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Cannabis legalisation is sweeping the planet. Just in 2020, legislation passed in four more states to allow recreational use of marijuana, and the recent change in the presidency has paved the way for legalisation at a federal level.
As more people than ever are taking an interest in cannabis, the market has blown up, and new consumption methods are emerging all the time. We know that vaporising weed is nothing new, but there are certainly a lot of new vape users.
For those who are new to cannabis, all these new devices and fancy consumption methods can be quite confusing. No longer are cannabis users confined only to joints and bongs. Today, many devices, such as dry herb vaporisers can be bought in physical stores, or online retailers, like MagicVaporizers. The transition to new consumption methods and technological advancements has happened really quickly, so it can be hard to keep up. If you are new to vaping, you may be unsure of the differences between THC concentrate vaporisers and dry herb vaporisers. This guide will tell you all you need to know about both devices.
What is a dry herb vaporiser?
Dry herb vaporisers are a great entry point for those who have never tried vaping cannabis. They heat weed up in its natural, traditional form – cured and dried cannabis flower.
Dry herb vaporisers come in various shapes and sizes, but the essential components are similar in all models. They will have a heating chamber where you put the weed, a mouthpiece from which you inhale, and a battery that powers the device. Some devices are butane powered, some are hand-powered using a butane torch, and larger desktop vaporisers operate using mains power.
Using a dry herb vaporiser is easy and intuitive – simply fill the heating chamber with cannabis, holds the power button until the weed is heated to the correct temperature, and inhale from the mouthpiece.
What is a concentrate vaporiser?
Concentrate vaporisers are similar in design and function to their dry-herb counterparts but with one crucial difference: these devices are purpose-built for vaping cannabis concentrates.
Concentrates are another relatively new addition to the world of cannabis which have entered the market as the industry invests more time and money looking for innovative new ways to get high. They are precisely what the name suggests – concentrated forms of cannabis, extracted from cannabis flower.
There are many different types of concentrate, including Rosin, wax, budder, shatter, and crumble. Of course, various vaporisers are designed for these concentrates, ranging from portable models like vape pens and e-rigs to attachments on desktop devices.
Which one should you use?
Deciding which device you should use comes down to which form of cannabis you want to vape. Dry herb vaporisers are a good choice for beginners, as the unprocessed flower tends to be less potent. Dry herb vaporisers also tend to have larger batteries, meaning you’re less likely to run out of juice when you’re out and about. If you regularly smoke cannabis flower in joints or bongs and look for a cleaner, more convenient way to consume, then dry herb vaporisers could be for you.
Due to the high potency of concentrates, they are more suited to more seasoned cannabis users with higher tolerance levels. Unprocessed cannabis usually tops out around 15% THC, whereas concentrates can be up to 80% THC – or even higher in the case of distillate and isolates. This is a big difference and the main factor when choosing between the two. One downside to concentrate vaporisers is that they can be slightly more intricate due to size and parts, and therefore can be trickier to clean and require a more delicate cleaning process.
Keeping it clean
To increase your device’s life, keep it working efficiently, and ensure that the hit is as smooth and as tasty as possible, it is essential to keep it clean and free from build-ups of oil and resin.
Most devices make cleaning as easy as possible. They will have removable parts that can be individually cleaned. The most essential part to keep clean is the heating chamber. If this becomes dirty, it can affect how well heat is transferred to the cannabis and can even cause some devices to overheat and burn the herb within.
Any parts that can be removed can be left to soak in warm water to make cleaning easier. Alternatively, you can turn the vape on and let it heat slightly, then clean the warmed-up parts with a Q-tip dipped in cleaning alcohol. Hard-to-reach areas can be cleaned with a pipe cleaner.
We hope this guide gives you an understanding of the differences between dry herb and concentrate vaporizers. Good luck finding the perfect device for you!