000 participants in the group, when asked to rate the safest methods of getting high, vaping came in at the top of the list.
A decade ago, marijuana research was being hamstrung largely due to the fact that cannabis was still illegal in most countries around the globe. Now, as acceptance of the substance grows, especially around the U.S., more scientific research is being conducted. If the larger question is whether vaping is safer than smoking, assumptions tend towards yes. The new studies will serve to quantify that assessment.
The few small studies that have been completed, however, tend to suggest that vaporizers are safer than pipes, joints, and bongs. Further, they indicate that there was a significant reduction in respiratory issues among the participants in those studies; even though the sample size was relatively small.
Oddly, even among medical cannabis users, there is a lack of data.
Is Vaping Healthier?
A majority of medical marijuana users have compromised respiratory systems, and their lungs may become extremely irritated by smoke. Many of them have found relief in the vaporizer – but the data is not empirical.
However, since the process of vaping does not involve combustion, it is therefore considered by many to be a healthier alternative to traditional smoking. Even the large tobacco companies have adapted and launched their version.
Vaporizers reportedly produce a different, more clear headed high as a result of the lack of smoke. For instance, in a study of 18 participants, each subject was required to both smoke and vape. The researchers studied the effects at three levels of THC strength. The levels of THC were 1.7, 3.4, and 6.8. This was then measured against the level delta-9 THC (the primary psychoactive ingredient in THC) in the blood of each participant, as well as, expired carbon-monoxide the air. Although the blood levels were not statistically different, it was found that the level of carbon monoxide was significantly and statistically reduced when vaporization was introduced.
On the down side, vaporizers take time to set up, and the cannabis must be finely ground before using. Also, another disadvantage is that vaporizers need time to heat up and there is always the higher costs associated with vaporizers; although it saves money in the long term.
Consumers who are looking for healthier choices when it comes to experiencing and enjoying cannabis might consider vaping. Please remember, however, that you are dealing with chemicals and flammable solvents, in some cases, so amateurs and beginners need to be very careful to take all necessary precautions and do your homework. Check out The Vape.Guide to find your vape today!
Article By: Alfonzo Porter
