The Ultimate Guide For Vaping Temperature
One of the first questions that comes to mind when you get your first vape is: “What temperature should I set this thing to?”. Most likely, you’ll do a Google search and will quickly have a bunch of different recommended temperatures. But what’s it all about? Why are there so many temperature recommendations? Why is temperature so important with vaping? How can temperature affect my session? What happens if I set it too high or too low?
What We’ll Cover
In this blog we seek to give you a full rundown of temperature as it relates to vaping. We’ll answer some of the most common questions related to temperature, and by the end you should be confident in setting up your vape for an epic session. We’ll cover:
- Why temperature is important when it comes to vaping.
- How temperature affects your session.
- Cannabinoids and terpenes.
- How to control temperature.
- Ideal ranges.
What We Won’t
We’re dealing with some stuff that can get pretty complicated, thermodynamics and biochemistry aren’t lightweight subjects. We’re going to try and keep things pretty simple here, but there is no shortage of great information out there if you want to dig deeper.
Why Temperature Is Important For Vaping
Vaping vs. Combustion
Your goal with vaping is to raise the temperature of your material to the point of vaporising but NOT combustion. This means you want it hot enough to extract all the good stuff, but not so hot that your plant bursts into flame. Combustion is the mode of extraction used in traditional smoking methods, whereby you burn the plant, direct the smoke into some kind of mouthpiece and down through your airway. Sure, this has worked well enough for hundreds of years, but we know now that smoke inhalation is seriously detrimental to your health. Vaping deals with the problem of smoke inhalation, but it’s important to know how to get the most out of your vape.
Getting It Right
Getting the right temperature is crucial for ensuring you’re getting the most out of your herb or extract, without burning it. Additionally, the heat of your vaporiser will determine the harshness of your hit. A hotter vape means hotter vapour, which can make inhaling unpleasant. Too cool on the other hand and you won’t be able to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes effectively (more on this later), and run the risk of wasting your herb. This is probably the main reason for why temperature is important for vaping; there are a lot of different compounds in your herb. These compounds release at different temperatures, allowing you to control the kind of high that you get.
How Temperature Affects Your Session
Extracting Compounds
Cannabis is a pretty amazing plant. It contains a lot of compounds made up primarily of cannabinoids and terpenes, which have been linked to all kinds of benefits such as:
- Pain relief
- Inducing relaxation
- Euphoria
- Increased appetite
- Anti-nausea effects
- Anti-inflammatory effects
- Antipsychotic effects
- Anti-anxiety effects
- Anti-seizure effects
- Aids in sleep
- Regulates blood sugar levels
The list goes on and on. These effects are linked to the different compounds contained within cannabis. Here are a few of those compounds broken down into their two main categories:
Cannabinoids:
Cannabinoids are a category for the compounds responsible for the psychoactive and non-psychoactive effects of the cannabis plant.
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - The primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that gives users a "high."
- Cannabidiol (CBD) - Is non-psychoactive and has been studied for its potential therapeutic effects, such as reducing anxiety and managing epilepsy.
- Cannabigerol (CBG) - Often referred to as the "parent" cannabinoid because other cannabinoids are derived from its acidic form.
- Cannabinol (CBN) - Mildly psychoactive and usually found more in older or aged cannabis, as it is a degradation product of THC.
- Cannabichromene (CBC) - This is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has been studied for its potential anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties.
Terpenes:
Terpenes are a category for the compounds responsible for the aroma of the cannabis plant. They also have some active properties as well.
- Myrcene - This terpene is often the most abundant in cannabis, especially in indica strains. It has an earthy aroma and is associated with sedative effects.
- Limonene - Has a citrusy aroma and has been associated with mood-enhancing effects.
- Caryophyllene - This spicy-scented terpene is unique because it can also interact with the body's endocannabinoid system. It has potential anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties.
- Pinene - Has a pine-like aroma and is associated with potential anti-inflammatory, pain relief, and asthma-relief effects.
- Linalool - Has a floral aroma and has been associated with potential anti-anxiety and sedative effects.
Remember how we said this stuff can get complicated? Well, there are over 200 terpenes and over 100 cannabinoids that have been discovered in the cannabis plant. That’s not to mention Flavonoids, another important compound in cannabis, responsible for the flavour of your herb. It is the interaction of these different compounds which produces different highs, and they each have an ideal temperature for release before they burn off. To complicate things further, each strain has different concentrations of the various compounds.
Exploring Cannabis Chemistry
If this is the kind of thing that interests you, there is no shortage of great resources out there. This more technical side of cannabis use can make for a very rewarding hobby. You’ll learn all about how to tailor each session to give exactly the effects you’re after. You can even use different combinations of strains and temperatures to treat different ailments, turning yourself into a master of medicinal marijuana. For now though, we’re going to be sticking to the basics.
Using Temperature Charts
The folks at Honest Marijuana Co have put together a very handy temperature chart. We’ve taken the time to convert it into Celsius for you, if you want to check out the original you can find it here. In this chart you can see the temperatures where different compounds turn into vapour, which is most useful if you pair that information with the effects listed above. We’ll simplify it for you by giving you a good rule of thumb:
Over 200°C gives you more bodily effects, under 200°C gives you more mind altering effects.
How to control temperature
Fahrenheit or Celsius?
Ultimately this is up to you, we prefer Celsius due to it simply being a better metric (sorry USA). However using Fahrenheit gives you the most precise control over your temperature. Most vapes will give you the option to switch between F° and C°, check your user manual to find out how.
Key Temperatures For Tailoring Your Session
Here are some key temperatures to keep in mind when setting up for your session:
175°C - Is for when you want to prioritise flavour over anything else. This is the temperature where a lot of terpenes vaporise, terpenes are largely responsible for the flavour of your herb.
180°C - Is great if you want a clear/energetic high. This is the temperature ideal for maximum CBD release. CBD counteracts the potential negative effects of THC like anxiety or paranoia.
185°C - Gives you a more mentally stimulating high. This temperature releases a bit more of that THC along with a bunch of other compounds which work together to create that spacey cerebral high.
200°C - This is for when you’re going for the “body-stoned” effect. It’s getting up there in temperature but this is where you’re getting a larger mix of compounds releasing at once, causing what is called the “entourage effect”.
220°C - Is where you start tapping into the CBC, one of the main medicinal compounds in cannabis. Overall this temperature is where most of the medicinal compounds combine.
232°C - This is where combustion occurs. You want to avoid this temperature, ideally keep it to 220°C or below.
There Are No Set Rules
There are many opinions given as to what the ideal temperature is. Ultimately it’ll depend on your preferences, and as always the best way to find out what works for you is to experiment. We recommend setting your temperature once for your session, then next time increase or decrease the temperature by 5°C.
A Few Extra Considerations
It’s important to remember that there are a lot of variables that can change the way temperature affects your dry herb material. Don’t get too caught up in the weeds (pun intended) but if you’re not quite getting what you’re expecting, it could be due to a number of things, including:
- Moisture content: Drier cannabis tends to heat and vaporise more quickly than more moist cannabis.
- Age: Over time, some of the cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis can degrade, potentially altering how they respond to heat.
- Cannabinoid and terpene profile: Different strains of cannabis have different profiles of cannabinoids and terpenes, each of which has its own boiling point.
- Grinding consistency: The size and consistency of the ground cannabis can affect how evenly it heats and how effectively the heat extracts the active compounds.
- Packing method: How tightly the cannabis is packed into the vaporiser can affect airflow and heat distribution, influencing the quality of the vapour.
- Heating method: Conduction vs. convection heating can influence the evenness of heat distribution and the risk of combustion.
- Temperature stability: Some vaporisers may have fluctuations in temperature during use, which could affect the extraction of cannabinoids and terpenes.
- Length and frequency of inhalation: The way a person inhales can affect how much heat is drawn through the cannabis and how much time the heat has to extract the active compounds.
- Device quality: Higher-quality vaporisers generally offer better temperature control and more consistent heat, which can lead to more efficient extraction and better vapour quality.
Conclusion
Understanding temperature control is crucial for getting the most out of your vaping experience. With the knowledge of how temperature affects your session, you can fully harness the therapeutic potential of the vast array of cannabinoids and terpenes found in cannabis. This guide has equipped you with information about why temperature matters, how it influences your session, and the role it plays in vapour quality.
Moreover, this guide has shed light on the unique nature of cannabinoids and terpenes, underlining their role in customising your vaping experience. The right temperature can help you unlock specific effects, from the cerebral stimulation offered by THC to the potential anti-inflammatory properties of CBC. Similarly, terpenes, each with their specific boiling points, add depth to the flavour profile of your vape, further enhancing the experience.
Controlling temperature is an art, and with the knowledge provided in this blog, you are now empowered to make informed decisions about the ideal ranges for your vaping needs. The keys to a remarkable session are now in your hands. Remember, the ideal temperature can vary depending on your individual preferences and the unique properties of the strain you are using.
In your vaping journey, experimentation is crucial. Try different temperatures, explore various strains, adjust your grinding and packing techniques, and, above all, enjoy the process. The world of cannabis vaping is rich and varied, and with an understanding of temperature control, you are well on your way to mastering it.