How to dose cannabis vapes

Cannabis vapes offer a smoke-free delivery system for rapid symptom relief.

You can choose from a wide variety of vaporizers, each with a unique set of functions, cannabis extract types, potency levels, and instructions for use.

Vapes are a little more complex than most methods of consumption, particularly when it comes to dosing. While there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to dosing vapes, there are some standard guidelines that can help you find the right dosage for you.

Get your medical marijuana card

Select State

Get started

How to dose cannabis vapes 

Cannabis vaporizers, better known as “vapes,” are electronic devices that heat cannabis oil, concentrate, or plant material just below the point of combustion, transforming the active cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids into vapor.

Vaporizing cannabis is more discreet, travel-friendly, and easy on the respiratory system than smoking cannabis flower. Like cannabis flower, they come in a wide variety of strains with unique terpene profiles and amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Whether vaping produces stronger effects than smoking is a subject of debate. Some people say that the effects are slightly weaker, but the opposite may be true if your vaporizer contains cannabis concentrates like live resin, live rosin, or liquid diamonds.

The potency and effects of individual vaping products can vary, so it’s always best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

“Reading the label is always important,” says Mark Kasabuski, Pharmacist and Provider Operations Manager at Leafwell.

“For some of these products, a 2-3 second inhalation gives you 2.5 mg of THC, while others with the same amount may give you 9 mg of THC in that same inhalation period.”

Given the potency of vaping products, Kasabuski recommends first-time vapers start with a low dose. “If you’ve never tried THC before, you’ll want to start with a dose of about 2.5 mg. That’s where some patients can start to feel the euphoric or psychoactive effects.”

Factors that affect your ideal cannabis vape dosage

A number of variables can affect how you feel after a couple of vape puffs. That’s why the dose that works for one person may be too much or too little for you.

Know the potency of the strain you’re vaping

Cannabis vapes can vaporize concentrates, oil, or dried flower. No matter which one you choose, you should be aware of its strain, as each one has its own THC concentration that affects how intoxicating it can be. Most vape manufacturers put the THC concentration on the product’s label.

Know the amount of THC in your vape 

Again, some vapes contain stronger extracts like live resin or liquid diamonds. These are going to be more intoxicating because they have a higher concentration of THC.

Body weight and metabolism

Your body weight and metabolism also play a role in your ideal dose. “Cannabis is fat-soluble,” Kasabuski explained. “[the active cannabinoids] get stored in the fat cells in the body.”

People with higher body fat may metabolize cannabis more slowly, and experience more prolonged effects. People with a faster metabolism may feel more intense effects that are shorter in duration.

Your endocannabinoid system

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a body-wide signaling network that balances important functions like sleep, appetite, mood, and cognition.

Cannabis cannabinoids like THC and cannabidiol (CBD) travel through the bloodstream and bind to cannabinoid receptors, causing chemical reactions that affect how we feel. Everyone’s endocannabinoid system is unique, which might be why some people feel certain effects of cannabis more strongly than others.

Tolerance level

Tolerance refers to your body’s response to repeated or prolonged cannabis exposure. Frequent use can lower your sensitivity to its effects over time.

Frequent, longtime cannabis users often build up a high tolerance, requiring progressively increased doses to reach their goals. You can reverse this with a tolerance break.

Low tolerance levels are common among new or infrequent consumers. New users should use extra caution when vaping as the effects can be highly potent and unpredictable.

Vaping too much in a short period of time can lead to side effects, including:

• Anxiety
• Impairment
• Drowsiness

Beginners are more likely to experience these side effects.

How to dose different types of cannabis vapes

With the abundance of cannabis vapes on the market, there’s no shortage of options to choose from. Learn how to dose cannabis according to the type of vaporizer you’re using.

Dry herb vapes

A dry herb vaporizer heats ground cannabis just below the combustion point, producing vapor instead of smoke.

There are three types of dry herb vapes, based on their heating method:

• Convection: These vaporizers work similarly to an oven, circulating hot air around and through the cannabis flower.

• Conduction: These heat the dried flower via direct contact with a hot surface.

• Hybrid: These use a combination of convection and conduction, distributing heat throughout the dried flower more evenly.

To dose your dry herb vaporizer, follow these steps:

1. Use a grinder to break your dried flower into fine, consistent pieces.
2. Preheat your dry herb vaporizer.
3. Fill the chamber with ground flower. Avoid overpacking, as too much flower can obstruct airflow.
4. Select the temperature setting per the directions of your device. If none are given, start with a low-temperature setting and gradually increase until vapor comes out of the mouthpiece.
5. Slowly and steadily inhale the vapor from the mouthpiece in short, measured draws, lasting no more than two to three seconds each. For beginners, start with one puff.
6. Wait 15 minutes to observe the effects and repeat if necessary.

Oil-based vapes

Oil vape pens, or simply vape pens, are portable devices that include a mouthpiece, oil cartridge, atomizer, and battery. Vape pen cartridges contain oil-based cannabis extracts.

Most oil-based vaporizers are disposable so that when the oil runs out, the entire device can be thrown away and replaced.

For dosing, follow these directions:

1. Check the battery to ensure it’s fully charged.
2. If necessary, assemble the pen according to the instructions.
3. Turn on your vape. Some pens are activated by pushing a button, while draw-activated pens produce vapor when you inhale.
4. Take slow and steady pulls lasting no more than three seconds. For beginners, start with one puff.
5. Observe the effects after 15 minutes to determine if more is necessary.
6. If you’re using a push-button pen, turn the power off when finished.
7. Disposable pens can be discarded once the cartridge is empty.

Wax or concentrate vapes

Also known as “dab pens,” wax pens are portable devices for concentrates like wax, rosin, crumble, shatter, or budder. Wax pens also contain a mouthpiece, atomizer, concentrate chamber, and battery.

Wax vapes work similarly to oil vape pens. However, concentrates must be heated to a higher temperature than cannabis oil. Wax pens also require frequent cleaning as the thick and sticky consistency of concentrates can build up on the inside of the atomizer.

Because concentrates like wax contain higher THC amounts than oils or flower, it’s recommended that beginners avoid them.

To dose your wax pen, follow these instructions:

1. Check the wax vape battery to ensure it’s charged and functioning properly.
2. Remove the cap and load the wax or other concentrate into the chamber; avoid overpacking.
3. Closely follow the instructions to turn on the vape. Similar to oil-based vape pens, some wax pens are draw-activated, while others require the push of a button.
4. You must set your atomizer or coil’s temperature for manually controlled vaporizers. The ideal setting for wax concentrates ranges from 315℉-450℉. Refer to the user manual for precise heating directions.
5. Slowly inhale the vapor from the mouthpiece for two to three seconds.
6. Assess after 15 minutes to evaluate the effects.

No matter what kind of vaporizer you use, always clean your device when the session is over to keep it working properly.

The bottom line: When dosing cannabis vapes, start low and go slow

Choosing your dosage amount for cannabis vaping requires some trial and error, and the general rule of thumb is to start out with a very low dose. As you develop a tolerance to THC, or if your health condition evolves, you can adjust your dosage accordingly.

For more personalized dosing guidance, book an appointment with a professional cannabis counselor at Leafwell, and learn how to use vapes to get the results you’re looking for.

Resources

• Acute effects of smoked and vaporized cannabis in healthy adults who infrequently use cannabis. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2716990
• Are vaporizers a lower-risk alternative to smoking cannabis? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8975973

Get Your Medical Card

Select State

Get started