→ Curious about vaping? Want to learn how to vape weed for medicinal purposes? This article explains how to inhale a vape, how to use a vape pen, how to charge a vape pen and more.
What is Vaping?
Vaping is the act of inhaling cannabis smoke-like vapor from a vape pen, vape pod, or another device that vaporizes cannabis. When we consider how to vape weed, most portable vaping devices use a battery to heat coils that vaporize the product for consumption by inhalation.
How to Inhale a Vape Pen
Whether you’re new to vaping or a seasoned veteran, the way you inhale can make your experience great or lead to coughing and an unpleasant experience. There are essentially two types of inhalation techniques: mouth-to-lung and a direct draw.
Mouth-to-Lung Vaping – These hits will normally work best in smaller vapes with high resistance coils. This type of draw makes low vapor and feels like the act of smoking, providing a similar type of hit to the throat that smokers may crave.
The Mouth-to-Lung Vaping Technique:
- • Slowly draw vapor into your mouth for a few seconds
- • Hold the vapor in your closed mouth for a second or two
- • Open your mouth and breathe in the vapor to your lungs (not a “swallow”)
Direct Vaping – The “direct lung” vaping hit is mostly ideal for larger vapes with low resistance coils. This type of draw makes the most vapor and feels like taking a “bong hit,” though it’s considered smooth and easy.
The Direct Vaping Technique:
- • Quickly draw vapor directly to the lungs
- • Exhale vapor almost immediately
Is Vaping Safe?
There’s been great debate regarding whether cannabis vaping is safe, and the pros and cons of vaping vs. other forms of cannabis consumption. While the long-term effects of vaping are still unknown, vaping is generally considered safe.
One reason vaping weed may be safer than other forms of consumption is that cannabis cartridges and pods are lab-tested for harmful additives. Quality control testing includes screening for pesticides, herbicides, contaminates, and the purity and levels of THC, whereas dried cannabis flower from unreliable sources may not be tested for contaminants and THC levels may vary greatly.
How to Use a Vape Pen
Weed vaporizers come in various forms, but they all have a common purpose: to transform dry cannabis flower, wax, or THC extract into relaxing clouds of vapor. Vaping weed can feel less harsh on your throat than smoking and produces less odor because it’s vapor and not smoke. Use your vape like a pro and make it last for a long time!
Safety First – A great cannabis vaping experience begins with selecting the right product. Start by purchasing a pod or cartridge from a reliable brand that uses lab-certified cannabis. With lab certification, you can be assured of the quality, purity, and potency of cannabis.
Your Weed Vape Session – Make sure your vaping device is fully charged with all pieces installed correctly and fit together tightly. This may seem obvious, but make sure your vape is on and give it enough time to heat up your cannabis vape oil. If your vape device has adjustable heat settings, start with what’s recommended for your product, typically low to medium heat.
Once the weed vaporizer is heated up, you may begin to inhale the vapor. On some models, it is important that you do not cover the holes, as those help with airflow and affect both the draw, viscosity, and flavor of your vape. If you have a refillable vape pen, it is important that you cover the holes while you refilling your vape device. Lastly, make sure your turn off your vape device when you finish vaping. This will help preserve the product as well as the battery.
Maintenance – Proper maintenance of your vape will ensure that it continues to provide you with a great vaping experience for a long time to come. Be sure to charge your vape device regularly. Unless you are using a disposable vape pen or pod, routinely cleaning your vape device will help keep it functioning properly and tasting good. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning and maintenance to prevent damage to the unit.
How to Charge a Vape Pen
Charging cables vary greatly, make sure your cables and connections work properly and that you always use the charger and cable that came packaged with your vape pen. Different products charge at different voltages and could damage your product if you don’t use the connections that came with your vape.
First, plug the AC adapter into a nearby electrical outlet. Then, insert the large end of the USB cable into the adapter and connect the smaller end to the corresponding port in your pen. Depending on the model you’re using, you may need to unscrew the battery from the cartridge in order to access the charging port.
Charging times for different batteries can vary from 1 hour up to 4 hours. You’ll know your battery is fully charged when the indicator light turns green or begins blinking steadily. In some models, the charging light may shut off altogether when it’s fully charged.
Warnings
For accidental ingestion call 1-800-222-1222. Keep cannabis products out of reach of children. Women should not use marijuana or medical marijuana products during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects or while breastfeeding.
Resources
• Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority
• Oklahoma Rules & Regulations
by RedBud Extracts