There’s no ideal temperature to vape cannabis because it depends on the effects you’re seeking to unlock. With that being said, certain temperatures are less ideal than others, and some can be regarded as near-universal benchmarks.
In that spirit, we’ve put together some key points and principles to help you gain a better understanding of vaping temperatures and gauge the one that’s in your best interests.
Higher Isn’t Better
For one, vaping at any temperature above 455°F is basically smoking, which defeats the purpose of vaping, since combustible by-products are created, many of which are also found in tobacco smoke. [1]
Second, even if you want your state of mind to be as altered as possible, the amount of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is just one of the many dimensions that make up the overall experience and the strength of the high.
Ranges
Vaping temperature ranges often are reported as low, medium, and high, and are sometimes indicated numerically by digital displays. More often, vaporizers designate temperature with differently colored lights. It’s important to know what temperature range is being used and which molecules are vaporized at those temperatures.
Low Range
The low range is somewhere between 300°F and 330°F, if you’re slightly on the cautious side. Many people consider 325°F-350°F to be their lowest range.
THC’s boiling point is about 315°F, so if a trace of cannabis’s most signature psychoactive effect is all you’re looking for, don’t go too far away from and above 300°F.
Cannabidiol (CBD)’s boiling point is reported to be 356°F, which makes things a little complicated. On the one hand, it can balance THC out to an extent, especially if the particular cannabis cultivar has a relatively high CBD-to-THC ratio. On the other hand, if you’re desiring stronger psychoactive effects from THC, vaporized CBD might dampen the intended experience.
In that 300°F-350°F neighborhood, you’ll stumble upon a couple of other friendly faces — the terpenes pinene at 311°F, myrcene at 334°F, and limonene at 349°F. This range, especially towards its upper limit, should make for quite a well-rounded experience, full of flavor and diverse, palpable, yet not overwhelming effects.
Mid-Range
Mid-range is naturally considered by many as the happy medium, falling between 350°F and 400°F. The main points of interest in this range, besides CBD and THC, are humulene and linalool at 388°F, the flavonoid cannflavin A at 360°F, and cannabinol (CBN) at 365°F. CBN may unlock sedative effects.
Speaking of happy medium, some people would say this mid-range is a little too broad, and narrow it down to the space between 365°F and 410°F, which arguably blends the best of the medium and high ranges. However, 410°F is pushing it close to combustion.
High Range
High range, as in anything above 400°F and especially 410°F, is bound to provide solid body relaxation bordering with sedation. You’ll meet some well-known names along the way including cannabichromene (CBC) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) at 428°F, and borneol at 413°F. The thing about the high range, however, is that the likelihood of forming undesirable chemical by-products increases with temperature, so molecules like benzene might be found in the smoke.
Reference
[1] ElSohly, H. and ElSohly, M. “Marijuana Smoke Condensate: Chemistry and Pharmacology,” in Marijuana and the Cannabinoids, edited by ElSohly, M., Humana Press, New Jersey, 2007, chapter 4, pp. 67-96. [journal impact factor = N/A; cited by 3]
Image Credit: King Pen Vapes
