How to Use a Dry Herb Vaporizer Pen

With the rise of cannabis legalization for both medicinal and recreational use, products for marijuana and cannabis-based products are hitting the market in droves, with many individuals seeking out new and improved ways to enjoy their favorite strains.

When it comes to innovation, vaping has taken the cannabis world by storm, providing a unique, clean and pure way for many individuals to enjoy their herbs without the need for combustion, smoke, and the dangerous (sometimes carcinogenic) by-products that come along with it.

Vaping involves heating the cannabis to a temperature at which it “off-gases” the active compounds such as THC and CBD into vapor, all without catching ablaze. But there’s a new player in town, the “dry herb” vape pen. Read on to learn more…

Dry Herb Vaporizer Pen 

If you’re interested in new ways to vape marijuana, it’s likely that you’ll come across something called a “dry herb pen.”

A dry herb vaporizer pen is a small, compact vaporizer designed for — you guessed it — vaping dry herb. It’s worth noting that some models of vaporizers allow you to use dry herbs, as well as oils and concentrates, while others are made only for one or the other. As such, it's important to understand what types of cannabis mediums the pen can be used with prior to investing in a new pen.

Why use a dry herb vaporizer? 

Dry herb vaporizers generally rely on conduction to heat the cannabis directly, but there are also vaporizers which rely on convection heating mechanisms. Convection involves heating the contents of the chamber (i.e. your dry herb) by way of hot airflow over the contents.

We recommend using convection-based vaporizers because they tend to heat the marijuana to about 356 degrees F, the ideal temperature for most herbs. Vaping at this temperature results in the highest concentration of the cannabinoids and terpenes being “vaporizes” and made available for inhalation.

Your dry herb will not only taste better with convection, but you will also get more actives and a better experience from smaller amounts, which means your stash will last longer too. 

Using a convection-style vaporizer tends to be a healthier and more effective choice as compared to smoking. Combustion is a more dangerous way to enjoy your herbs due to the smoke and combustion process creating harmful by-products and carcinogenic compounds. Not to mention smoke itself is irritating to the throat and lungs, causing damage and inflammation that could be especially concerning for those with asthma, allergies or other breathing issues.

But health benefits aren’t the only reason why a dry herb vape pen is a solid option to enjoy your bud.

Other Benefits of a Dry Herb Vaporizer Include:

• Improved and enhanced flavor (due to lack of smoke)
• Reduced scent/smell for a more discreet way to enjoy in public
• Portable, concealable pens are compact and easy to take on the go
• Don’t require an “ignition source” such as a lighter
• Produce the optimal temperature at which you get the most actives (CBD and THC) from your bud, improving the overall experience

Types of Dry Herb Vaporizers

For best results with a dry herb vape pen, you first will want to determine which type of vape pen is best for the way you would like to enjoy your dry herb.

There are a few different types of dry herb vaporizers, with the main two classifications being portable or desktop. Pens fall under the portable type, but other larger box vapes also fall into this category and provide more room for your bud, making them a better choice when sharing among friends. On the other end of the spectrum, desktop vapes are meant to be stationary and best kept at home. These desktop options can handle a LOT of herb and can often be outfitted with attachments similar to a hookah where multiple individuals can enjoy your herb at the same time.

In this case, we’ll dig deeper into using the vape pen model, but we thought it would be worth mentioning the other types in case you want to do your own research.

Using a Dry Herb Vape Pen

Helpful Accessories 

Once you understand what type of pen is best for you, you can then get the right accessories for using your vape pen. A grinder, for instance, is important for breaking down and drying moist cannabis buds (this will come in handy regardless of if you plan to smoke or vape). You’ll also want a poker tool for cleaning out the chamber of your vaporizer as these tend to get clogged easily.  

Cannabis Strains

Next, be sure to understand the different cannabis strains available, and choose one that suits your needs. All dispensaries have a “budtender” that can help you choose the right herb for your needs or goals, from getting a good night’s sleep to boosting social vibes and creative juices, they’ll have something for any use case.

It is also important to discuss with your budtender or do research on which strains and mediums work best for dry vaping.

Packing / Loading your Vape Pen

Once you have your herb dried and ground into a coarse powder or small particulates, its time to load the chamber of your vape pen. It is important to not pack the chamber too tightly as this will inhibit airflow and result in uneven heating. Likewise, you don’t want to pack too loosely as this will result in higher temperatures that may not provide an optimal experience. 

Heating Up the Pen

Next, you will have to heat up the pen, which may take up to 60 seconds depending on the make and model. The pen must be fully heated before taking a hit, otherwise, you won’t get the right amount of “vapor” from the herb. Heating up the pen is generally as simple as holding down or pressing a button. The user guide or manual for your device will come with specific instructions on how to do this.

Some pens will allow you to actually adjust the temperature, so that if your throat is easily irritated from higher temperatures, or if you like experimenting, you can put it on a cooler or warmer setting as desired. Some pens even come with integrated app connectivity where you can track usage, heat, and more on your smartphone. 

Breathing In / Inhaling 

Finally, practice taking smaller, slower hits, adjusting your “pull” or suction based on the flow of air and resistance from how you packed the chamber. As you get used to the swing of things, you may notice that either faster/stronger, or slower easier pulls produce various different concentrations of actives THC and CBD in the vapor you inhale due to pressure and time under heat.

Cleaning and Carrying Your Vape Pen 

Sure, cleaning isn’t the most glamorous part of the experience, but it will keep your pen ready for that next session and will prevent nasty aftertastes from building up in the chamber, cross-contaminating other bud you use.

After you smoke, you always want to clear the chamber carefully in order to ensure an optimal smoking experience the next time. Regular maintenance will help ensure that your vaporizer will run optimally for years to come. If you don’t clean it properly, residue can build up and clog the mouthpiece, affecting the overall quality of the vapor, giving off odd flavors, and potentially causing overheating issues. Most units come with a brush tool specifically designed for cleaning the chamber. 

For storage and recharging, try to ensure that you take your recharging cord with you if you are bringing your vape pen out and about. You will also want to get a smell-proof vape case so as to not alarm friends or colleagues who may not know you smoke.

Learn More about Using Dry Herb Vape Pens  

Dry herb vape pens are a cost-effective and ideal alternative for those who want a healthier, smoother, and improved experience with their dry herbs. They provide discretion, easy portability and customization to suit the needs of virtually anyone.

Switching to a dry herb setup can help you get the most out of your dry herbs, heating the cannabis to the optimal temperature necessary to vaporize the highest concentrations of THC and CBD from your bud, much of which would have been wasted in “burn off” with smoking.

These pens are a small investment that can make a huge difference in your life in the long term, especially if you rely on marijuana for medicinal purposes. Dry herb vapes won’t leave that residual “pot” smell on your clothes either.

Would you like to know about dry herb vape pens or other products? Contact us today for more information – we’d be more than happy to help you find the best products and accessories for your unique needs.