Choosing Your Vape Cart
There are many vaporizer cartridges and all in one disposables out there at a vast amount of different price points, how can you tell which one is right for you? I like to shop by device, then by what’s in the cartridges and finally by the cannabis strain. Vaporizers are a nice convenient and relatively discrete cannabis consumption option with many devices to choose from.
In general there are two types of concentrate vaporizers that come in the “pen” format: disposables and cartridges. Disposable vaporizers are an all in one device that includes both the concentrate and the battery that can be disposed of once you have finished the contents. Cartridges are similar to disposables but they do not include the battery which is needed to consume the oil inside the cartridge. Batteries come in all shapes and sizes which will work with almost every cartridge on the market using the “510” threading which refers to the size of the joint on the cartridge. Reusable batteries tend to give you more options and over time are more cost effective than disposables but have a larger upfront price tag. If you are looking to get into vaping but don’t know if you’ll stick with it, a disposable is a great option; however, if you are looking for a long term device with better hardware, a battery and cartridge is the way to go. Once you have decided on the hardware, the next step is to look into which type of concentrate is best for you.
There are three categories of concentrate that are most common in vaporizers: hash rosin, resin and distillate. Live hash rosin is the cleanest and least processed of the concentrates and is generally seen as the “healthiest” way to vape. Only heat and pressure are used in this process and the high tends to have more of an entourage effect and feel “fuller” when compared to that of distillate. Resin is similar to rosin in the fact that it has a decent cannabinoid content and leads to a more well rounded high than distillate; however, resin is heavily processed using propane and butane. The terpenes are preserved well when it comes to making resin and most companies don’t need to add in any outside flavor. Distillate is the most processed of the concentrates using either Co2 or ethanol in its creation. The distillation process leaves close to pure THC without any other compound, this is then put into the cartridge with added flavors derived from botanicals or cannabis. If you are looking for a nice well rounded high, resin or rosin is the way to go. If you are looking to not break the bank but still want something to puff on, distillate is a solid option. If you are worried at all about discretion, botanical terpene carts don’t smell as much as resin or rosin carts and come in fun flavors like mango or candy. Once you have decided on the hardware and concentrate type, have a chat with your product specialist and they will help you find the strain that best suits your needs.
Vaporizers are a fun and convenient way to consume your cannabis, start off small and work your way into the wonderful world of concentrates!
– Mitch Arruda – Cape Cod Cannabis Product Specialist
