Vaping Marijuana vs. Smoking It: What Alternative Is Safer

Over the last decade, views surrounding marijuana use have relaxed as countrywide legalization sweeps the nation. Many individuals enjoy growing their own bud and lighting up a joint to enjoy the effects. Is vaporizing weed a safer option?

As more tokers learn the risks of smoking cannabis, they look for a healthier alternative. Have you picked up some indica weed seeds for sale and are looking for new ways to indulge in the nugs? 

We compare smoking to vaping marijuana to see which is safer for your health. We also share some other alternatives if you want to avoid inhaling in any form. 

Smoking vs. Vaping: What’s the Difference?

You might not think these cannabis consumption methods vary much, as they both involve inhaling, but they do.

Smoking has long been the go-to for 420 fans to puff on their favorite strain. Consumers roll their weed into a joint or suck the smoke through a bong. Heat then burns the herb and combusts it before it travels, as smoke, to your lungs.

The alternative method involves filling a vape pen with a marijuana concentrate or bud. When you heat the vaporizer, you release the cannabinoids CBD and THC. The device forms an aerosol to inhale. 

Which Is Better for Your Health?

You know how they differ, but is one better for you than the other? Let’s compare vaporizing weed vs. burning it.

There’s no denying the damaging effect smoking has on your respiratory tract, no matter the source. After you inhale, your lungs fill with hot debris, which aggravates sensitive tissue.

Burning cannabis buds also creates a chemical reaction. This response means you risk toxic compounds entering your anatomy, which have been linked to cancer. When you add tobacco to your smoking mix, the danger increases.

Using a vape pen, you don’t burn or combust anything. The small device works by heating the marijuana compounds inside the cartridge into an aerosol. When you take away the act of burning, your lungs experience less irritation. (1)

So, is vaping weed bad in any way?

Despite being a little better for your body, it’s not risk-free. With or without cannabis, vaping potentially harms your health. A few thousand individuals went to the hospital with a grave respiratory illness in 2019. Their condition provoked lung injury, and sixty-eight died. 

The ailment became known as e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI).

Vape fluids might contain hidden ingredients that are harmful to your health, like:

• Ultrafine particulates
• Heavy metals
• Carcinogenic elements
• Flavorings like diacetyl

To reduce these risks, buy your vaping products from a cannabis dispensary to ensure the highest quality.

The Pros and Cons of Vaping vs. Smoking

To help you decide whether to switch to vaping cannabis, we weigh the pros and cons of both methods. Take your pick by factoring in your budget, preferences, and convenience.

Vaping Cannabis

What are the advantages to vaping weed over smoking it?

• A vape is more convenient. Keep your cartridge filled to have a quick puff when you like.
• This technique is more discreet. A vape pen easily fits in your bag or pocket.
• Vaping produces a more delectable smoke, and you can add other flavors.
• Enjoy excellent value for money by saving your already vaped bud (AVB) to smoke in an emergency or make tea.

There’s no doubt vaping boasts many pros, but it also has some drawbacks.

• The start-up cost of this consumption method is expensive. You need a vape pen ($100+), grinder, and e-juice canisters. 
• You must keep a vaporizer charged or risk the gadget dying when you’re out.  
• Despite many users reporting a “cleaner high,” some say weed vaping is less potent. 

Smoking Cannabis

Although there are risks associated with inhaling weed this way, some consumers prefer it for a few reasons.

• Most 420 enthusiasts claim the effects are more intense from a joint or bong.
• Smoking products are far cheaper than vaping.
• There’s very little maintenance involved. Aside from rolling a joint, there’s not much else to do unless you have a pipe or bong to clean. 

While some prefer toking this way, others want to avoid the risks and disadvantages involved. 

• The health risks are apparent when smoking weed, especially for your respiratory tract. 
• However discreet you try to be, the smoke always has an odor. 
• This method is less efficient. You need to find time and an area to roll or pack a bong. You can keep ready-made joints in your bag, but they risk breaking. 
• When you burn cannabis, you deplete many terpenes, making for a less flavorful experience. (2)

Other Alternatives to Consume Weed

You know how to store cannabis seeds to develop into healthy plants and have grown delectable juicy buds. Your weed is ready for consumption, but you want to avoid inhaling and the potential risks. Try one of these popular alternatives.  

Edibles

Get baking, frying, or grilling any dish you like with cannabutter, oils, and extracts. No smoke means no lung damage, but dosing is more complex with edibles. The effects take a while to kick in, but when they do, they hang around for up to 12 hours.

Oils and Tinctures

Use a dropper to administer these under your tongue for fast delivery to your bloodstream. They take effect in 20 minutes and are convenient. 

Topicals

To avoid ingesting cannabis, rub creams, balms, and lotions onto specific spots. Apply patches to pain points to work for longer periods. 

Time to Decide

You’ve seen the pros and cons of smoking and vaporizing weed. The latter is better for your lungs but still poses risks. Alternatively, choose another option that doesn’t involve inhaling or ingesting.

Now, grow your own and have fun trying all the consumption methods to find your favorite.