Zen Leaf Dispensaries
Please select your state:
Exit Website

By entering and using this website, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Service & Privacy Policy.

Skip to content

Everything You Need to Know About Cannabis Vape Cartridges

By Brittiany Ralls December 25, 2020
Verano Vape Cartridges

Cannabis is going mainstream, and the industry has responded with a large variety of innovative products to choose from. Cannabis consumers can move on from bongs and joints since now modern technology makes it possible to experience different cannabis consumption options like never before! While extracts have been around for thousands of years, there are even easier ways to consume concentrated cannabis oils.

Budding cannabis users and enthusiasts alike have started to latch onto one increasingly popular way to enjoy cannabis - vaping. To help make the most out of this cutting-edge technology, check in with Zen Leaf Cannabis Advisors for expert recommendations of vape cartridges and pens. They can walk you through all the possibilities and find just what strain and type of oil that works for your lifestyle and cannabis regimen.

What is a Cannabis Oil Vape Cartridge?

If you've ever wondered just what a cannabis vape pen cartridge is, allow us to clear things up. These nifty little containers are no bigger than a traditional writing pen and hold pre-filled cartridges of cannabis oil or distillates. They are attached to the battery and with the help of battery power and some fancy heating mechanisms, the cannabinoids and terpenes transform from solids into gaseous form to be inhaled.

Cannabis vape cartridges have revolutionized the cannabis industry, offering immense convenience and discretion as well as a potent product. With just three components – a mouthpiece, chamber for oil or distillate, and heating element activated by a battery – cartridges offer a variety of advantages in terms of size, potency, and flavors and effects depending on cannabinoids and terpenes. Many available options contain high concentrations of THC like distillate but there are other more non-psychoactive options like CBD-dominant vape cartridges, also. With an array of sizes and concentrations to choose from, finding the perfect cartridge for your desired effect is easier than ever.

How Do Vape Pens Work?

Cannabis vape cartridges have revolutionized the cannabis industry, offering immense convenience and discretion as well as a potent product. With just three components – a mouthpiece, chamber for oil or distillate, and heating element activated by a battery – cartridges offer a variety of advantages in terms of size, potency, and flavors and effects depending on cannabinoids and terpenes. Many available options contain high concentrations of THC like distillate but there are other more non-psychoactive options like CBD-dominant vape cartridges, also. With an array of sizes and concentrations to choose from, finding the perfect cartridge for your desired effect is easier than ever.

How to Use a Vape Pen?

Vaping with a cannabis vape pen is a breeze, and it can fit into practically any lifestyle. With just a few simple steps, you can be ready to take the perfect puff. Start off by coupling your vape cartridge with your vape pen, making sure that the battery is completely charged before using. After that, all you need to do is press the on/off button five times in succession - and boom! You’re ready to start vaping with ease. Go easy as you draw in the vapor; small hits are usually best until you get familiarized with how powerful your pen is and how much you prefer as a dose. Don’t worry once you get up-to-speed with it, figuring out which setting will become your dosage sweet spot won’t be too hard.

Using a vape pen can bring hours of satisfaction, but it's important to follow a few tips for an optimum vaping experience. First and foremost, keep the voltage low or you risk annihilating the terpenes and cannabinoids in your oil – not ideal! To adjust the temperature, just click the button three times in a row – super easy! Most vape pens identify each temperature by a color that lights up around the button. Green is your lowest temperature, blue is the middle temperature, and red is the highest temperature. Finally, to avoid leakage and keep things nice and tidy, store your pen in an upright position. Plus, their knowledgeable staff is on hand to answer any queries you may have - enjoy!

How Long Does a Vape Cartridge Last?

Vape cartridges come in all shapes and sizes – literally! Whether you prefer the size of a one-gram cartridge or you're happy with the smaller size of a half-gram cartridge, the lasting power will depend on how frequently you use it. If your vaping habits are frequent, then that small half-gram cartridge might be depleted pretty quickly. On the other hand, if you only vape every once in a while, then that same half-gram might end up lasting longer than expected - allowing you to get more out of one purchase! A typical 3-second inhalation from a cartridge will give you between about 3-6 mg of product. Either way, when your current cartridge runs out, just swap it out for a new one - simple as that!

How Long Do Cannabis Cartridges Stay Good?

The short answer is: it depends. Brands and types of carts vary in strength and vapor quality - leading to an array of shelf lives. On average, a clean and stored cartridge can last up to 6 months while still maintaining the potency, flavor, and texture desired. However, if you keep your cartridges exposed to excess heat or other environmental factors then it could shorten the cartridge’s life considerably. Cartridges are designed to provide users with consistent performance over their shelf life but it's always best practice to store them properly. Keeping your cartridges in a cool dry place away from extreme temperatures ensures that you will consistently get the strong vapor quality you're looking for each time!

Pros for Using Cannabis Vape Cartridges

Verano Vape Options

Oil vape pens are the perfect way to get your cannabis fix, and for good reason! Those precise dosage measurements make sure you have complete control over your experience. Plus they're ultra-compact so no one even needs to know when it's time to spark up those sweet sesh vibes - privacy guaranteed. Let’s dive in further and discover all of the awesome advantages these little devices offer!

Cannabis Vape Pens Are Healthier Than Smoking

Vaping cannabis products has become increasingly popular for those looking for a healthier option to smoking flower cannabis. According to the results of a 2007 study, with vaping, cannabis users reported fewer respiratory symptoms than when they opted instead to smoke using traditional methods. Not only is it more health-conscious but surprisingly, vaping cannabis also provides an enhanced experience for users. Results indicated that vaporizing activates the cannabinoids in cannabis by-products to a higher degree than smoking does and could have added health benefits for individuals who use it as medicine. So not only are you protecting your lungs, but you’re also getting more out of each puff!

Cannabis Vape Pens Are Easy to Use

The cannabis vape pen is one of the easiest and quickest ways to consume cannabis. While smoking cannabis with a joint or bong requires myriad amounts of paraphernalia and know-how, using a vape pen is much simpler; all that's required is a pen with a functioning battery and the cartridge of your favorite strain. Going one step further, there really isn't even any learning curve. Charge up the battery, hook up the cartridge, take a few draws, and voila! You are ready to go - it's fast and painless. No need for clunky dab rigs and forget what rolling papers even look like - these days, vape pens are where it's at.

Cannabis Vape Pens Are Portable and Discreet

Cannabis vape pens offer the perfect combination of portability and discretion, making them ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy cannabis without being too conspicuous. These modern and minimalistic designs are often shaped like a pen, hence their name and they fit right into your pocket or purse. This way you can take them with you and use them whenever needed. Not only that, but their vapor production is much less aromatic than regular smoke from flower, which makes it easy to keep it on the down low. All these factors make vaping with oil cartridges extremely popular among cannabis users looking for a discreet yet effective way of consuming their favorite herb!

Cannabis Vape Pens Provide Careful Dosing

Vaping cannabis is an increasingly popular method of consumption, especially for those who want to find a way to control the intensity of their experience. Unlike other methods, vape pens offer a unique opportunity to adjust your dose with every inhalation. This can be done by manipulating how long you inhale and how hot the temperature of the vape is set. This makes it perfect for newbies who may be afraid of taking too much; they can start low and gradually increase the dosage as they gain comfort with the effects.

Cons to Using Cannabis Vape Cartridges

Cannabis vape pens may be convenient and discreet, but they're not without drawbacks. For users wanting to carefully manage their cannabis intake with a portable device, understanding the potential negatives of vaping can help them make an informed choice about how best to consume this substance safely and responsibly.

Cost of Vape Cartridges

Vape cartridges are the perfect choice for quick and easy cannabis consumption, but they do have one downside. Opting for a cartridge can be significantly pricier than purchasing flower; usually costing anywhere between $20-$60 per half-gram! If you're on a budget this might not be your ideal option - though it'll certainly give you an easier puff of convenience. Many users find that using vape cartridges is a great supplement to other consumption methods.

Varied Length of Effects

With a vape cartridge, getting your effects just right is key. Since you're consuming smaller doses than with flower or edibles, the effects will be shorter-lived - but if you accidentally overdo it they can become more intense fast! Vigilance when dosing is essential for achieving that perfect balance of relaxation and fun when using vape cartridges.

Remembering to Keep the Battery Charged

Vaping on the go is so much easier when you've got plenty of battery life. The best way to keep your vape pen running? Make sure it gets a nightly recharge - or even have an extra battery at the ready, that is fully charged, for those moments that call for more juice!

Types of Vape Pen Batteries Available

Live resin cartridge

Vaping is all the rage, and that means there's a huge variety of vape pen batteries out there. With so many to choose from it can be hard to decide which type meets your needs best - but don't worry! Whether you're looking for something general or ultra-specific, we've got you covered with this breakdown of common options and specialized versions.

510 Threaded Battery

For those looking to get into vaping, it's important to understand the basics of how your device works. Many vapes use a 510-thread cartridge that just needs to be screwed onto well-known vape pens with standard threads - think Legos for adults! But bear in mind that some companies build carts specifically made only for their devices and won’t work on others. To make sure you don't run into any compatibility problems when purchasing new cartridges or batteries, double-check before investing, by chatting with our Cannabis Advisors at Zen Leaf Dispensaries who can suggest options that for sure work together.

Disposable Vaping Options

If you find yourself needing a vaping solution for the short-term, disposable vape pens are the way to go. These self-contained units come already charged with enough juice in them to last until their tanks run out - then simply toss and replace them! No need to fiddle around trying to attach components or waiting for your device's battery to charge; when it’s time to go, your pen is ready too!

Pod Battery

Pod batteries provide a discreet and specialized way for cannabis consumers to enjoy their concentrates. The entire component, from the battery to the pod cartridge, is small enough to fit in your hand yet just as powerful as 510 threaded counterparts. Although this option requires more specialized equipment, it comes with the added benefit of being discreet and easy to transport.

Types of Cannabis Oil in Vape Cartridges

While users may be tempted by the wide range of concentrates available at the dispensary such as shatter, wax, budder, and more, not all of these are available in cartridge form. Though they may sound delicious and tempting, their texture, viscosity, and stability simply don't work in a cartridge. For those looking for concentrate options that are suitable for cartridges, some of the more popular ones include live resin, live rosin, and distillate – all great choices for a smooth vaping experience.

Distillate

Cannabis distillates are one of the hottest cannabis vape options today. Made by a refinement process that extracts single cannabinoids from cannabis plants, distillates are highly potent, and frequently offer an incredibly discreet option for those looking to vaporize with limited amounts of aroma. For users who enjoy having some control over the aroma vapors being produced or even fancy something slightly different than traditional herb, many distillate brands have begun formulating their products with added botanical and cannabis terpenes. These added terpenes not only give distillate lovers the ability to adjust their vaping aroma to things such as lemons, peaches, or bubblegum but also give them an extra layer of discretion. Whether you decide on a standard distillate option or a more exotic blend filled with added terpenes, you can be sure there's something out there that'll meet your unique needs!

Live Resin and Rosin

Live resin and rosin offer a more flavorful, truer-to-plant experience than conventional cartridge options like distillates. They are made from fresh frozen cannabis which preserves the terpenes and cannabinoids in the plant - as opposed to the traditional processes of drying and curing, which can cause many of these compounds to degrade over time. Despite their higher cost compared to distillate (with many half-gram options ranging up to sixty dollars!), live concentrates have become increasingly popular due to their intense aroma and flavor profiles, many users argue that they're well worth it for the quality of the experience.

Cartridges can also come in other pre-filled various concentrates like —sauce, CBD oils, and full-spectrum extracts. Although not as popular as their counterparts, they're still worth exploring if you'd like to experiment with something different!

Learn More About Cannabis Vaping and How to Get Started

If you're an avid vaping enthusiast, the Zen Leaf Dispensary website offers a plethora of valuable posts on the subject that can help deepen your knowledge. Whether you’re an experienced smoker or just want to explore the world of vaping, visiting a Zen Leaf Dispensary near you is a great first step. We carry a vast selection of cannabis vape oil cartridges fit for all sorts of needs! Our staff is not only knowledgeable but also friendly and is committed to helping you choose one that best suits your style and desired effects, all while taking into consideration any particular health issues you may have. Ready to get going? Come over and check out our inventory at your nearest Zen Leaf location!

*This post was originally published on December 15, 2020 and updated on March 7, 2023 to include new hardware and oil options.


Resources:
  1. 1. Earleywine, M., & Barnwell, S. S. (2007). Decreased respiratory symptoms in cannabis users who vaporize. Harm reduction journal4, 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7517-4-11

Content Writer for MÜV and Zen Leaf. Britt began exploring cannabis as a recreational user attempting to treat her migraines and depression. Finding success, she began to realize the many benefits of cannabis for a multitude of ailments. Her new-found knowledge prompted a move to Colorado, where she was able to medically treat her son with ADHD and aid her family in becoming healthier and happier. Realizing her passion for cannabis, she turned it into a career. Joining the industry as Medtender and moving into management gave Britt the knowledge needed to become a writer for a local cannabis culture magazine in Oklahoma and a leading voice in cannabis compliance.

Related articles

Spotlight: Encore Cannabis Chocolates

Looking for a sweet, dosed treated? Encore Dark and Milk Cannabis Chocolate edibles are the palate-pleasing options and ones you’ll savor.

Stress Less with These Cannabis Products and Strains

Looking to stress less and lower anxiety in the new year? Try adding these consumer-reviewed cannabis products to your routine.

Product Spotlight: Avexia Pain Relief Balm

Looking for topical pain relief? Award-winning Avexia Pain Relief Balm is a creamy, hydrating, soothing marijuana option.