The short answer
Cannabis vapor forms when a device heats flower or oil below the point of combustion. Combustion starts near 450°F (232°C). Draw the vapor into your mouth for 3 to 5 seconds, pull it into your lungs, hold 2 to 3 seconds, then exhale. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before the next draw. Effects peak inside that window.
How to Inhale Cannabis vs. Cigarette: A Practical Comparison
Steps for a dry herb vaporizer
- Grind the flower to a medium texture. A fine grind pulls through screens and clogs the air path.
- Fill the chamber. Leave room for air to move around the material.
- Set the temperature. 315°F to 350°F releases terpenes. 350°F to 400°F releases more THC and CBD. Above 400°F gives dense vapor and a roasted taste.
- Wait for the heat cycle. Most devices signal when the chamber reaches the set point.
- Draw for 3 to 5 seconds. Air moves across the heated material and carries vapor with it.
- Hold the vapor 2 to 3 seconds. Exhale.
- Wait 10 to 15 minutes. Add a second draw after that.
Steps for a cartridge or disposable pen
- Read the label. Legal products in the US list THC content, CBD content, and additives.
- Set voltage at 2.5V to 3.0V. Higher voltage burns the oil and adds a burnt taste.
- Draw for 2 to 3 seconds. Cartridge vapor is denser than flower vapor at the same volume.
- Wait 15 minutes before the next draw.
Temperature and effect
THC boils near 315°F. CBD boils between 320°F and 356°F. Terpenes boil between 250°F and 390°F. A device set at 365°F pulls a mix of these compounds. A device set at 430°F pulls more cannabinoids per draw and more irritants.
What to avoid
- Vitamin E acetate. The CDC named it as a cause of EVALI lung injuries in 2019 and 2020. It appeared in THC cartridges sold outside licensed shops.
- Cartridges with no lab test and no batch number.
- Long holds. Holding vapor for 10 seconds or more does not raise absorption in any published study. It irritates the airway.
Risks
Inhaling anything into the lungs carries risk. Vapor moves THC into the bloodstream in seconds. NIDA reports that vapor and smoke deliver THC to the brain faster than edibles. Dose control is harder than with oral products. Start with one draw and stop.
Legal note
As of 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia allow adult use. The age minimum is 21. Federal law lists cannabis as a Schedule I substance. Verify your state law before you buy.