Want a quick, easy, and healthy way to consume the cannabis you need? Give vaping a try! But don’t just rush out and buy the first box that says “vape” on it. You may not be getting the right product.

That’s because the temperature at which you “burn” your marijuana is almost as important as the strain you choose. But don’t worry—the experts at Honest Marijuana have created a vaping temperature chart so you can make sure you’re always getting exactly what you need.

Along the way, we’ll also talk about:

Cannabinoids

How temperature affects cannabinoids

Why vape gear operates at lower temperatures

How to adjust temperature for specific effects

We’ll also give you some general guidelines for vaping and suggest an ideal temperature for your vaping experience.

But before we get to our vaping temperature chart and all those other goodies, let’s discuss the chemical makeup of cannabis. That way, you’ll know what’s going on inside your joint , bong , steamroller, or dab rig.

Cannabis And Cannabinoids

Cannabis is made up of 113 different chemical compounds called cannabinoids . Cannabinoids can occur in different concentrations based on the specific strain and how it’s grown .

The most well-known cannabinoids are:

These molecules are the stuff that gets you high , relieves your pain , and takes the edge off your anxiety . They do this by interacting with certain neurons in your brain (CB1 and CB2). In fact, your body produces its own cannabinoids (a.k.a. endocannabinoids) to affect mood and behavior.

Yeah, that’s right. You’ve got cannabinoids in your body right now even if you haven’t imbibed your cup of weed tea yet. The thing is, the concentrations of these cannabinoids (that go by such names as anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol) are so low that they only have a very mild effect.

But when you add more cannabinoids to the mix—through smoking, eating, or dabbing—the increased concentration activates more neurons than normal and you begin to feel the psychedelic or medicinal effects.

Depending on the amount of each cannabinoid in your cannabis, you might feel one (or a few) of these effects:

Altered perception

Pain relief

Hunger

Increased energy

Decreased energy

Heightened creativity

You can even use cannabinoids to help relieve such disorders as:

Schizophrenia

Psychosis

Epileptic disorders

Anxiety

Depression

Cancer

Osteoporosis

Lupus

Diabetes

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Parkinson’s disease

Chronic pain

Neuropathic pain

Unfortunately, although these chemical compounds are present in your marijuana, you may not be getting as much of them as you think. This is because temperature has a profound effect on the various cannabinoid molecules.

How Temperature Affects Cannabinoids

When you light a match or flick your Bic, the flame produced is, at minimum, 600 ℉. That’s hot! So hot, in fact, that it’s actually destroying a portion of the cannabinoids in your pot. That’s bad!

A normal flame can do so much damage because most cannabinoids begin to boil at half (or even a third) of that 600 ℉. Why is that such a bummer? Think of it this way.

Let’s say you want to make a box of the tastiest mac & cheese on the planet (we won’t name names, but it’s in a blue box). The first step is to boil some water, so you put a pan on the stove and turn on the burner.

But let’s say you get distracted (because you’re trippin’ balls) and forget all about the pot of water. What happens? The water eventually boils away, leaving you with no mac & cheese and a seriously scorched pan.

The same thing happens when you immolate your weed . The high heat of the flame basically “boils off” a good portion of the cannabinoids. After that, you’re left with less of the good stuff you came for and some seriously scorched smoke (Harsh, man!).

Temperature And Flavor

Though cannabinoids get all the press, marijuana also contains other vital chemical compounds called terpenes (or terpenoids) and flavonoids. These molecules are largely responsible for the flavor of your ganja. But they can also have some unique physical effects as well.

The thing is, terpenes and flavonoids also boil away at much lower temperatures than the 600 ℉ produced by an open flame. So not only are you losing out on some of the medicinal or psychedelic components of your cannabis, but you’re also losing out on some of the flavor.

“Wait!” you cry. “I want my cannabis complete. What do I have to do to get all the cannabinoids and all the terpenes that my Blue Dream has to offer? Sell my soul to the devil?”

Hold on there, Dr. Faust. You don’t have to do anything that drastic. Vaping is the answer.

Vape Gear Operating Temperatures

Vape gear, like vape pens and counter-top vaporizers, operates at much lower temperatures than your typical open flame. In fact, some vaporizers allow you to dial in exactly the temperature you want. This prevents the cannabinoids you need from literally going up in smoke.

Vaping Temperature Chart

The vaping temperature chart below will help you determine how high or low you should set your vape gear in order to get the cannabinoids and terpenes you need.

So, for example, if you just want to get baked , you’re really only concerned with consuming as much THC as you can. But if you use an open flame from a lighter or a match, you’re applying more than double the heat necessary to turn the THC into vapor. That means you’re burning up a lot of the THC.

With a vaporizer, you can set the temperature to 315 ℉ and transform every last drop of THC into a vapor you can inhale. But what about the CBD and the linalool and the CBN and the humulene that boil above 315 ℉? Do you need those? Yep, and here’s how to get ‘em.

General Guidelines For Vaping

As a general rule, setting your vape gear to a temperature above 392 ℉ provides more of the cannabinoids that affect your body . Setting your vape gear to a temperature below 392 ℉ provides more of the cannabinoids that affect your mind and consciousness.

Want more than just higher and lower? Here’s a detailed breakdown.

356 ℉ or lower = light mental medication (for anxiety, PTSD, and the like), best flavor

356 ℉ to 392 ℉ = moderate body effects (psychedelia/couch lock), good flavor

392 ℉ and up = heavy body effects, less flavor

If that’s still not enough detail for you, in the next section we’ll show you how to adjust your vape gear for specific effects.

How To Adjust Temperature For Specific Effects

Every cannaseur is different. You’re no exception. If you’re looking for just the right temperature to get the best out of your bud, we suggest using the five basic categories below as a starting point.

Experiment above and below the suggested ranges to see what makes you feel the best.

1) Best Mind Trip

For a truly consciousness-expanding mind trip, you want to get as much THC, CBD, myrcene, limonene, and β-caryophyllene as possible. To do this, set your vape gear to 360 ℉. That will vaporize just the right cannabinoids and terpenes without causing excessive couch lock.

2) Best Flavor

If you’re searching for the best flavor over everything else, set your vape gear to 350 ℉. That will provide a full and intense blast of flavor without the harsh, hack-inducing sting that often comes at higher temperatures.

3) Best Energetic, Clear High

If an energetic, clear high is what you’re searching for, set your vape gear to 356 ℉. This will ensure that you get as much CBD in your vapor as possible. CBD works to counteract the negative side effects of THC so you won’t feel anxious, paranoid, or heavy.

4) Best Body High

If you just wanna get stoned and make as deep an impression on your couch as possible, set your vaporizer to 392 ℉. It may seem counterintuitive, but this temperature maximizes the entourage effect to provide a truly righteous high.

5) Best Medication

CBD, CBN, and CBC play a vital role in the use of marijuana as medication. The terpenes linalool and humulene also have some essential medicinal effects that should not be discounted.

To get the best medication from your Mary Jane, you want to go as high as possible without actually burning your bud. Set your vape gear at 430 ℉ to get all the good stuff without encroaching on the combustion temperature of 451 ℉.

Ideal Temperature For Vaping

If we had to choose one temperature as the ideal for vaping, we’d go with 410 ℉. It’s high enough that it vaporizes the most important cannabinoids and terpenes but low enough that it doesn’t completely destroy them in the process.

Honestly, the ideal vaping temperature is largely based on personal preference. We suggest experimenting with 10-degree increments using the vaping temperature chart in this article as a guide.

Keep a diary of your experiences, and if you hit a level of vaporization that you just don’t like, back it down by five degrees and try again. You’ll get to consume a lot of pot and, eventually, you’ll find exactly the right temperature for your needs.