Smoking involves combustion
Smoking cannabis burns plant material. Professional guide materials distinguish smoking from vaporisation because combustion can occur at very high temperatures and may produce smoke byproducts such as carbon monoxide and other irritants.
Because smoking does not offer controlled device temperature, cannabinoid delivery can be variable and some active compounds may be destroyed by heat or lost in side-stream smoke.
Vaporisation uses controlled heat
Vaporisation heats dried flower below the combustion point of plant material, with the goal of releasing cannabinoids and terpenes as vapour. Professional education materials commonly describe vaporisation temperatures in the approximate 180-220 °C range for medicinal cannabis flower.
Unlike smoking, a therapeutic vaporisation device can be designed around consistent heating, airflow, mouthpiece temperature, and patient handling.
Cannabinoid delivery concepts
Vaporised cannabinoids are inhaled through the lungs and absorbed through the alveoli. Professional materials describe rapid pulmonary absorption and patient-titrated use as practical considerations for healthcare professionals.
Those concepts should not be turned into patient-specific dosing advice on a website. Individual dose, product choice, frequency, and suitability need to be managed by the prescribing healthcare practitioner.
What patients should take away
- Use only devices and medicinal cannabis products as directed by a healthcare practitioner.
- Follow the device Instructions for Use, including cleaning and operating conditions.
- Do not use oils, concentrates, waxes, or e-liquids in a flower-only vaporisation device.
- Ask a healthcare professional or pharmacist if instructions are unclear.