How Do You Like Your Hemp Vapes to Feel: Cool or Warm?

The Calm Leaf is a company that carries an awesome selection of cannabinoids like delta 8 THC, THCP, THCA, THCB, HHC, etc. all from well-known and respected brands/manufacturers in our industry today. If you’re a fan of either bottled vape oils or vape cartridges, then you might be using them with a variable voltage or wattage vape pen device – in other words, there may be an adjustment dial or a button that lets you change the output level. Besides affecting the amount of vapor we get, these kinds of adjustments can also influence the vapor’s temperature, specifically ranging from cool to warm.

The question on your mind then would be – is one better than the other, and what can both cool and warm vapes offer in their own distinctive ways?

What are the Best Temperatures for Vaping Cannabinoids At?

Before we talk about cool versus warm vapes as a personal preference, we need to get into the science of the relationship between cannabinoids and temperature. All cannabinoids that are psychoactive must be decarboxylated in order for their psychoactive effects to be activated. This term means that the cannabinoid must reach a certain temperature, and thus, explains why for instance, popping raw flower into your mouth will never get you high. Overall, cannabinoids need to be decarboxylated at somewhere between 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take, with the exact temperature varying from cannabinoid to cannabinoid.

Now, vape oils contain a pre-decarboxylated cannabinoid distillate. In other words, the cannabinoid has already been activated for you, as part of making the extract. So, you don’t need to worry that opting for too cool of a temperature means you won’t get high.

One thing you do need to stay mindful of, however, is that each cannabinoid has a boiling point, which is the temperature at which the cannabinoid quickly breaks down and loses all of its beneficial effects. So, vaping at too high of a temperature can mean that you get nothing except a whole lot of burnt flavor, with zero effects. In general, most cannabinoids start to burn at somewhere between 350-365 degrees, and even become carcinogenic around 450 degrees – a temperature that few vape pens will ever get to. Note that this is different from concentrates, which are different from vape oils in terms of how they are made and can therefore reach high temperatures of 450 and higher without problems.

How Can You Go About Selecting the Right Vape Temperature?

Every vape pen is different, and some may not even come with output adjustments at all. But in general, if you have variable wattage or voltage, then the higher the wattage or voltage, the hotter the temperature of your vapor. Most pens use voltage-based adjustments, with settings between about 2.4 to 4 volts, while many vapers will tell you 2.5 to 3 volts works best for most cannabinoids.

Choosing Cooler Vapor

Going with a lower temperature at about 2.5-2.8 volts is considered low-temp vaping. This will give you cooler clouds, and a more complex, clean flavor since terpenes have lower boiling points than cannabinoids. It will also give you a more subdued high. How? Because, to put it simply, the lower temperature is producing less concentrated vapor.

Choosing Warmer Vapor

High-temperature vaping, which is usually 3-3.5 volts, will give you a stronger psychoactive effect since the higher temperature is carrying a stronger concentration of the cannabinoid(s) into the vapor, and therefore into your lungs. The clouds will also be thicker and bigger, and the vapor will feel warmer while you inhale it. One thing to keep in mind is that you may get a weaker terpene flavor, since some terpenes may be burning off at the high temp. Going too high can cause a burnt taste and a harsh sensation that makes you cough, so keep that in mind.

Get Your Vape On in the Coolest or Hottest Manner Possible!

Overall, no matter your hot or cool vape preferences, it essentially come down to personal preference, within reason that is, as that excessive heat can damage your coil and of course, your vape oil entirely. It’s all about discovering your sweet spot, and to do so, is by exploring the unique output settings on your vape pen and seeing which setting supplies the greatest hemp-based vaping satisfaction.