Pros and Cons of Vaping
Vaping is here to stay. Millions of people have switched to vaping from cigarettes, and vaporization is an effective and potent method of ingesting cannabinoids like CBD and THC.
Even so, vaping has its share of detractors. Learn the details behind the benefits and detractors of vaping in this guide.
What is vaping?
Let’s start with the basics: Vaping is when you heat a substance to the point that it evaporates but does not combust. Smoking, on the other hand, is another word for combustion, which produces tar and other potentially undesirable substances.
Vaping, however, doesn’t produce any chemicals not already in the substance being vaporized. As a result, vaping provides a cleaner and purer experience that also doesn’t make your breath smell or stain the walls.
What can you vape?
There are tons of different substances you can vape, but people usually stick to nicotine or cannabis. The vaping industry got its start with nicotine vapes, which usually consist of a mixture of nicotine salts, propylene glycol (PG), and vegetable glycerin (VG) to this day.
None of the three ingredients we just listed appear particularly safe to inhale, however, leading to questions about the overall safety of vaping nicotine. Even so-called “nicotine-free” vapes still contain VG, PG, and artificial flavorings, all of which can be harmful.
Cannabis and hemp vapes, on the other hand, usually consist solely of all-natural cannabis extract—sometimes with equally natural terpenes added for flavor. Compared to the questionable safety of PG/VG vapes, it’s clear to see the allure of cannabis vape cartridges.
Are there any positives of vaping?
Vaping can certainly be a safe and positive experience if you vape the right substances in the right ways. By skipping combustion, you limit the potential for harmful substances to enter your lungs. Vaping also appears to provide higher bioavailability, allowing your body to use greater concentrations of the substances you inhale when you choose to vape instead of smoke.
It’s only possible for vaping to become a negative experience if you vape the wrong substances or use faulty vaping methods. As long as it’s something you do responsibly and for the right reasons, endless online customer testimony indicates vaping is an activity that can deliver incredible rewards.
What are the negatives of vaping?
Like anything else, any type of vaping can become something negative under the wrong circumstances. Vaping anything that contains PG, VG, nicotine, or artificial flavoring is an inherently negative experience since all these ingredients have the potential to harm you.
Even vaping hemp or cannabis can be negative if you inhale a product that contains contaminants or inferior ingredients. We also don’t know much about the long-term effects of vaping or what a good daily vaping dose might look like.
The main negative of vaping is a persistent lack of education. Since people don’t know the right ways to vape or the right substances to choose, vaping remains more dangerous than it should be, perpetuating a negative societal view of what should be a perfectly benign practice.
Pros of vaping
Let’s summarize the pros of vaping in simple bullet points:
- Doesn’t put tar in your lungs
- Discreet
- No lingering aromas
- Vaping is a great way to use cannabis
- Better bioavailability
- Better flavor
- Less mess
- No lighters
- Cannabis vapes can be all-natural
Cons of vaping
Next, let’s list some of the potential negatives of vaping:
- Vaping nicotine, PG, VG, and artificial ingredients could be harmful
- Vaping nicotine is not better than smoking it
- Vape batteries need to be replaced or recharged
- Long-term studies on the benefits and dangers of vaping are not available
Benefits of vaping
Whatever it is you’re vaping, smoking it would probably be a lot worse for you. Plus, vaping is one of the best ways to ingest cannabinoids, and tons of people are starting to vape cannabinoids for anxiety, depression, pain, and dozens of other conditions. Let’s take a closer look:
— Is vaping better than smoking?
Yes, vaping is better than smoking no matter what you vape. Even though many (if not all) of the ingredients in nicotine vapes are questionable at best, vaping is still better than inhaling all the hundreds of chemicals present in tobacco cigarettes. There’s reason to believe that vaping cannabis may be better for you than smoking it, too.
— Is vaping an effective way to use cannabinoids?
Yes, vaping is one of the most potent and bioavailable ways to ingest cannabinoids. Whether it’s CBD, delta 9, delta 8, CBG, or any other cannabinoid, inhaling these unique cannabis compounds in vapor form bypasses the digestive tract, offering direct access to the bloodstream and nervous system.
— Does vaping help with anxiety?
Many people vape CBD or THC for anxiety, and they often report great results. Just make sure you don’t try vaping nicotine for anxiety—this stimulant will just make you feel more jittery, and the last thing your anxiety needs is an addiction to cope with on top of it.
Dangers of vaping
Vaping certain substances is certainly dangerous, but a lot of the fear surrounding the general subject of vaping has been born out of misinformation. Let’s put to rest some of the more dubious claims about vaping—as they pertain to vaping cannabinoids, at least:
— Does vaping make you fat?
No, there’s no evidence that vaping will make you fat. Vaping doesn’t introduce any calories into your system, and as a stimulant, nicotine should make you lose weight, not gain it.
It’s possible that vaping THC will make you fat, but only due to the ever-present danger presented by “the munchies.” Overall, the idea that vaping significantly affects your weight one way or the other is an urban legend.
— Does vaping cause acne?
There is no reason that vaping should cause acne. Smoking cigarettes has been linked with an increased incidence of acne, but researchers have identified the pro-oxidant substances in cigarette smoke as the cause. There’s no indication that nicotine causes acne, which is the only substance present in both cigarettes and vapes.
— Do vapes cause depression?
Getting addicted to nicotine might give you the blues, but there’s no scientific reason to believe in a link between the act of vaping and getting depressed. Many people, in fact, use cannabinoids to help with depression, and vaping is one of the most effective ways to use any cannabis substance.
Should I smoke or vape?
If you have the choice between smoking and vaping, definitely vape. The only exception is in the case of connoisseur cannabis flower—every once in a while, even the most ardent vaper will make an exception for some truly excellent bud. Overall, though, vaping certainly seems to be the way of the future.
Vaping pros and cons FAQ
Let’s finish up with a few vaping-related questions and answers:
1. How often should you vape?
Many people vape as many as 5-10 times per day. It all depends on the substance you’re vaping and the goals you have in mind. If you’re vaping CBD to combat chronic pain, for instance, you might take more than 20 vape hits in a single day. Casual nicotine vapers, however, may only take 2-3 hits in a 24-hour period.
2. How long should you hit a vape?
Most vapes have auto-shutoff systems that engage once you’ve inhaled an ideal hit. Otherwise, simply hit your vape until your lungs feel full, and don’t inhale any longer than 15-20 seconds.
3. Is it okay to vape without nicotine?
Nicotine is one of the harmful substances that can be present in vapes, but VG, PG, and artificial flavorings are just as bad. Taking nicotine out of the equation will make vaping safer, but you’ll need to stick with entirely natural ingredients that your lungs are designed to handle to enjoy a truly safe vaping experience.
4. How do I know if I’m vaping too much?
Normal vaping habits shouldn’t cause any negative health effects. If you develop a cough, experience throat pain, or experience any other common pulmonary symptoms, stop vaping immediately, and consult a doctor. You may also want to limit your daily vape usage to get a clearer idea of the effectiveness of your habit.
5. Will vaping stain my teeth?
Vaping nicotine may stain your teeth. Nicotine isn’t the only substance in cigarettes that can stain the enamel of your teeth, but it certainly has enamel-staining properties. Therefore, any vape containing nicotine will have the potential to make your teeth look yellow.
6. What is the safest vape?
The safest vape only contains natural substances found in cannabis or hemp. Nicotine, PG, and VG are all harmful, and the only flavoring that belongs in a vape is natural terpenes.
Out of the various types of cannabinoid extracts, CO2 distillate is the purest and safest, and live resin terpenes offer the most robust profile and powerful effects. Secret Nature is the internet’s premier provider of CO2-extracted CBD and delta 8 vape cartridges flavored with nothing more than live resin, cannabis-derived terpenes.
