Vaporizers 101
Cannabis accessories come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and each one is designed for a specific method of consumption. A vaporizer (sometimes referred to as a “vape”) is used to heat cannabis to create a vapour, which may have fewer carcinogens and may be less harmful to the respiratory system than smoke.
Vaporizers use one of two ways to heat cannabis and produce vapour: conductive or convective heating. Conductive heating involves directly heating the cannabis flower on an electronically heated plate or screen, while convective heating warms up the air around the cannabis, rather than the cannabis itself.
Cannabinoids, the active compounds in cannabis, and terpenes, the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its unique smell and flavour, start to turn to vapour around 120°C and combust at 230°C, so vaporizers are designed to work within this temperature range.
Vaporizers are available in various formats. Tabletop vaporizers are a high-tech option for home use, as they plug into a power source and are not easily portable. Tabletop vaporizers allow consumers to create custom temperature settings that are designed to control the release of specific cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). They often come with a remote control.
Handheld vaporizers are smaller and more portable, as they are battery-operated or rechargeable. Some handheld vaporizers come with temperature control functionality, while others do not. Handheld vaporizers are available as palm-sized devices or in a pen style format.
As with any cannabis consumption, it is important to start low and go slow.
If you’re interested in purchasing a vaporizer, speak to an in-store cannabis consultant or contact our Customer Care Centre to find out which might best suit your needs, or visit our product page to browse our selection. If you have questions about the effects of cannabis consumption, contact your health care provider.
