Vaping Cannabis? Racie, Prismo, Jiro and Seb hash it out
RACIE SAYS:
I used to smoke weed 24/7 and I felt my use of weed was out of my control. I was dependent on the hit of punching a cone. I had previously tried to cut down by only smoking joints, but it didn’t satisfy me. So a few years ago, I decided to try vaping weed. It really worked for me. To start with, the effect was much stronger than a bong so I was able to reduce the number of times I reached for weed every day. It also felt gentler to my throat, like it wasn’t causing as much damage to my lungs.
One thing that really surprised me was that using a vape helped me to separate my dependency on weed and my dependency on nicotine. When I vaped I didn’t use spin. I discovered that the reason I was having so many bongs was because I was craving nicotine not weed. Swapping to vaping has helped me cut down on how much weed I smoke and helped me realise that I was dependent on cigarettes. I don’t smoke tobacco any more. It feels like vaping has really improved my health.
PRISMO SAYS:
I prefer vaping cannabis because I feel like it gives me more control over the experience and how I feel. I can dial the temperature down earlier in the day or times I want a lighter effect or go up to the safest top level — just under 200 — for a stronger effect.
The main benefit I get from vaping is that it is safer than smoking. I haven’t been a long-term smoker, but health-wise I am sure it will be better for me in the long run. The leftover AVB (already vaped bud!) can be saved and used in edibles, which are healthier for my respiratory system, so that’s a nice little bonus. Another benefit is that vapes are a bit more discreet, and they’re great for when it’s windy!
The thing to remember is that you don’t need a high-end vape straight away. Vaping isn’t for everyone. It’s worthwhile to research the market to find one that fits your needs, rather than spending hundreds straight away.
JIRO SAYS:
I see vaping as a healthier alternative. It allows me to vape just weed buds — and not put any spin [tobacco] in there at all. And I can steer away from the risks of combustion.
SEB SAYS:
When I have things to do the next day, I vape — I find I’m less sluggish the next day. My vape has a temperature control and I can adjust the temperature to change the way the weed affects me. For real, it’s like magic. Vaping weed at 200 degrees Celsius is my go-to. If I just want some chill medical effects I go low, like 180°C. I either eat the post-vape buds or throw them in a Chai on the stove to make a delicious, intoxicating tea.
The difference between cannabis & marijuana
Why do we use the term ‘cannabis’ instead of ‘marijuana’ in User’s News?
Because it’s racist! Marijuana was used by prohibitionists, especially in America, to emphasise the drug’s ‘foreignness’. It was a way of using racism to make people scared of the drug. The word comes from Mexican Spanish, perhaps from soldier’s slang for a ‘brothel’ — ‘Maria y Juana’ or from Nahuatl (Aztec) ‘malihuan’ meaning ‘prisoner’. However, it’s useful to note that cannabis isn’t native to Mexico — it was actually introduced in the 1500s. Nearly a century ago, US bureaucrat Harry Anslinger typified racist fears about the drug when he said: “There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and many others”.
Now more than 55 million people in the US use cannabis. Some US states have legalised cannabis for medical or recreational use, however the term 'marijuana' is still used - and is still about the 'other' not the mainstream. ‘Marijuana’ is a term and an idea that we need to let go of — and replace it with one we associate with holistic, herbal medicine: ‘cannabis’.