Not every medical marijuana patient likes the burnt, skunky smell of cannabis in their living room. And if you live with other people who aren’t medical patients, they may not like that smell either.
Also, you’re bringing that smoke directly into your lungs. Smoking marijuana may be safer than smoking tobacco, but that doesn’t mean it’s great for you.
“There’s always edibles,” you may say. “ I don’t have to smoke marijuana if I can just eat it.”
Awesome! We love edibles. They’re very useful to patients who don’t mind waiting 30 minutes to two hours for them to kick in. But for patients who need immediate relief, the “edibles wait-time” can be frustrating.
Then there’s the issue of edible dosage: how well can you control it? You may need more medicine on certain days than on others, but it’s hard to be precise when you’re cutting up a brownie.
Patients who don’t want to smoke or eat marijuana should consider vaporizers – specifically the vape pen. And for those of you who have no idea what that is, keep reading our vape pen tutorial for beginners!
What are Vaporizers?
Marijuana vaporizers do just that: they turn your marijuana into a vapor that you can inhale.
- The vaporizer will heat your marijuana at a temperature anywhere from 175 to 210 degrees.
- At this temperature, the cannabinoids and terpenes in your marijuana will evaporate, allowing you to inhale them.
- The experience is similar to smoking, but remember: you’re not bringing smoke into your lungs. You’re bringing in vapor. That means no harsh toxins or carcinogens, for the most part. It’s a smoother, cleaner experience that may generate a more powerful “high,” because you’re inhaling pure cannabinoids.
- Vape pens, in particular, give off a slight, almost unnoticeable odor, so you don’t have to worry about smelling up the whole house.
So What Are Vape Pens?
Vape pens are portable vaporizers that are shaped like pens. Because of their shape and small size, they can be carried anywhere and used discreetly.
Boom, there’s your vape pen tutorial right there! That was easy, wasn’t it? Thanks for reading and good luck figuring the rest out!
Just kidding. We know it’s a little more complicated than that.
There are four main components to a vape pen: the battery, cartridge/chamber, mouthpiece and the charger.
The Battery
Don’t let the name “battery” fool you. It’s not the kind of battery that you insert into a device.
A vape pen battery is actually the main body of the pen. Once you attach the cartridge/chamber and mouthpiece to the battery, you have a fully formed vape pen.
The Chamber / Cartridge and Mouthpiece
If you have a vape pen that vaporizes dry herb/flower, then it will typically come with:
- A chamber to hold the plant material
- A mouthpiece through which to inhale the vapor.
On the other hand, oil vape pens either have a refillable oil cartridge and mouthpiece, or they use a pre-filled, disposable cartridge with a mouthpiece already attached.
The Charger
Eventually, your vape pen battery will run out of power, and you’ll need to recharge it. Your vape pen should come with a USB charger that you can attach to your battery. Then you just plug it into a wall socket or a computer.
How to Use a Vape Pen
1. Do your research
There’s a lot of different kinds of vape pens out there.
First, decide which type of pen you want (dry herb or oil). Once you’ve narrowed it down a bit, start researching different brands. Compare and contrast their benefits and downsides.
Things to consider include:
- Price
- Whether or not the pen is easy to use
- Oil quality – How was it made? Does it contain any toxic chemicals?
- Battery quality – How long does it hold a charge? Does it break often? Does it come with a warranty?
- Reviews – What are people saying about the product? Are the reviews mostly positive or negative?
2. Once You Have Your Vape Pen, Figure Out How It Works
You’ll notice we said, “Figure out how it works” and not “Read the instructions.”
That’s because your vape pen might come with instructions, but you shouldn’t take it for granted.
One of our team members recently purchased a popular brand of vape pen, and it didn’t come with instructions. Luckily, a dispensary staff member gave him a thorough tutorial. Also, the vape pen company had instructions on their website.
Instructions may vary when it comes to vape pen, but you’ll definitely need to…
3. Charge the Battery
Attach your USB charger to the battery. Plug it into a wall socket or a computer. A red light will appear, indicating that the battery is charging. The red light should turn green once the battery is fully charged.
How long will it take to fully charge? Again, the exact time may vary, but you should expect to charge it anywhere from two to four hours.
4. Attach Your Cartridge / Chamber
We included videos further down below to show you how this step works with three different kinds of vape pens.
5. Inhale
Some vape pens turn on automatically the minute you start inhaling. Others have a button on the battery that needs to be pressed.
When you inhale for the first time, don’t overdo it, especially if you’re vaping with a concentrated oil. That oil may be more potent than dry flower, so use your initial puff to figure out just how strong it is.
Inhale for a period of about two to three seconds. Then wait 10 minutes to gauge the effects. If you feel you are ready for another dose, inhale again.
We Promised Vape Pen Tutorial Videos. Here They Are.
DISCLAIMER: We don’t officially endorse any of the products or dispensaries shown in these vape pen tutorial videos. We like these clips simply because they offer short, clear examples of how different types of vape pens work.
Dry Herb
Refillable Oil Cartridge
Pre-filled, Disposable Oil Cartridge
We hope you enjoyed our vape pen tutorial for beginners!
Vape pens are a great, easy way to get into the vaporization world, but don’t take our word for it. Check them out for yourselves.
Do you use vape pens? Do you have a particular type or brand that’s your favorite, or do you dabble in all kinds? Visit us on social media and let us know what you think!
And, as always, if you’re ready to become a medical marijuana patient, give us a call at (702)-707-2414 or click here to schedule an appointment today!