Choosing the best temperature to vape weed is one of the most unclear and controversial topics in dry herb vaping.

It turns out, there is no single best temperature to vape weed.

The best temperature to vape your herb is fully dependent on what effects you're looking for.

And in today’s post, I’m going to show you exactly what temperature is best for achieving your desired effects.

You will learn that changes in your vaporizer temperature have the potential to change the chemical structure and therefore the medical effects and taste of your marijuana vapor.

Get started below with our simple quick-guide:

320°F(160°C) – 356°F(180°C) : Very light mostly mental medication and best for flavor (great if you still havee a lot to do that day);

: Very light mostly mental medication and best for flavor (great if you still havee a lot to do that day); 356°F(180°C) – 392°F(200°C) : Great flavor with good medication level, bodily effects will be more apparent;

: Great flavor with good medication level, bodily effects will be more apparent; 392°F(200°C) and up: Best if you don’t have anything else to do that day, very strong level of medication, heavy bodily effects.

Table of contents:

The Chemical Structure & Medical Effects of Cannabis Explained

How Do Temperatures Impact Your Vaping Experience?

The 5 Stereotypical Cannabis Users and What Temperatures They Should Vape At

Dry Herb Vaporizers With Most Accurate Temperature Control

Specific Cannabis Compounds, Their Boiling Points, and Effects

Let me show you how the right vaporizer can save you $500+ on herb expenses in a single year! Replicate the exact steps I take with my vaporizer to save $500+ on marijuana expenses every single year. Just let me know where to send it (takes 5 seconds): Yes Give Me My Guide

The Chemical Structure and Pharmacological Effects of Cannabis Explained

If there's one cannabinoid in marijuana that everyone seems to know it must be THC. Marijuana often gets equalized with THC.

What most people don’t know, however, is that the Cannabis plant contains over 70 known cannabinoids and THC is just one of them.

Why does this matter?

Each and every cannabinoid has its own chemical structure and pharmacological effects. On top of the 70-plus known cannabinoids, the Cannabis plant contains many other types of compounds like:

120 different terpenoids, and;

23 different flavonoids,

Each having its own chemical structure and pharmacological effects.

To complicate things further, studies like this one suggest that all of the cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids in Cannabis influence each other and their pharmacological effects, enhancing each other’s effects and mitigating each other’s side-effects.

Cannabis really is a ‘synergistic shotgun’, where hundreds (probably thousands) of different compounds work together to produce a particular pharmacological effect.

In short:

Don’t reduce Cannabis to one single cannabinoid (THC). The Cannabis plant is a very complex plant containing thousands of different compounds that all have their unique characteristics and effects.

We always want to simplify things, but simplifying the Cannabis plant to THC is going to hinder you in finding your best vaping temperature as you'll learn now.

How Do Temperatures Impact Your Vaping Experience?

All of these cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoids found in the Cannabis plant have different boiling points. At certain temperatures, certain compounds will be boiling primarily, and the chemical structure of your vapor will differ according to the compounds that are boiling primarily at that particular temperature.

This leads us to the next point:

Aside from the strain you're vaping (which honestly has the biggest impact), the chemical structure of your vapor, which is (in part) formed by your temperature, will decide the pharmacological effects, potency, and taste of your vapor.

So once you've found your perfect strain, when determining the best temperature to vape your perfect strain at, you first have to ask yourself what your goal is:

What do you want to achieve while vaping your herb?

To give some examples:

You could be a medical user who’s mainly looking for the physical and painkilling (analgesic) effects of cannabis;

You could be a recreational user whose goal is to go for mainly the euphoriant effects.

Depending on the effects you're looking for, you will benefit most from the presence and/or absence of certain cannabis compounds.

And you can control the presence and/or absence of these compounds with specific temperatures and temperature ranges.

Generally speaking:

Higher temperatures (above 200°C) provide a higher ratio of the type of cannabinoids that have an effect on your body (CBD, CBN, CBC);

While lower temperatures provide a higher ratio of the type of cannabinoids that have an effect on your mind and consciousness (THC).

Here's a simple guideline:

320°F(160°C) – 356°F(180°C) : Very light mostly mental medication and best for flavor (great if you still have a lot to do that day);

: Very light mostly mental medication and best for flavor (great if you still have a lot to do that day); 356°F(180°C) – 392°F(200°C) : Great flavor with good medication level, bodily effects will be more apparent;

: Great flavor with good medication level, bodily effects will be more apparent; 392°F(200°C) and up: Best if you don’t have anything else to do that day, very strong level of medication, heavy bodily effects.

320°F(160°C) – 356°F(180°C)

In this temperature range, you will have a higher ratio of the type of cannabinoids that have an effect on your mind and consciousness (THC mostly). This doesn't mean that the ‘physical' cannabinoids and terpenoids like CBD, CBN, Linalool, and α-terpineol aren't present at all, but it does mean that THC will be the dominant cannabinoid in your vapor. THC is the psychoactive cannabinoids in marijuana and primarily responsible for the ‘high'.

Also, the speed of extraction within this temperature range, won't be as high as in the higher temperature ranges, meaning your vapor will pack less punch.

You will get a light mostly mental medication, which is great if you still have a lot to that day. It's also the best temperature-range for flavor preservation and the best temperature-range to really taste your herb without any harshness.

356°F(180°C) – 392°F(200°C)

In this temperature range, you will have a balanced ratio of the type of cannabinoids that have an effect on your mind and body. The ‘physical' cannabinoids and terpenoids like CBD, CBN, Linalool, and α-terpineol will start to be more present in your vapor. But remember that to get high amounts of CBD, it's important you vape a high-CBD strain. If you vape a regular high-THC strain, chances are you won't be getting very significant amounts of CBD no matter what temperature you vape at.

In general, you will get a stronger mental medication because the speed of THC-extraction will be higher than in the lower temperatures, which can be too much if you still have a lot to do that day.

The bodily effects will also be more apparent: you might get a bit of a lethargic feeling (depending on your strain and how well your marijuana is cured). The flavor stays well in this temperature range.

392°F(200°C) – 446°F(230°C)

In this temperature range, you will have a higher ratio of the type of cannabinoids and terpenoids that have an effect on your body (CBD, CBN, CBC, Linalool, and α-terpineol).

Your medication will have a strong physical aspect to it, which is great if you don't have anything to do that day. But your mental medication can also be more intense here because the speed of THC-extraction will be very high in this temperature range. Your vapor will pack a real punch.

Depending on your vaporizer and vaping-setup, the flavor might deteriorate in this temp-range: it can get harsh.

Important note: Please do realize that when you vape above 392°F(200°C) you risk inhaling benzene and other toxic by-products. Less than with smoking, but still something to consider.

The 5 Stereotypical Cannabis Users and Their Best Temperature to Vape Weed

1. The Medical User

Nausea and vomiting;

Appetite loss;

Spasticity;

Pain;

Movement disorders;

Headache/migraine;

Epilepsy

Asthma;

Autoimmune diseases and inflammation

Psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, sleep disorders, bipolar disorders, etc.);

The medical user vapes cannabis mostly or purely for its medicinal properties. Maybe you’re someone with one of the following diseases/medical issues (this list is not exhaustive mind you):

And vaping cannabis helps you with your medical issue.

The consciousness- and mind-altering effects of cannabis mostly attributed to the most well-known cannabinoid THC are simply a welcome or unwelcome by-product for you. Definitely not the main reason why you’re vaping medical marijuana.

You really use cannabis as a medicine, not as some recreational tool to get you in higher spheres.

In short:

What you’re looking for is a nice combination of the most powerful medical compounds and anything that dampens the consciousness- and mind-altering effects of THC.

What will be my most important compounds as a medical user?

Cannabinoids:

CBD THC CBG CBN THCV

Terpenoids:

caryophyllene

linalool

myrcene

The most important cannabinoids for you will be CBD, and THC and then all the other cannabinoids.

Both CBD and THC are extensively researched cannabinoids and have proven medicinal properties. Having a significant amount of CBD in your vapor is also important because it strongly reduces the unpleasant psychological side-effects potentially caused by THC (such as anxiety). What this means is you can enjoy more THC and stronger medical effects of THC, without experiencing strong psychoactive effects.

Important to note here it's highly advisable to get a high-CBD strain if you're looking for significant amounts of CBD in your vapor. If there's not much CBD to vape, the temperature you vape at won't have much effect on the presence of CBD in your vapor.

Although having not as many known medicinal properties as CBD and THC, CBG and CBN also have many, sometimes even unique medicinal properties. Scroll down to the end of the article where you can see a list of marijuana compounds and what medicinal properties are ascribed to them.

THCV is known to dampen the consciousness- and mind-altering effects of THC. THCV also has strong anti-epileptic properties.

Then there are the terpenoids with pain-relieving, anti-anxiety, analgesic (painkilling), antidepressant and sedative effects: caryophyllene, Linalool, and myrcene. Although these are less important to get the most well-researched medical effects of marijuana, as explained before, Cannabis is a synergistic shotgun, and having these terpenoids probably makes for even more medically potent vapor.

What temperature should you set your vaporizer as a medical user?

392°F(200°C)

The boiling point of CBD is 320°F( 160°C) – 356°F(180°C). The boiling point of THC is 315°F(157°C). So you would think just go for a minimum temperature of 356°F(180°C)…

Were it not for this study which found that the highest yield of CBD in Cannabis vapor was found at 446°F(230°C).

This, however, is a very risky temperature because of two reasons:

The risk of accidentally combusting your herb will be high at this temperature (combustion can start after 446°F / 230°C)

When you vape above 392°F(200°C) you risk inhaling benzene and other toxic by-products. Less than with smoking, but still something to consider.

I advise against vaping at 446°F(230°C). Instead, don't go above 392°F(200°C), unless you really have to (for example if the only way to feel effects is when going higher than this, but for most people there really is no reason to go above 392°F / 200°C).

2. The Healthy Super-Stoner

You’re a stoner, but a health-conscious one, that’s why you vaporize instead of smoke.

You like to get baked and get baked WELL.

The euphoriant effects of the herb combined with that sedative tingling feeling all over your body are what characterizes your average vaping session.

Whether you do it with friends or solo, you like to chill to the maximum when vaping. Stack up your provisions with some good stoner foods, get a bunch of new movies, games or series and just get totally sucked in and lose yourself in your entertainment.

In short:

What you’re looking for is a nice combination of the euphoriant effects and sedative physical effects.

What will be my most important compounds?

Cannabinoids:

THC CBD CBN

Terpenoids:

linalool

α-terpineol

The most important cannabinoids for you will be THC, but you’ll want a good dose of CBD as well. And for that sedative tingling feeling, you're going to need CBN and the higher temperature terpenoids: linalool and α-terpineol.

Here’s why:

THC will get you into that euphoriant state generally called the ‘high’. So you really want to maximize the THC in your vapor.

However, THC has the potential to provoke some negative side-effects like anxiety and paranoia. CBD helps to counteract these effects.

CBN, linalool, and α-terpineol are also important if you drool over that sedative and tingling feeling all over your body.

What temperature should you set your vaporizer as a healthy super-stoner?

392°F(200°C)

This definitely is high enough vaporize all of the THC, but also high enough to get a decent amount of CBD, CBN, linalool, and α-terpineol.

If you go higher, first of all, you risk exposing yourself to benzene and other toxic by-products (plus you’re not looking for any medical benefits associated with the higher temperatures).

But you also risk dampening the euphoric effects of THC with the release of THCV.

On top of this, the THC to CBN / CBD ratio will be skewed towards CBN / CBD and you will experience the sedative and physical effects stronger compared to the euphoriant effects.

3. The High-Class Cannabis Connoisseur

As a high-class connoisseur, you prioritize the flavor of marijuana.

Flavor above all else is your mantra.

Any psychoactive, physical, or medical effects are secondary to flavor.

A vaping session for you consists of marijuana terpenoids blessing your taste buds with full flavor preservation. You sit back, take it slow and just lose yourself in that amazing taste. Anything else is just a nice bonus.

What will be my most important compounds?

All terpenoids

The most important type of compound for you will not be cannabinoids, but, terpenoids!

Terpenoids are responsible for the unique smell and taste of cannabis.

Cannabis has got over 120 known terpenoids in it and most of them have a boiling point around the same temperature as THC: 315°F(157°C).

What temperature should you set your vaporizer as a high-class connoisseur?

356°F(180°C)

So why go higher than 315°F(157°C)?

Because to get to the most well-researched terpenoids, you will have to go as far as 356°F(180°C).

You will actually start to notice that if you go higher than this, the flavor of your vapor can deteriorate, with the general rule:

The higher you go with the temperature, the more the flavor will deteriorate.

With 356°F(180°C), you will get most of the terpenoids for a full and intense blast of flavors, but without any harshness that comes from vaping at high temperatures.

Important to understand is that there’s no one single terpenoid that contributes most to the taste of marijuana so don’t go searching for ‘the one’.

On a side-note, the temperature is just one of the many variables that have a decisive impact on the taste of your vapor.

Check out our guide on how to maximize potency and flavor for all the other variables.

4. The Explorer of Consciousness

The explorer of consciousness is someone who uses Cannabis for artistic or spiritual adventures.

Its consciousness- and mind-altering properties are what draws you to cannabis.

When vaping you’re either looking for a jolt of creativity, expanding the boundaries of your imagination. Or you use it to achieve states of non-ordinary consciousness to get into a really deep meditation session.

Either way, you want powerful consciousness- and mind-altering effects, without feeling groggy or getting into a lazy and lethargic mood. Just a powerful but clean and clear effect.

What will be my most important compounds?

Cannabinoids:

THC CBD

Terpenoids:

caryophyllene

limonene

myrcene

For you, the most important cannabinoid will be THC. This cannabinoid is responsible for most of the psychoactive effects created by using cannabis.

But as said before, the Cannabis plant is a ‘synergistic shotgun’ so you want all the compounds that are known to synergize and enhance the positive effects of THC or dampen the negative effects of THC in your vapor as well.

So which ones are these?

First of all, you definitely want CBD in your vapor.

Because here’s the deal:

CBD helps counter all the negative side-effects associated with THC, like anxiety, hunger, and sedation.

Second of all, you want some terpenoids in there, and then specifically, those with anti-anxiety effects: myrcene, caryophyllene, and limonene.

Here’s why:

Yes, you want the strong consciousness- and mind-altering effects of THC, but large amounts of THC have the potential to provoke effects like anxiety, restlessness, and paranoia. These emotions will negatively impact the clarity of your high.

You really can't have that, because you want to ENHANCE your perception. Not dull it by being stuck in your head with paranoid thoughts.

What temperature should you set your vaporizer as an explorer of consciousness?

365°F(185°C)

The explorer of consciousness should go high enough to vaporize most of the THC (according to this study this point is at 365°F(185°C)).

But also high enough to get a decent amount of CBD (boiling point: 320°F( 160°C) – 356°F(180°C)) and the terpenoids with anti-anxiety effects.

But low enough to keep the compounds that dampen the consciousness- and mind-altering effects of THC, like THCV (boiling point: 428°F(220°C)) in your vapor to a minimum.

Also, you don't want to get into a couch-lock or experience feelings of lethargy and laziness in general.

How you avoid this is by keeping the temperature below 365°F(185°C): the boiling point of CBN. This is the cannabinoid that is responsible for the sedative effects of cannabis. You will also avoid the vaporization of the sedative terpenoids: linalool and α-terpineol, this way.

5. The Social Party Animal

The social party animal is someone who likes to vape cannabis on social occasions, at parties, while going out or just general social gatherings.

An energetic, euphoriant, clear high is what he/she is after.

A lazy lethargic couch-lock session is a dreadful happening.

Feelings of anxiety and paranoia are especially detrimental to your experience because these are some of the worst anti-social feelings.

You want the euphoriant effects without ANY of the negative side-effects of cannabis.

What will be my most important compounds?

Cannabinoids:

THC CBD

Terpenoids:

caryophyllene

myrcene

You’re looking mainly for the euphoriant effects of Cannabis, so naturally, your most important cannabinoid is THC.

But that’s not all.

Just like the explorer of consciousness you want to absolutely reduce any chance on negative side-effects like anxiety and paranoia.

You already know how to achieve this:

Get a decent amount of CBD in your vapor, THE go-to cannabinoid to counter all the negative side-effects of THC.

On top of the CBD get the terpenoids (myrcene, caryophyllene, and limonene) known to have anti-anxiety effects in there and you have a good cocktail of compounds giving you that energetic, euphoriant and clear-headed high, while minimizing the risk paranoia or anxiety.

At the same time, you want to avoid CBN, linalool and α-terpineol, the cannabinoid and terpenoids in cannabis that are responsible for that sedative tingling feeling in your body and can put you in that dreaded couch-lock.

What temperature should you set your vaporizer as a social party animal?

365°F (180°C)

The explorer of consciousness should go high enough to vaporize all of the THC, high enough to get a decent amount of CBD and the terpenoids with anti-anxiety effects.

But low enough to keep the compounds which dampen the euphoriant effects of THC, like THCV (boiling point: 428°F(220°C)) in your vapor to a minimum.

Also, you don't want to get into a couch-lock or experience feelings of lethargy and laziness in general.

How you avoid this is by keeping the temperature below 365°F(185°C): the boiling point of CBN. This is the cannabinoid which is thought to be primarily responsible for the sedative effects of cannabis. You will also keep the vaporization of the sedative terpenoids: linalool and α-terpineol, at a minimum this way.

Dry Herb Vaporizers With Most Accurate Temperature Control

Now that you know YOUR best temperature to vape your weed at, there's something you need to know.

All dry herb vaporizers have some sort of temperature control.

But here's the catch:

Not every vaporizer has got ACCURATE temperature control.

Most vaporizers measure the temperature of the heating element. However, the temperature of the heating element usually isn't the same as the temperature of your herb. And the difference can be quite big depending on your vaporizer.

Now:

I can give you any type of temperature advice, but if your vaporizer hasn’t got accurate temperature control, you're shooting in the dark.

To get a vaporizer with accurate temperature control look for the following features:

Convection heating;

Digital temperature control;

Balloon-style inhalation or

In the case of whip-style or direct-draw inhalation: a heating algorithm which keeps the temperature in your bowl/herb chamber consistent when drawing vapor (like the VapeXhale cloud EVO);

If you want specific recommendations on weed vaporizers with very accurate temperature control, you should check out the vaporizers in the following articles:

But more importantly…

Avoid these:

Any vaporizer that’s not from a reputable brand or authorized dealer. This includes vaporizers from eBay, Alibaba and other auction types of websites. Please just avoid these vaporizers in general, they can be a disaster to your health;

Any conduction vaporizer (like the PAX 2, MFLB). Conduction type of heating doesn't distribute the heat evenly and your temperature will not be consistent all the time;

Any fixed temperature vaporizer;

Specific Cannabis Compounds, Their Boiling Points, and Effects

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are the compounds most responsible for the characteristic medical effects (psychoactive and physical) of cannabis. Even though there are over 70 plus known, six (6) of them, ‘The Big 6', are well researched. THC definitely being the most well researched, and more and more research pouring into CBD.

Below you'll find the ‘The Big 6', their boiling points and their effects:

Cannabinoid Boiling Point Effects Δ-9-THC 315°F / 157°C Euphoriant

Analgesic

Antiinflammatory

Antioxidant

Antiemetic CBD 320°F – 356°F / 160°C -180°C Anxiolytic

Analgesic

Antipsychotic

Antiinflammatory

Antioxidant

Antispasmodic CBN 365°F / 185°C Oxidation breakdown product

Sedative

Antibiotic CBC 428°F / 220°C Antiinflammatory

Antibiotic

Antifungal CBG 220°F / 105°C Antiinflammatory

Antibiotic

Antifungal THCV 428°F / 220°C Analgesic

Euphoriant

Source: Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts: Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts?

Terpenoids

You know that smell that some people absolutely swear by and others immediately associate with negative things…?

Terpenoids are responsible for that characteristic taste and smell of cannabis. But they have many other (medicinal) properties and synergize with all the other compounds in cannabis, like cannabinoids, as well.

Below you'll find the most well-researched terpenoids in cannabis, their boiling points, and their effects:

Terpenoid Boiling Point Effects β-myrcene 334°F / 168°C Analgesic

Antiinflammatory

Antibiotic

Antimutagenic β-caryophyllene 246°F / 119°C Antiinflammatory

Cytoprotective (gastric mucosa)

Antimalarial d-limonene 351°F / 177°C Cannabinoid agonist

Immune potentiator

Antidepressant

Antimutagenic linalool 388°F / 198°C Sedative

Antidepressant

Anxiolytic

Immune potentiator pulegone 435°F / 224°C Memory booster

AChE inhibitor

Sedative

Antipyretic 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) 349°F / 176°C AChE inhibitor

Increases cerebral

blood flow

Stimulant

Antibiotic

Antiviral

Antiinflammatory

Antinociceptive α-pinene 312°F / 156°C Antiinflammatory

Bronchodilator

Stimulant

Antibiotic

Antineoplastic

AChE inhibitor α-terpineol 424°F / 218°C Sedative

Antibiotic

AChE inhibitor

Antioxidant

Antimalarial terpineol-4-ol 408°F / 209°C AChE inhibitor

Antibiotic p-cymene 351°F / 177°C Antibiotic

Anticandidal

AChE inhibitor borneol 410°F / 210°C Antibiotic Δ-3-carene 334°F / 168°C Antiinflammatory

Source: Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts: Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts?

Flavonoids

Although the name suggests differently…

Flavonoids are not the main contributors to the unique taste and smell of cannabis. But just like terpenoids, flavonoids do have many medicinal properties as well.

Below you'll find the most well-researched flavonoids in cannabis, their boiling points, and their effects:

Flavonoids Boiling Point Effects apigenin 352°F / 178°C Anxiolytic

Antiinflammatory

Estrogenic quercetin 482°F / 250°C Antioxidant

Antimutagenic

Antiviral

Antineoplastic cannflavin A 360°F / 182°C COX inhibitor

LO inhibitor β-sitosterol 273°F / 134°C Antiinflammatory

5-α-reductase

inhibitor

Source: Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts: Greater Than the Sum of Their Parts?

What's Next

Now that you know the most important compounds in cannabis, how they impact your experience and their boiling temperatures, you can really tailor your vaping experience to your specific needs and really get the most out of each and every vaping session.

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