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Missouri Cannabis Education
Cannabis Concentrates
What Is a Cannabis Vape Cartridge and How Does It Work ?
by Leah Maurer , contributing writer
Leah
Leah Maurer , a native Missourian , is now a canna-journalist and activist living in Portland , OR . She is a co-owner of
www . TheWeedBlog . com , a top national cannabis news and information publication , where she serves as the Editorial Lead . In 2014 , Leah founded Moms for YES on Measure 91 through grassroots efforts alone , it proved pivotal in the passage of the Measure , successfully legalizing recreational / adult-use cannabis in the OR . Leah is a social justice and cannabis activist at the core and hopes to see an end to the prohibition of cannabis globally .
22 July 2022
Cannabis products come in many forms these days . While flower and edible products are fairly straightforward in their effect and composition , cannabis concentrates vary greatly . One of the most popular cannabis concentrates is in the form of cartridges for vape pens .
Cannabis vape pens started to become popular shortly after states began to legalize adult-use cannabis . While vaporizing tobacco had been happening for many years , it was not until early 2007 that there was an e-cig that utilized a cartridge and battery format and made its way into the U . S . market . Cannabis vape pens that used a similar concept were created just a few years afterward . Once e-cig vaporizing pens were invented and perfected in the early 2000s , growers of hemp and its other derivatives began making changes to the cartridge so that it could handle the viscosities of various botanical herb oils . These alterations led to the explosion of the herbal vaporizing industry . The first company to successfully alter and sell the vape pen for this type of use was in 2013 . At that time , the cartridge was made of plastic and housed a fibrous plastic wick and metal coil .
Fast forward to today , and there is a multitude of different kinds of cannabis vape pens on the market that vary from one-time use pens to pens with fancy batteries that even include different setting options for vaping the cannabis oil concentrate inside the cartridge .
A vape cartridge ( or “ cart ”) is a glass or plastic cartridge pre-filled with a gram or half-gram of cannabis oil . This oil contains various combinations of cannabinoids and terpenes extracted from cannabis . The contents of a vape cart can be a combination of THC , CBD , or other cannabinoids . Vape cartridges come in many forms , including 510-threaded cartridges and even some proprietary forms like pods . Critics of cannabis vape pens will often point out that you may not know the process used to create the oil and what derivatives may be in the oil other than those from cannabis , so make sure to read the label in full and ask lots of questions of your budtender about the product . Also , check out the company ’ s website to ensure you know as much as possible . Being an educated consumer is key !
Vape cartridges work in conjunction with vape pen batteries . The vape battery will power an atomizer in the cartridge that heats the oil , activating the various chemical components in it . You then inhale the vapor , which produces the effects of cannabis . Some vape batteries have multiple functions that enable temperature customization and dose management .
The distinguishing feature of cannabis vapes is that they allow you to inhale cannabis vapor . This is also how they differ from traditional smoking devices like bongs and pipes , which allow you to inhale the smoke from burning cannabis . Similar to a smoking experience , vapor highs usually kick in within 15 minutes and last anywhere from 40 minutes to two hours .