Surprised there aren't more folks in this thread talking about vaping weed.
I bought a Pax portable vape back in 2013, about a year after I started smoking regularly. It was a major game changer:
-saved me a ton of money (you're not burning half your herb)
-made it easier to dose and imbibe small amounts (I don't like getting crazy stoned, prefer to just take a small hit or two an hour or so before bed to chill out)
-your skin and clothes don't smell like smoke/ganga
-easier to conceal while out in public or on the go
-the high feels "cleaner," like I can go about my business, get shit done, have conversations, etc., instead of just passing out on the couch
-and of course you're not inhaling tar, carbon monoxide, carcinogens, etc.
A friend last year gave me one of the oil-based vape pens, which at the time seemed like a huge upgrade.
It was much smaller and skinnier, and the pen itself only cost ~$30, so unlike the Pax if I accidentally broke it it's no big deal. Once I turned it on it was instantly ready, no need to wait several minutes for it to warm up. And by switching to the smaller oil cartridges I didn't have to worry about grinding up the bud or cleaning the chamber - just toss the cartridge once it's empty and screw on a full one.
However, a friend recently sent me
this article about some of the dangers inherent to using the oil pens, which has me a bit worried.
It sounds like there isn't much definitive data on oil quality or toxin/pesticide levels, but aside from that I'm also not sure how I feel about inhaling MCTs or vegetable oil (let alone propylene glycol).
I'd hate to go back to the inconveniences of an herb-based pen, but I'm now worried about the long-term health ramifications - even though I don't smoke that much, over years I'm sure it could add up. I certainly don't want to go back to smoking, and edibles aren't an option for me - they take too long to kick in, last much longer than I'd prefer, and make dosing much more difficult.
Could anyone here comment on this or provide clarification?