Also see: Cal NORML/MAPS Study Shows Vaporizer Can Drastically Reduce Toxins in Marijuana Smoke (4/1/2004) California NORML Press Release - Jan 8, 2001 Medical marijuana patients may protect themselves from harmful toxins in marijuana smoke by inhaling their medicine using an electric vaporizer, according to results of a study by California NORML and MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies).The study showed that it is possible to vaporize medically active THC by heating marijuana to a temperature short of the point of combustion, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing harmful smoke toxins that are normally present in marijuana smoke.Vaporizers may therefore substantially reduce what is widely regarded as the leading health hazard of marijuana, namely respiratory harm due to smoking.Details of the study are published in D. Gieringer, "Cannabis Vaporization: A Promising Strategy for Smoke Harm Reduction," Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics Vol.Reprints available for $5 from California NORML, 2261 Market St. #278A, San Francisco CA 94114.

NORML and MAPS sponsored the study in the hopes of helping medical marijuana patients and others reduce the health risks of smoking.The hazards of smoking were cited as a major obstacle to approval of natural cannabis by the Institute of Medicine in its 1999 report, "Marijuana and Medicine."However, the IOM report failed to note the possibility of vaporization.The NORML-MAPS study tested a device called the M1 Volatizer, an aromatherapy vaporizer developed by Alternative Delivery Systems, Inc.ecto vaporizer 650 priceIt consisted of an electric heating element in a chamber that radiates heat downwards over a sample of marijuana sitting in a standard pipe or "bong" bowl.vaporizer 78729Output from the vaporizer was analyzed and compared to smoke produced by combusting the sample with a flame.amigo vaporizer

The vaporizer produced THC at a temperature of 185° C. (365° F.)while completely eliminating three measured toxins - benzene, a known carcinogen, plus toluene and naphthalene.Carbon monoxide and smoke tars were both qualitatively reduced by the vaporizer, but additional testing is needed to quantify the extent of the decrease.Although the study was not designed to detect the highly carcinogenic tars known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are thought to be a leading culprit in smoking-related cancers, there was good reason to believe that they were suppressed, since they normally form at much higher temperatures of combustion.vaporizer bakersfieldWhen vaporized, the marijuana emitted a thin gray vapor and was left with a green to greenish-brown "toasted" appearance, whereas the combusted sample produced thick smoke and turned to ash.vaporizer atomizer for wax

Significant amounts of benzene began to appear at temperatures of 200° C. (392° F), while combustion occurred around 230° (446°F) or above.Traces of THC were in evidence as low as 140° C. (284° F).Further details of the study will be published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics.The vaporizer study was undertaken as a follow-up to a previous NORML-MAPS marijuana smoking device study, which concluded that vaporizers offered the best prospects for smoke harm reduction.boldrin vaporizerThe study found that neither waterpipes nor solid filters were effective at reducing exposure to smoke tars, due to the fact that they filtered out even more THC, thus forcing patients to inhale more to achieve the same effective dose.A recent Australian study also found that waterpipes failed to reduce tars or carbon monoxide (Linda Gowing et al., "Respiratory Harms of Smoked Cannabis," Research Monograph No.

Adelaide: Drug and Alcohol Services Council of South Australia, 2000).Other methods of marijuana smoke harm reduction include oral ingestion and potential new delivery systems, such as inhalers and patches, that are still under development.Smokers may also reduce their respiratory risks by using higher-potency marijuana, allowing them to inhale less smoke to obtain a given effective dose of THC.The medical marijuana popularly used in cannabis patients' clubs is several times more potent than that commonly provided to researchers by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, according to a potency survey by NORML and MAPS.However, the Australian study found that higher potency marijuana does not always deliver more THC, apparently because THC output is highly sensitive to variations in the burning properties of different samples.A wide variety of vaporizers are presently available on the market.Many medical marijuana patients say they prefer vaporizers because they deliver smoother, less irritating medication.

However, there have been no published scientific studies of their effectiveness heretofore.NORML and MAPS are currently seeking support for further research and development of vaporizers.Tax-deductible donations to the vaporizer research project can be made through the NORML Foundation c/o California NORML, 2261 Market St #278A, San Francisco CA 94114 (415) 563-5858.In June we covered the major cannabinoids in cannabis and its impact on your high.At least 85 different cannabinoids have been found in cannabis to date, each with different properties and boiling points (the temperature at which the cannabinoid compound is vaporized from the organic plant matter into the air).Cannabis also contains another critical compound called terpenoids (more broadly known as terpenes), which are responsible for the wonderful aromas and colors.We all know how important sight and smell are to the experience.Research has also shown that THC and CBD alone don’t explain all of the psychoactive and medicinal effects from using a particular strain.

Similar to cannabinoids, terpenoids have been shown to have numerous beneficial health properties.Terpenoids are as critical as THC and CBD to your overall experience, and each terpenoid also has a different boiling point.Using a vaporizer with temperature controls, such as the Ascent by DaVinci, a Volcano or Arizer Solo Extreme, you can control the precise temperature used to heat your cannabis, and therefore which cannabinoids and terpinoids are released into your vapor mist.Because all of those wonderful cannabinoids and terpenoids have different boiling points, if you vaporize the same cannabis batch at two different temperatures you will have two different experiences.The lower the temperature used to vaporize, the fewer the compounds will have reached their boiling points, which means they won’t contribute to your high.This is in stark contrast to the blunt force trauma of combustion, where you inhale all the compounds plus the burned organic cannabis plant matter.In the next article, we’ll dive deeper into the names, medical properties, and boiling points of the cannabinoid and terpinoid compounds.

For now, lets assume we’re targeting two different kinds of highs: “Daytime” High: Typically using lower vaporizer temperatures to deliver a more mental and energetic high, less of a body high.This high can be considered more discreet with less of an aroma and vapor plume, more of a clear odorless mist.For sativas and sativa-dominant hybrids, THC typically gets fully released, maybe some CBD, but only a portion of the other cannabinoids and terpenoids with higher boiling temperatures.For more indica heavy strains where the experience is less dominated by THC, the daytime temperature setting is a bit higher to add additional compounds.“Nighttime” High: Typically using higher vaporizer temperatures to deliver more of a body high with pain relieving and sedation effects from boiling more cannabinoids and terpernoids, such as linalool and THCV (if these compounds are present in your strain).This is less discreet as there is more of an aroma and vapor plume due to more terpenoids released at higher temperatures.

The table below serves as my humble opinion on a starting point for those new to controlling temperature with some caveats listed below.Each weedist should find their own optimal temperatures by cannabis strain to customize their high based on personal preferences and medical needs.Suggested Vaporization Temperatures By Cannabis Strain Type Sample Strain (Type)Fav Daytime TempFav Nighttime Temp Candy Jack (Sativa) 178°C / 352°F190°C / 374°F Super Lemon Haze (Sativa dominant)190°C / 374°F195°C / 383°F Cherry Pie (Indica dominant)195°C / 383°F202°C / 396°F Granddaddy Purple (Indica)202°C / 396°F208°C / 406°F High Temperature Note: With temperatures above 200°C traceable amounts of benzene are found in the vapor mist (a compound you’d rather avoid).Benzene contributes to couch lock and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has concluded that there is sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity to humans.Although for all these alleged carcinogens in cannabis, still no proof has yet been found to link cannabis to lung cancer.

Combustion of the cannabis plant matter begins at 230°C, where larger amounts of benzene are noted as well as other toxins such as carbon monoxide and smoke tars.Caveats & Assumptions for Temperature Table: Assumes you grind your cannabis,which is optimal for the vaporizer.Assumes smoking a traditional sativa (lower CBD:THC ratio) for mental high and smoking a traditional indica (higher CBD:THC ratio) for total body high.There’s no perfect fit, i.e.not every sativa has similar CBD:THC ratios and other compounds still differ.Assumes your cannabis is cured and stored well.Each vaporizer can differ in its temperature accuracy.Each strain and each batch of a given strain are unique.Now throw your personal preferences into the mix.Hopefully this information will help you start some fun and invaluable personal research to share with weedists everywhere!Tailoring Your High Series: Tailoring Your High: Intro to Temperature Control With a Vaporizer [this post] Tailoring Your High: Compounds in Cannabis, Properties and Boiling Points Tailoring Your High: Medical Properties of Cannabis Defined