The process of rolling the perfect joint can be somewhat of a calming experience, where even just the scent of freshly ground cannabis can seem to relax the mind and excite the senses. After taking the time to roll the perfect joint, however, it would be a shame to light your joint the wrong way and ruin the experience.
That’s why we are going to take a moment to walk you through the process of lighting a joint. We will also share some key temperatures you should keep in mind to help maximize your cannabis experience.
Best Way to Light a Joint
When it comes to enjoying a joint, paying close attention to how you light it can help to ensure the ultimate experience. If you are looking for the cleanest way to light your joint, a hemp wick coated in beeswax is a great choice. It can help you avoid inhaling butane from a lighter or sulfur from matches.
Using your preferred method of combustion, hold your joint between your thumb and index finger and with the other hand slowly bring the flame about an inch or two away from the end of your joint and allow the twisted end of paper to burn off a bit.
Keep in mind that joints don’t burn the same as cigarettes, so rotate your joint as you keep the flame an inch or two away from your joint. If there’s excess paper at the end of your joint, try not to inhale the first few puffs.
Once your joint is lit, try to make your first few puffs small and even. Then, look over your joint to make sure it lit evenly. If it doesn't, one side could burn faster than the other. This is known as canoeing and can be caused by things like unevenly ground flower or a poorly rolled joint.
If this happens, moisten your finger a bit and gently rub the paper under the side that is lit to slow down the burn. Taking longer hits, where you inhale slowly, can also help your joint burn more evenly.
What’s the Best Temperature to Vape Weed?
Vaporizing marijuana is achieved by heating cannabis flower or concentrate to a temperature that converts cannabinoids - like THC - into a vapor. Since vaporization occurs at a lower temperature than combustion (fire), vaping your cannabis could be healthier on the lungs and airways than smoking considering that the temperature of the flame from a lighter can exceed 3,000 ℉.
How does that compare to the ideal temperature to vape cannabis?
Vape Temperature Settings
Many of today’s vaporizers will allow you to adjust the temperature. If yours does, you may wonder what temperature setting is best. Before we answer this, let’s clarify something important.
Just like with most things that are cannabis related, the right thing will be different for all. Since we all have a unique endocannabinoid system, the way cannabinoids and terpenes interact in our bodies will vary. A temperature that might be right for one person may not be right for another.
With that said, the right temperature will depend on your intentions. If you are only concerned with the ideal temperature to vape cannabis for its THC content, then you would be interested to know that THC vaporizes at about 315 ℉.
If, on the other hand, you’re looking to maximize the potential benefits of the terpenes and cannabinoids in your weed, here are a few key temperatures to keep in mind.
Terpenes:
- a-Pinene 311 ℉
- b-Caryophyllene 320 ℉
- Linalool 388 ℉
Cannabinoids:
- CBD (cannabidiol) 356 ℉
- CBN (cannabinol) 365 ℉
- CBC (cannabichromene) 428 ℉
Another important temperature to be aware of is the temperature at which your cannabis will burn or combust, which is 451 ℉. So, the ideal temperature for many could be somewhere between 315 ℉ and 450℉. The exact number will depend on the cannabinoids you want to target.
Keep in mind that the temperatures provided are just general guides. The exact temperature each compound will vaporize at could vary by a few degrees.
Best Vape Pen Temperature Settings
For pre-filled oil cartridges
Depending on the type of battery or vape pen you have, you may have a button you can press to select a few different temperature settings. Others might have a dial where you can adjust it to a specific temperature.
If your vape pen allows you to adjust the temperature, it’s a good idea to start with the lowest setting. Getting in the habit of using a lower setting can give you better tasting hits and help to prolong the life of the coil in your vape pen.
Learn more about Medical Marijuana Vape Carts.
Best Temperature to Store Weed
One of the easiest, and most important, things you can do to improve your cannabis experience is to pay attention to how you store your weed. The main goals here are to protect your cannabis from air, heat, moisture, and sunlight.
Many dispensaries package their cannabis flower in plastic containers. These containers do a decent job of keeping air and light out, but they’re not your best option for storing your buds over the long term.
The reason? Plastic has a static charge that can affect the trichomes in your bud. Trichomes are those tiny little hair-like structures you see on your flower and the static charge can attract those trichomes and cause them to fall off your flower. This static charge in plastic can also degrade the THC in your flower. So, if you plan on storing your cannabis for longer than a few days, you’ll need to find a better option.
Storing Weed in Airtight Mason Jars or Ceramic Containers
As we mentioned, the main goals when it comes to storing your weed are to protect it from air, heat, moisture, and sunlight.
Storing your cannabis in airtight glass mason jars can protect it from air and moisture. Besides glass, ceramic containers with air-tight lids are also a great option since they can also help block out sunlight.
Keep Your Weed in a Cool and Dark Place
Certain mason jars have an anti-UV coating that can help block sunlight. Although they might cost a little more than regular mason jars, they do a good job of protecting your weed from the sun’s UV rays, which can degrade the potency of your cannabis.
If your glass mason jar does not have UV protective tint, there are still ways you can make it work. For example, you can store it in a dark closet or wrap a towel around your jar to protect it from sunlight.
Failure to protect your weed from sunlight can cause your weed to lose its potency. It can also lead to the THC in your cannabis being degraded into cannabinol (CBN). If that happens, instead of enjoying the full effects of the THC in your weed, you’ll probably just end up falling asleep.
In addition to UV light, heat can also degrade the quality and potency of your weed. That’s why you’ll want to make sure to store your weed somewhere cool away from direct sunlight, like a dark closet. The ideal temperature is said to be between 60 - 68 ℉. Remember, heat rises, so it’s best to keep your cannabis stored close to the ground.
Finally, one more temperature we want to make you aware of is the temperature required to decarboxylate your cannabis.
What is Decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation is a chemical process that activates the psychoactive compounds in your cannabis. It is the process that converts THC-A to THC, which is the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana.
Why Decarb Cannabis?
When it comes to cannabis science, raw cannabinoid compounds that have not been decarboxylated are said to be in acid form. For example, before it has been decarbed, CBD is known as CBDA. It only becomes CBD after decarboxylation.
Same thing applies to THC. Before it’s decarbed, it’s known as THCA. Only after it has been decarbed does THCA become Delta-9 THC which is psychoactive. That’s why eating a nug of raw cannabis flower will not get you high.
At What Temperature Does Weed Decarboxylate?
The process of converting THCA into THC occurs at temperatures between 200 and 245 ℉.
There are many ways to decarb your cannabis - but the essential first step is the same for most. You will need to find a way to raise the temperature of your cannabis flower.
One easy way to do so is to bake your bud. Start by breaking up your cannabis flower into coarse pieces no smaller than the size of a grain of rice. Next, place your broken up weed on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Then cover the baking sheet with a sheet of aluminum foil and place it on the center rack in your oven. Bake at a temperature right around 230°F for about 30 minutes. You will need to stir your ground flower at least once. You’ll know it is ready once it has a nice light brown color.
Be careful not to overcook or undercook your cannabis. Baking it at too low of a temp, or for not enough time, can result in your THC not being fully decarboxylated. Baking it at too high of a temp, or for too long, can burn the cannabinoids and terpenes in your weed and negatively affect its flavor.
Keep in mind that THC vaporizes at 315 ℉ so make sure to stay below that. Also, since the temperature of your oven can vary slightly from what you set it to, the best way to ensure you’re using the right temperature is to use an oven thermometer. They are not expensive and can vastly improve the results of your decarb efforts.
Once your weed is decarbed and has cooled down you can use it to make cannabis infused butter or oil - which can be used to make a wide range of THC-infused edibles.
If you’re interested in making your own cannabis butter, check out our Bloom-Style Cannabutter Recipe.
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Everyone’s experience with cannabis will vary. Instead of focusing on strain type or THC percentage, it can be just as important to identify the right balance of cannabinoids and terpenes that work best for you.
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During this one-on-one consultation, our patient care specialists will take the time to get to know you, your qualifying conditions, any medications you might be taking, your activity level, and any specific effects you are looking to experience or avoid.
By doing so, we can help you dial in the strains and consumption methods that are right for you.
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