Changing how you consume cannabis can take advantage of a broad range of cannabinoid benefits. That's because your strain choice, method of consumption, and specific product can all influence the effects you experience.
When you vaporise, you gain even more control over your prescription. By changing the temperature of your vaporiser, you can affect which cannabinoids evaporate and precisely what you inhale.
How Vaporisation Works
Doctors in Australia recommend vaporisation as the only safe way to consume cannabis flower. If you’re interested in exploring full-spectrum cannabis medicines, vaporisation is a way to explore without the additional risks of smoking.
One of the reasons the medical field prefers vaporisation is that it preserves the cannabinoids and terpenes in each strain. As the vaporiser heats up, the cannabinoids turn into vapours. As you inhale, a mixture of the active cannabinoids and terpenes passes into your lungs and bloodstream.
Smoking leads to the loss of cannabinoids because, instead of vaporising, they burn and form by-products (smoke). These by-products are often toxic, not to mention a waste of the medical potential of the cannabinoids that go up in smoke.
Vaporisers have a range of temperatures (generally between 180 - 210°C), allowing users to adjust the temperature as needed. If you’re interested in particular cannabinoid benefits, you can modify your vaporiser temperature to ensure you get the right cannabinoids.
Targeted Effects: Cannabinoid Temperature Guide
THC and CBD are the most well-known cannabinoids, but more than 100 others have been found in cannabis strains. Each strain's unique combination of cannabinoids (and terpenes) gives it its unique benefits and effects. And when you vaporise, you can control which cannabinoids you inhale.
We’ve summarised the boiling points of some of the most common cannabinoids.
They vary from 105 - 220 °C, which means changing the temperature of your vaporiser can have a significant effect.
Cannabinoids Boiling point (°C) Known for
Cannabigerol (CBG) 105 Non-intoxicating minor cannabinoid
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) 105 The precursor to THC, found in raw cannabis flower
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) 157 Responsible for the well-known psychoactive effects of cannabis
Cannabidiol (CBD) 160-170 Psychoactive compound that is less potent than THC
Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC) 175 Psychoactive, with milder effects than THC
Cannabinol (CBN) 185 Non-intoxicating cannabinoid
Cannabichromene (CBC) 185 A psychoactive compound similar to THC, may be an appetite suppressant
Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) 220 No psychoactive effects, possible anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety effects
How To Target Cannabinoids With the Mighty Medic
Now that you know the boiling points of your preferred cannabinoids, you can use a vaporiser to target them. Doctors prescribe the Mighty Medic 2 to patients because it’s one of the only TGA-approved vaporisers in Australia. It’s safe, portable and battery-operated.
The Mighty Medic works with dried cannabis flower. That means you can use any strain of cannabis that your doctor recommends experiencing all the different cannabinoids working together.
Your doctor will prescribe dried flower in a particular dose (in milligrams), and with the Mighty Medic, you can be sure you get the correct dose every time. Once you’ve ground your flower, fill the dosing capsules with the correct quantity of cannabis and then place them into the vaporiser magazine.
The vaporiser will automatically start to heat up when you turn it on. The recommended starting temperature is 180°C. THC and CBD will vaporise at this temperature, but other cannabinoids like THCV and CBN won’t.
To vaporise additional cannabinoids, use the + and - buttons to set your target temperature. The screen will display the current and target temperatures. Just be aware that if you choose the highest temperature of 210°C, some cannabinoids and terpenes may start to burn.
Experience Full-Spectrum Cannabinoid Benefits with Vaporisation
There are so many potential uses and benefits for medical cannabis. With over 100 cannabinoids discovered so far, many products are available that offer different benefits and effects.
Understanding how to make the most of each cannabinoid through vaporisation could help you make the most of your cannabis prescription and maximise the cannabinoid benefits you experience.
There are a number of risks associated with the use of medical cannabis and your doctor will explain these to you before issuing a prescription. Medical cannabis affects everyone differently and may not help with your chronic condition.