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The way cannabis is consumed directly influences the experience and the body’s exposure to certain substances. Vaping and smoking are not the same, although both methods allow for the inhalation of cannabinoids and provide effects within minutes.
The main difference lies in combustion. When smoking cannabis, the plant material is burned and generates smoke, whereas a vaporizer heats the flower or extract until its compounds are released without, under normal conditions of use, actually burning it.
For this reason, vaporizing cannabis can reduce exposure to many products derived from combustion, although this does not mean that vaping is completely harmless.
Differences between vaping and smoking
Combustion
The main difference between smoking and vaping is precisely the presence or absence of combustion.
When we smoke cannabis, high temperatures burn the plant material and generate smoke. This contains irritating and toxic compounds, as well as substances that also appear in other types of plant smoke.
Regular consumption of smoked cannabis has been linked to respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, mucus buildup, and episodes of bronchitis.
When vaporizing, on the other hand, the device heats the material without producing complete combustion. This can reduce the formation of products such as carbon monoxide, tar, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, in addition to making more efficient use of certain cannabinoids.
One of the classic studies conducted with a Volcano vaporizer found that approximately 95% of the components detected in the analyzed vapor corresponded to THC and small amounts of other cannabinoids, while the remaining 5% or so were other compounds. In the smoke produced by combustion, a much wider variety of non-cannabinoid substances was detected.
Taste and smell
Another of the most noticeable differences between vaping and smoking is in the taste and aroma.
During combustion, a multitude of compounds are generated from burning plant matter. These can modify or mask part of the original aromatic profile.
When vaporizing, especially at moderate temperatures, it is possible to perceive certain terpenes and aromas present in the flowers more clearly.
That is why many users describe vapor as cleaner from a sensory point of view, whereas in smoked cannabis, the characteristic taste of burnt plant matter inevitably appears.
Controlling the effects of cannabis
The vaporizer allows you to control the temperature of the marijuana flowers or extracts, which is ideal for managing their effects. If the temperature is low, the effect of the cannabis will be more mental, while as you increase it gradually, the experience will become more relaxing and physical.
Not only can you control how the herb will make you feel, but you can also control the taste it will have. Science has studied the exact temperature at which most cannabis terpenes appear, their peak point, and the degrees at which they are destroyed.
We must also keep in mind that the final effect will not depend solely on the temperature. Furthermore, the final effect also depends on:
- The genetics used.
- The amount consumed.
- The THC content and other cannabinoids.
- The terpene profile.
- The person’s tolerance.
- The efficiency of the vaporizer itself.
Therefore, temperature allows you to modify the experience, but it cannot determine by itself exactly what effect a variety will produce.
Consequently, experience will show us which effects and which flavors we feel like having at any given moment, allowing us to act accordingly by regulating the cannabis vaporizer temperature.
Dosage
Dry herb vaporizers or concentrate devices also allow you to dose the marijuana or concentrate that is going to be consumed. The tank size is specific, so we know at all times how much cannabis we are going to vaporize before refilling it.
This does not happen with smoked marijuana, as the amount is usually estimated by eye and consumption is not calculated precisely.
It should be noted that there are currently new models of vaporizers, such as cartridges or vape pens, that function differently. These do not have a tank where the amount can be controlled; instead, they come pre-filled, so they do not always allow you to know exactly the amount inhaled with each puff.
Therefore, not all vaporizers have a “tank” or allow you to measure the dose in the same way.
Potency of effects
For a long time, there has been a debate about whether vaping or smoking produces more intense effects.
In controlled studies, it has been observed that, at the same dose, vaporized cannabis can produce higher blood THC concentrations, more intense subjective effects, and greater cognitive and psychomotor impairment than the same dose smoked, especially in infrequent users.
This is likely because the vaporizer can more efficiently utilize part of the THC that, when smoking, is lost through combustion or smoke that disperses.
However, this does not mean that vaporizing always produces stronger effects.
The intensity of vaping or smoking will depend on factors such as:
- The amount of THC.
- The device used.
- The temperature.
- The genetics.
- The consumer’s experience.
- Their tolerance level.
It should also be noted that for any person, anything they are not accustomed to will feel more potent. Therefore, if you usually vape, perhaps trying smoking will feel more intense, and vice versa.
The important thing is to keep in mind that a vaporized dose can be more intense than expected, especially in people with low tolerance.
Health benefits
After everything discussed above, the conclusion is clear: smoking is more harmful to health than vaping. The absence of combustion eliminates the toxins and carcinogenic properties of smoke, so when vaping, we are mostly introducing cannabinoids and terpenes into our body.
Vaporization avoids a good portion of those combustion products, so it may be less harmful to the lungs than smoking cannabis.
But this does not mean that vaporizing is free of risks.
The aerosols generated by certain devices can contain potentially harmful substances, and, especially in cartridges or liquids, there may be problems derived from contaminants, additives, or metals from the device’s components.
Therefore, a more accurate way to summarize it would be:
smoking cannabis generates combustion products that vaporization can avoid or reduce, but vaping is not completely harmless either.
What happened during the 2019 vaping crisis?
In fact, the first major vaping crisis emerged in the United States in 2019. A significant outbreak of lung injuries related to vaping products, known as EVALI, was recorded.
By February 2020, there had been 2,807 hospitalized cases or deaths associated with the outbreak and 68 confirmed deaths.
Investigations found a particularly strong link to vitamin E acetate, used as an additive in many THC cartridges from informal markets.
This epidemic (as doctors called it) led to an exhaustive investigation of this consumption method, eliminating the substance that caused the medical problems and making it safer for consumers.
The episode demonstrated that it is not enough to talk about “vaping” in general: the composition of the inhaled product matters enormously.
Furthermore, although vitamin E acetate played a fundamental role in the outbreak, that does not mean that all vaping products have become completely safe since then.
Vaping or smoking: which option to choose?
If we compare exclusively the inhalation of smoked cannabis flower versus vaporized flower, avoiding combustion allows for reduced exposure to numerous compounds present in smoke.
However, vaporization still has risks, and studies on its potential long-term effects are still lacking.
It must also be valued that vaping can administer THC very efficiently, so controlling the amount used is especially important.
In short, if a person already consumes cannabis by inhalation and wants to reduce exposure to products derived from combustion, a quality dry herb vaporizer can represent a less harmful alternative for the lungs than smoking cannabis, although it is not a practice without risk.
The best vaporizers
Currently, the market is full of vapes for different types of concentrates. There are currently vapes for:
- Dry flowers.
- Concentrates.
- Extracts.
- Cartridges.
Therefore, before choosing one, it is advisable to check what material it is designed for, how it regulates temperature, what battery life it offers, and what heating system it uses.
Although a good device usually requires a higher initial investment, choosing a quality vaporizer can offer better temperature control, more reliable construction, and a more consistent experience.
At GB The Green Brand, you can find different models and accessories to choose the one that best adapts to the type of use you are looking for.
PAX Flow Vaporizer
The PAX Flow is one of the most advanced models in the PAX range and is designed specifically for dry herb. Its main innovation is the hybrid heating system, which combines conduction and convection to achieve a more uniform extraction and make better use of both cannabinoids and terpenes.
Its main features include:
- Hybrid heating system via conduction and convection.
- Exclusive use with dry flower.
- Expanded air path.
- 5 temperature modes.
- Real-time temperature control.
- Detachable side oven.
- Fast charging via USB-C.
- Charging time of approximately 40 minutes.
- Portable and easy-to-clean design.
For this article, it fits better than the PAX Plus because it represents a more recent generation of the brand and is clearly oriented toward improving taste, airflow, and vaporization efficiency.
PAX Plus Vaporizer
The PAX Plus is one of the current models in the PAX range and replaces the old PAX 3.
It is a compact portable vaporizer designed to offer simple handling and different operating modes.
Its main features include:
- Compact design.
- Different experience modes.
- Conduction oven.
- Compatibility with dry flower and, through the corresponding accessory, certain concentrates.
- Rechargeable battery.
- Vibration system.
- Design intended to facilitate cleaning.
Pax Plus Vaporizer
Volcano Hybrid Vaporizer
The Volcano Hybrid vaporizer is the evolution of the acclaimed Volcano and continues to be one of the most recognizable desktop vaporizers. This new version includes a tube through which you can vaporize, in addition to the classic balloon, and a mobile app to control the product’s parameters.
It allows for the vaporization of all types of flowers, extracts, and concentrates, making it ideal for people who want to consume cannabis medicinally, without combustion.
Data:
- Size: 20 x 20 x 18 cm
- Weight: 1.8 kg
- Vaporization system: Convection
- Inhalation system: Tube or balloon
- Temperature range: 40–230 °C.
- Compatible with the Storz & Bickel Web App.
- Fast heating system.
Mighty+ Storz & Bickel Vaporizer
The Mighty+ by Storz & Bickel is a portable vaporizer designed for those who seek performance close to that of a desktop model without sacrificing mobility.
It uses an efficient heating system and allows you to regulate the temperature directly from the device between 40 and 210 °C, offering precise control during each session.
Its main features include:
- Use with dry herbs.
- Adjustable temperature between 40 and 210 °C.
- Approximate heating time of 60–70 seconds.
- 3300 mAh battery.
- Charging via USB-C.
- Fast charging compatible with USB-C Power Delivery.
- Approximate weight of 242 g.
- Approximate dimensions of 14 × 8 × 3 cm.
- Integrated cooling system to cool the vapor before inhalation.
