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I used to smoke regular weed but in recent years have totally converted over to using vape cartridges. The benefits are too great: - No odor. - More consisten
by extr 4y ago
I used to smoke regular weed but in recent years have totally converted over to using vape cartridges. The benefits are too great:
- No odor.
- More consistent dosing.
- More control over the exact CBD:THC ratio.
- Lower cost per dose.
- Less paraphernalia lying around/more discreet.
In fact, it's actually significantly reduced my intake. I now take 1-2 puffs of a 10:1 CBD:THC mixture before bed some nights of the week. I get the calm without paranoia or disorientation. If I want to "feel high", I can take a few extra puffs, or try the 5:1, or even 1:1. I don't even touch the "Max THC" stuff clocking in at 80% THC by weight anymore, whereas in a past life that would have been my go-to. It really changes things when a "bowl" of "sour skunk" is no longer the minimum unit of dosage.
However, I am very thankful I now live in a legal state. When grey market cartridges first started becoming available I did a lot of research into them. Definitely there is a greater risk smoking a black or grey market THC cart than smoking black or grey market marijuana (see all the vitamin E stuff). When they first came out, I smoked them with no ill effects. But I didn't even know the risk I was taking, and today I would not touch the stuff. See r/fakecartridges, r/cleancarts, for other people who actually care about how shady some of this stuff is.
Today I only buy cartridges from reputable brands from licensed dispensaries, that have lab reports FROM THE SAME BATCH included on the packaging, that test for above and beyond what is legally required. Is this confirmed to keep me safe...no. There is always a risk with untested and understudied products like this. However it's a lot different than grey market carts or vaping nicotine, where you might take 300 puffs/day, versus 1-2. I have to imagine if there are heavy metals, the former is resulting in far more concentrated doses of it. It's a risk I'm willing to take for something I enjoy and that I feel improves my life.
I honestly hope for even stricter regulation. The price per dose is still incredibly cheap even with the taxes and overhead from compliance. I would gladly pay $100/1G for something that lasts months and has a heavily scrutinized chain of custody, that's cheaper than a single nice dinner or a weekend or two of drinks.
- emerged 4y agoInvesting in a quality dry herb vaporizer is even more cost effective. I don’t even smoke very often but have the coveted Volcano and it is incredible.
- whateveracct 4y ago100% on dry herb. I'm more of a whip guy, so I have a Magic Flight Orbiter that I just use with a handheld DaVinci and it is really amazing.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- moistly 4y agoArizer for me. My first one lasted more than a decade of daily use. Got a discount on the second. It worries me that the flexible tubing might be Extremely Bad news. A shitton of leachate must come out of the heated plasticizers. I’ve also heard the occasional bad news about the heated ceramic and wiring in the heaters. OTOH, I don’t seem to be harmed yet, and it’s not like city air isn’t filled with other toxins. Remember when everything shut down globally, and how clear the air became? And then we went right on back to choking on our own waste.
- LoveMortuus 4y agoHaha, these names! A whip guy uses a Magic Flight Orbiter with their handheld DaVinci! (I have FlowerMate Slick)
- Maursault 4y agoThe major problem with cartridges is, beyond the very real risk of effectively having a pipe bomb in your hand pointed at your face, is that those in charge of formulas are assholes. They're desperately trying to duplicate the experience of smoking weed, including intentionally adding propylene glycol and other irritants for the effect of throat irritation to make you cough. They're failing and ruining the experience. This is asinine. The tastes are horrible and lean towards chemically, synthetic tastes. The other problem is the massive, absurdly huge, selection. Choices are great, but they went absolutely nuts (and the same is true of flower selections), and I would assume it is a stoner in charge of all this crap. Bad idea. The high from cartridges is very one dimensional, just not as potent as decent flower. Also, you're out of your mind if you think cartridges are cheaper than flower. It isn't even close, cost is on the order of 300% more expensive for cartridges. If all this could be fixed, if the makers would stop assuming what consumers want and just produce an honest product without the bullshit, carts might become superior.
- turdnagel 4y agoThe article specifically mentions that THC cartridges - at least the ones they reviewed - don't use propylene glycol. Your second problem is, as you say, not unique to cartridges. I kind of agree with your third point. Not sure what the solve is there. Yes they're more expensive. The only way to have the most competitive market with the best product is federal legalization.
- lovich 4y ago> The other problem is the massive, absurdly huge, selection. Choices are great, but they went absolutely nuts (and the same is true of flower selections), and I would assume it is a stoner in charge of all this crap. Bad idea. Is the craft brew industry also a mistake? For medicinal marijuana I can see users wanting a well regulated, simple commodity. For most recreational marijuana users though, they treat the smoking as an experience. The pot heads I know are always sharing new strains they found or developed and seem really excited when another pothead brings by something novel.
- extr 4y ago